AMERICANS ON THE MARNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16909, 23 July 1918, Page 5

AMERICANS ON THE MARNE.

GERMAN ONRUSH MET. GREAT INDIVIDUAL DARING. A. and N.Z. (Received 8.85 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 18-Delaycd. The correspondent of tho New lork Times on the American front writes: The Americans aro holding all their gains between Chateau Thierry and Dormans. The soldiers displayed the greatest courage. A captain and 240 men were surrounded and reported captured. Later the captain, with 38 of the men, arrived. The remnant had refused to surrender, and fought their way back, despite overwhelming odds. The Germans were using 70 divisions. Tho morale of the picked Wurman divisions is lower than hitherto. Tho majority of the prisoners, who are from 19 to 20 yearn of age, are obsessed with tho idea that tho war will end in September, but expect peace by negotiation, not by a German victory. The airmen, who did splendid work, brought down six German machines in one day, and flew over the enemy lines, pouring a stream of lead on the infantry, on the roads, and on artillery trains, from a height of 600 ft. One American aviator returned with 17 bullet holes in his aeroplano. Never before was such artillery preparation made. Tho Germans not only deluged the front lines, but threw thousands of shells 10 to 30 miles behind our lines. The Germans kept up a terrific barrage fire, which was so perfect that the curtain of fire and steel moved backwards and forwards across our sector hour by hour. Simultaneously the Germans brought up 200 canvas boats in which 15,000 men crossed the Marne. Then the barrage lifted, and the Germans advanced bravely against our rifle and machine-gun firC. Meanwhile we perforated the boats and then counter-attacked, and drove the Germans backward until they reached the river. Several swam to safety, but others surrendered. Apart from moro than 1000 prisoners, we killed or wounded about 6000 Germans. The banks of the river were literally lined with German dead. Our losses were small compared with the Germans.