The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-31
HARVEST OF DEATH.
THOUSANDS OF DEAD GERMANS
IN SMALL AREA.
americans Also Suffer Loss-Capt.
Julius A. Mood, OF Summerton.
Among the Killcd-Hc Was Git
adcl Man.

With the American Army on the
Aisne-Marne Front, July 26 (By the
Associated Press) The american
troops advancing along the Marne
have discovered hundreds of dead
Germans. The victims fell before the
heavy machine gun fire of the Ameri-
cans during the retreat. In one horse
shoe area the ground was covered
with dead. The Americans buried, as
many bodies as was possible. L. is
estimated that 1000 Germans ell
there.
Farmers along the Marne report
having seen the bodies of German
dead floating down the stream. The
military authorities are planning some
system by which they can clear the
river of bodies.
Three days after the Germans evac-
uated Chateau-Thierry the Americans
found lone German in Mont st. Pere,
hiding in a cellar. The prisoner said
he was tired of the war and was de-
termined to secrete himself, notwith-
standing the fact that he had no food.
and later take chance by surrender
Ing to the allies He asserted that the
German soldiers were dissatisfied with
the ways affairs were going and that
the general opinion among them was
the crown prince was unable to bring
sufhcient reinforcements or food sup
plies to the Germans being attacked
from the South.
The American soldiers watched with
pleasure the prisoner appease his ap-
petite after his three days fast. The
German requested the Americans not
to report his desertion, saying If they
ala and he ever got back to Germany
he would be shot.
Col. Hamilton A. Smith of the Unit
ed States army died on July %, a
few hours after receiving a machins
wound below the heart Colonel Smith
was making observations after q
morning attack in anticipation of inn
proving the American position south
of scissors, near Miss-au- Bois. Lieut.
| Col. Clark r. Elicit was killed by
machine gun fire in the same sector
while inspecting the American front
lines.
Maj. j. M. McCloud was wounded
| while leading his men when the
Americans crossed the Soissons-Arras
road during the offensive. He was
wounded in the left arm and in the
left side by machine gun bullets but
after receiving first aid he continued
| fighting. The major was killed soon
afterwards by a high explosive she'll
Soon after Major McCloud died,
| Lieut.. James c. Lodar was killed by
| I'M Gr0
| fell.
On different days the following cap
tains were killed by machine guns
and shells, all of them leading their
men when they fell:
James A. Edgerton, Julius A. Mood,
Alfred r. Hamel, James N. C. Rich
ard and James H. Holmes.
Lieutenant Lodar, Captain Holmes
and Major McCloud were buried at a
cross roads in wheat field two kill
ometers southwest of Missy-au-Bois.
Colonel Smith was buried at Orry La
Vile, near Luzarches, and the other
officers were inferred on the spots
where they died.
Colonel Smith was looking over the
edge of hill endeavoring to locate
the Germans when he was struck.
The Americans already held their OBJ
jective but Colonel Smith desired to
improve the position. He was in an
outpost accompanied by Private Chas
; Aug of Sacramento, who rendered first
aid and called for assistance. Becom-
ing impatient, Aug suggested dragging
Colonel Smith back, but the colonel
said: THAT would be too much of a
chance for you, Aug. There is no use
of you exposing yourself. The wound
is not serious; 1 can wait"
Aug insisted and started with Colo
mel Smith through a wheat field.
There was no complaint from Smith
during the trip, Aug freqently stop
ping to rest and inquire how the
wounded man felt and the colonel re-
plying: I'm all right; look out for
yourself. Those machine gunners can
see you move, but not me-"
They finally reached a farm house
where American soldiers were shell
tered. The farm house was not more
than 200 yards from the spot where
Colonel Smith was wounded. The in
jury was dressed at the farm house
but Colonel Smith died on the way to
= ,<l A.