Evening star., 1918-06-09
RAW TRO0PSFACE
HUN FIRE CALMLY
Bravery of Americans at
Seicheprey a Cause for
National Pride.
A BAD DAY FOR THE ENEMY
BY THOMAS M. JOHNSON.

BY THOMAS NJ. JOHNSON.
Copyright, 1918. All risl to rescrved.)
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, May 7.-Seicheprey! Over
here we wonder whether it has not
become q household word in the
United States; certainly 1t must have
become so in New England.
There is a regiment that withstood
the brunt Of the German attack that
morning OF April 20. Just now 1t is
back in rest billets recuperating, yet
rather impatient to get into the line
again. That regiment did some fine
fighting then, and 1t should be held
in remembrance.
Their commanding general made
known his appreciation and approba-
ton Of what they did in a published
order.
That Official commendation is one
OF the first American citations of
units since we entered the war. The
order says that the Germans attempt
ed to gain permanent footing in
that part Of our sector around Seiche-
out having gained their objective.
Objective Main Highway.
1t seems quite possible that the OBJ
jective was the main highway from
Commercy to Pont-a-Mousson. which
runs along a ridge to the south Of
seicheprey. The French. however, be-
lieve that all the Germans intended
was to occupy Seicheprey. the Bois de
Remieres an dthe trench systems
nearby for a length Of time sufficient
to enable them to take prisoners and
destroy our defenses there. then with
draw again. Their program was car
ried out except that the Germans
withdrew = good deal sooner than
That they did SO was due in large
measure to the splendid fight that
the American troops put up. Ameri-
can newspapers received here recent
ly express themselves as not sur
prised at the courage OF the Amer
1t is not q matter Of course that new
troops. Of whatever nationality,
should show themselves a. cool and
determined under shell fire as Amer
lean troops have shown themselves.
tar fre is very terrifying thing to
new troops. They ought not to be
deprived Of their need of praise for
standing 1t as American troops have
stood it on every single occasion
when they have been put to the test
what splendid troops they will be
when they are q bit more seasoned
and experienced.
Experience Of Lieutenant.
Take. for example. the experience Of
one platoon commanded by a lieuten-
ant who was slightly wounded and is
now on his way home to act as an in
structor of troops in the training
camps. His platoon was just on the
left of the sector attacked. somewhat
south Of the village Of Richecourt.
which is held by the Germans. SO
that when the attacking troops came
In they passed on his right.
He ordered . squad Of six men to
hold bombing post at all costs.
though the German box barrage had
bursting all about. not simply IT'S and
1868, but 1905. 1905 and 21bs-every
caliber from three to eight inches
Just one look At q 21o shell hole is
enough to convince the beholder that
It takes real courage to stick when
lAoSG lhlh8o Ak0 0OOuls
A 210 fell on the parapet of the
bombing post ten minutes later-dur-
ing all which time these men had
been under concentrated shell fire
and buried all SIX men. When they
were dug out later they were found in
grenadier. crouched with his rife
ready to fire the grenade: two men.
an automatic rifleman and q loader.
the first with rife butt at his shoulder
and his eye on the sights, the second
with loaded clip in his hand ready
to reload the rife: one man, bomber
with q bomb in his hand, standing
next to an open box Of reserve bombs: !:
two men. both riflemen. crouched
against the parapet, rifles at their
shoulders and bayonets loosened in
the scabbards. Every man had been
obeying orders to the letter. ready to
tight. when the shell came. They
would have sold that post dearly.
He Had Done His Bit.
Then there was another man who
was stationed at an anglo of q COM
municating trench along which it
looked as II the Germans would come.
He was armed with hand grenades.
pens" said the lieutenant. A half
hour later he came back. He stumbled
over the dead body OF the soldier. On
the parapet and half in the communi-
cation trench lay four dead Germans.
one transhxed with q bayonet. The
American had uSed all his bombs and
then his bayonet.
Another ofiicer ordered a sergeant
in command OF q squad to make a
block of sandbags at q turn In a
trench ana hold It with grenades and
rifles. An hour later the sergeant
came back to the officer with tears
streaming down his face.
For Gods sake" he said. give me
some more men,, They've killed two
of US and wounded three. but We gave
'em hell and we can hang on all day
II you'll give me hve moro men to
take the places Of the fellows that
are killed and wounded. I hope they
keep trying to get US all day SO we
can square up for those dve."
There was another man who re-
deemed himself II ever a man did. He
had been left behind in the guard
house by the unit this regiment re-
lieved. He knew Seicheprey like
book. As soon as the Germans were
driven out OF Seicheprey he came to
his oncer.
"sir." he said, 'I know where there's
hvs Of our men buried in q dugout
here. I'd like to dig 'em out"
"But they're shelling the place all
the time," said the oficer.