The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-04-27

United States soldiers guarding
Tex. No one Is admitted until proper
~~~~~~~~~~>~~~>~~~~~
were carried a hundred meters away
and thick black smoke covered every
thing.
"Our machine guns began to take
part. Suddenly the voice Of Lieuten-
ant S. called: Ready! Third COM
pany, forward
| without moments pause sprang
out of the trench, shouting:
"'Come on. boys; forward
| THE "75's' had then increased their
range. All the men followed me and,
shouting, we scrambled forward at
double time toward the Boche trench.
I had my revolver in my hand. In the
heat Of the attack had distanced all
my comrades and found myself thirty
meters ahead of them. Suddenly saw
a mound, 1t was the Boche trench,
and at the same moment bullet
whistled by my ear. leaped forward.
l found Boche, his gun still smoking
in his hand, with the Red Cross bras.
sard on his arm. He dropped on his
knees. crying:
Pardon, kamerad.'
Showing his brassard, he says:
| Sanitat. Sanitat' (hospital corps).
| Il went on with my men. We passed
over the ridge and we stopped at two
hundred meters from the crest, as
had been ordered to do. The Boches
were boiling on every side. Our artil-
lery fire had 80 demoralized them that
they had abandoned everything. We
occupied the Boche positions, picking
up quantities Of material, guns. ma
chine guns, tools. Here and there
dead Boches dotted the landscape.
Dig Themselves Into Trench.
But it was no time to jest. get
my men together and tell them:
"'Go to work and build O trench
there
Il was astonished to find myself 80
calm. In front Of us so chasseurs
guarded the construction of our trench
Up to that moment had had one man
killed and 90 wounded Suddenly
right in front Of us a violent fusillade
began. Bullets whistled on all sides
and / saw the man ahead of me re-
turn, calling:
Lieutenant, they are coming.
1T was the counter-attack. We
jumped into the trench scarcely yet
outlined, and commanded the men
to fire. Two hundred meters in front
Of me saw the Boches coming In
masses, shouting. l even heard the
cry: 'Vorwarts. vorwarts!' All my
men began to fire. The fusillade re
sounded. The Boches, throwing them
selves on the ground, returned oui
fire. Thousands Of bullets whistled by
our ears, but paid no attention. Sud
denly the Boches arose and continued
to advance. We continued to fire
The Boches, in panic, ran away at full
speed, leaving behind them quantities
Of the dead and wounded.
my men continued to work at thu
trench. I had them place In front o
the trench barricade Of barbed wire
taken from the Boches, and we passed
the first night there. Note that hat
with me only sergeant. did no
feel very big. The major had sent nj
a note in which he warmly congratu
lated me and expressly forbade me t
give up the position. l think that al
| my life / shall remember that night
| The Boches were constantly firing OF
! US, while digging their own trench 6
i meters from US. My men were OF
\ edge and had hard time to kee
them from firing. In the night tn
Boches came again, but again wer
quickly repulsed. What q night
: Frightfully damp. furry Of snow an
(. terrible cold, and overhead the sound
- of the whistling bullets mingled wit
;. the strokes of the spades and picks g
- the Boches. The whole thing was in
, pressiye.
= FueiIIade With the Daylight.
daylight came, and with 1t q frigh
ia full fusillade from the Boches. On
: Of my men was killed, another Woun'
:, ed. had in all ten killed and som
:" thirty wounded. We kept on workin
at our trench and connected 1t wit
=, the trench OF the neighboring con
~ pany During the morning someon
Q came through connecting trench an
told me the major wished to speak !
me. arrived at his Headquarters. RI
IN shook my hand, saying:
It My boy, am going to see whit
Mt can do for you. But ! promise 20
d. anyhow to have you mentioned in II
a orders for the day, which will give yc
ri. right 70 the Croix de Guerre. "A
At the officers OF the battalion admire
.a.s the way that you conducted yourse
Wa during the attack, and y am happy 4
g III cnY, or AZ 1, la q yntf