Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-16

Shortly after IL O'Clock one or the
American infantry regiments launched
a counter attack in the region of Condo.
(The town of Condo, mentioned, is
probably Conde-En-Brie, which lies
about ga miles south Of the Marine
and eight miles southeast of Chateau
Thierry.) SH -
Reports received here shortly after
II a. m. on the fighting to the east OF
Rheims said that the enemy up to abouti
an hour previously had made no prog
fress whatever there.
In the Condo region, however. before
the American counter attack, the Ger
man advance appeared to have eliminat-
ed the river salient. Zee
In their attack on the Marine front
the Germans threw many bridges across
the river. over these the Germans are
passing under a whitening fire from the
artillery. The German progress is be-
ing stayed by the machine gunners. ~
The Germans succeeded in crossing
the river at three places-at Mezy, at
Jaulgonne and at La Bretonnere farm
north of Fossoy. (Fossoy is four miles
east of Chateau Thierry; Mezy is two
miles northeast of Fossoy? Jaulgonne
is the same distance northeast of Mezy.)
The Americans and their French conf
rades have resisted the enemy TO the
utmost and are continuing this charac-
ter of resistance.
Word received here shows that the
enemy also launched an attack east of
Rheims, but on the sectors on that front
on which French and Americans ars
fighting side by side, the positions are
reported intact.
The American machine gunners here
let the enemy come close TO their posi-
tions and then opened a deadly fire into
the advancing close formations of Ger
mans. ~,
The operation at Vaux appeared to be
a feint, for soon after it began the Ger
mans attacked all along the Marine,
where they were calamity. opposed by
more of the American troops and the
French.
The first crossing was made at the
peak of the big river bend. The Amer
lean machine gunners and infantrymen
fought and died where they stood here.
Others of the American troops with
drew strategically as the enemy attack
ed from east of Chateau Thierry to
along the Marine, east of Dormans, maxi
ing additional crossings.
At 1920 o'clock this morning the
long range bombardment was becoming
more intense.
The day opened sunny, but low clouds
are now scurrying over the battlefield,
threatening rain.
The German offensive come after a
most violent bombardment of high ex-
plosives and gas shells throughout the
night. The American troops sought shell
ter wherever it was available. When the
enemy infantry appeared, the Americans
swarmed out and met the attackers with
a rain of machine gun bullets.
The Americans wore their gas masks
as they fought the attacking Germans.
An enemy bombardment of towns in
the rear of the line began shortly after
o'clock a. m.
The latest reports say the Americans
are holding their own in the fighting,
maintaining their posluons.
Heavy shells from German naval
guns are falling in regions far behind
the actual battle area, many of these
projectiles having fallen in the city OF
Meaux, % miles from Chateau Thierry.
In many of these towns the German
shell fire is constant, the projectiIes be-
ing from ten and twelve-inch naval
guns.
Reports from American advance posi-
lions said that the American troops
were handling the enemy we'll" in the
desperate fighting which is continuing.
At this hour it had not been determined
how the battle in the vicinity of Vaux
was progressing. The whole line In
both directions from that town was
dense with smoke and gas fumes The
roar of the canonade was punctuated III
the few intermissions with a terrific din
OF machine gun and rife fire, which
seemed OF the hottest character in Vaux
itself
Oficial reports relative to the grand
offensive begun this morning against
the allied positions shows that it is
the most ambitious stroke since March
q, when the Germans launched their as
CONTINUED On Page 3, Column 81.
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