The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1917-11-09
US. men TRAPPED
BY THE GERMANS
ON FRENCH FRONT
Captured After Being Cut Off by
Barrage Fire.
3 KILLED AND s WOUNDED
Private Gresham of Evansville, Ind,
and Private Hay Of GIidden, la,
Dead; Private Smith Of Lud-
ington, Mich, Wounded;
Two Chicagoans Ia
ken Prisoner.

ken Prisoner.
With the American Forces in
France, Nov. IA young American
lieutenant is the hero of the first real
clash between German and American
troops which resulted in the capture
of II Americans, the killing of three
Americans and two Frenchmen and
the wounding of four Americans.
This young officer bravely tried to
rush through the barrage fire that the
Germans were dropping back OF the
American position to get REINFORCE
ments for the attack he knew was
coming. He had not gone but short
distance when a shell exploded near
him, hurting him to the earth. He got
up and continued going even though
shells were falling all around him. A
second shell exploded almost against
him, knocking him down a second
time. He got up for the third time,
and tried to pierce through the rain
of steel. He stumbled along in semi
conscious condition until he was sent
down for the third time, uncOn-
scious. He is suffering from shell
shock, but is expected to recover
soon.
Germans Had Planned Attack.
The German attack occurred on
sector of the front where the two first
line trenches are about 800 yards
apart. 1t is believed that the Ger
mans had planned the attack for sew
eral days, and that they knew that
Americans occupied the trenches
against which their movement was df-
rected. The enemy took advantage of
a heavy mist and rainfall in the early
hours of Saturday morning to make
the attack.
The relief had just gone when the
Germans opened heavy lombard
ment. They sent shell after shell into
the first-line trenches and began drop
ping at the same time q heavy ma
chine barrage in q horseshoe curve in
back and around the side of the Sec
ton of the trench they planned to at
tack. The barrage fire made it impOs-
sible for re-enfOrcementS to be brought
ND. At the same time the Germans be-
gan Smelling the barbed wire in front
of the American trenches with detOn-
ating shells. Wide paths were blown
through the wire entanglements by
the German shells, making way for the
advancing German troops.
Fought Like Veterans.
Despite the fact that it was their
first time under heavy shell fire the
Americans held to their posts like vet
Grams, 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 re-enfOrcements
could be brought up, the Americans
kept peering 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 Out-numbered the
handful of Americans holding the
trench. 1t was said later that there
was 30 Germans in the force.
The Americans are fairly aching to
get a chance to retaliate.
The Americans who were killed will
be buried in a little cemetery near a
certain divisional headquarters.
Casualty List.
The official casualty list of the losses
of American troops in France in their
first clash with the Germans follows:
Killed:
Private Thomas F. Enright; sister,
Mrs. Mary Irwin, 6641 Promo street,
Pittsburgh.
Private James B. Gresham; mother,
Mrs. Alice Dodd, 1901 West Ohio
street, Evansville, Ind.
Private Merle D. Hay father Harry
D. Hay, Glidden, Ia.
Wounded:
Private J. J. Smith; brother, S. D..
Smith, Ludington, Mich.
Private Charles J. Hopkins; brother,
James w. Hopkins, Stanton, Tex.
Private George L. Box, 700 Grady
street, Altus, Okla.
Private Homer Givens; father, Will
liam S. Owens, Cloverdale, Ala.
Private Charles L. Orr mother, Mrs
Sarah Regnell, r. f. d. No. 5, Lyons.
Kan.
Captured or missing:
Private Herchel Godfrey; father
William G. Oberst, 700 North Ridge
way evenue, Chicago, III.
Harry Loughman; mother, Ada r..
Loughman, 461 lakewood boulevard,
Chicago.
Sergt. Edgar NJ. Haryburton father,
George B. Haryburton, Stony Point,
N G.
Corporal Nicholas L. Mulhadd; moth
er, Mrs. Bridget Mulhall, 1S9 Ninth
street, Jersey City, N. j.
Corporal Edwin ii. HaineS; mother,
A. TI;yobotb HainaC rOI1to M