The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-08-06

fered a most determined resistanc,
and brought up fresh troops. but al
tho he delayed us for a dey, my con
victfon is unaltered that theh erman
have no intention of standing thi,
side of the Vesle.
Turnout Monday the enemy's ma
chine gunfire scarcely ceased, ever
when apparently none of our mer
were in the open. The fire swept
every bit Of cover where they Nigh,
be expected to be, and during the
morning was strongly backed by
artillery, whose fire slackened in the
afternoon, except at this hour when
our attack on Seringes is in progress
yards Recapture Sergy
1T was plain that the guard divi-
sion had been bitterly chagrined by
the loss of Sergy the previous even
ing, after four times having retaken
1t. Therefore, it was no surprise
when, shortly after dawn, they
launched fresh attack from both
sides, OF the southernmost angle of
the Nesles forest. The attack was
backed by field guns and with a rag
ged barrage on our second line and
battries, the enemy's gun positions
above Cierges being we'll placed for
q thanking fire, which the holders of
Sergy found most trying.
They were forced to withdraw
from 1t and fall back across the river.
The enemy was PERMITTED a few un-
pleasant hours of occupation during
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 gunfire
too accurate for their disappearance
was more rapid than dignified.
Huns Again Driven Out
LAS they fe4. back what one hopes
may have been the last American at
tack on Sergy developed. The
guards apparently had been shaken
by their last exploit and though in
a few instances they stayed to face
the bayonet, the fighting was less
desperate than the day before.
Shortly after they recaptured
Sergy, the Americans, who forced the
passage of the Ourcq overnight, ad-
up the narrow Galley dividing
the hill behind Sergy and after a
fight in which the bayonet and the
rifle butt were almost alone used,
took Mercy farm, about a mile up
the valley.
''This was preliminary to an at
tack on Servings, as from the fran
it was possible to outf1ank the Ser
ingees defenses 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.
Attack on Servings
The assaulting troops formed
upon the south side of the Ourcq
On open ground. The enemy opened
up on t hem heavy fire of artillery
and machine guns along the slopes
east and west of the river. The
ground in front of the advancing
ines was plowed by the enemy's fire
md the advance was ebscured by
clouds of dust from the corn fields
,hru which they were MARCHING.
Nevertheless the men forded the
liver with drill-like steadiness.
1T was wonderful performance
or any troops, astounding for troops
10 recently blooded, and as fine
est as any to which the American
lrmy has been put
1.-THE men went steadily up the |
lopes, silenced one after another the |
German machine gun nests, and
wept on to the top of he hill, then
wheeling eastward stormed the vii
age. 1t was fierce fight. There
vas no asking or giving quarter.
he enemy was stout-hearted and
he Americans glad to find him so.
hey wanted that sort of a finish
o their ordeal. Some of the Ger
1ans fed into forests. The remain
er are where they will remain-in
he village.
Capture Hill 212
"The last success of the day was
he capture of Hill 212, above Sergy,
hitch can now be I.eld on much Sc
urer terms.
30 once more, the line is re-es-
ablished, altho the Germans are
I'LL apparently holding the pocket
Cierges, from which it seems no.
ody has yet turned them.
some progress may be looked for
,day. 4he forest lying right ahead
our advance will take some clear
lg. Prisoners say the enemy Is
aking elaborate preparations to
Old it, one of his best regiments
cling detailed for the task. Troops
ere seen this morning marching
to Nesles, little village lying be- t
w the forest. I
Prisoners report severe losses!s '
wO stretcher bearers say their COM
my went into action with reduced
lmbers and that this morning the 4
lieutenant told them 9
at only thirty men were left, while
lring this mornings fight, all the s
thirty were killed. AL t
ost all their casualties, the prison. @
s said, were from rife and machine h
IN fire. n
The enemy is still retreating, but 7
is very plain that we have slow f
Dirk before us. t.