OCR Text |
Show BATTERY POUNDS HLINS72 HOURS American Field Guns Keep Up Incessant Fire on Retreating Retreat-ing Germans. WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN FRANCE, July 21. (By tho Associated Associat-ed Press.) From heights overlooking the Marne tho correspondent observed the sceno of the battle throughout yesterday until after nightfall. It was evident that tho Germans were contemplating con-templating a further retreat after their defeat at the hands of the French, 'American, British and Italian divisions which by vigorous counterattacks counter-attacks and maneuvers, had brought about a precipitate retreat of tho crown princq's chosen troops. Theso. troops did not get across the Marno "without hindrance as tho French and American artillery kept up a steady fire. One group of American Ameri-can field battery fired continuously for 72 hours, aiming both at the banks of the Marne and the pontoons erected erect-ed by the enemy ncross tho stream. For long periods enemy troops were prevented by this flro from utilizing the pontoons for crossing tho river. Allied troops continually harried the Gorman infantry units which had (rind fnr srvprnl rlnvi in nsponrl tlip Marno valley toward Epernay. The enemy was eventually forced back yesterday morning into the valley of tho Marne, where he occupied but not for long, a narrow. strip of ground. Hero tho Germans fought desperately. Germane Havo No Peace. Even when .they reached tho northern north-ern side of the river the Germans had no peace. Shells fell upon and around their columns as they tried to reach tho shelter of the valleys beyond. Their chances of obtaining supplies were meager, for the French and American Am-erican guns poured projectiles over the crests into tho ravines and along the roads leading to the river. There was some indication the Germans were removing their big guns from tho northern side. Allied troops operating along the western flank of the German salient continued to progress, making tho positions po-sitions of the Germans precarious. Aviators reports German troops concentrating in tho hollows, evidently evident-ly in preparation for a fresh move to tho rear in order to escape tho danger of being cut off. The airmen carried out their task under extreme difficulties. difficul-ties. The wind was blowing a hurri-I hurri-I cane. |