The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-09
AMERICANS LIVE Up
TO FINE TRADITIONS
Fighters in France Proving
Worthy Successors to U. s.
Soldiers Of Other Wars.

Special Gable Despatch 10 The SuS from n.
London Times Service.
Copyright. 1918: all rights rese7rse.
WITH TIKI BRITISH ARMY IN FRANc,
Oct Son the great American charr.
into tho Hindenburg line on Septemhs.
20 Il was not possible to write at I'm.
time more than cursorily. So magnificent
was their achievement, however, that n
more detailed account Of It will not b,
amiss.
On their whole front OF 5000 yard,
the men from the United States broE,
through the defences Of the Hindenburs
line, including the canal. in a way that
would have done credit to more ex-
perienced soldiers. For the inexper-
enced American troops It really was an
extraordinary exploit
The American troops, southerners,
Carolinians. Tenncsseeans and New
Workers. alike. went straight for the Ger
man defences. which were OF the most
formidable kind. and swept on TO all o.
their detectives. The impetuosity OF
their advance made possible the great
advance OF the Ninth British Corps.
1t was the Southerners who tool
Bellicourt and Nauroy, while the Now
York men. reckless in the face of an
intense machine gun fire. swept toward
Gouy and Mount st. Martin. That some
OF the latter went too far and too fast
Is already known, for II hAs been told
how they were cut Off by Germans who
hid in the tunnel and in underground
ably II those Americans had been less
whole hearted fighters they could have
curbed their impatience long enough 10
get at aV, kill the hidden German.
They might thus have had fewer cas-
ualties. but the episode would have been
less glorious.
The Australians followed closely be-
hind them and they have spoken to ire
In the most glowing terms Of the way
the Americans behaved. An English
Colonel, who holds the Victoria Cross
and who is something of Judge OF the
qualities OF soldiers. made a nemoran-
dun OF the Americans charge II
speaks in the most superlat,ve terms Of
their bravery. The American dead, no
says, lay 10 a man with their faces
| toward the enemy.
mot In a single cave he writes.
was a man shot while moving back
! ward. The success OF the Southerners
on the right was perfect. and without
the gallant fighting of the New York
troops on the left It would have been
impossible for the Southerners TO have
| made their advance. Officers and men
did all that was humanity possible 70
brave men to do and the gallantry Of
these brave men will stand out FOR all
time In the brightest annals of American
history"
Especially has there grown up a Srotn-
erhood between the Americans ard ths
Australians This may be said TO have
been born on that Fourth Of July wh,a
an American platoon went into battle
fighting as n unit with the Australians
Before going into action the American
General told his men they were going
| into action alongside some OF the great
| est fighters in the world. and that they
must prove themselves '"Hrthy OF thelr
company. They did.
The Australians watched their rev
| comrades critically. and when the 1git
was over they spoke with admirs ton
| and with frank establishment OF the
| earnestness and ferceness of the Atne:-
leans in the advance az exceeding any.
thing they had ever witnessed. On tAs'
occasion q number of the Americana
| were disappointed when the number q
! their troops were reduced and they were
left out. These managed to borrow TUNES
| from some of the Australians, and thus
disguised sneaked into the fight.
do not know TO what extent this ~
regularity was winked at. but certainly
| the Australians that day showed greater
| strength than their roll call warranted.
From that day the cordial understand
Ing between the two forces has been