Evening star., 1918-06-02
AMERICAN VALOR SHOWN
IN WEST FRONT FIGHTS
Rraue Deeds of Dough
boys at Seicheprey
Reuealed. =,
Things Happen Fast When
Germans Assail Our Posi-
tions-Stories Of Combat.
BY JUNIUs b. WOOD.
Cnblegran to The Sunday Star and
Chicago Daily News.

ny SGN1OS 0s "OODs
cableEran to The sunday Star and
Chicago Daily News.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, May 3.-Things happened
so fast after midnight of April 20,
when the Germans launched their at
tack on the American line at Seiche-
prey. that all the deeds Of heroism
and valor will never be told. One hu-
morous incident. not appreciated as
humor at that time. was contained in
. summary of the days events which
. has come only recently from one of
the generals commanding a brigade.
That general was receiving reports
<almost constantly from the units in
the midst Of the fighting through
runners and was keeping in touch
with the division commander by te1e-
phone. When he was in the middle
of one earnest conversation suddenly
q voice with strong German accent
cut in on the wire with:
were a couple Of German crooks
who are in on your game" There was
. pause in which the general thought
rapidly. The voice concluded:
Go ahead and talk; we'll listen"
There was no further conversation
over that tapped telephone wire.
Americans Fought Against Odds.
The purpose Of the enemy in that at
tack, which was made with overwhelm-
ing Aumbera, was, to. obtain footing
midway between Pont-a-Mousson and
st. Mihiel on the important Metz-St.
and .one-half kilometers this side of
Seicheprey. True, the road can be
shelled at any time, but until the Ger
mans cut 1t 1t stretches like an artery
behind many miles Of trenches. That
the Germans did not obtain their OBJ
distance made by the New Englanders.
So imbued were the defenders with the
die fighting" spirit that by the time
the "Stosstruppen" fshock troops)
reached Seicheprey the latter were con-
vinced, according to those who were
cans larger than their own. instead of
q little handful outnumbered nearly ten
to one. opposed them.
william Mcmahon, private In an
automatic rifle pit. even more advanc-
Cd, than the front line. held back the
force In front of him until his ammu-
milton was exhausted. The next morn
1ng showed thirteen German dead in
the barbed wire alone. When he could
reEst no longer he turned and fought
his way back through those who had
enc1rcled him. Some Of the prisoners
said that three-fourths Of the attack
ing force returned or remained as cas-
uaities.
Hundreds of other instances of men
dghting grimly alone arc told In the
reports. made in deliberation after the
engagement had ended. "A New York
artist, g. T. Woolf. who arrived several
d4ys later. designed a memorial cer-
tincate Tor those mentioned for con-
spaeuous acts Of bravery. The places
for the mans name and his regiment
er1phed. One Of. these, signed by ,ths
division commander, has been given to
each. man. .
Glory FOR American Arms.
Many Of the heroes never will re-
eeive these certificates and many of
tho deeds OF individual bravery in
the darkness and rain of that night
WI never be described. They died
in vain. A general order. issued
after the engagement. read:
Early in the morning of April 20.
1918, the enemy launched a sudden
and vigorous attack on that part Of
our front occupied by the infantry.
Under the protection of. his smother
ing artillery. firing shrapnel. gas and
high explosive shells. specially train
ed storm troops, supported by in
fAntry, greatly outnumbering our
own. made q bold and determined at
tempt to gain permanent footing in
that part OF our sector.
Tho, engagement lasted well on
Into the 21st. when the enemy. after
Q particularly desperate struggle at
close quarters. was forced to retire
without having attained his OBJ
1ective.
Under such circumstances 1t was
but natural that we suffered some
slfght losses. and feel deeply for
the wives and mothers who will never
again see their brave husbands and
sons who have died for the cause of
liberty and freedom on the battle
fields Of France. They may well be
proud Of soldiers like these.
TO the great majority. to those
who were more fortunate and who
came through the attack unscathed.
and who, know. are ready and eager
TO show their spirit again. desire
TO convey my congratulations on
their success in turning back the
enemy and my admiration for their
splendid courage and bravery"
The general order Is dated from
the 'Headquarters Division. Ameri-
can expeditiensry forces" and signed
BY the major general in command at
that sector.
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