"Worse Than Hell."

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13948, 29 July 1918, Page 3

"Worse Than Hell."

STORIES OF THE MARNE. PRAISE FOE SAMMIES. GREAT FIGHT IN THE DARK. ('‘The Times. ”) ,LONDON, July 15. Mr James Campbell, " Times” correspondent with the French \rmy telegraphed yesterday as follows: Worse than hell,” is ii... description of the crossing of the Marne west of Dormans given in a captured German pigeon message. The first troops crossed on light bridges and in a few boats, and when established on the south bank, used pontoons. The mist impeded the French bombing squadrons, but throughout Afonday they continuously attacked the enemy's bridges, and masses of his infantry concentrated in the woods north of Dormans, and Fossoy, inflicting heavy losses. The French and Americans holding the advanced posts kept up strong rearguard actions, but were compelled to fall back on their main line. The fighting was particularly sever© around Neuilly, Couithlesy and Passy, and also north of the river between Ghatillon and Bouilly, where the Italians resisted very gamely. THOUSANDS SWIM ACROSS. _ “The Times” correspondent at American headquarters states that the enemy crossed the Marne under cover of a heavy bombardment with gas, ■weeping and mustard shells. Boats were used, but they were insufficient, and thousands plunged in and waded or swam across. The Americans rushed the railway parallel with the river, where a bloody struggle raged for two hours in. pitch darkness. The American machine guns lining the banks kept up a withering hail on the swimmers, killing many, while others wore swept off the bank and drowned. The Americans fought with magnificent. eagerness and valour, counterattacking with great dash. Officers and troops swept on driving back the enemy and capturing numerous prisoners, also copies of the “Kolnische Zeitung” of Friday, telling the German people not to worry about the million Americans in France; that only 10 per cent, of the effectives were in the firing lino. AN AVENUE OF DEATH. Mr Herbert Bailey, "Daily Mail” correpondent with the Americans, states that details emphasise the splendour of the American resistance. Although at first they were compelled to retire under a terrible hail of shells covering th© crossing, making roads and wmods aa avenue of death, nothing could stay th© magnificent, fury of their counterattack, delivering blow after blow, «». til the enemy precipitately fell back t© the banks. The American gunners deluged the river with thousands of shelly smashing and sinking pontoons, bridge© and boats, and completely shattering further efforts to cross. The greatest problem of the Americans was to get up ammunition and guns. The commander asked for volunteers, and every man offered. Numbers started on the journey of almost ceftailk death. All horses and some men wer© killed. Finally the gallant survivors pushed the trucks by hand to the artillery.

SAMMIES ARMED WITH TOMAHAWKS. While "the Amsterdam newspapers freely publish details of the growth of the American Army, the German press( still spoonfeeds its readers with contemptuous references, the object being to keep the people as long as possible in. ignorance of the appalling consequences of the High Command ’s capital blunder in dragging America into the war. The newspapers say that the Americans arc armed with shotguns, because they cannot shoot with rifles, and ere* the "Kolnisehe Zoitung” contributes to this campaign of depreciation, actually alleging the Americans are armed with tomahawks.