Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-30
HUN COUNTER ATTACK
STOPPED BY YANKEES
WITH HEAVY LOSSES
More Than Three Hundred
German Dead Are Found in
Single Ditch Between NeSIe
and Sergy
BIZ PRED s. FERGUSON

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMIES IN
FRANCE, July 2s-(12 Noon.)-The first
counter attack against the Americans
in any considerable force since the latest
German retirement began was made to-
day between Nesle and Sergy, a front of
more than two miles, east of Fere-En-
Tardenois. 1t followed a severe bonn
bardment of the whole line, but was
completely repulsed.
The Boches suffered severe losses
along the whole line. More than 800
German dead were found piled in a sim
gle narrow ditch.
The Americans captured a foot bridge
across the Ourcq, guarded by machine
guns, in a direct frontal rush. The re-
treating Boches were shot down as they
scurried up the opposite bank.
asked a wounded doughboy how they
cleaned up the nests. He explained:
when we rushed EN-, we'd yell: over
the top, fellows. Get EN-"
Then we'd run forward, firing. That's
ALL"
Gunners Are Killed
There are many additional prisoners,
but they include few machine gunners.
The Americans killed or wounded prac-
behind as sacrifices.
An intensified war of movement has
|, again set in with renewed momentum.
Armored cars are being used in recon-
naissance.
When the Americans approached the
Ourcq they were first held up by ar
| tulery and machine gun fire. A sharp
| fight ensued. Then the artillery came
up behind our infantry and the resist
ance was wiped out.
The Ourcq is narrow ard shallow. The
| Americans forded il. The first man
across was a New Yorker.
The general withdrawal from the bot
| tom of the pocket took place Friday
night and Saturday. German artillery
/ fire began TO decrease in volume, appar-
emily because of the movement of bat
teries to the north side of the Ourcq.
The Americans captured thousands of
rounds OF machine gun ammunition and
many very large dumps Of large and
small caliber shells along the north and
south road in Fere forest. Numerous
machine guns also were taken, but they
have not yet been counted
Wounded men returning from the fight
are in the highest spirits
Most OF their wounds are machine
| gun bullets through the arm or leg. All
OF them expressed regret at leaving the
| fgnt. They said that wherever the en-
| envy lines broke the Boches turned and
ran in an effort TO escape.
Prussia1 Guard Prisoners
| Prisoners include members of the
| Prussian guard who were shot out of
/ trees. where they we're operating ma
chine guns.
| American headquarters are kept jump
/ ing forward. One general this evening
/ was asked by an aide where his new
/ headquarters was. The general replied:
I'm sorry, but l don't know. 1
/ haven't had chance TO look"
A letter taken from a prisoner indi-
| Gates the Germans hope for a victory
this summer has passed ard that they
are already being equipped for another
| winter campaign. Other letters tell Of
/ the violence OF the American fire.
when they fire, il is like hail; we
think every hour is our last" said one.
A letter received by a soldier from a
| relative in Magdeburg said:
! 1T is clear we are being ftrampled
down. II the end does not come soon,
| some sort of an outbreak cannot be
avoided. l can't trust all my thoughts
| TO a letter.
| The excellence of our artillery fire is
! further illustrated by the capture of
| great numbers Of smashed locomotives
and other equipment. the Boches needed
| to facilitate their retirement All rail-
| ways and roads are under continual ar
/ tillery fire and airplane bombing.
May Retreat to Aisne
| The crown prince is rapidly retreat
| ing toward the Crise and Vesle rivers.
| and NAV fall back clear to Aisne. (The
! Crise flows fro ma point five miles
| northwest of Fere-en-Tardenois. north
! westward through scissors. The Eesle
I flows westward through Rheims. con-
/ verging with the Aisne. about six miles
| east of scissors. II forms practically
, a straight line between Rheims and
I scissors, passing Rheims about l
miles to the north.)
The Americans are continuing to ad-
vance northward and notheastward from
I Fere-en-Tsrdenois and are improving
the positions they took yesterday.
Fighting continues on the north bank
of the Ourcq at some points where the
German defenses were not completely
I wiped out
New Points Mentioned
Enemy artillery is heavily lombard
ing Seringes "a mile and a half east
OF Fere-en-Tardenois) Nesle 1.-TWO miles
east Of Seringes) and Sergy. There is
also heavy Boche machine gun fire from
Nesle forest Cnorth ana northeast Of
Fere-en-Tardenois).
CThe cable does not make clear
whether Seringes and Nesle have beer
captured or whether the Germans have
abandoned those towns and are firing