CORRESPONDENTS' MESSAGES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 1 August 1918, Page 5

CORRESPONDENTS' MESSAGES.

INCIDENTS OF HUN RETREAT,

SOME THRILLING EPISODES

IFIERCE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE < FIGHTING.

NEW YORK, July 30

The New York Times' correspondent on the American front states that the Germans retreated so fast that they abandoned hundreds of tons of ammunition. While the retreat Avas not a rout, American pressure played havoc with the Crown Prince's army. The Americans' charge across the Ourcq was a most thrilling episode of the fighting. The Germans Avithdrew to strong positions on the hills overlooking the river, and placed hundreds of machineguns and artillery in positions from which they had command of the ' stream. They also placed tAvo fresh Guards divisions opposite the Americans. The Germans also destroyed the bridges on the American left positions in the wood and on the river, but were driven hack hy the merciless machinegun fire of the Americans there. The Americans finally, bringing bridges, spanned the river -under the hea\ viest fire and forced the Germans to retreat to another series of hills. The Americans crossed the river in a dozen •place*. The Germans fired on the Allied stretcher-bearers while they were carrying the wounded across the stream, and German aeroplanes swarmed up behind a truckload of wounded.—Aus.- ---_\ T.Z. Cable Aesn. LONDON, July 31. An American headquarters report ■states that the struggles at Sergy and Seringes were amongst the most intense and terrific in the Allied offensive. Fierce fluctuations extended from Sunday afternoon until yesterday evening, Avhen tho Americans proved victorious at both points.

Sergy changed hands nine times. The Americans approaching waded over the Ourcq river, being slightly repulsed owing to heaA-y machine-gunning. They aAvaited artillery preparation, and then re-crossed, climbed the north bank, and ardently accepted the Prussian •Guardsmen's challenge.

Four bitter, swaying attacks and counter-attacks followed. German artillery of every calibre shared in the din. The enemy fought Avell, but made no headway. Ultimately the Americans saAv the finely-built Guards melt aAvay.

It is belieA-ed the ferocity of the Germans was designed to gain time for the removal of valuable stores, munitions and guns concealed in the Nesles forest. Many of the American Avounded found in Sergy had been bayoneted. The Germans had placed in position their machine-guns in a church and a Red Cross building. This so enraged the Americans that they took only a few prisoners during tho final stages* of the fight. The defeated Germans hold the heights northward.-—Times Service.