Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-06
i. S. LIEUTENANT IS
HERO OF FIRST BIG
FIGHT WITH HUNS
BRAVE OFFICER, THRICE FELLED
BY ENEMY SHELLS, CROSSES
FIELDS IN HOPE OF GETTING
RelNFoRcEMeNTs FOR TRAP
PED TROOPERS.

With the American forces III France
!. Nov GA young American lieutenant
Is the hero of the first real clash De
tween German aud American troops
which resulted in the capture ol
twelve Americans, the killing OF three
Americans and two Frcnchmen and
the wounding OF four Americans.
This young officer bravely tried TO
rush through the barragc fire That the
Germans were dropping back OF the
Americans position to get reinforce
mcnls for the attack he knew was
coming. lie had NOT gone but short
distance when a shell exploding near
him hurled hun to the EARN. He got
up and continued going even though
shells we're dropping all around him.
A second shell exploding almost
aEainst him knocked him Town Il sec
Ond time. He got up for the third
time and tried to pierce through the
rain of steel, He stumbled along in IL
semi conscious condition until he was
sent down for the third time, uncon-
scious. He is suffering from shell
shock bat Is expected to recover soon.
Tho Germans attack occurred on Il
- ,Vh.p., 81
line trenches are about $50 yards
apart 1t Is believed that the Germans
had planned the attack for several
days and that they knew that Amcri-
cans occupied the trenches against
which their movement was directed
The enemy took advantage OF heavy
mist and rain fall in the early hours
Of Saturday morning to make the at,
tack.
The relief had just gone when the
Germans opened Il heavy lombard
mcnt They sent shell after she'll in.
TO the first line trenches and began
dropping at the same time heavy
machine harragc in horseshoe curve
In back and around the side of the
section Of The trenches they planned
10 attack
The barragc TIRE made It impossible
for rcnrorccmcn,s 10 he brought up.
AT the same time the Germans began
Smelling the barbed wire IN front OF
the American trenches with demolition
shells. Wide .pathes were blown thru
the wire ENGAGEMENTS by the German
shells. making way for the advanc.
ing German troops.
Despite the fact that II was their
first time under heavy shell fire the
Americans held to their post like vet
crans, according to the report OF the
French divisional commander, Even
though realizing that they would prob
ably be greatly outnumbered, owing to
the fact that no achievements could
be brought up. the Americans kept
pcprng over the top Of the trench
while shells dropped around watch
ing for the Germans that they were
sure would come.
The artillery fire on the first line
trenches suddenly lifted and through
the holes in the barbed wire entangle-
ments poured German soldiers, The
German party far outnumbered the
handful of Americans holding the
trench. 1t was later learned that
there was 2lO Germans in the force.
American rifles cracked and the
American machine guns suffered
forth streams of lead but the Germans
by sheer weight Of numbers pressed
forward and literally smothercd the
American attack. The Germans jump
ed down into The trench where real
hand to hand fighting took place. The
Americans fought bravoly with knives
reviewers and bayoncts, but numbers
told and the Germans, who used hand
grcnalcs, OvercamG them.
The exact details of the struggle in
Tue lltU'H udN' llVl hNNh Iphib' '"'
the French commander reported that
the Americans struggled bravcly
against superior forces
The German casualties are I'M
known Three German rifles and sew
cral Germans knives were found in
the trench after the raiders finally
driven Off II is believed that the
Germans carried away both their dead
ami wounded
II IL understood that the Americans
Wounded arc suffering mostly from
shattered arms and legs. The first
rumOrs Of the attack reached Amcri
can headquarters Saturday night. The
arrival of the German report Sunday
claiming that American prisoners hat
been taken, stirred the American sol
dlers as nothing else has since the,
arrived.
The Americans are fairly aching t
get n chance to rctaliatc.
The Americans who were killed vii
b. buried In little cemetery nca
certain divisional headquarters.
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When Baby was sick we gave he
CaStOria
I'm IA al. T..