Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-18
SAhblIES IN LORRAINE SECTOR TAKE OVER
CONTROL OF NO MANS LAND; MANY GREAT
ACHIEVEMENTS RECORDED DURING The WEEK
! S. Engineers S
Did CT eat WoFk
With British

With the American Army in France
April lS.-(By the Associated Press)
Reports from British commanders
which have Just been received at
first definite information that Ameri-
can engineering troops in large num-
ibers were among the forces hastily
assembled from all branches Of the
service by Major General Carey for
his improvised army which filled the
gap IN the line made by the Ger
mans at the opening of their often
sive last month.
The American engineers were at
work constructing and operating field
railways and building bridges.
THREE COMPANIES ~
CAUGHT IN DRIVE.
Three companies Of an engineering
regiment were caught in the early
bombardment and ordered to fall
back. To one of the American COM
panies, which had been consolidated
with the British royal engineers, was
delegated the task Of guaranteeing
the destruction of an engineers dump
which it had been decided to abandon.
This detachment destroyed all the
material, made a. rapid retreat, caught
up with the larger group and immedi-
ately resumed work. laying out
sieHcnes. lHeSe II tOPeTdlIOHs IdSteO
from March 23 to %. AS the German
attack became more intense the engi-
neers. were joined by cooks, Eorderlies
and railway men as a part Of General
Carey's forces. >,
U. S. COMMANDER ..4.
DIRECTS FOR WEEK. ~
American: regiment took charge of an
infantry b-sector and directSd the
action Of his troops for one week, un-
TO- s fais :osfiss ts General Rawlinson. Raw R.
Commanding the British army engag-
ed in that sector; sent the following
letter.: a. ss
:. aThe army commander wishes to
record officially his appreciation Of
done in assisting the British army to
resist the enemy's powerful offensive
during the last ten days. l fully real
ize that it has been largely due to
your assistance that the enemy has
been checked. and rely on you to
assist us still further during the few
days which are still to come before 1
shall be able to relieve you in the line.
II consider your work in the line
to be greatly enhanced by the fact
that for six weeks previous to taking
your place in the front line your men
had been working at such high pres
sure; erecting heavy bridges on the
Somme. My best congratulations and
warm thanks to all.
"Rawlinspn.''
REPLIES FOR HIS
REGIMENT.
When the British general, H. l..
Mullers, commanding a cavalry divi-
sion, received from his superior con-
gratulations and thanks for the work
of his command in beating off the en-
| emy, he forwarded the following let
ter to the command of one of the
American engineering units:
''As a United States engineering
battalion was fighting with the First
cavalry division in the line on March
80 the, army commanders congratu-
latory message applies to them equally
with the units of the First cavalry di-
vision. 1t has been brought to my no.
| tice that the men under your com-
mand fought most gallantly alongside
the British cavalry. l am most CRATE
ful to you. and the unit under your
command for the invaluable assist
ance you gave us on March 80, 1918.
Please convey my thanks and con-
gratulations to all ranks"
| The reports Of the gallant conduct
Of the Americans on the British front
have caused General Pershing to send
! the following letter to the engineer
ing commander: s,l.g
'.The commander in chief has not
ed with great satisfaction the fine
conduct Of the officers and men OF
your regiment during the recent Ger
man offensive, rs testified by British
army commanders '4.