Evening star., 1918-06-11
Smash Forward TWo-Thirds
of a Mile in BelIeau
Wood.
u. s. DEAD IN PILES,
SAYS GERMAN REPORT
Sharp Defeat for Uncle Sans Boys
in Sanguinary Fighting Claimed.
Naval Brigade" Mentioned.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
WITH THE AMERICAN
ARMY IN FRANCE, June TO-
The United States Marines at
tackled the Germans after day.
break this morning and pene-
trated the German lines for
about two-thirds of a mile on a
6OO-yard front in the Belleau
wood, northwest of Chateau
Thierry. The Germans now
hold only the northern fringe OF
the wood. The Americans cap
tured two minenwerfer, which
are the largest pieces yet taken
by them. 1t is expected that one
will be sent to Washington and
the other to Annapolis.
Major Takes Prisoners.
Maj. Edward J. Cole, commanding
the machinAG azaaaanAt1alka
several German stragglers during the
early stages of the attack. Numerous
machine guns, it is believed. will be
rounded up in the woods.
The 9Th and 23d regiments of in
fantry. comprising what is known as
the Syracuse brigade, hold the ground
on the right Of the marines, at the
point Of the front nearest Paris. This
is the second time the Syracuse bri-
gade has held the point on line near
est the capital. the former occasion
being at the offensive, when the al
lies were still falling back and the
9th and 23d went in at Coulomb for
a short time. The 23d captured ma
chine guns June 9, while supporting
the attack by the marines.
Guns Active on Tou1 Front.
On the American front northwest
of Toul the artillery fire was fairly
heavy last night and today. There
has been normal aerial activity.
Otherwise nothing Of Importance has
taken place.
Lieut.. Edgar Lawrence Of Chicago,
altitude of 1000 meters last Wednes-
day, forty miles behind the front. He
was instantly killed. The cause of
the accident is not known.
Claims American Defeat.
AMSTERDAM. June 1.-THE semi
official Wolff bureau of Berlin COM
ments. in a message dated Monday,
upon American operations along the
front between the Marne and the
Ourcq. claiming the defeat of the
Americans in sanguinary fighting. A
conspicuous part is attributed to an
American naval brigade" and it is
claimed that successive waves of
Americans attempting to carry Bel
leau wood were virtually wiped out
tillery fire. which was withheld until
the American troops were close at
hand. The dispatch reads:
For tho first time. an American
division advanced on June Z to the at
, atck on the front northeast OF cha
teau Thierry.
"The hottest point was Belleau wood.
where a German regiment inflicted
severe losses. 1t repulsed the Amer
leans, who got as far as the edge of
the wood. in a fight at close quarters
with hand grenades and bayonets,
nevertheless, parts Of an Ameri-
can division. notably a naval brigade.
advanced again to the attack at dawn
on June 8, in successive waves. We
allowed the enemy to approach closely.
Near the edge Of the wood they were
caught in front and on both tanks
by a whitening machine gun and ar
tillery fire. Only few of the Amer
dcans escaped by surrender or bv
hasty flight toward the rear. Heans
of American dead lie on the front of
Belleau wood"
What Americans Have Done.
LONDON. June 11-what the
American forces have Accomplished
in France during the first eleven
months Of their participation IN the
war Is described in an authorized
dispatch from a special corresnond-
| ent Of the Times. The Americans, the
writer says, are rapidly comnIe,in a
the longest and greatest scheme nf
communication ever used In warfsrs
After fortnight of solid travel "
he continues. Il am convinced that
what the Americans have acenm .
plished will rank in history as onA
of the greatest achievements ~ ths
war.
For instance. out of the waste
lands adjacent to an old French porr
they have constructed splendid line
| of modern docks where shins az
daily discharging men. war mater1ai
cars and machinery.
"a huge new warehouse system a, th,.
point is nearing completion In additinn
to motor parks. cold storage plants and
200 miles In length. In the car assens
bling shops steel cars are being nut
together at the rate Of complete train
each day.
10000 Bed Hospital.
Work Is proceeding rapidly m
new 20.0o0-bed hospital, the largest vet
to be constructed. There also are an
1Continued on Second Pro-