The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-02
CLASSIC FIGHTING
SEEN AT SERVICES
Americans Took Full Measure
of Prussian Guard.

LONDON, July 81 (uelayeu - uesuay
was a day OF sheer. hard. in and out
lighting on the American front, tele-
graphs Reuters correspondent on the
front north OF the Marne. He says that
the hnal capture OF Seringes by the
Americans was an especially creditable
achievement.
Since the Americans took the village
on Monday the Germans made no in
fantry attack on the place. but kept
up q constant artillery and machine
gun fre to drive them out. This con-
tinued all day on Tuesday. and toward
evening the enemy seemed to think that
the spirit OF the defenders might pos
sibly be broken and then they began to
emerge from the Nesles forest in a way
that seemed to forecast a fresh attempt
to take the village. or the fighting
which ensued the correspondent writes:
The Americans after three days Of
TO and fro fighting through villages had
learned subtlety and were determined
to have a real fight to q finish They
consequently withdrew as IL retiring
from Serlnges and the Germans crept
down, from the high ground convinced
they had the" opponents beaten. Ad-
ditional German troops came pouring
In until the village was occupied as II
never had been before.
Under Enhladlng Fire.
But as the new occupants began to
organize their defences they found that
bullets appeared to be coming in from
three sides of the village. and It was
not long before they discovered thai the
Americans. while withdrawing from the
front Of tho village, had commenced An
encircling movement on both sides. thus
forming ring almost completely
around IL.
Then came tragic fighting. The Prus-
sian Guard had voted not to surrender
and their opponents we're Just as anxious
to zee the thing through. II was an
AFFAIR Of small arms. but the Ameri-
cans proved to be better shots and sio WY
picked on men here apd there.
'c.Then the Americans began to ad-
vance and slowly their encircling ring
closed about II. As the ring drew closer
and the defenders saw their doom APP
preaching they redoubled their FIRE, but
still the Americans came on unfaltsr-
tngly. like storm or the unavoidable
stroke OF fate.
When the Americans reached the pre-
cincts of the village their fire ceased
and with one wild yell they closed with
the foe. The fierce uproar suddenly
gave place to a strange silence as man
grappled with man. Only the clash OF
steel on steel and the groans OF the
stricken could be heard.
THE Issue was never In doubt for an
instant. At this kind OF fighting the
American is more than equal to any
Prussian Guardsman, and in a little
more than ten minutes all was over
Except for a few German prisoners
every German in the village had breathed
his last. Such was the Anal capture Of
eeringes.
During the night the enemy had
twice attempted to retake Sergy but
each time he was repulsed with heavy
losses. Then he made q fierce assault
on Meurcy farm. east of Seringes. which
was piled with the dead which he had
left there the day before. when every
man defending II died at his post There
again the enemy was unsuccessful,
though not until steel had crossed steel
in the big farmyard and the heaps of
German slain had been doubled in the
ruins about II.
This was classic fighting indeed
man against man and the better to win.
There was no call for quarter. The
yride Of the professional soldier was up
against the pride OF the freeman, both
'preferr!ng death to surrender.
German AirpInnes Aid.
lnt tne eN-
tended still further eastward, and in
every case the Germans who attacked
were annhilated. Later came the at
tack on Seringes and an attempt at the
eame time to drive the Allies from Hill
1877, west OF Seringes.
There for the first time since the AL
lies crossed the Ourcq the Germans may
he said to have definitely taken the Of
fensive.
"All through the days fghting the
enemy's airplanes attempted In the
most daring manner TO assist In the
battle. Early In the morning six enemy
planes succeeded in penetrating as far
az La Croix Blanche farm, near La
Fere forest They swooped down close
above the roads In the valley and fred
upon allied troops.
Members OF the Prussian Guard who
were taken prisoners state that their
orders we're to hold the line at all costs
and well they obeyed All three OF
their battalions were apparently in the
line on this memorable day, which end
ed everywhere In victory for the Allies
although there was no great gain OF
ground.
During the following night ground
near Cierges was captured by the
Americans. This advance will make II
possible for the troops in this sector
10 join hands with the conauerors OF
tSArEy and SerinRes"