New-York tribune., 1918-07-07
Infantry Dash Sends Foe
Into Wild Disorder,
Pcrshing Says
Communication Cut;
Dog Only Messenger
More Germans Captured in
Chateau Thierry Region
and Raid Defeated

WASHlNGTON. July 6.-~The Ger
mans fed IN disorder from the Bois de
Ia Roche to the Bois de Rochets before
the charging American infantry during
the operations in the vicinity of Vaux
last Monday and Tuesday. General
Pershing reported in his communioue
for yesterday. received to-day at the
War Department. The hand-to-hand
lighting, the general said. was of short
duration.
Artillery fire in support of the Ameri-
can infantry was so effective, the state
ment said, the communication between
German battalion and regimental head
quarters could be maintained only by
single messenger dog.
The description Of the fighting
around NauN was given in the course
OF a narrative of events in the Vaux
sector, along the Marne. in Picardy, in
Lorraine ana in the Colmar sector dur
ing the early part of the week Artil-
lery, machine gun and aerial activity
was noted in nearly all of the sectors,
with an unusual movement behind the
enemy lines along the Marns There
also was heavy artillery fighting there
and near NauX, and in the Marine sector
enemy ammunition dumps were de-
stroyed by American artillery
The statement on operations yester-
cay told of the capture of Germans by
American patrols in the Chateau
Thierry region and the repulse of a
hostile raiding party and two enemy
patrols IN the Vosges
The statement follows:
Section A.-Our patrols again took
prisoners in the Chateau 1hierry re-
sion. In Picardy, Chateau Thierry
region, and in the Vosges there was
brisk artillery fighting. In the Vosges
hostile raiGing party end two pa
trolls. attempting to reach our lines,
were driven off.
Section Concerning the opera
tions of our troops in the vicinity of
Vaux, July l to July 2. it is stated
that the enemy fed In disorder from
the Bois de la Roche to the Bois de
Rochets before our infantry Hand
to hand fighting was of short duration.
So effective was our artillery fire that
communication between German bat
talions and regimental Headquarters
could be maintained only bv single
messenger dog.
Intense machine gun fire and a
heavy bombardment of the Clerem-
eauts Wood and adjacent points pre-
eeded the German counter attack. Some
gas was used. Hostile airolanes. which
made frequent flights, dropped bombs
on some of our advanced positions in
the early morning and in one case fired
on our lines. One of them was brought
down near Torcy In the German rear
areas long columns of men and wagons
moved from point to point, while dur
ing the night red and green rockets
gave signals, while searcnlghts kept
watch for our airplanes.
"In this sector between the evening
of July 3 and July acti.ity on both
sides greatly decreased.
Marette Wood Shelled
"The enemy, however, shelled the
region of the Marette Wood with gas
during the morning hours and put
down some harassing and interdction
hre IN our rear areas. Our batteries
maintained a continuous harassing fire,
-PPoAShSiy OCoIlOJ AI6 OIL
dump in Etrepilly and setting fire to
buildings in the enemy's rear areas. 1t
was again notable that the activity of
the enemy's air forces decreased, while
our own became more aggressive.
American snipers seemed to be sue
cessful in killing and wounding num-
Der of the enemy during the day. One
OF our reconnaissance patrols, consist
ing of a corporal and two men, crawled
from front linQQ north nf NQ11y ~
a house inside the German lines at
Bois des ROCKETS at O'Clock in the
afternoon. They captured a German
outpost of two men and brought them
back to our lines at 4 o'clock in the
afternoon, despite the continuous fire
OF German snlpers.
Our troops located along the Marne
at o'clock p. m. July 1 to p. m. on
July experienced comparatively quiet
day. There was, however, an increase
IN the enemy's rife and machine gun
nre, the result of our activities in pa
.rolilng. The enemy's light artillery
IRE consisted of shells of small calibre
decrease was also noted in the
enemys airplane activity, which was
concentrated on observation and recon
nnoissance work. These planes made
nights along our lines singly and in
usual patrol formations. Several hos
tile observation balloons were also
seen
Foe Busy In Rear
There was an unusual amount of
movement in the enemy's rear areas,
put no large groups were observed. A
'arge number of wagons were seen in |
lne vicinity Of Charteves. The enc
my's signalling continues excessive. |
here were several indications of hits
oeing made by our artillery on the |
ammunition dumps in the enemy's rear
areas. One of these occurred late in |
sne evening. when a large glare was
seen IN the sky and heavy explo-
;lon heard from a point which had
Later in the same vicinity an occa-
ssional glow was seen and reports we've
lneard. Our guns had been firing very