Evening journal., 1918-06-27
REVIEWS
BELLEAU FIGHTING
Gives Detailed Report OF
Operations from June
20 TO the 23d.
AMERICAN LINks
HEAVILY SHELLED

ports giving for the first time q de-
scrlptive story OF what the American
troops have been doing northwest OF
Chateau Thierry stree June 20 are con-
tanned In Gen. Pershlngs report for
Tuesday. received yesterday az the War
department The report follows:
Section A-There have been no fresh
developments at points occupied by our
troops.
Section B-For our troops in the
Chateau Thierry region the twenty-four
hours from noon, June 20. 20 noon,
June q. were quiet as compared with
the many days OF great activity which
they have recently experienced. The
German artillery continued to shell
both our front lines and rear areas,
distributing its fire rather impartially
over the sector. The Clerembauth' and
Marette woods, Lucy le B0cage, Iri-
angle Farm, Lethiolet and Bouresches,
all received their share. SO did the
Paris road and our other principal lines
Of communication, but the number OF
shells used was moderate for this To-
callty and most OF them were OF small
or medium calibre.
"The FIRE was Of various sorts, some
Of the harassing sort directed against
our blllets in rear areas at intervals
during the day and night and some for
the obvious purpose OF cutting our
communications As usual. some Of the
lower and wooded areas were shelled
with gas. but high explosives and
shrapnel were frequent. The German
machine guns were active against our
lines. especially In the vicinity 9f
Bouresches. and snipers were active
near the edges Of the Bois de Belleau
and around the BouTesches railroad sta
tion.
"The enemy made one OF his custom
ary attempts TO ambush an American
patrol in the vicinity Of Tafournay
Farm. but his ambush party was caught
and dispersed by our fire. German air
planes were active along our front, pay
ing particular attention TO the right
half. In the rear OF the German line
small groups were seen in constant mo-
ton passing along the roads between
the various farm towns and woods. A
considerable number Of them appeared
10 be carrying stretchers. Wagons,
automobile and artillery calssOns also
were In constant movement, but in not
more than customary numbers.
"Our own troops bore their fun share
/ of the days activities. advancing anc
/ improving their positions and returning
/ the enemy's attentions in the matter o.
| artillery FIRE. After a burst Of fire on
cluster OF woods a number OF ith'
enemy were seen running away in al
directions. All OF our units sent on
patrols which effectively recOnn0itre'
the hostile positions.
IN the Chateau Thiery region the da!
Of June 2i 20 June % produced M
I marked developments. In the absence
OF infantry actions artillery played tn
! leading part. The German artillery wa'
active in the same manner as on the
preceding days. and to a somewhat
| greater extent. German airplanes were
also present in somewhat greater num-
bers.
IN the rear the same small groups
were again seen and once again our
artillery fire had marked effect, driving
back into the woods near Licy farm a
group OF men who had attempted 10
emerge The German infsniry seemed
20 give most OF its attention 10 the Bel
leau Woods and to checking our pa
trolls. One OF our parties southwest
OF Vaux encountered lively rife and
machine gun fire, and from the same
pOint there was considerable sniping
on our lines.
"Bouresches and the Belleau Woods
again received special attention from
the German machine gun detachments.
German snipers retained their positions
OF the day before our troops. as usual
returned what they received both IN
artillery fire and sniping, while our
patrols were continually active.
'Durlng the day June p TO June %
our troops near Chateau Thierry eX-
perieuced conditions quite similar to
those Of the preceding forty-cight
hours. Woods, farms and vill3ges were
again shellcd. with the slight use OF
gas from time 90 time and with occa-
sional concentrations. The distribution
over the sector was again fairly even.
Far more marked, however, Than the
activity OF the German artillery was
that OF the German airplanes, which In
number Of flights made what is almost
a record for activity over one OF our
small sectors in a period Uf twenty
four hours. During the late evening one
Of our airplanes dropped three bombs
which produced craters OF moderate
size.
In addition 10 the movement OF
small groups in the German rear areas.
n column OF troops ESTIMATED az about
battalion and accompanied by com
hat wagons. was seen in notion dur
ing tbe early evening. At another time
t,,o columns OF troops. a battery, a
number Of caissons and several wag-
ons and automobiles were seen moving
along the roads. a. another spot a
small group was very busy over a
fallen airplane The enemy IS SIN
husilv improving his wires.
"The German machine guns were
somewhat more active than on preced-
ing days. paying great attention to our
nairols both by direct and cross fire As
nsraI ihev were also directed against
Rouresches and Belleau Woods. They
did not however. prevent our troops
from sending out numerous patrols.
Besides the customary activity OF our
own batteries, we made considerable
use OF mortars. Farm buildings IN the
German rear area were seen TO burst
into flames.
"On June % and % our troops south
OF the Marne experienced the same des-
ultory shelling by the enemy as dur
ing the preceding days. The hostile fire
fell especially on Crezancy, Fossoy,
Blesmes Farm and Nestles. On the
whole. however, the enemy artillery
activity was slight and confined largely
TO the use Of shells Of small cslibre
Many German sirplanes flew over our
front lines, east and west along the
Marne. They. were principally In
groups OF from two to ten planes. One