The sun., 1918-08-01
SOLDIER TELLS HOW
MARINES FOUGHT
Frank Pagan of Long Island
City Writes Mother Of
Enemy's Losses.

The first definite statement Of the
losses suffered by the United States
Marines when they drove forward and
stopped the advancing waves Of gray
clad Germans dead in their tracks at the
start of the recent offensive was con-
tanned in a letter received yesterday by
Mrs Mary A. Pagan. mother Of Private
Franka Pagan. of 81 Munson street. Long
Island City. The letter stated that only
one officer and seventy-five men OF ESQ
escaped being listed in the casualties.
Great as was the American loss, how
ever, the Germans suffered even more
terribly, Fagan's estimate OF the total
German casualties being placed at not
less than 1900 men. The letter also
brought definite confirmation Of reports
that the German soldiers have reserved
their cry Of "Kamerad" until the last
possible American has been killed or
wounded by their fire. and that now the
pitiful wall OF surrender does mot
soften our hearts one bit. We Just
empty our rifles into them"
The fact that young Pagan has been
recommended not only for the French
CroiN de Guerre, but for medal for
valor as we'll, was reserved for the end
heart swell with pride. despite the
meagre details of the bravery revealed
by the son.
Marines Held Their Line.
THE Huns were coming at the rate
of FIVE and ten miles a day." the letter
said. land 1t was up to us to break
their great offensive. We only had been
in the trenches half a day when We saw
them coming over the, hills The French
dropped back. but We held our own and
held them off until the next morning
and made a raid on them.
We killed of their men as they did
ours-both sides lost heavily; but the
Huns lost the most as they had a major
ity OF 10 to l against us. In this first
attack We took more than 500 prisoners.
counting the wounded. Shippers were
picking of our men and 1t was up to
us to give 1t to them once more We
were pretty well weakened. but what is
that to fighting men?
I'm all the battle counting killed and
wounded and captured the Germans lost
approximately l 200 men, as we had taken
more than 500 prisoners. We lost heav-
lily, as we only had one officer out OF our
company and seventy five men. We lost
our Captain. as he was shot in both
legs. We started out with ESQ men in
our company alone. believe 1t was
the good prayers from you and all at
horne that brought me out alive, as l
| had haen knocked down twice with
| shells and hit FIVE times. but not wounded
enough to put on a first aid dressing.
Rccomm nded for Two Medals.
II have been recommended for a
French Croix de Guerre and a Dis
;incuished Medal for ralor. am a
gunner on an automatic rife and had
four guns break on me in the two at
lacks and one of my leaders shot down.
faced them with my Colt pistol until
found a rife and two bandol!ers and
bayonet. and I held on to 1t until I
! found another automatic rife.
What made us all bloodthirsty was
to see their machine gunners lie there
and NOV down our men, fire every car
fridge and hand grenade and then. when
they were out OF supplies, come up and
say 'Kamerad' with ptiful voice but
II did not soften our hearts one bit. We
! Just emptied our rifles into them.
We captured ESQ machine guns and
a dog with valuable information running
back to the reserves with note writ
ten in German: Bring reenforcements
at once This hound now belongs to
! us
Private Fagan's statement that his
company lost all but one officer and
seventy-fve men does not mean the
others were all killed. His statement
Of losses includes killed. all the wounded
and those who were taken prisoner by
the Germans.