Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-08
AMERICANS SHOW METTLE
IN HAMEL VILLAGE FIGHT
cago Describes His Battle With
Two Charging Germans.
KILLS ONE WITH RIFLE BULLET
Stays Second With Blow on Head.
Asks Correspondent to Write to
Fianccc at Itomc-AIcn Eager for
the Fray.


FRANCE. Friday July 5.-Amcrican
lighting spirit and courage as display
cd In assisting the Australians I'm taxi
ing liamcl and IInmcl and Vaire woods
Thursday has brought forth much IA
vorable COMMUNICATION. Soldiers wound
ed In the lighting were glad OF the
opportunity to meet the enemy, and
the general In command OF the Amer
lean troops was exceedingly pleased
with the work his men had done.
Our troops understood thoroughly
when they went over the top that they
were expected to do no less than any
OF their allies" said the general TO
the correspondent to-day. REPORTS
which have received from the Aus
tralians indicate that our boys con-
Quoted themselves with great credit,
and aid all that could have been wish
ed
They had more than done their bit
and he we'll knew It,
The americans were cxcccdtnrIv
keen TO participate in the attack, the
general said. and several units which
had expected TO take part were heart
broken when they found they would
not be employed. The American cas-
ualties apparently were very light
Later, the correspondent visited cas-
ualty clearing stations to see some Of
the wounded Americans who had gone
through tho show.
Lying on Il cot. lanked by British
soldiers. was 4 Chicago lad who had
been shot in tho leg after gallant
fight. lie was blue-cycd. round
faced youngstcr. who looked strange
Is out Of place among the older vet
Grams. lie said he was twenty years
old. The correspondent told the lit
tie soldier how proud everybody was
Of the Americans.
Are YOU from America, too" he
cried as he eagerly put out hand.
ooh, I'm glad OF that"
lie waH lonely. homcsick and hurt
and wanted comfort from somebody
who had come from home. a friendly
chat began. and the so,d.-r chung dcs-
pcrately to the correspondents hand
Then he told the story OF his part In
the battle. and here is the way /, ran:
I'VE were all very anxious TO do
well. and we We're ready to fight to
II finish. We knew there was trouble
for US over there in no mans ,and.'
None of our boys cared Cor that. but
the day before the attach all tn. men
OF my company got together and shook
hands and said Eood-hy, for, you see.
We did not know II we should meet
again.
Il had worked very hard 70 learn
20 be COED soldier. for ! wanted 10
be a credit to the folks back home.
guess I must have learned some
things. for my commander gave me-
twenty. four OF our chaps TO leah over
the top as corporal. And my men
fought we'll"
He paused his face glowing with
honest pride, and then continued:
at midnight "Wednesday We went
forward and lay out in the o1cn.
Then. about daylight, came the bar
rage. 1t was a pretty big thing-thc
biggest We ever heard. IT was just
Ike n real Fourth OF July celebration.
The time came for the charge. and we
pushed ont A few or our boys were
too anxious, and they got SO close TO
the barrage that they We're hurt. My
pal was struck by shcl! b"siie me.
1--WE were advancing toward liamol
village and had 10 60 over one slope.
then down into little valley and up
another hill We got along all right.
but down in the valley there was
lot OF barbed wire that held us UT
some know I got caught. but not
for very long.
Our men were lighting like any
thing and killing n lot OF Bochcs who
were in the trenches and shell holes.
a good many OF the Germans we're
yelling 'Kamerad. and surrcndering.
too.
TWO GERMANS SURRENDER
TO YOUNG AMERICAN
Two Of the Iioches came running
IN TO mo with their hands over their
heads. I didn't know what to 10 with
them. but An officer came along anu
sent them to tho rear.
..rhcn we went on. and had about
reached our objective when something
hit me In the leg. and ! went down.
tried to get UP. but my leg wo"ldn
let me. and ! WIS dizzy. While was
on my knees I saw two Eoches ch"rE-
4, I II ar