_On June 12 Mr. Perris reported that the French were holding their
gains and gave these further details of the counterattack the day
before:_
The French lines hold all the way round from the important position
of Mery Plateau by the hamlets of St. Maur and Antheuil to Marest
and Chevincourt. Time after time, last night and this morning, the
gray-coated masses of General von Hutier came on, only to be mowed down
by waves of fire from the 75s and machine guns, and their remnants
dispersed with bayonet and grenade.
Yesterday's French counterattacks met great bodies of the enemy
prepared to force another advance. Four divisions were found to be
ranged in a space of two miles. Hence the frightful intensity of the
combat and the abnormal slaughter.
The French tanks did very good service, and fleets of airplanes,
British as well as French, swept down upon the battlefield before and
behind our infantry, dropping bombs and raining down volleys of bullets
wherever a group of enemy soldiers was seen. The numerical inferiority
of the French was thus made good.
The block of wooded hills was very difficult to defend, even if the
enemy had got no further than Mareuil. The woods prevented long views
and open fields of fire; the deep ravines invited infiltrations; the
Oise Valley at the back left supply and relief columns open to the
German guns, and the Matz Valley, on the west, was the plain path of
envelopment. These are the reasons why this corner was not held longer.
Among the wheat and beet fields of the gently rolling plateau further
west, on the other hand, the defense had more advantage. There are
folds of ground enough to hide its batteries and reserves, but in
every direction there are open lines of fire, room for manoeuvre and
numerous railroads. Striking northeast from the Estrées Railway, the
French threaten the German centre.
To continue the southward march, even if it were possible, before this
pressure on the west had been disposed of would be reckless. Hutier has
met his match.
[Illustration: First parade of United States National Army men in
London. The photograph shows them rounding the corner at Hyde Park
(© _Central News Photo Service_)]
[Illustration: General Philipot of the French Army decorating American
officers who distinguished themselves in opposing the German advance in
Picardy
(_French Pictorial Service_)]