The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-15
AMERICANS IN
COUNTER BLOW
BREAK DOWN
HUN ATTACK
Operation at Vaux Appears to
be Feint-U. S. Gunners
Fight and Dies Where They
Stand.
SALIENT IS ELIMINATED
(By Associated Press)

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE MARINE, July 15.-Reports from
Vaux this afternoon indicate that the
Americans had advanced their line
In this region In the face Of the deter.
mined enemy attack. The advance
extended distance Of approximately
700 yards, but the Americans subse-
quently withdrew to their original line
for stragetic reasons. Twenty-eight
Germans were taken prisoners in this
sector.
The American barage here broke up
the enemy waves and drove them back
In confusion.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE MARINE. July 15.-ln their at
tack on the Marine front the Germans
threw many bridges across the river.
Over these the Germans are passing
under a witherins fire from the artil-
Iery. German progress is being stay
ed by the machine gunners.
The Americans and their French
comrades have resisted the enemy to
the utmost and are continuing this
character of resistance.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE MARINE, July 15.--It is >clear
that the Germans attack in the Vaux
region completely broke down under
the American counter-attack. Furth-
er sharp fighting is likely to develop
in this area at any time. however
Word received here shows that the
enemy also launched an attack east
of Rheims, but on the sectors on that
front on which French and Americans
are fighting side by side. the positions
are reported intact. The American
machine gunners here let the enemy
come close to their positions and then
opened a deadly fire into the advanc-
ing close formation of the Germans.
The operation at Vaux appeared to
be a feint, for, soon after it began, the
Germans attacked all along the Marne
where they were gallantly opposed by
more Of the American troops and the
French. The first crossing was made
at the peak of the big river bend. The
American machine gunners and infan-
try men fought and died where they
stood here. Others of the American
troops withdrew strategically as the
enemy attacked from east of Chateau
Thierry to along the Marne, east of
Dormans, making additional cross
ings.
Shortly after IL o'clock one of the
ed a counter-attack in the region of
Conde.
Reports received here shortly after
II a. m on the fighting to the east
Of Rheims, said that the enemy up to
about an hour previously, had made
no progress whatever there. In the
Conde region, before the American
counter-attack, the German advance
appeared to have eliminated the river
salient.
At 11:20 o'clock this morning the
long range bombardment was becom-
ing more intense.
The day opened sunny. but low
clouds are now scurrying over the
battlefields, threatening rain.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE MARINE, July 15, $40 A. NJ
The Germans at daylight today
launched violent attack against the
American positions west of Chateau
Thierry, especially near Vaux.
The attack came after a most vio-
lent bombardment of high explosives
and gas shells throughout the night.
The American troops sought shelter
wherever it was available. When the
infantry appeared the Americans
swarmed out and met the attackers
with q rain of machine gun bullets.
The Americans wore their gas
masks as they fought the attacking
Germans. An enemy bombardment of
towns in the rear of the lines began
shortly after o'clock a. m.
S:55 A. M.-The latest reports say
the Americans are holding their own
in the fighting, maintaining their po-
sitions.
Heavy shells from German naval
guns are falling in regions far behind
the actual battle area. many OF these
proiectiles having fallen in the city OF
Meaux. % miles from Chateau Thierry.
In many of these towns the German
shell fire is constant, the projectiles
being from 10 and II inch naval guns.
Reports from American advance po-
sitions said that the American troops
were handling the enemy we'll in the
desperate fighting which is continuing.
sis a. NAT this hour il had not
been determined how the battle in the
vicinity of Naux was progressing.
The whole line in both directions from
that town was dense with smoke and
gas fumes. The roar of the cannon !
ade was puctured in the few intermis-
sions with terrific din of machine
goun and rifle fire which seemed of
the hottest character in Vaux itself.
In this locality 1t was not known !
whether the Germans in this attack |
had begun another offensive. but the !
intensity of the fighting indicated to
those near the scene that the opera
tion was a renewal of the general at
tack that had been expected. !