Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-09
ITALIANS and FRENCH BAG | 600 HUNS IN ALBANIA
AMERICAN SQUAD
BRINGS BACK TWO
u. S. PRISONERS
Small Band, Led by a COrpOr-
al, Goes After Men Captured
by the Germans and ReCoV-
erS Them

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, July 7.-(By the Associated
Press.)-In the German counter attack
against the new positions gained by the
Australians and Americans around
Hamel two Americans and FIVE Austria
Iians were captured by the enemy. Vol
unteers were called for and an Ameri-
can party brought back the captured
men and a German officer. while twelve
Australians brought the number of Ger
man prisoners to fifty.
The story of this incident is told by
an American officer who took part in the
fighting, as follows:
The Boches did not bother us until
Thursday night. when they made their
counter attack. which was repulsed.
They did succeed in the first rush, how
ever. in getting hold of two Americans
and five Australians whom they carried
back
- We Immediately called for volunteers
TO go out after these captured lads and
all our men at once began yelling for
the chance. Corporal Raymond Powell
was first up and he was given squad
Of men for the work.
The guns had put down a heavy
barrage. but the corporal led his chaps
straight through this fierce fire and
charged hotfoot after the retreatlng
enemy. The Germans retired to a strong
point. but the corporal, with the other
Yankees. went in after them.
our two boys were retaken along
with the FIVE Australians and the cor
pOral and his party also captured a
Boche officer. In the meantime, twelve
Australians had circled around and
Joined the American party. with the re-
suit that fifty German prisoners were
brought back
That night Boche sniper caused
lot of trouble from a nest in the front
line and one of my men went out across
No Mans Land alone after him. The
Yankee got him and left him dead on
the field"
Merry q. S. Corporal
Recruiting a story he had heard of
the grit of an American corporal the
officer continued:
IAN Australian officer was telling me
about one of our corporals who lid
what was considered a fine piece OF
work. A' :.
"This lad had charge of machine
gun squad Early in the push all mis-
comrades were knocked out by shell fire
and he was left alone with the gun.
He knew that the gun was needed.
so he started forward with it him
self. IL was no light job, but he kept
setting il up and working il until he
got away religiously at the Boches, and
the Australian officer was watching
him with interest for he knew he was
a green man and admired the way he
was carrying on. Suddenly the corpor-
al raised himself up and then dropped
to his knee again, with his head hang
ing.
What's the matter, Yankee? Are
YOU hit? called the officer.
mo sir replied the corporal. quick
". but do you know this darned thing
don't kick at all
After fighting magnifcently with
bis gun for so long the corporal had
just made that big discovery and he
simply stopped firing for a moment TO
inspect his gun with new interest. The
officer was delighted with the soldiers
action and told the story to us later"
we were surprised" the officer add
ed. at some of the prisoners taken.
Most of them were strapping fellows,
but there were a lot of them who, while
big, were very young. The Boche put
over some gas at one time, but il was
a mighty good experience for our men,
as they were equipped with the masks.
Initiate Veterans
II want to say here that those Aus
tralians are magnificent fighters. We
have been learning the game from them.
Our fellows watched the veterans close
~ and it was case of imitation without
a second lesson"
During the evening of the day the cor
respondent spent with the Americans,
big bunch of mail arrived from home
and there was great jubilation among
the men to have letters from the folks
as a reward for their work in the trench
es. One young fellow came tearing
around waving a torn dollar bill which
he had Just found in a letter.
II got il, / got it," he yelled with
delight.
Five francs. Kid" laughed an officer
who was standing by.
1t amt, it's a dollar and it's from
home" said he and the boy was of with
his treasure.
All the Americans are anxious to get
into the fight again and are watching
eagerly for the next call.
hmnrican Tronnc y