The sun., 1918-07-16

tect them from the fumes let loose by
the gas shells.
Shortly after 6 o'clock in the morning
the Germans suddenly brought into play
long ten inch and twelve inch naval
guns that shelled points far behind the
allied lines. Some Of the shells went as
far as Meaux, the railway junction.
which In twenty-five miles from the
scene of the German operations. On
many of the surrounding towns the shell
fire was constant.
They are handling the enemy WELL"
was the verdict passed upon the conduct
Of the Americans as they met the latest
Ludendorff programme with shell and
machine gun and cold steel.
Hottest Kind OF Action.
There was the hottest kind Of fighting
In the early Vaux attack. During the
few intermissions in the roar OF big
guns as both sides brought every ounce
OF weight and power into action. the ma
chine guns took up the refrain and made
a terrific din that gave plain indication
OF the severe character of the contest.
II was believed that the Germans
would try another attack near vaux, but
the Americans settled this problem by
taking the initiative and counter attack
ing. with the result that they drove Off
the enemy and advanced their own lines
several hundreds of yards
To the east of Rheims, where the
Germans opened n third attack within
a short time. the French and Americans,
fighting side by side. held their lines In
tact. and the advancing Germans got
here taste of the terrific machine gun
fire that their brethren were getting TO
the west along the line Of the Marne.
Along the point OF the salient the Ger
mans threw many bridges across the
river. Over thess their troops passed
under the most whitening fire Of the
artillery and the machine guns The
seventy wives worked havoc with the
masses as they came to the waters
edge to make the crossing attempt. Six
bridges were thrown over the river south
OF Jaulgonne. and the German masses
were pushed to them In rapid order.
Two direct hits on the pontoons we're
reported. and in both cases the bridges
were blown UP with everybody on them
Then came the advance OF the Germans
under sharp artillery aid and a great
smoke cloud which obscured them for the
time from view. Low visibility also
aided the enemy In his operations
Germans Flee From steel.
Southwest Of Jaulgonne the Germa rs
crossed the river with rush and
promptly started to night their way to
the south. having as their objective a
point about nine miles distant. The
Americans and French held I'D this adj
vance to such an extent that two hours
after the time set by the enemy for
reaching his objective he was still far
away from II.
frh
heroically. the American counter attack
was organized. Light artillery was hur-
ried into position. 1t concentrated a
heavy fire at short range. and when
this fire had ceased the American in
fantry dashed from cover and met the
oncomins Boche.
Machine gunners moved forward, and
lying on the ground poured a stream of
bullets Into tho enemy. The flerceness
OF the fire brought the Germans up
short. They would not face tho steel
and hesitatingly at first, finally broke
and fell back. Within three hours the
Americans had driven them two and a
half miles to the Marne.
The fighting continues with the great
est Intensity in the sector held by the
Americans, and II Is raging with almost
equal intensity on the right flank There
the French are reported to have deliv-
cred smashing blow against the Ger
mans.
From this sector OF tho battle front IL
appears that the German offensive, at
least for the time being. has been badly
shattered.
The Americans now command the
whole river front at tho bend At the
left OF the bend the famous German
Tenth Division has made repeated at
nil m roaka ~.