The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-05

putting up tremendous strahng.
So we decided to withdraw, but a
sergeant and lieutenant stayed there
with an American one-pounder to
see that no boche took our POSI-
ton"
Shell Holes Mark Valley.
went along the Marine river from
Chateau Thierry for about 90 miles.
The whole valley Of the Marine along
this salient and all the heights which
rise 200 to $50 feet or more above
the river, are indented with hundreds
Of thousands OF shell holes from
French and American guns. Every
building that was known to be a
hiding place for boches was shelled.
The roads along the boche line of
retreat are simply riddled with al
lied shell fire.
The full story of how the Yanks
scaled the heights Of the Marine in
the face of the spray of hidden ma
chine guns, outflanked the guns and
killed and took prisoner the gunners.
will perhaps never be known. but 1t
constitutes one Of the most glorious
chapters in American history.
AS the Germans retreated, cover-
ing their retreat by rear-guards
equipped with wachine guns and ar
tillery, our men kept biting into
them and fought with great skill.
Praise American Skill.
The splendid initiative shown by
the Americans in the advance to
Fismes, right through the center of
the former Gerwan wedge, is given
great praise in a report by the
French Sixth army. The American
division mentioned came into battle
on July 90 In the early days Of the
fighting and at intervals thereafter
it encountered the most violent OPP
position in which the enemy counter
attacked with many machine guns
and strong artillery. But, despite
many privations. the Americans kept
pushing on. Only a narrow road af-
forded the conveys the opportunity
Of coming up and there had been
heavy rains. Finally, after furious
infantry combats advanced to the
outskirts Of Fismes which, by the
night Of August s, they had captured
and cleared Of the enemy. This
spectacular advance to the Veslo
FASTENED the German retreat. The
Americans are commended in the
French report for their keen sense
for infantry maneuvering and for
their excellent knowledge of machine
guns. auto rifles and light mortars,
which enabled them to speedily re-
duce the German defences.
BY the graves that marked the
heights and hillsides facing the
enemy one could almost draw a line
Of our advance and the points OF
greatest opposition.
But the Americans outfought the
crack regiments Of Bavarians and
Prussians at every stage Of the
game, with a vim and elan that the
German does not possess. and
brought to the Huns the most vital
defeat thus far for the year 1918.
Able Seaman Murphy, of H. NJ S.
Somespeed. was the inventor Of the
most ingenious excuses in order to
obtain leave.
What on earth do you require
leave for this time, Murphy" asked
the captain as our hero made his
oft-repeated request. 'Tt isn't your
great -aunt's wedding today. is it,
Faith, no, sorr," replied Pat, with
a grin. IT'S not so bad as that
It's bedad, OF hardly loike to tell
yez. sorr.''
ooh come now, Murphy" said said
captain. grimly. I'll try to stand
the shock"
well sorr, it's loike this intire-
~. OF had the misfortune to have a
brother horn blind, sorr. Heaven
be praised, he's got his sight, an
wants to see me, SORT"
Leave granted" snapped the
captain, as he burst into uncontrol-
able laughter.