The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-06-05
MACHINE CUNNERS
WITH AMERICANS
MADE fine STAND
Hurried to Fighting Line in
Motor Lorries Hold Off
Fierce German Attack.
MADE DEFENSE OF
CHATEAU THIERRY
Showed Courage and Deter
mination of Veteran Sol
diers in Their Work.

London. June 5-The part played
by the American machine gunners in
the defense of the Chateau Thierry
bridges is classed by Reuters cor
respondent at French headquarters
as worthy to stand with the achieve
ments of the American infantry re-
Gently at Cantigny, on the Amiens
front Telegraphing under date of
Monday, the correspondent writes:
"On Friday, when the Germans
were already in the outskirts of Cha
teau Thierry, an American machine
gun unit was hurried thither in mo-
tor lorries. Chateau Thierry lies on
both banks of the Marine, which is
spanned by big bridge.
1.-THE Americans had scarcely
reached their quarters when news
was received that the Germans had
broken into the northern part of Cha
teau Thierry, having made their way
through the gap they had driven
through our lines to the left of the
town and then pouring along the
streets to the. bridge, intending to es-
establish themselves firmly on the
southern bank and capture the town.
THE American machine gunners
and French colonials were thrown
into Chateau Thierry together. The
Americans Immediately took over the
defense of the river bank, especially
the approaches to the bridge. Fighting
with their habifuaI courage and using
their guns with an accuracy that won
the highest econiums from the
French, they brought the enemy to a
standstill.
Already wavering under the
American fire, the Germans were
counter-attacked by the French CO.
lonials and driven from the town.
They returned to the attack the next
night and under cover of darkness
they crept into the town along the
river bank and began to work their
way through the streets toward the
main bridge. At the same moment a
tremendous artillery bombardment
was opened on the southern half OF
the town
when within range of the ma.
chine guns the Germans advanced
under the cover of clouds of thicE
white smoke from smoke bombs ii
order to battle the aim of the Ameri
can gunners. A surprise, however
was in store for them. They wert
already crossing the bridge, evidently
believing themselves masters of botH
banks, when a thunderous explosion
blew the center of the bridge and
number of Germans with it into tn
river. Those who reached the south
ern bank were Immediately captured
TN this battle in the streets, an6
again at night, the young American
soldiers showed courage and deter
. mination which aroused the admira-
ton of their French colonial com.
? rades. With their machine guns they
covered the withdrawal of troops
across the bridge before its destruc
{ ton, and although under severe firt
= themselves, kept all the approaches
. to the bank under rain of bullet!
which nul1ffied all the subsequent eff
forts of the enemy to cross the rive!
' Every attempt of the Germans tt
efude the vigilance of the Americans
resulted in disaster to himself.
a Against their casualties the Amer
leans can set a much greater loss in
fhcted by their bullets on the enemy
They have borne their full part il
what French staff officer we'll quail
! flied to judge described as one Of tn
finest feats Of the war"