The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-03
U.S.. TROOPS HOLD
ALL GAINS; FOES
ATTACkSSMkSHED
Huns Make C0unter-Attack Near
Chateau Thierry-Hot Fight
at Hill 2O4.
YANkS TAKE 500 PRISONERS
Americans Win Village Of vaux and
Large Slice Of Paris Highway and
Two Patches of Wooded Land
big Victory for Perish.
ing's Men.

ing's Men.
With the American Forces on the
Marne, July 3.-An entire German
regiment has been virtually annihilat-
eG In the fighting west of Hill 2O4, ac-
cording to official information.
Marne Front, July "a counter-at-
tack made by the Germans against
the new positions won by the Ameri-
can forces to the west Of Chateau
Thierry was completely broken up.
The Americans did not give up foot
of ground which they had captured.
There was hot fighting all day in
front Of hill 204, which is in the hands
of the Germans. At five o'clock in the
evening the American artillery was
engaged In heavily shelling the posi-
ton.
500 Prisoners Taken.
Reports from the advanced front,
brought back through heavy enemy
barrage, confirm the earliest state
ments that the Americans have
reached their every objective and are
holding every point.
The total number Of Germans cap
tured by the Americans is now esti-
Ing seven officers. Many machine
guns were taken.
In brilliant operation after hard
fighting the American troops on this
front captured the village Of Vaux,
together with large slice Of the Par
is highway west Of Chateau Thierry
and two patches Of wooded hand.
Huns Taken by Surprise.
In the Vaux region, the Americans
took the Germans completely by sur
prise. Most Of the prisoners were
taken out Of cellars and dugouts.
How many Germans were killed Of
course is unknown to the Americans,
but from the number of dead in plain
view at various places the total must
have been considerable.
While the artillery preparation was
going on many American airplanes
few high overhead. Some were pro-
tecting the observation balloons while
others were combing the skies to keep
off enemy machines.
Early In the morning the American
pilots again appeared for similar
duty and were soon found contesting
with the enemy for supremacy in the
air. A number of the aerial battles
were observed, but reports on the re-
suits are not yet obtainable.
Germans Flee to Rear.
1t was exactly six o'clock in the eve
ming when the Americans went over
the top under the protection Of hail
Of machine gun bullets from our ma
chine gun barrages. The infantry ac-
ton was preceded by short but ter
rifle artillery preparation. When the
Germans sdw that a formidable at
tack was developing many Of those in
outposts yelled and ran toward the
rear to nests from which hot fire
began pouring.
The Americans paused for mo-
ment while the automatic rifles and
machine guns with the advancing
troops fought q duel in front Of Vaux
briefly, but effectively, with the en-
emy.
Then the Americans, whose number
was considerable, went on, most of
them running In their eagerness to
get at close quarters with the Ger
mans. AT the same time the Boches
began hurting gas shells to the rear
Of the American lines.
Fight for Village Streets.
Within brief time the Americans
had wrested from the enemy the
Bots de la Roche and the woods ad-
Joining 1t. Then came word that the
Americans were In Vaux and finally.
after sharp fighting there In the
streets and houses, hey overcame all
resistance and swept on beyond the
village.
The Americans reached every one
of their objectives and by this opera
ton they have eliminated a salient
and have Strengthened out their line.
Over an area Of several miles the
Americans now have the enemy under
their guns.
Daylight saw the Americans dig
ging In almost undisturbed far beyond
the old German defense line. To the
rear patches of prisoners and piles of
material were going. The guns and
material have not yet been tabulated.
The fighting qualities of the Ameri.
cans were certified to by virtually all
the prisoners taken. They said the
Americans fought Like wild men.