Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-24
French Praise Americans
For ValOrOus Conduct
at Seicheprey.
: Let GREAT
LOSSES ON ENEMY
Two Machine Gunrers Remain AZ
Posts. Carrying Death to Boehs
Ranks Until Killed by Ensmy-
Party Of Twenty three Holds Posi-.
ton at Extremity Of Village Until
Nighfall When Cut to Nine.
lBy the Associated Press.l

I With the French Army in France,
April 23.--The valor and steadfastness
Of the American troops during the at
tack at Seicheprey last Saturday is
given unstinted praise by the French
troops on the same front This admifa-
tion Tor the lighting qualities of their
ans-Atlantic comrades Is demonstrate
ed in the report of colonel of French
infantry regiment which took part in
the engagement.
/ Il visited Reneres wood after the
counter attack in which the position
was recaptured and examined the situ-
alton in detail" says the report "Ey-
erywhere traces OF hand to hand fikflt-
ing showed that the American soldiers,
despite the two hours Of heavy bom-
bardment, defended themselves va
liantly.
Machine Gunners Die Fighting
! In the vicinity between the front
trenches and the communication
trenches connecting the Jury and Re-
neres woods two American machine
gunners died lighting after covering the
ground with German dead. The enemy
suffered great loss"
4 The French soldiers who joined in the
fight declared that the Americans div
played a splendid spirit OF combat They
relate that north OF Ssichsprey an
American detachment was separated
into small groups, but at that Il con-
tinued in action.
Behind the Americans and on their
left hank were German units. but they
could have retired on the right. How
ever. they decided to stick and night
which they did with wonderful valor.
Close Quarter Combats Numerous.
Numerous hand d-to-hand combats
: were fought in the course Of this long
struggle from which the Americans
found themselves obliged to retire at
nightfall but only after destroying their
machine guns.
In Seicheprey Americans found sew
eral thousand grenades with which they
put up stiff fight. holding on all day
to the northern extremity OF the viii
-lage. They refused to surrender and at
the end of the lighting only nine out, of
the original twenty three were left.
A cook. surprised by the Germans.
seized rifle and continued fighting un-
I'll he fell dead.
The chief surgeon OF the American
regiment engaged hurried to the scene
Of the fight The rescue party passed
thru severe barragc fire but eyentu-
ally reached the village whore they
tended the wounded for many hours
under an intense fire.
Tales Of Individual Heroisn,.
The shell torn village OF Seicreprey,
around which centered tho hardest
nghting in the recent German attack,
appears TO be destined to hold proud
place in the story OF American par
i tcipation in the world wor Furthr de-
tails of the engagement disclosed
deeds fully In accordance with the
finest American tradition. The cor
! respondent is now permitted to tell OF
: a few cases OF indicidua heroism.
David Griggs Of East Hampton.
Conn. passed thru the enemy barrage
at least seven times 10 carry ammu-
nitionu to his comrades. Twice ne
was partly buried by earth upturned
+; by shells. Griggs who is 10 years old
was pointed out by comrade who
J said Nv
That is the bravest man in the reg
! iment"
Raymond Ferris, OF Medford, Mass,
acting as courier, was blown OF the
road twice by the concussion Of shells.
Altho stunned and nearly crazed by
the intensity OF the guntire. when he
reached the rear OF the lines he car
ried out his orders Then he asked
for revolver, saying he wanted to go
out and fight the Germans, but he
tainted from exhaustion. When he re-
gained conscienceness his first words
were in inquiry whether his message
had been delivered.
Serge ant Kills Fifteen Huns.
Charles F'inkler. a lawyer OF Phila-
delphia, who was ~ the thick OF the
fghting as member of a Red Cross
unit told OF two Amricans. armed with
automatic pistols. who charged ma
chino gun, killed eight Germans and
captured tho gun. One American ser
yeant was said to have killed fifteen
Germans.
Two Salvation Army girl workers
handed out coffee, chocolate and good
cheer to American soldiers for two
hours under shell fire.
Thaw Numbered Among Aces"
Paris, April "a. - Major William A.
Thaw. OF the Lafayette flying corps.
now is counted among the aces" hav-
ing brought down his NTH dying ma
chine and captive balloon on the same
day. VI s55 SfSsss