FINE WORK DONE BY AMERICANS ON MARNE FRONT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16872, 10 June 1918, Page 5

FINE WORK DONE BY AMERICANS ON MARNE FRONT

MACHINE-GUNNERS AID FRENCH TO ROUT ENEMY.

FIRST ACTION FOUGHT IN VALLEY OF THE OURCQ. Australian and N.Z. (Received 5.20 D.m.). LONDON, June 7.

A typical American episode, just disclosed, occurred at Jaulgonne, where the French were holding the northern edge of a loop on the Marne. The Germans succeeded in throwing across 22 light bridges, each allowing two men to walk abreast. A battalion of infantry succeeded in crossing and forming a bridgehead in the railway station, assisted by six machine-guns. The French ordered a counter-attack. The cavalry made a frontal attack on the station while the infantry ere attacking in the rear. Both assaults failed owing to the German machine-gunners, until American machine-gunners came into the fight, supported the frontal attack and enabled the infantry to strike the German rear. A few Germans escaped by swimming the river, .'nd also two boatloads of 40 men got away. The French and Americans took 100 prisoners and a number of machine-guns. The remainder of the German battalion was destroyed. The French are enthusiastic at tH splendid bravery and self-sacrifice the Americans displayed both at Jaulgonne, and also in wood fighting at Veuilly la Poterie, where American machine-gunners enabled the French to surprise a German detachment and rout it.

R<uter - (Received 5 5 p.m.). LONDON, Juno 7. Reuter's correspondent at French headquarters, writing on Thursday, states: The first of the American infantry engaged in the battle took part in the defence of Neuilly Wood, on the south bank of the cc l- On June 3 they left for the front in the highest spirits, resolved not to yield an inch of French ground. That morning the Germans crossed the railway running down the Ourcq Valley, took the village of Ressons, a mile from Neuilly St. Front, and also the height to the south. They advanced in strong force against our line at Neuilly *>ood, the object being a footing in Marigny Wood, south of Neuilly. The French and Americans took up positions south of the wood, the Americans being on the left. When the Germans came within range Americans opened a flank machine-gun fire, causing very heavy losses. The Germans halted to rally, when their rout was completed by a French counter-attack which put them to flight.