Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-18
AMERICAN SERGEANT
BRINGS IN BIGGEST
BATCH OF PRISONERS

fie fighting. Attacks and counter at
taeks and eounter-attacks follow each
other in bewildering succession and are
accompanied by unprecedented artillery
fire.
(This shows the Americans are hold.
ing an unbroken front of more than 90
miles south of the Marine. From Cha
teau-Thierry eastward to Mezy, five
miles east and north of Chateau Thiarry
the Germans have pushed back across
the river and have not attempted to re-
cross. From Mezy southeastward to St.
Agnan, a distance of six milas, the Am.
orleans apparently are opposing the bo
ches alone. From there eastward and
northeastward they are brigaded with
the French. LaChapelle- -Monthodon is
two miles directly east of st. Agnan.
Comblizy is four miles northeast Of La
Chapelle-Monthodon. LeMesnil- Hutier
is about four miles farther to the north
east and about two miles south Of the
, Marne.)
The American ability and dash in re-.
sistilg attacks and in counter attacking
has won the highest praise from the
French officers. American bravery and
initiative and French experience and gal.
lantry, coupled with the most excellent
artillery support, both by French and
American guns, is what has held up the
boches.
Along the Mont-Mirail road, which
the enemy expected to hold today, old
men and women were peacefully work
ing in gardens. The stoppage of the
Germans by the Americans east Of Cha,
tcap Thierry upset the enemy program
of operations toward Mont -Mirail.
The attack today was centcring its
efforts against the French on the Am.
eriean right, in an apparent effort to
reach Epernay.
Regiment Wiped Out.
! AS an instance of the German losses
prisoners said the American artillery
wiped out one entire regiment before it
was able to cross the Marne. OF a
group Of six boats, each holding twenty
men, five were destroyed. The famous
Sixth Grenadier regiment was utterly
annihilated, every man being killed or
captured. Three German divisions 1885,
OU0 men) were so demoralized that they
have not appeared in the battle Since
| the first day.
Extraordinary weather has marked the
battle daily. Seorching sunshine has
been succeeded by cloudiness and ram
almost every hour with mOnotonous re-
gularity.
The latest information shows that As
German divisions 100000 mem are be.
irg used on the entire front.
American aviators have brought down
another plane, raising their beg to 81.
ven.
Brown S Great Exploit.
The fighting in the fields and woods
in the present battle of the Marine is
most unusual. Companies, platoOns aud
even groups of two or three men are
waging their own warfare in clearing
out the boches.
Sergeant j. F. Brown, separated from
his platoon, encountered the captain of
another company. Pointing out four
enemy machine guns, the captain said:
Let S get 'em.'
The pair charged the nests, seemingly
impervious to the hail of bullets, and
killed or captured the crews of two Of
the guns. The prisoners were in their
way 50 Brown turned them over to fhe
captain and cleaned up the other two
guns alone, taking additional prisoners
and smashing the pieces.
The captain had started back to the
American lines with his captives. Brown
followed some distance in his wake. The
sergeant encountered a comrade, Cor.
poral Pipp, who volunteered to guard
the prisoners. Brown readily agreed
as he had just caught sight of a shallow
section Of the trench, half filled with
dead bochcs. The other half was filled
with boehes too--very much alive.
Browns S automatic rifle had become
so hot that he could hardly hold it, but
he laid it across his arm and opened fire
on the trench, killing several of its oe.
cupants.
Orc of the men yelled kameradi"
'All right, come out, Brown replied
between shots. All of the Germans,
numbering nearly hundred, dropped
their guns and surrendered.
Brown and Pipp again started for the
rear and encountered other members Of
their platoon with prisoners. Brown
took charge of them all. The wood where
Brown and others had been fighting
was being shelled continuously. Once
Brown and Pipp were surrounded bui
they fought their way out with their
automatic rifles,
Al the edge of the wood Brown 8 com