The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-08-01
FIGHT FOR EPIEDs
TYPICAL OF WAR
THE THIRD TIME THE AMERICANS
WALKED IN uNoPPosED.
THE ENEMY IS STILL STRONG
2o5 Divisions of 10000 Each, on West.
ern Front-Positive Evidence
That Hun Airmen Were Order
ed to Bomb Hospitals.

ed to Bomb Hospitals.
London, July 27.-American troops
met and conquered the enemy in ire
mendous combat in the region of Ep-
ieds and Trugny, says Reuters cores
pondence with the American troops in
France. German infantry which had
been pushed back from the Marine was
hurried forward to check the Franco
American thrust toward Fere-en-Tard-
enois from the southwest.
The Germans fought well and check.
ed the advance for some thirty-six
hours and three times wrested the vii.
lage of Epieds from their determined
American opponents. In the meantime
the village grew constantly smaller
under the ceaseless bombardment
from both sides and finally disappear
ed, not even a large pile of bricks be-
inc left behind.
When the village disappeared the
Germans were in possession. The
Americans, tired of the ceaseless ebb
and flow of the fighting there had TAX
en- the slopes on either flank and
forced the Germans to make their final
massed attack into the ruins of the
village.
Meanwhile the Allied guns had been
brought up beyond the crest of the hill
and as soon as the Germans took POS
session Of the village they concen
irated Il terrific fire upon it until the
place smoked with its own red dust
ae though afre When the guns ceased
frine there were no Germans left to
capture or even to bury.
The Enemy Is Still Strong.
With the French Armies, July 81
Trustworthy information shows that
the Germans are still capable of max
ing great effort to crush the allies in
offensive action despite the terrible
losses their armies has suffered this
year The enemy has on the western
front between 20b and 210 divisions
each 100000 fighting men strong. be
sides divisions watching the Russian
situation and others stationed in the
interior of Germany The greatet pre-
sent concentration of enemy troops is
along the front extending from Vic
sur-Aisne to Rheims. where more than
forty of the choicest divisions are
massed. Along that front their need OF
men is the greatest.
Ordered to Bomb HOSPITALS.
Chicago, July 27.-The Daily News
is in receipt of the following cable
gram from Junius B. Wood, its special
correspondent: With the American
Army on the French Front, July 81
AviatorS have been ordered by the
German high command to specialize
in bombing hospitals. according to
declaration. made by a German flyer
shot down and captured by the Amer,
leans near the scissors end of the 80
Eilometer (seventy-eight mile) front
His statement is the first confirmation
Of the theory that bombing hospitals
is part of a we'll worked out policy
Germans Lose Pivot Town.
Paris, July 27.-The fall of Oulchy
le-Chateau takes from the Germans
the pivot upon which their retirement
further south has been swinging. Its
loss of the enemy who defended ii
stcrnly, is serious blow.
The French official statement says
that the allies have advanced eastward
of this town, which would bring them
to the vicinity of Hill $50. which is
the dominating height in that region
and III would give the allies an
observation point over long reaches OF
the Ourcq as well as both banks OF
that stream.
Hun Dead in Heaps.
With the American Army on the
Marine Front, July 27.-The American
troops advancing along the Marine
have discovered hundreds of dead Ger
mans. The victims fell before the
heavy machine gunfire of the Amer
leans during the retreat. In one horse
shoe area the ground was covered with
dead. The Americans buried as many
bodies as possible It is estimated thai
1000 Germans fell there.
Farmers along the Marine report,
having seen the bodies Of German
dead floating down the stream.