The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-12-06
Major Denig Paints Thrilling Pic
ture of the Battle of
July 10.
THREE FRIENDS ARE KILLED
Battalion Of 800 Men Cut to Pieces in
Two Days Fighting, but Held Foe
in cheek-Describes ParaIyzine
Horrors OF the Battlefield.

Observation-Disclosures OF the par
ticipntion OF the United States ma
rincs In thu counter.nttnck against the
German forces on the Marine on July
Is are given in n letter written shortly
afterward by Maj. Robert l.. Denig Of
the United States marines 10 his wife,
who lives at 2131 Porter street. Phil
ndclphia, and which has been forward
I'D to Washington for the historic files
of the marine corps.
In addition to giving graphic pic
turc Of modern war, the letter cites
an instance of German treachery in
using airplanes painted with the nl-
lied cOlors in their unfair methods Of
aerial warfare.
The letter also establishes the fact
that the marines who helped to stop
the German drive on Paris at Belleau
wood early in June were honOred by
being brought forward from this wood
to Nierzy and Tigny, near scissors, for
participation with II crack French d.
vision In the great counter-attack
which started the disintegration of the
German front in the west. Names that
b"cam" familiar through the fight
Ing In Belleau wood are mentioned in
Major Denig's letter ms being promi-
nfnt In the allied counter-attack-
Lieut.. Col. Thomas Holcomb, Lieut..
Col. Benton w. Sibley. Lieut.. COL
John A. Hughes. Capt. Pere Wilmer
md others who took prominent part
ia tile fighting when the Hun was
blocked In his drive on Paris. The
letter follows:
The day before we left for this big
push we had most interesting fight
between n fleet of German planes and
French observation balloon right
over our heads. We saw five planes
circle over our town, then put on. what
we thought afterward, sham fight.
One Of them, after many fancy stunts,
headed right for the balloon. They
We're all painted with our colors except
one. This one went near the balloon.
one kept right on. The other four
shot the balloon up with lncendiary
bullets. The observers jumped into
their parachutes Just ms the outfit went
up In mass of flames.
"The next day we took our positions
ut various places to wait for camlons
that were to take us somewhere in
France. when or for what purpose we
did not know. Wass passed me at the
head of his cOmpany---we made n date
for party on our next leave. lie was
looking fine and was as happy as could
be. Then Hunt, Keyser, and II heap OF
others went by. have the battalion
and Holcomb the regiment. Our turn
10 embark did not come till near mid
night.
Big Shells Falling Fast.
ave at last got under way after n
few big sen bags had hit near by. Will
pier and led in Il touring car. We
went mt II good clip and nearly got
ditched In Il couple of new shell holes.
Shells were falling fast by now, and
ns the tenth truck went under the
bridge big one landed near by With d
crash and wounded the two drivers,
killed two marines, and wounded five
more. We did rot know II at the
time and did not notice anything wrong
I'LL we came to a crossroad, when we
found we had only II cars all told.
We found the rest Of the convoy after
hunt, but even then were not told
OF the loss, and did not find II out
until the next day.
"We were finally, after IL hours
ride. dumped In big field and after
few hours rest started our march.
1t was hot as hades and we had had
nothing to eat since the day before.
We ut last entered forest; troops
seemed to converge on il from all
points. We marched some six miles