The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-19

'TtnttnQ dru Pr0HShtn0 Association.
the front positions, small though they
were, fulfilled their duties with unex-
rected success. Nearly three hours
were wasted by the Germans before they
reached the combat line at o'clock in
The morning. Shattered by the counter
barrage though they were, the Ger
mans nevertheless strove manfully on
and attacked with determination that
won the praise and admiration of both
the French and Americans. One bat
talon of American infantry drove of
seven frontal attacks in four hours.
German Assaults Weaken.
AS the end OF the day came into
sight the German assaults became
weaker and weaker. less and less
rcsolute. until the next morning only
local attacks could be mustered by his
defeated and staggering forces. The
Americans, well satisfied with their
stand at a cost of $50 killed and 1850
wounded, had once more proved to the
Germans that to belittle was not to
defeat the men from the United States;
that high spirit invincble courage and
the pride of achievement which belongs
to troops more or less new to warfare,
even when not accompanied with a
wealth of experience, had an infinite
value in decisive warfare.
But to the west the Germans had
crossed the Marine, and on the Third
pDivision front from Mezy to the east OF
Chateau Thierry ANOTHER drama was be-
ing played. With Montmirail on the
Paris-Chalons road as the main OBJ
jective, the Germans had struck with
every arm from Mezy on the Marine
through Dormans up to the front of
Gen. Gouraud's army. The extreme
right flank of the German attack fell
upon the 18th and 3Sth Regi-
ments of tho Third American Di-
vision, who had been in the line since
the beginning of June. tremendous
concentration of artillery fire preceded
the attack.
Every area was well covered by the
Germans. Their artillery plans were
scrupulously thorough But the Ameri-
can and French artillery in this Sector
anticipated the Germans At a quarter
of an hour before midnight on the
14th they poured into the German
battery and front line positions a coun-
ter barrage of all available strength
with telling effect. At midnight the
German artillery fire commenced. Their
sighty-four batteries in this sector
plunged all their fury into the thirty
one batteries of the French and the
Americans. The result was that the
Americans faced a storm of shell that
threatened to wreck all their communi-
cations, isolate their lines and pierce
their front
Americans Await Attack.
But with a smiling "take-a &C chance
resolution the Americans awaited the
attack in front, while men struggling
with ammunition wagons. supplies and
artillery ali under the enemy fire, which
increasing with violence as the hour for
attack dawned, wrought untold epics in
the immediate rear. At 3 20 O'Clock the
German infantry advanced to the at
tack. With their ingenuity that never
tagged. the Germans had placed a series
OF steel platforms held up by cables
across the river.
About an inch thick. they were con-
cealed Just beneath the water but al
lowed perfect freedom OF movement for
advancing troops whose only trouble was
wet feet Canvas boats and the usual
pontoons were also employed all along
the river. which still shone clear and
glistening through the dust and dirt of
bursting shells and the smoke screen
with which the Germans covered their
movements. The French. under the
of fire. were forced to retreat To the
right of the Americans from Mezy east
ward along the river the French front
was driven in and left the right flank
OF the Americans exposed to enfilade
fire from the Germans.
1t was on this extremity Of the Ameri-
can line that the Germans attempted to
cross the river and in some places sue
oeeded. There is Z little farm by name
lie Ru Chailly farm. just north of Fossoy,
where the river turns TO Mont st. Pere
Near by there is a dam in the river
which affords risky and very pre-
carious crossing of the Marne. But the
Germans. undaunted by machine gun
and artillery fire, crossed in single file
although few OF those who set out ever
reached the other side As they crossed
they could look down upon the dead
bodies Of their comrades who. swrled in
the waters, were caught in the dam.
They succeeded. however, in reaching
the farm and took Fossoy, but as fur
ther progress was impossible they sud
denly turned eastward and, following
the bend of the river, reached Mezy,
Just north of them the Germans had
crossed in the arch of the river with
Jaulgonne as its summit.
They had also seized the heights TO the
east OF the Surnerlin River, which runs
south from the Marine. Thus from three
sides the Germans were pouring a pro-
miscuous fire into the Americans the
burden of which fell upon the Thirty
eighth Regiment under Col Ulysses
Grant McAlexander. The gap between
the Americans and the French became
wider and wider A desperate situation
demanded desperate measures. Either
there was to be a general retreat or a
stand to the death. The Germans, had
they been able to organize another at
tack rapidly would doubtlessly have
flung the Americans back and have
pressed on to Montmirail II they had
not succeeded in cutting off the Ameri-
cans altogether and found a clear way
to Paris should they have desired to go
there, But the Germans had few re-
serves. Their strength had been over
estimated Reorganization proved to be
impossible in face OF the American re-
sistance, and. happily, Col. McAlexander,
together with some units of the Seventh
and Thirtieth regiments, in spite OF
orders, fought a decisive action of his
own with all his finaks exposed
At s o'clock in the morning the Ger
mans were held on the American front
and disorganization. the result of the
failure OF their plans had begun to APP
pear.
The next day the Germans half heart
eddy renewed their offensive, but the
splendid stand OF the Americans had
broken the spirit of the Germans and
the plans OF their stan. and only a small