Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-12
TERRIFIC LOSSES
IN GERMAN Army
SHOWN IN LETTERS
Letters On Captured Germans
Tell Awful Stories of Hard
ships and Death
BY Henry Wood


Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
With the French Armies In The Field,
June 20.-(By Mail).-Letters taken
from German prisoners captured in Am
eriean sectors make no secret of the
terrible losses being inflicted by Amer
lean infantry, machine gunhers and ar
t:!lery. This is especially the case in
the sectors near Chateau-Thierry.
One letter, written June IL, by a sol
der of German infantry regiment
reads as follows:
"My division has been engaged only
since the situation has stabilized in the
region of BonnesC sChateau-T -Thierry. My
company still numbers forty men. But
in three days my battalion was exhaust
ed and placed in reserve. However, we
are still required to go wherever neces-
sary across a terrible barrage fire. Nat
urally we got less and less numerous.
Finally, when we were completely eA-
hausted q battalion of the regi-
ment relieved us.
Yesterday morning the poor devils
were still asleep, they were so fatigued.
They were taken prisoners and tho
French occupied their first line. We are
accordingly given the alarm and were
obliged at once to occupy the sustain
ing position.
"Before us now there are Americans
Previously there were English, French
and Madagascar forces. / am astonished
that l am still alive, for it has cost
us masses of men.
Another letter taken from prisoner
Of the 461st regiment of German infan-
try says:
''The enemy's resistance has become
stronger and our losses now are heavy.
During the night of June 34 | was call
ed because several section commanders
had already been killed. l was sent to
the Third company, which had lost all
its section commanders.
"0ur attack was without result, ow.
iDg to the terrible machine gun fire.
Our second attack was repulsed on ac-
count of the heavy losses we sustained
(more than half We are still in the
midst of terrible uninterrupted ar
tillery fire than continues day and
night.
GAS adversaries we have seen Eng
lish, negro colonial troops, French and
Americans.
Taken from the same soldier was q
letter he had written three days later
after his regiment had had more to dc
with Americans. 1t reads:
'.The artillery is becoming more and
more violent than the preceding days
We receive shells of every calibre, even
2S0's. The mutilations are horrible. If
mothers knew what happened to theil
sons l think they would smother then
to death against their bosoms to save
them such sufferings.
Toward morning we were violently
shelled and at five clock we were at
tackled, but repulsed the enemy. Begin
ming at noon there was new lombard
rent that was frightful. At six 'cloch
an English and American attack was
repulsed. We are completely in advance
and our position is critical. The regi
ment at our right has already faller
back"
Three days later. just before this sol
der was taken prisoner his last let
ter read as follows:
AT five O'Clock this morning, an
oth>r attack. The remainder of the day
was more calm. Toward evening the ar
tillegy fire increased and became ever
moro terrible during the following
morning. All who rest are killed anC
buried am the fifth to take command
of the company"