The Reuter correspondent under date of June 5 described the feat of the
Americans at Château-Thierry in these words:
On May 31, when the Germans were already in the outskirts of
Château-Thierry, an American machine-gun unit was hurried thither
in motor lorries. Château-Thierry lies on both banks of the Marne,
which is spanned by a big bridge. A little to the northward a
canal runs parallel to the river and is crossed by a smaller
bridge.
The Americans had scarcely reached their quarters when news was
received that the Germans had broken into the northern part of
Château-Thierry, having made their way through the gap they had
driven in our lines to the left of the town and then pouring along
the streets to the bridge, intending to establish themselves
firmly on the south bank and capture the town.
The American machine gunners and French colonials were thrown into
Château-Thierry together. The Americans immediately took over
the defense of the river bank, especially the approaches to the
bridge. Fighting with their habitual courage and using their guns
with an accuracy which won the highest encomiums from the French,
they brought the enemy to a standstill.
Already wavering under the American fire, the Germans were
counterattacked by the French colonials and driven from the town.
They returned to the attack the next night and under cover of
darkness crept into the town along the river bank and began to
work their way through the streets toward the main bridge. At the
same moment a tremendous artillery bombardment was opened upon the
southern half of the town.