Evening journal., 1918-07-24
BY FRED S. FERGUSON,
Sfaff Correspondent.

UnitedPress STAFF Correspondent.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMIES IN
FRANCE, July 2i-(s.50 A. M.)-Des-
pite orders TO hold to the death, the
Crown Princes rear guard is being
forced to give way before the Allied at
tacks along practically the whole bat
tlefront.
Prisoners declare the units Of the
rear guards were ordered to remain at
their posts and hold of the Americans
to the last. Before the violence OF the
American assault. they are being wiped
out or taken prisoner.
The advance is proceeding cautiously
at all points, however, owing to the
great mass Of German reinforcements
and their increasing resistance. On
many sectors the battle occasionally
loses all resemblance to a rear-guard
action and appears as though the Ger
mans intended 10 make a permanent
stand. New German reserve divisions
are being constantly identified.
The bitterest fighting Is proceeding
north Of Jaulgonne. where the Ameri-
cans are enlarglng their bridgehead.
The Americans are pressing north
ward along the main road from Cha
teau-Thierry TO Fere-En-Tardonis, in
the region Of Epids -four miles north
east OF Chateau-Thierry), harrying the
enemy retirement toward Fere-En-
Tardenols, one Of their principal COM
munication centers. In this region our
forces captured Marie farm, an impOr-
tant strategic point.
An American unit found the Boches
had established machine guns every
ten yards near this point. The Ameri-
cans massed as though for frontal at
tack. While the Germans attention
was centered on these forces, Other
Americans made a wide encircling ana
suddenly charged the enemy from
both tanks. They were taken com
pletely by surprise and surrendered to
escape slaughter.
Everywhere are the most impressive
and unusual scenes. French and
American soldiers are fishing In the
Niarne at points where the Germans
so recently crossed the river. Ameri-
can troops, wagons and guns continue
10 pour across to the north bank. In
covering activities, American cOntin-
tingents passing through Torcy, b0ur-
ches, Chateau-Thierry, NauX ana othei
historic points, which a week ago were
held by the BOches.
The results Of heavy artillery IRE are
seen everywhere-dead Boches. dead
horses, smashed wagons, wrecked
houses and trees snapped on IKE
matches. Beyond Chateau-Thierry
saw a potato patch with the most oi
the crop blown out Of the ground Dy
shells. In the midst OF the patch was
a shallow German dugOut covered over
by the footboard and headboard OF a
bed taken from a nearby house. The
Boche occupants had left blankets
coats and other equipment In their
flight.
The villages north Of the Marne are
badly wrecked and display shell freaks
that remind one OF the queer pranks
PLAYED by our American tornadoes. One
she'll hitting the side Of a house tore
of the wall that served as back OF
cupboard The dishes stood revealed
on the shelves untouched. Along the
road near the river, which was held by
the enemy a few days back, ! saw
prisoners at work filling in shellhOle:
and smoothing the way for American
wagons and guns.
! Ine AlneIlCdus are III tn0 "i-ip'
spirits despite the fact that they arr
literally snatching their food and res
on the run.
Two doughboys bringing in tw'
Boches forced the latter to carry
captured machine gun. Then they de
cided their packs were getting heay!
and made the prisoners carry them. En-
route TO headquarters they came upol
two dead Germans.
81 think the Boches ought to bur,
their own dead, don't you2" asked on
OF the doughbOys.
"Sure," answered the other.
Whereupon, they set the two pris
oners at work digging graves.
The morale Of the Boche prisoners !
very low. They are astounded at tn