New-York tribune., 1917-12-27
u. S. Soldiers in Trench Raid
Learn Lesson of Hun Barbaritv
By Henri Bazin
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AMERICAN FIELD HEADQUAR'
TIERS, Nov. 4.-This is the tale OF
trench raid. The bare news upon II
has been printed, but news is laconlc
cornression concerned mostly with
bald statement Of fact-and pray this
may be more.
] can't give names, because--well, be-
cause the censor would cut them cut
But he cannot prevent my using Chris
tian names, and true ones at that BOD
WAS from Missouri. Bill was from IL
linois. Hank was from Pennsylvania,
and Jack and Tom from Kansas and
Texas respectively. They were each
and all members of a certain company
NJ q certain battalion o. certain regl-
ment of American infantry; and they
formed part Of platoon numbering
sbout twenty-five, who were on guard
in q front line trench which was por-
ton Of a certain sector somewhere In
France where American soldiers are
taking the top Of their training. Sounds
awfullv mysterious, doesn't? ? But, you
Gee it,s cot to be, for it would be quite
frightful if the Germans knew Just
where this sector was.
The salient that formed part OF IT.
where our twenty-five we're, Is q sharply
pointed one. That doesn't tell you
ANYTHING. for there are hundreds like
IT, Il was raining, as it does IN the
tropics. The night was black, with
scarcely any wind. Suddenly, at 2;5O
in the morning, the enemy artillery be-
gan a barrage upon this salient. In a
few minutes il encircled it, isolating
the twenty-five. And it lasted fol-
nearly an hour, constant rain OF
she'll accurately planted.
Way back Of the line it was con-
eluded to be but a little severe inter
mittent firing, but the twenty-five knew
hotter. The lieutenant in command
turned over his platoon to sergeant
and tried TO buck the barrage toward
the rear, that help might be secured
Twice en- route he was knocked down
bv she'll conclusion The third time he
was Knocked out completely. Incl
dentalIy he is in a hospital suffering
from shell shock.
Most Of his platoon at his command
had taken refuge in abris. There is
nothing else to do, please believe, when
the shells begin dropping as thick as
hail.
Bob and Bill were in the extreme
front lire. With the first shell explod'
ing near then and demolishing the
trench. Bob was buried under mass OF
upheayed earth. Bill started TO dig hin
out. lie had nothing but a trench
spade and his rihed bayonet. But he
kept at the job, oblivIous 20 anything oil
anybody, with hell Of fire about him
Five times he was knocked down, ane
five times he got up and went at Il
again. That he was not hit by shell
or a fragment is because il was not
written. Finally he succeeded in his
task, . work in the dark and In a pour
ing rein, pulling Bob out half uncon-
selous.
just then the bsrraee ceased. ending
in terrific explosion. The Boche were
on a pleasant little rsiding party, 2l0
strong, IL was afterward ascertained
And but twenty-five Americans, the
greater number in abris. as per orders
The explosion was the usual method OF
crossing wire. You Jam pipes with high
explosives, ram them into the ground
in front Of enemy wire and blast path
through.
Bob, II seems. was more than half un-
conscious, for he had collapsed and lag
as If dead. As the Boehe came over the
top from the outside Bill began 20 use
lis automatic. lie winged two before
he received two bIllets, one in the arm,
shattering il, and another in the knee.
The barbarians passed him and passed