STRONG ENEMY RESISTANCE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 60, 2 August 1918, Page 3

STRONG ENEMY RESISTANCE.

HOW THE AMERICANS ADVANCED.

LONDON, July 31

Mr Campbell writes: Strong enemy resistance has become general south of Soissons.

The British are fully sharing in the fighting, and bore the hardest part in the simultaneous Bi'itish and French attacks at Grand Rozoy and Butte-de-Chalmont. The French captured the latter with ease, and with remarkably small losses.

The British, after taking Grand Rozoy, advanced to Beugneux, where the enemy were in a strong position and determined not to move. The first assault was met with a heavy artillery and machine gu n fire and checked. French onlookers describe the second dashing attack as wonderfully brilliant. The British climbed the slope over perfectly open ground and gained the woods facing their objective, important heights to the northward, not attempting a further advance. “The Times’ ” correspondent at American Headquarters states that the struggle at Sergy and Seringes was among the most intense and terrible in the Allied offensive. Its fierce fluctuations extended from Sunday afternoon until last evening, when the Americans were victorious at both points, Sergy changed hands iline times.

The Americans , approaching waded the Oureq river, but were slightly repulsed owing to heavy machine gunning. They awaited the artillery preparation, and then re-crossed and climbed the north bank. They ardently accepted the Prussian Guardsmen’s challenge, and four bitter swaying attacks and counter-attacks followed. German artillery of every calibre shared in the din. The enemy fought well, and ultimately the Americans saw the finely built Guards melt away. It is believed that the ferocity of the Germans is designed to gain time for the removal of valuable storcr, munitions, ana guns concealed in Nesles Forest.

Many American wounded were found at Sergy. The Germans had played machine guns into the church and the Red Cross buildings. The enraged Americans took few prisoners during the final stages of the fight. The defeated Germans hold the heights to the northward.