Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-11
HEROIC STAND
fContinued from PAGE One)

HEhOkO 81 AND
CONTINUED from Page One)
climax to the fourth day Of the troops
beleaxuerement in the Argonne for
est.
When the men were long foodless
and almost wholly without ammuni-
ton and when many were weak from
exhaustion but not despairing, an
American who had been taken prison.
err by the Germans suddenly appeared
at the little camp surrounded in the
valley.
He had been sent blindfolded from
the German headquarters with a
typewriter note to Major Whfttlsey,
reading:<
Americans, you are surrounded on
all sides. Surrender in the name OF
humanity. You will be we'll treated"
Major Whittlesey did not hesitate a
fraction OF q second.
Go TO HELL" he almost shouted.
Then he read the note to those around
him and his men, despite their weari-
ness and hunger and imminent dan
ger every moment, cheered so loudly
that the Germans heard them from
their observation posts.
A composite story CLEANED from a
dozen recitais reveals that the battal-
ion when ordered to advance last
Friday pushed its way rapidly ahead
through the forest and in its eager
ness TO catch up with the retreating
Germans, gradually spread out and
widened it's ranks. This allowed the
Germans To innltrate unseen behind
the Americans and they fell directly
into a cunning trap which the Ger
mans had set for them.
The enemy had planned to catch
the Americans in a hollow surround
ed on all four sides by heights the
greatest OF which was a steep hill di-
rectly ahead.
The Americans, who we're not ac-
customed to forest fighting and were
filled with eagerness. dashed into
this hollow without stopping to think
that the enemy might be awaiting
them. The members Of the battalion
were at first checked by their own
artillery barrage. which had worked
osSuhhy ACS VoIb' ~
had not worked as fast&aS the troops
themselves and the battalion pro-
cceded half way up the hill and
there they waited for the barrage to
pass in front Of the mud. Then they
discovered that the Germans on both
sides had Jointly fanked them and
had closed In upon their rear.
Sheltered only by hollow and hast
lily constructed trenches the men
we're subjected to grilling snip
ping machine gun fire as well as a
trench mortar bombardment every
time they showed themselves. Only
with the greatest difficulty and with
extreme caution could they move
from place TO place and keep guard
against surprise attacks.
The battalion had started with
meagre rations. expecting more to
reach them later. These OF course
could not be transported to them.
" was the greatest good fortune that
Nhey were fairly well supplied with
water. Nightly, and daily too. they
sent back volunteer scouting parties
but whether these reached the po-
tltIOHb III tBc ItdE WiLucul OcIBS
captured or killed they could not tell,
for none ever returned. Daily Amer
lean aviators searching vainly for
them few overhead but no cutlery
the men could make brought any
thing but a volley Of shouts and
laughter from the Germanr in front
and behind and to the right and left
Of them. The beleaguered men dis
covered there were German machine
gun nests all around them every Is
feet or so and for a man to show him.
Gelf ever SO briefly was the signal for
q sweeping rain Of bullets. II a man
made an unusual noise trench motars
pounded them viciously.
Just for diversion the enemy made
a practice Of sweeping the whole
terrain-the hillside where the i'm
provised trenches were located and
the valley In which the men crawled
10 get water-regularly and then reg
ularly with machine guns. Shippers
we're constantly on watch.
German IT'S pounded the locality
and hand grenades also were hourly
in evidence. The Americans had no
rockets or other signals and they
were poVerless to attract the at
tention Of anyone by the Germans. AS
the days passed the Americans grew
more and more emaciated and more
and more bearded. but they never
gave up hope. There was nothing but
q grim determination to hold out
until the last man was finished. There
was not a man In the battalion.
wounded or otherwise. hungry or
starved, but secuted the idea nf sur.
render. Their ammunition was de-
pleted TO a point where the few ma
chine guns in the outfit had but one
cartridge apiece and rifle ammuni-
ton was running so short that they
had received orders not to IRE ut any
attacking units within such short
range that his death or serious in
Jury wes almost inevitable. Major
Whittelsey. who Is well-known
New Yorker, had his entire battalion
behind him to a man. Captain Leo
Stromee Of San Bernardino. Ctl, told
The Associated Press that his men
jeered at the idea Of surrender and
the men who came out Of the four
days siege are united In declaring
that they never would have given up.