The sun., 1917-11-06
Twenty of Pershing's Men
Uphold Traditions Of Z. S.
Army by Their Valor.
STRUGGLE WAS FIERCE
Men Fought Gallantly Until
Overwhelmed by Superior
Numbers.
By fAe Assoctosed Pres.


WITH THE AMIRicAS ARMY IN FRAScv,
Nov. s.-A small detachment Of Ameri-
can infantrymen was attacked IN the
from. line trenches early Saturday morn.
ing by much superior force Of German
shock troops The Americans were cut
their rear They fought gailantly until
overwhelmed solely by numbers.
The lighting 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
wounded. A sergeant and corporal and
ten men were taken prisoners.
CThe official report. shows that nve
men were wounded)
Two 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 of by the retiring Germans.
From the beginning OF the engage
ment until theend the Americans lived
up to all the traditions Of the American
army. the records showing the bravery
| Of the detachment and Of individual
members.
The German rdsu on trle ArUSrbdH
, trench was carried out against members
Of the secopt contingent en;erinS the
! trenches for training, These men mad
! only been in a few days. BEFORE dawn
Saturday the Germans began shellns
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 territory. Including the passage
heading up to the trenches. thereby form
ing a most effective barrage in the rear
as we'll as In the front.
Hercism Of Young Lieutenant.
THO young Lieutenant In charge oi
the detachment OF Americans started
back 70 the communicating trenches tc
his lrnpDdiate superior for orders TIT
harrage knocked %nim down, but HI
picked himself up and started on again
He was knocked down a second time
but determined to reach his objective
got up again. A third time he wa
knocked down and badly shell shocked
and was put out OF action.
Soon after the Germans 10 tho mum
ber according 10 tho report. Of 81
rushed through the breaches and wir'
J entanglements on each side Of tn
salient. their general objective barrag
in the foreneld having lifted for
moment The Germans went into th
trenches at several points. They me
with stout resistance. Pistols. Eronade'
knives and bayonets were freely used
For many minutes there was consid
erable confusion in the trenches. tn
Germans stalking the Americans an
.. the Americans stalking the German'
In one section Of the trench an Amer'
: can private engaged two Germans wit
: the bayonet. That was the last see
Of him until after the raid. when a dea
American Was found on the spot. An
other was killed by a blow on the hea
! with a rife butt from above. ,
: Some Of the Americans apparently
the beginning Of the attack did not real
: ixe Just what was going on. One OF IN
. wounded. a private, said;
IT wa. standing in a communication
: trench waiting for orders. ! heard
q noise back OF me and looked around
n time TO see a German fire In my dire'
tion. I felt a bullet hit my arm"
3 RAID Carefully Planned.
. Tho Germans left the trench As 500
+. as possible. taking their dead an
o wounded with them
y An inspection showed. however, tbs
3 they had abandoned three rifles and
!, number Of knives and helmets.
. The raid was evidently CAREFUL
h planned. and American oficers adm,
!. that II was we'll executed. As q raj
co,tiaurd M Second poo>