Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-22
YANKEE TROOPS
STRAIGHTEN LINE
Execute Series of Brilliant
Attacks North of Bel
leau Wood
GERMAN DEFENSE WEAK
Enemy Retires After Firing
Few Shots-One Post
Annihilated
GERMAN DEFENSE WEAK

with the American Army In France,
June 90.
The American lines northwest of Cha
teau-Thierry were further Strengthened
by series of small but brilliantly exc
cuted attacks on the north side of Bel
leau wood yesterday.
The Americans rushed positions held
by tie enemy in the wood without the
customary artillery preparation. The
Germans, for the most part, took a few
shots and then retired. One enemy
post held its ground and was annihi-
| lated.
| To the east of the wood thin line
of American skrmishers advanced.
| firing as they went, and reached their
objectives without difficulty, All the
| operations We're carried out as planned.
| AS a result the American positions have
been strengthened. and we are better
able to withstand an assault when 1t
comes. .
American artillery at midnight poured
an avalanche of projectiles into the wood
to the east of Chateau Thierry, where
aerial photographs had showed there
was host of German troops and mucn
enemy material The enemy undoubtedly
was severely punished.
The American fire reached the highest
concentration in ten.minute period
when 1900 shells of all calibers fell on
the one small area. Later the American
gunners concentrated their fire on the
town Of Brasles, where many of the
enemy were assembled. This was the
scene of recent captures of prisoners by
our patrols Aerial observations today
A show the extreme accuracy Of our fre,
but, of course, the exact effect Is un-
known.
Just why the formidable German
Twenty-eighth Division was placed In
front of the American troops northwest
Of Chateau Thierry. and also why
prize regiment of that division Is IN
the front line, is shown by a letter taken
from prisoner. The letter was written
June 10 by Grenadier Landauer. of the
10th grenadiers' regiment, to his rela-
tives In Germany. Landauer's letter is
eloquent testimony to the impression
the Americans have made on the kais-
er's best troops. The letter reads:
We are again in the front line, be-
| cause the American division opposite
us has achieved some success, and
we, as model division. are to make
mem ment ts we are aTe'' lying in in reserve % in a
small wood, where we have made
dugouts and furnished them with all
sorts of stuff from a nearby inn. OF
course we are getting all sorts of
knocks from the enemy artillery.
which. especially at night. shoots at
us accurately.
Up to now everything has gone
l@ieved @ soon ws" and ID get some % rest. If one
has been for more than fourteen days
in this miXup, one has more than suf-
ficient.
Letters taken from other prisoners,
which had been written to them by
German civilians, said that the writer's
were safe, Notwithstanding the air raids
made by Allied aviators. One letter
mentioned the recent raid on Karlsruhe,
and after describing the result in killed
and wounded and in PROPERTY damage
said, 'These rascals waited until Cor
/ letter said, "Of course. the bombs fel
before our air defenses began to operate
: as usual"
American troops of the Rainbow Di-
vision, on the completion of 100 days
consecutive service on the front line in
Lorraine, received document. which
will be kept by them as valuable SOU
venir of the war. 1t is a citation by
the French general testifying to =
good work of the division.
The citation renders homage to
fine military qualities which the diy.s
has continually exhibited and to I,
services 1t has rendered in this sectoSf'
. 1t adds:
.The spirit. method and discipline
shown by the officers and men proved
they can at first call take a glorious
place in the line of battle"
Berlin. June 22
The German official communique says