The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-16

FEARFUL SLAUGHTER Of GERMAN TROOPS
WHEN AMERICANS CUT Them TO SHREDS

cadrille of thirty-six airplanes
to attack the Americans with
a machine gun fire, while fly
ing low. Our doughboys turn
ed their automatic rifles sky
ward and actually shot down
one of the enemy machines.
The others were so badly STRAIT
ed that they fled.
The fighting was almost con-
tinuous throughout the day,
but toward evening the Ger
mans, thoroughly whipped for
the time being, called off their
infantry and settled down to
an artillery duel that was a bat
tie Of some magnitude in itself.
OVER 1000 PRISONERS.
[By Fred S. Ferguson, United Press
Staff Correspondent
| WITH THE AMERICANS ON THE
MARINE, July is "a a. m.)-Thrown
back across the Marne by the bril-
liant American counter attack, the
Germans had not renewed their infan-
try assaults up to the hour of ca
bling today.
| The sky was overcast and It was
duel, which continued all night, was
ctiIl ranin1 - IL
aerial activity, despite unfavorabIe
weather and great quantities Of
bombs were dropped on the rear areas
of both armies.
The American counter attack,
which cleared the river bend of the
enemy, resulted in the taking of be-
tween 1000 and 1900 prisoners, in
Guiding a complete brigade staff.
| Failure of the enemy to renew his
attacks may be significant, as infan
| try actions usually start before s
o'clock.
/ The German attack on the Marine
began yesterday at 8 a. m. Initial
attempts of the enemy to bridge the
river were frustrated by American
artillery and machine gun fire.
! AS the Boche fire was concentrated
on the American positions in the bend
Of the river, from three sides, our
men gradually fell back in perfect or
der and the Germans succeeded in
throwing six pontoons across.
Following the cIeverest dictates Of
strategy, the American retirement
continued until our men reached the
base of the salient created by the
bend in the river. There they halted
at 10 o'clock and resisted all efforts
of the Boche to disIodge them.
cooIy, despite the harrassing fire,
the officers began preparing for a
counter attack. Shortly after noon
it began. Slowly and methodicaIly,
as though executing some training ma
nouever, the Americans pressed for
ward Their advance was irresist-
able. They drove the Germans back
more than two kiIometers "a mile
and a quarter) before there was any
sIackening of the attack When 1t
did halt, it was voluntary.
The counter attack was resumed
after a brief pause. This time the
American assault was conducted with
an almost unbelievable ferocity. The
Boches were caught up in the cy-
cIonic rush and great numbers of
them were hurled bodily into the riv-
er.
Co-operation Of the American ar
tiIlerymen and machine gunners was
perfect. The eunners, firing from far
in the rear, dropped shells on the
enemy's pontoons with the greatest
accuracy. When the 5oches reached
the river bank they were compelled
to plunge in and many of them were
drowned. Others were caught In the
rain of shells and machine gun bull
lets and the stream was soon thickly
dotted with shattered bodies.
In some places, the Germans clung
ldoouedly to the south bank. Ameri-
can officers sent back word last night,
however, that they expected to drive
these Boches back across before
nornino. IL is reported, but not con.
frned, that this was accomplished.
The battle was one of the most re-
rarkabIe of the war. For ten hours
Intense sheIIing by guns of all cali
bre continued. Everything within
forty kilometers (25 miIcs) of the
front was sheIled, while the front
lines and organizations Immediately
j., the rear were subjected to the
aeroest deIuae of gas shells and nigh
explosives.
When the Germans attacked,
creeping barrase, five kiiometers
lrore than three mi'esN deep, swell p'
over the American and French lines
Behind this curtain of fire the Boches
crossed the river.
In addition to throwing over pom
.,rn. canvas boats and RATS ,eaGr
hoId,no a score of mer were snHt cp'
from the conceaIment of the wooded
banks, their occupants polling then