Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-09-25
OUR Us
Our C1UNTRY'S SERVICE

Lieut.. George X. Robinson, who mas
just visited his former home in Rock
land, before returning to Camp DIX IN
New Jersey. delivered an address before
a Rockland audience which was OF
unusual interest. In an interview he
relates many details worthy of men
ton. He went overseas with the resl-
ments making up the new 103d L. 5.
Infantry. disembarking in England
and in 10 days going to France. His
regiment was billeted in two towns,
most Of them in barns holding so men
each, which was made comfortable for
the men. There they got good taste
of military training for trench war
fare. Four months later they were sent
into a quiet sector for a few weeks.
After returning to the training district
they were again sent to the front, go
ing to an active sector where they re-
ceived their first gas attack. His &C
count of experiences in the battle of the
Marine are as follows
I'VE were relieved from this sector,
and after short rest took over third
section Of trenches. In this section the
Boone puIISu dlu vi 10, Slol liiiS "AS-t
a heavy barrage and they came over
several hundred strong. We met them
with everything we had machine guns
rifles, hand and rife grenades and final
ly with the bayorets and soon put them
to flight, driving them back with heavy
losses.
This was very active sector
something doing all the time. The
Smelling was heavy and gas was get
ting to be common thing with us. We
were relieved from this sector and re-
lieved the Marines west of Chateau
Thierry. There were no trenches here
and all the fighting was in the open.
Our line was in a wheat field on the
edge of the woods. We held this place
about two and a half weeks. Meantime
the Germans started drive in front
and to the the east of Chateau-Thierry
and crossed the Marine in several places
After four days of fighting we started
a counter attack and took the Boche by
surprise as they were not looking for an
attack from our sector. We got our
final orders to launch an attack at 2
o'clock in the morning. We had some
distance to go before reaching our par
allel of departure SO did not start our
part of the offensive until 745 A. NJ.
Our way led through a wood AMI at
the time it was being heavily shelled
We got through without very many cas-
ualties and started for our objective.
which was railroad station and 1Col
yards down the track. We gained our
objective and held it. Our position was
enfladed with machine guns and our
casualties were heavy. The enemy was
so taken by surprise, the Smelling from
our batteries were so heavy we had
hard work to keep up With them part of
the time.
We were ordered to make an at
tack on another objective so moved out
at night and took up our position in an
other wood. This TING we met with
heavy resistance. mostly by machine
guns and were held up for awhile until
we could work around the machine gun
nests.
They were soon overcome and we
had no trouble in advancing. A good
number of prisoners were taken, also
machine guns. The prisoners for the
most part seem to be peasants who
have been sent in there to fight with
the understanding that they were fight
ing for their very lives.
The 103d has never given an inch Of
ground in all the engagements they
have been in They have never re-
treated.
Too much cannot be said in praise Of
the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Y. NJ
c. A and the X. of c. You will find
them in huts in every sector and in this
offensive the Y NJ. c. A. Kept up with
us as fact as they could. The Y. NJ. c.
A. is home for the boys over there and
every one Of US realizes to the full ex
tent all that it means"