The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-17
GERMANS WILT
BEFOREU.S MEN
Later Reports Show Attack
Was Met With Furious
Resistance.
RECOVER LOST GROUND
Boats Used by Enemy in Cross
ing River Are Shattered
by Artillery.
RECOVER LOST GROUND
by HERBERT BAILEY.
Special Gable Dsspatoh TO TIE srS aid the
Public Ledger.

Special Gable Dsspdtch TO TIE srS aid the
Public Ledger.
Copyright. 1918: all rights ressrred
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE.
July l6.-Details are now at hand to
show what splendid resistance the Amer
leans offered yesterday from Fossoy to
Jaulgonne. along the Marine. The Ger
mans crossed the river at points under
the protection of the severe fire Of guns
Of every calibre. In addition to their
pontoons they crossed IN canvas boats,
each OF which held thirty men.
For some time their advance could
not be stayed and they were we'll within
the reach Of their first assigned OBJ
jectives, ahead of the time table they
themselves had laid out. The Amer
leans meanwhile. fighting in coopera-
ton with the French on their right.
steadily retired under a terrible hail of
shell that made the roads avenues OF
death and the woods nothing but
stricken trees.
Then came the counter attack. With
magnificent fury the Americans fell upon
the exultant enemy, delivering blow
after blow until the Germans retired
precipitately to the banks OF the Marine.
The American gunners covered the banks
Of the river with hundreds of shells.
Pontoon bridges disappeared and the can
vas boats became useless.
The Germans still persisted in their
attempts to cross. but were shattered
with shells and machine gun fire. Many
we're drowned and a large number. in
cluding the battalion headquarters, were
taken prisoners.
This morning the Germans were back
in the same positions from which they
started, very much shaken by the Amer
leans.
The problem OF getting ammunition UT
to the guns became one OF the severes'
for the Americana as the attack pro-
gressed. German shell fire made the
roads almost impassable. but when vol
unteers we're called for to take up shells
every man offered himself for the per
ilous task.
A number started on the journey thai
offered little prospect but death. They
had not travelled far when two horses
were killed by shell. The traces were
cut and the men moved on.
Thrice on the journey out the horses
were hit. but the men went on with what
ammunition they could carry. The return
was even more terrible than the out
ward trip All the horscs were killed oil
wounded. and the little band Of heroes
finishd their task themselves by push
ing up the ammunition trucks to the ar
tiilery.
At the time of the filing of this des
| patch a weighty counter attack Is II
progress against the Germans arount
| st. Agnan. Early this afternoon 81
Agnan, all Of Hin 223 and La Chapelle
| Monthodon had been retaken. The at
tack is progressing In a northerly direc
| tion.
The French troops have been fghtin
excellently. 1t Is evident that the enem
| is having considerable difficulty in thi
region. Al the same time Il Is certa!
that the plans OF the enemy in tn
Chateau-Thierry region have been shat
| tered.
The Germans attempted another raj,
on Vaux this morning. but were re
pulsed. On the eastern side of Chateau
Thierry there has been heavy artiller
fire.