WITH THE AMERICANS AT CHATEAU THIERRY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 261, 23 July 1918, Page 5

WITH THE AMERICANS AT CHATEAU THIERRY

STIRRING NARRATIVE OF DESPERATE BATTLE. - New York, July 17. The Now York "Times" correspondent mi the. American front describes how tho Americans fought Ihe Germans at Chateau, Thiovry in the opening stages of tho attack. Never before had there been such artillery preparation. Tho Germans not; only deluged the front lines, but threw thousands of shells leu to thirty miles behind our lines. Tho Oerniiins kept up a terrific barrage fire, which was «i perfect thai, a curtain of lire mid steel moved backwards and forwards over our sector hour after hour. Simultaneously the Germans brought up two hundred canvas boats, in which 15,000 men crossed the Manic. Thou the barrage lifted, and the Germans advanced bravely against our rille and machinegun lire. Meanwhile, wo perforated (ho !:oats, and then counter-attacked and drove the Germans backward until I hey reached tho river. Several swam across • safely and others surrendered. Apart from more than one thousand prisoners, , we killed or wounded about six thousand Germans. The banks of the river were Hterallv lined with German dead. Our losses were small compared with .hose of the Germans. Tho Americans are confident of their ability to repel the rest atlaek.-Aus.-N.Z. Cubic Assn. AMERICAN VALOUR AND DASH ' (Eec. July 22, 9.55 p.m.) (Delayed in Transmission.) New York, July 18. Tho New York "Times" correspondent on tho American front states: "The Americans are holding all gains between Chateau, Thierry and Dormans. The soldiers displayed tho greatest courage. A captain and 230 men were surrounded and reported to havo been captured. Later tho captain an tl3B men arrived. Tho remnant had refused to surrender and fought, their way back, in fpitc rf overwhelming odds. Tho Germans are using seventy divisions. The moral of the crack divisions is lower than heretofore. Tho majority of the prisoners arc from 1!) to 20 years of age, and oteessed with tho idea that the war will end in September, but they expect peaco bv negotiation, not by a German victory. The American airmen did splendid work and brought down six Gorman machines in one dav. They flew over the Boche lr.es, pouring a stream of lead on the infantry on" the roads and an artillery train from a height of 200 metres. One American returned with soventcen bullet holes in his areroplanc."—Aus.-N.ft. Cablo Assn. THE BRITISH COUP AT METEREN London, July 20. Mr. Philip Gibbs fays: "Tho capture of Metcren gives us good observation of the enemy ground. Tho garrison uere living wretchedly in cellars,-and our guns poui,ding above them made tho place hellish. Ine Germans are disillusioned men. They no longer believe in an easy victory."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE WAR IN THE AIR BRILLIANT RAID ON JUTLAND COAST. London, July 21. The Admiralty reports: "Aeroplanes from the Grand Fleet operating off tho Jutland coast on the l'Jth made two attacks on Zeppelin sheds at Tondern, in Schleswig, and secured direct hits on three sheds. Owing to the auti-aircrait fire and dense smoke it was impossible to ascertain whether tho destruction >was complete, but it is assured that two Zeppelins were destroyed, lour British machines failed to return, three of which landed in Danish territory. —Aus.-N.-6. Cable Assn.-Eeutor. THREE ZEPPELINS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. Copenhagen, July 21. Tho British attack on Zeppelin sheds at Tondern completely destroyed three Zeppelins. The British airmen in the Tondern raid destroyed a large stock of munitions outside the town. The violent explosion killed many people, two British machines, owing to lack of benzine and motor trouble, landed on the west coast of Jutland.. Ono of the aviators is a New Zealander, who slated that six German aeroplanes pursued his and two other machines. Tho latest advices slate that two airmen aro interned, and a third landed at Guldagor and set fire to his machine. . ~.,.'. Accordin* to another correspondent, ono machino landed near Kinlijoelxng, and the pilot obtained petrol, hoping toescape.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. July 22, 9.55 p.m.) London, July 21. The Ail- Ministry reports: "Air photographs show that extensiyo damage was done to a hostile aerodrome at Morhango as the result of an attack on the night of July 19. One largo shed and three hangars were destroyed. -Aus.-N.-6. Lama Assn.-Reuler. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. London, July 21. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Aeroplanes on July 19 dropped sixteen tons of tabs on hostile dumps and railway stations and aerodromes. An aviator and one pilot landed at an aerodrome and fired their machine-guns into the hangais before rising. We brought down ten aeroplanes and six balloons. Seven lintisn machines nro missing. Oim iiightfliors dropped fourteen tons of bombs on the railways between Mons and Valenciennes, and the stations at Carabrai, Lille, ami Saelin.'"—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-lieuter. (Rec. July 22, 9.55 p.m.) London, July 21. Sir Douglas Uaig reports: "Our aeroplanes on July 20 dropped eighteen tons of bombs on Courtrai, the Lille railways, Bruges docks, three large dumps, and b 1 let nro has been more air fighting. Wo brought down fourteen aeroplanes and drove down three out of control. We destroyed three balloons. Seven British 'planes aro missing."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter. FRENCH AIR REPORT. London, July 21. •V French official report states: "Our aviators arc redoubling, their efforts, and multiplied their raids by day and night. On Friday they fiercely loiight the enemy forces. The French and British squadrons made the Alavno crossings their chief objective, and ceaselessly hampered them. At some points they completely stopped the enemy supplies, and this was an important, factor in tho enemy retreat In machine-gunning and bombing of concentrations ot the enemy who were preparing to counter-attack, and also his columns and convoys, (hoy inflicted heavy losses. Twenty-four tons of projectiles were dropped during the day and 27 tons at night on tho Marne positions and in tho. rear of the battlefield. Several fires and explosions were observed at stations simultaneously with the marked advance of our troops and tanks between the Aisne and the Ma<rno. Our aoroplanes reported tho arrival of enemy reserves, and participated directly in tne battle by firing with their machine-guns upon the arriving troops. 1 wenty-six Geraian aeropfaues were brought down in a disabled condit.ou, and there were numerous aerial fights. Everywhere the German aviation was inferior. -Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Iteuter. ffiec. July 23. 0.10 a.m.) London, July 22. A French official report states:—"Despite storms and low clouds on July 20 our pilots brought down eleven German aeroplanes. Franco-British bombers , dropped six tons of explosives on bivouacs, convoys, and concentrations.'—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter.