The Mena weekly star., 1918-08-08

nre scarcely ceased, even when ap- parently none of our men were in the open. They swept every bit of cover where they might be expected to be, and during the morning were strongly backed by artillery, whose fire slackened in the afternoon, ex- cept at this hour when our attack on Seringes is inprogress.
 'It is plain that the guard division had been bitterly chagrined by the loss of Sergy the previous evening, after four times having re-taken it. Therefore, it was no surprise when, shortly after dawn they launched a fresh attack from both sides of the southernmost angle of the Nes- les forest. The attack was backed by field guns and with a ragged barrage on our second line and batteries, the enemy's gun positions above Cierges being we'll placed for a fanking fire, which the holders of Sergy found most trying.
 They were forced to withdraw from it and fall back across the riv- CT. The enemy was permitted few unpleasant hours of occupation. dur ing which he did his best to improve the defenses and daringly brought some field guns to the brow of the hill above it. But these apparently found the price of their daring much too high and the American gun fire too accurate. for their disappearance was more rapid than dignifed.
 "As they fell back what one hopes may have been the last American att tack on Sergv developed. The guards. apparently, had been shaken by their last exploit, and tho in a few instances they stayed to face the bayonets, the fiphting was less desperate than the day before.
 Shortly after they recaptured Sergv, the Americans who forced the passaee of tho Gurcq over nieht, ad- vanced up the narrow valley dividing the hill behind Sergy, and after a fght. in which the bayonet and the rife butt were almost alone used, took Mourcy farm about 3 mile up the valley.
 This was preliminary to an at tack on Seringes, as, from the farm, it was possible to outfank the Ser inges Gefenses and approach them by less steep ascent.
 "The enemy held Seringes in great strength. The village was also pro- tected by machine gun nests on either side. The attack was an al- most incredible affair for the cool ness with which it was carried out and for the mere fact that it could be done under such conditions.
 "The assaulting troops formed up- on the south side of the Ourcq on open ground. The enemy opened up- on them heavy fire of artillery and machine guns along the slopes east and west of the river. The ground in front of the advancing line was plowed by the enemy fire and the ad- vance was obscured by clouds of dust from the cornfields thru which they were marching. Nevertheless the men forded the river with drill-like steadiness.
 "It was wonderful performance for any troops, astounding for troops so recently blooded, and as fine a test as any to which the American army has been put.
 "The men went steadily up the slopes, silenced, one after another, the machine gun nests, and swept on to the top of the hill, then wheel in geastward stormed the village. It was fierce fight. There was no ask ing or giving quarter. The enemy was stout-hearted, and the Ameri- cans glad to find him so They want ed that sort of a finish to their or deal Some of the Germans fled into Nesles forest. The remainder are where they will remain--in the yil- lage.
 "The last success of the day was the capture of hill PIP, above Sergy, which can now be held on much se- curer terms.
 "So, once more the line is re-es- tablished, altho the Germans are still apparently holding the pocket at Cierges, from which it seems nobody has yet turned them"