Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-24
By Fred S. Ferguson.

Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
With the American Armies In France,
July 24.--(S.5O p. m.-Despite orders to
hold to the death, the Crown Prince S
rear guard is being forced to give way
before the allied attack along practical
ly the whole front.
Prisoners declare the units of the lear
guard were ordered to remain at their
posts and hold off the Americans to the
last. Before the violence of the Ameri-
can assault they are being wiped out or
taken prisoners.
The advance is proceeding cautiously
at all points, however, owing to the
great of German reinforcements and
their increasing resistance. On many
sectors the battle occasionally loses all
resemblance to a rear guard action and
appears as though the Germans intended
to make permanent stand. New Ger
man reserve divisions are being constan-
tly identified.
The hitterest fighting is proceeding
north of Jaulgonne, where the Ameri-
cans are~enlalging their bridgehead.
Americans are pressing northward
along the main road from Chateau
Thierry to Fere-En Tardenois, in the
region Of Epids (four miles northeast of
Chateau-T Thierry), harrying the enemy
retirement toward Fere- n-Tardenois,
one of their principal communication
centers. In this region our forces cap
tured Marie farm, an important strate-
gic point
Coming through certain woods, an
American unit found the boches had es-
tablished machine guns every ten yards
and they were seemingly impregnable,
The Americans massed as though for q
frontal attack. While the Germans at
tention was centered ON these forces,
other Americans made a wide, encircl-
ing movement and suddenly charged the
enemy from behind flanks. They were
taken completely by surprise and sur
rendered to escape slaughter.
Everywhere are the most impressive
and unusual scenes. French and Am.
erican soldiers are fishing in the Marne
at points where the Germans so recent
ly crossed the river. American troops,
wagons and guns continue to pour
across to the north banks
In covering activities, American cen-
tingents are pressing through Torcv,
Boureches, Chateau-Thierry, Vaux and
bother historic points, which week ago
were held by the boches.
Tho results of heavy artillery fire a~4
seen everywhere-dead boches, dead
horses, smashed wagons, wrecked homes
and trees snapped off like matches.
Bevond Chateau Thierry saw potato
patch with most of the crop blown out
of the ground by shells In the midst
of the patch was a hollow German dug
out covered over by the foot board and
headboard of a wooden bed taken from
q nearby house. The boche occupants
had left blankets, coats and other oq-
uipment in their flight.
The villages north of the Marne are
badly wrecked and display shell freaks
that remind one of the queer pranks
played by our American tornadocs. One
shell, hitting the side of house, tore
off the wall that served as the back Of
cupboard. The dishes stood revealed
on the shelves, untouched.
Along the road near the river, which
was held by the enemy few days back,
| saw prisoners at work filling in shell
holes and smoothing the way for the
American wagons.and guns.
The Americans are in the highest OF
spirits, dispite the fact that they arc