The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-01
SAMMIES WITH BAYONETS
DEMORALIZE PRUSSIANS

Sergy has changed hands nine times
in "a hours. That tells the story of
the bitter fighting when the German
command threw two fresh guard di-
visions against the Americans north
Of the Ourcq yesterday in an en-
deavor to put them back across the
stream. The result may be best told
by saying the Americans are not only
on the north side Of the Ourcq this
morning, but in position further ad-
vanced than when the crown prince
hurled the violent attacks against our
line early yesterday. At least one
German guard division was rendered
fightless for some time to come. Had
the Americans not held back the able
fighting Prussians, the French would
not have been able to make the ad-
vance north of Fere and also on our
right.
The Prussians and Bavarians now
trying to hold back the Americans
were brought hurriedly from the rear,
where they had been held to make
the attack against the English pre-
paratory to the crown princes grand
drive in August Thus the Ameri-
cans have put one more crimp in the
kaiser's plans.
IL should be a source of the great
Nest pride to America that their youth
| full soldiers were able to hold their
own against the kaiser's best shock
troops, which are the Prussian and
Bavarian guards.
At Sergy it was the American di-
vision that met the Fourth Prussian
guard division. The result speaks for
itself. As told in these dispatches
yesterday part of German plan was
to stand on north bank of Ourcq and
hold the Americans while the with
drawal behind the lines was made
more easily. The charge of the Amer
leans across the river Sunday in
which they took Serenge and Sergy
ind established themselves broke up
this part of the German plan. Early
yesterday morning the Americans in
Sergy were attacked by the Fourth
Prussian guard division, which ar
rived only few hours before from
the training areas in Lorraine. Over
bers the Americans had to withdraw
before the terrific artillery and ma
chine gun fire. But when the Prus-
slams got into the town the German
artillery could no longer shoot into
it, That gave the chanca for man
to man and hand to hand fight and
the Americans grasped the opportu-
nifty. They rushed back into the vii
lage against withering fire of the
machine guns, placed practically in
every building. When the charge was
ut its height, from building bearing
red cross. machine guns spoke with
telling effect But soon the Americans
got hand to hand with the Prussians.
In repayment for the deadly machine
gun work our men got their bayonets
into action and no German was yet
known to stand before bayonet with
an American behind it. In half an
hour they had possession Of the town.
Down came the German artillery
fire again and we had to retire. Into
the village came the Prussians and
when the artillery fire stopped back
went the Americans. Again we drove
them out. No sooner had we got into
J he village when back came the Prus-
:, ans. German aeroplanes rendered
their men great aid, sweeping close
to the ground and raking our lines
with machine guns. They also used
bombs against us. Neither side would
throw gas into Sergy for fear of get
ting their own troops. The fighting
went back and forward all morning.
First we had the village and then
the Prussians had it. Both sides made
advances from the edges of the wood
and retreated to that shelter. Finally
| just after noon when our turn came in
the village the American artillery got
down heavy barrage which caught
the Prussans and drove them
back. BY the time the boche came
again we were too strongly located
for them and the result of the bloody
battle is that we hold Sergy. Almost
the same story tells the fighting yes
terday for Seringes only the battle
was not so fierce and the village
changed hands five times instead OF
nine.
COINED krIrI kTsn TIrCIrNCA