New-York tribune., 1918-06-27
German Snipers and Ma
chine Guns Are Busy
Along Entire Line
Many Shells Thrown
First Detailed Report Tells of
Operations Behind the
Enemy Positions

troops have been dong northwest OF
Chateau Therry since June 20, are con-
tanned in General Pershing's COM
for yesterday, received to-day
at the War Department. The COM
follows:
"Secton A-Therc have been no
fresh developments at points occupied
by our troops.
"Section B.-For our troops in the
Chateau Thierry region the twenty-four
hours from noon June 20 to noon June
u were quiet IS compared with the
many days of great activity which they
have recently experienced. The Ger
man artillery continued to shell both
our front lines and rear areas, dis
its fire rather impartially
over the sector. The Clerembauth and
Marette woods, Lucyle- e-Bocage, Tri-
all received their share. So did the
Paris road and our other principal
lines of communication, but the number
of shells used was moderate for this
locality and most of them were of
small or medium calibre.
Machine Guns Are Active
f"The fire was of various sorts, some
of the harassing sort directed against
our billets in rear areas at intervals
during the day and night, and some for
the obvious purpose of cutting our
communications. AS usual, some of the
lower and wooded areas were shelled
with gas, but high explosives and
shrapnel were frequent.
"Ihe German machine guns were
active against our lines, especially in
the vicinity of Bouresches, and snipers
were active near the edges of Belleau
Wood and around the Bouresches rail-
road station.
The enemy made one of his Gus
tomary attempts to ambnsh an Amer
lean patrol in the vicinity of Tafournay
Farm, but his ambush party was dis
persed by our fire. German airplanes
were active along our front, paying par
ticular attention to the right half.
"ln the rear Of the German line small
groups were seen in constant motion
passing along the roads between the
various farm towns and woods A con-
S siderable number of them appeared to
be carrying stretchers. Wagons, auto
mobiles and artillery caissons also were
IN constant movement, but in not more
than customary numbers.
Americans Advance Positions
Our own troops bore their full share
of the days activities, advancing and
their positions and returning
the enemy's intentions in the matter
of artillery fire. After burst Of fire
on cluster of woods number Of the
enemy were seen running away in all
All of our units sent out
patrols which effectively reconnoitred
the hostile positions.
'In the Chateau Thierry region the
day of June 21 to June 90 produced no
marked developments. In the absence
of infantry actions artillery played the
leading part The German artillery
was active in the same manner as on
the preceding days, and to a somewhat
greater extent. German airplanes were
also present in somewhat greater num-
bers.
"Gn the rear the same small groups
again were seen and once again our
artillery fire had marked effect, driving
back into the woods near Lucy Farm a
group of men who had attempted to
emerge. The German infantry seemed
to give most of its attention to the
Belleau Woods and to checking our
patrols.
German Snipers Are Active
cone of our parties southwest of
Waux encountered lively rifle and ma
chine-gun fire, and from the same
point there was considerable sniping on
our lines. Bouresches and the Belleau
woods again received special attention
from the German machine gun detach-
mo German oiro6 Nh y
positions Of the day before.
"Our troops, as usual, returned what
they received, both in artillery fire and
sniping, while our patrols were con-
tinually active.
During the day June % to June 23
our troops near Chateau Thierry eN
perenccd conditions quite similar te
those of the preceding forty eigh
hours. Woods, farms and villages were
again shcllcd, with the slight use o,
gas from time to time, and with occa
sional concentrations. The distribu
tion over the sector was again falrl,
the activity of the German artillery
was that of the German airplanes
which, in number of flights made wha
is almost record for activity over one
of our small sectors in a period o.
twenty four hours. During the lat,
evening one of our airplanes dropped
three bombs, which produced cratcrs O.
moderate size.
Troop Movements Reported
an addition to the movement O
small groups in the German rear areas
a column of troops ESTIMATED at abou
battalion and accompanied by com
bat wagons), was seen in motion dur
ing the early evening. At another tim,
two columns of troops, q battery,
number of caissons and several wagons
and automobiles were seen moving
along the roads. AT another spot
small group was very busy over fal
len airplanc
"The enemy is still busily improvin,
his wires.
"The German machine guns wer
somewhat more active than on pre-
ceding days paying great attention t.
cur patrols, both by direct and cross
fire. AS usual they also were directed
against Bouresches and Belleau Woods
They did not, however, prevent ou
troops from sending out numerous pa
trolls. Beside the customary actvit,
Of our own batteries. we made con
siderable use of mortars. Farm build
ings in the German rear area were seer
to burst into flames.
"On June % to 23 our troops soutf
of the Marne experienced the sam,
desultory shelling by the enemy a,
during the preceding days. The hostil,
g. + =. \