Evening star., 1918-07-30
Ya1ks Cut Up Crack Forces
of Kaiser; Dead Piled High

LONDON, July 80. 4:41 pm.C
American troops in the Soissons-
Rheims sector have been fight
ing virtually without cessation
along their whole line for the
last twenty-four hours. The Ger
man defense had stiffened, and
the Americans had made very
little fresh progress up to noon
today, according to dispatches
this afternoon.
LONDON, July '3o.-Describing the
attack of the Fourth Guard Division
on the Americans, who are now or
canizing their line after their victory
Reuters correspondent with the
American Army. telegraphing Mon
day. says the Americans were at I,
considerable disadvantage In numbers
in this fighting
..There was no holding the crack,
fresh picked division Of guards as II
came down the hill" he continues.
"The Americans had to give ground to
weight Of numbers and fought back
step by step through Sergy down to
the Ourcq. They were very far from
done with, however. and before the
Germans realized it they had been
forcd to yield ground and were pushed
clear through the village.
Struggle Continues All Day.
THAT was the beginning of des-
perate struggle which continued all
day. Each side in turn had possess
sion of the village until the evening,
when the Americans. with maj 1ur9
of determination. swept the Germans
from the ruins and then up the MIL
broke another counter attack OF the
German guards and remained VIC
torious on a field where the enemy
dead actually lay in heaps.
THE piles of German dead were all
the more noticeable, the correspond
ent adds, since the guards came into
the fight with complete brand-new
equipment. as IL they had turned out
for parade before the emperor:
Make Brilliant Crossing.
By the Associated Press.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE AISNE- MARINE FRONT. Mon
day, July os.-The crossing Of the
Ourcq river was effected by the Amer
leans on Sunday in brilliant style in
the face of great difficulties. the Ger
mans having destroyed the bridges
and placed their artillery and machine
guns in advantageous positions to re-
sist the attempts at passage.
The Franco-American forces had
planned to cross the Ourcq before
l., 10 nov
heavy artillery held the slopes lead
ing to the river under fire, which con
tinued all night. The Americans re-
pessSediy started to advance during
the night, but as often were held
back by the fire of the enemy machine
guns and heavier pieces.
Dig in and Hold On.
During one of the lulls in the Ger
man firing Capt. Allen HUFF of Omaha
Neb. worked his men up to the center
of Ieid the slopes of which led to
the Ohrcq. Just then the Germans re-
sluned their attack in full force. I'M
mediaceiy Hufr and his men dug in
and held on where they were until
daylight.
Meanwhile the German artillery had
been quieted somewhat by the heavier
artillery of the allies carrying out
counter battery. work. Choosing an
oppotlUHC iHOIHCut, Iluli iuCH odSICI
to the river, jumped in with a splash
and waded across. cheering as they
Went
Charge Machine Guns.
Corp. Chris Bertgelsen of Sioux City
was among those of the first wave tc
cross the river. They Immediately
went after the machine guns on a
hill on the north bank of the Ourcq
The. fire which they opened on the
enemy nest at this point was SO in
tense that the Germans raised a white
flag. Anticipating a nice bag OF
prisoners, the Americans rushed up
only to be opened upon again by the
enemy's machine guns as they ap-
preached. Then the Americans le,
loose with the full weight of their fire
against the Germans, who. again
raised the white flag. Twelve Ger
mans were killed and nine captured
In this operation.