The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-10-13
FIERCE TIeN-rslN FIGHT.
American Soldier Whites OF Incl
dcuis OF the All Day Battle.

American Soldier Whites Of Incl
dcuts OF the All Day Battle.
Leo Gross, son Of Charles Gross OF
Allegheny. Pa, is n member Of Com
pany d. Ninth infantry. lie has writ
ten his father an account Of the battle
of flemish, in which he took part,
says the Pittsburg Dispatch. Incl.
dcntally he gives his opinion Of the
conduct Of some o. the allied troops.
The letter is dated Tleu-tsIn. July H.,
and Is In part rs follows:
Il guess by the time you receive this
note You will have heard about our
first battle, and # was fierce. don't
know, but / think am pretty lucky,
Ms ! did not receive a wound. although
I was h.t ia the leg By pieces Of shells
bursting. lost no blood, but our boys
got it proper, and the English and
Japs suffered awfully. Well, here goes
TO tell about my first time under fire.
We landed IN China July Z and lay In
the harLor three days Then we moved
up the river 20 the new city Of Ticn-
tsln and lay up IN q building captured
by the Germans 1t IS about five miles
from the old town. The night Of the
10Th three companies Of MS were order
ed out on the right OF the firing line
with the United States marines and
English. French and Russians to hold
the rallroad station, which IA about a
mile from the Chinese, who had an 5
inch gun trimmed on Us.
About O'Clock on the morning Of
the 18TH when We were eating break
fast. shell landed among Us, and, sor-
ry to say, It Killed two Of our boys.
wounded seven. and tho marines md
English had three killed ana eight
wounded We were ordered over 80
the left Of the line TO help bold the
gate. and don't see how we ever got
away alive. for we were surrounded.
Colonel Liscum ordered n charge We
started with the laps and the English
followed. We had gone about 100
yards when our colors went down. The
colonel grabbed them and started to
tbe front. and then 1t was that he got
killed About the same time Major
Reagan and Captain Showhcid got hit.
We kept going and ran ont OF ammuni-
ton. and they called for volunteers.
The whole six companies responded.
We got all we wanted. then started
forward, with Lieutenant Lawton
leading. Tie was very cool and brave.
lie was shot three times before be gave
M. and then be was cheering his mon.
We got within 100 yards Of the wall
and were ordered to halt. for the Japs
had got into the city The fight lasted
q hours. and in that time the loss TO
Americans was 9G killed and wounded
and TO an the allied forces was about
1900 killed and wounded. The Chinese
loss was about 10000.
You can talk about your German ar
my for bravery but they did not dare
10 make charge across the field. They
are all right in trench but they never
charged under the fierce fire Of The Chi.
nesc. The Russians and French are
nbout the same. but the French refused
to advance The Japs are the best light
ers on earth. know they could give
us Il good hard fight The English
could not get within POO yards Of us,
but they are brave and VII follow rs
no matter where we go. and they are
very kind and good to U.s. and their Off
GERS treat MS fine When we were car
rylng our wounded from the field, the
French refused us water, so you know
what our boys think Of them.
THE English have the native troops
OF China and also some from India.
Well, they had 10 lash the Indians to
the front am feeling fine and am in
good health"