The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-11
Ten Americans in Patrol Party
Arnbushed by Enemy Who
Killed Five and Cap
tured -Four.
WOUNDED rs SURVIVOR
Australians Make Raid and Return
With Twenty-eight Prisoners
After Killing
Several.

[By j. w. Pegler, United Press Staff
Correspondent
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMIES
IN FRANCE, Feb. 10. Delayed AN
American sergeant, with Boche
bullet in his chest, today possessed
the only intimate knowledge of how
United States patrol was ambushed
in No Mans Land on Friday evening
with the loss of five killed and four
missing.
The sergeant is the only survivor
of the patrol. He is in critical con.
dition and until he RECEIVERS the story
OF the encounter cannot be told.
The enemy, it is known, suffered
some losses, as there are indications
the patrol fought fiercely before it
was wiped out. The American artil-
lery also laid down a heavy. barrage
behind the Germans, through which
they had to pass in returning to their
trenches.
Not All Killed.
[By J. w. Pegler, United Press Staff
Correspondent
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMIES
IN FRANCE, Feb. 10.-(Delayed.)-
A Texas Sammy was the hero OF
Fridays patrol battle in which five
Americans were killed and four cap
tured, it was learned today.
The Texan remained in No Mans
Land after the encounter, minister
ing to two wounded comrades.
After ten minutes of impromptu
first aid work, the Texan left badly
wounded Sammy in charge of another
wounded man, who was trying to
staunch the flow Of blood from the
seriously wounded lads hurts.
Making his way back to the Ameri-
can trench, the Texan filled his can
teen with water and returned to his
comrades.
He found the man who had been
seriously wounded lying dead in the
arms of the other, who were crying:
For Gods sake. Buddy. don't die
tonight! Let's get another crack at
the dirty Boches."
The Texan brought both the
wounded man and the dead Sammy
back to the American lines.
The full story of how the American
patrol fought against death in the
darkness among the wire entangle
ments was learned today when sur
vivors were able to talk after fumes
had departed from their lungs in the
base hospital.
They told how fourteen Sammies
started crawling out through the dew
sprinkled weeds and grasses between
wires at six o'clock in the evening
and inspected the wires until eight.
Then the sergeant leading the patrol
whisperingly cautioned the others
that the enemy was near.
All Topped earthward. A moment
later the patrol leader whispered the
command:
"All bunch together"
The next instant the Boches show
cred them with grenades and rife
and pistol fire. The Sammies re-
sponded In kind.
1t was all over within a minute and
half The Boches fled with four
captives from the head of the patrol
column.
Two wounded men helped to bring
in the sergeant patrol leader.
Another patrol started out imme-
diately and recovered the dead. They
reported they heard the Boches dash
ing homeward through the American
barrage which had been laid down
between them and the German
trenches.
Survivors say the Boches shouted: !
"Kamerad," continuously during the
fighting.
The dead were buried today in the
growing American grave yard, within
the shadow of great ammunition
dump Simple wooden crosses bear
ing the imperishable legend KILLED
in action" mark each little mound of
earth.
Fellows billeted in the battered toy
village nearby daily visit all the