New-York tribune., 1917-11-06
Doughboys Live Up to
Tradition in Encounter
With Germans
American Fights Two
Of Foe With Bayonet
Teutons Surprised When
They Meet Our Soldiers
in Front Line
Try The Associated Pressl

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Nov. 5.--A small detachment
of American infantrymen was attacked
in .he front line trenches early Satur-
day morning by much superior force
Of German shock troops. The Ameri-
cans were cut off from relief by the
heavy barrage in their rear. They
fought gallantly until overwhelmed
solely by numbers.
The fighting in the trenches was
hand to hand. 1t was brief and fierce
in the extreme.
As result Of the encounter three
Americans were killed and four wound
ed. A sergeant and corporal and ten
men were taken prisoner.
The French soldiers who were in the
trenches also were killed. The enemy
lost some men, but the number is un-
known, as their dead and wounded were
carried off by the retiring Germans.
From the beginning of the engage
ment until the end the Americans liv
up to all the traditions of the Ameri'
can army, the records showing the
bravery OF the detachment and Of in
dividual members.
Americans Fresh in Trenches
The German raid on the American
trench was carried out against mem
bers of the second contingent entering
the trenches for training. These men
had only been in a few days. Before
dawn Saturday the Germans began
Smelling vigorously the barbed wire
front of the trenches, dropping many
high explosives Of large calibre. A
heavy artillery fire was then directed
so as to cover all the adjacent terri
tory. including the passage leading up
TO the trenches, thereby forming a
most effective barrage in the rear, as
well as in the front.
The Young lieutenant in charge OF
the detachmenr OF Americans started
back 70 the communicating trenches
TO his immediate superior for orders.
The barrage knocked him down. but
he picked himself up and started off
again lie was knocked down a sec
ond time. but, determined TO reach his
objective, got up again. A third time
he was knocked down and badly shell
shocked. and was put out of action.
Fight Germans Bravely
Soon after the Germans to the num-
ber of 2l0, according TO the report,
rushed through the breaches and wire
entanglements on each side of the sa-
lient. their general object barrage in
the forefeld having lifted for mo-
ment. The Germans went into the
trenches at several points. They met
with stout resistance. Pistols, gre
nades, knives and bayonets were
freely used.
For many minutes there was con-
siderable confusion H. the trenches, the
Germans stalking the Americans and
the Americans stalking the Germans.
In one section of the trench an Amer
lean private engaged two Germans with
the bayonet. That was the last seen
of him until after the raid, when a
dead American was found on the spot.
Another was killed by a blow on the
head with a rife butt from above.
Some Of the Americans apparently at
the beginning of the attack did not
realize just what vas going on. One Of
the wounded. private. SAID:
81 was standing in communicating
trench waiting for orders. | heard a
noise back Of me, and looked around
in time TO see a German fire IN my
direction. felt a bullet hit my arm
The Germans left the trench as soon
as possible. taking their dead and
wounded with them.
An inspection showed. however that
they had abandoned three rifles, a
number of knives and helmets.
Raid Carefully Planned
The raid was evidently carefully
planned. and American officers admit
that il was well executed. As raid.
howere. there was nothing unusual
about il II was such as is happening
all along the line. There is reason
for believing that the Germans were
greatly surprised when they found
Americans in the trenches instead OF
the French. The French general in
command of the division. OF which the
American detachment fomed part,
expressed extreme satisfaction at the
action of the Americans, for they
fought bravely against a numerically
superior enemy, the handful Of men
fighting until they were smothered.
The bodies of the American dead
were brought back TO divisional head
quarters and buried with honors to-
day. The wounded are at the base hos
pitfalls. 90.
The whole American expeditionary
forces are thrilled by the fight put up
by their comrades and all are anxious
TO get a chance TO deal blow.