The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-08-09
AMERICAN SOLDIERS FOUGHT LIKE
FIEkDS," SAYS BRITISH OFFICER
High Praise for Conduct OF Yankees in First Fight Side by Side With
Their British Cousns-Told to "KiI and They Sure Did
That-Australans Delighted With CON-
rades Prowess at Hamel

With the British Army In France
All the traditions OF the United States
army for vaior were brilliantly sus-
tained Ia the successful attack made
against the Germans south OF the
River Somme. when for the first time
American ininntryinen took their
stand beside their British cousins and
fought shoulder 10 shoulder with them
against the common toe.
II WAS II baptism of fire for the Yam
kee soldiers on this front. and they
came through with flying colors, prov
Ing fitting comrades for the Austria
iian warriors whom they were assist
Ing
"I'he Americans fought like fiends."
declared one British staff officer. They
did all of that. They were magnificent,
and the folks nt home may be proud
OF the part their boys took In the
shell.torn valley of the winding Somme.
They were fightIng over ground al
ready stained with the blood OF thou
sands of brave soldiers. but no better
troops ever charged across the rolling
fields than the pioneers from the
American army. Along with this IL is
possible To make the cheerful state
ment that their casualties were very
mmall. Virtually the entire body OF
Americans came through unscathed.
This was probably due TO the weak re-
distance which the Germans offered to
the Anglo American onslaught.
One does not need To detract from
the work of the Australians by telling
OF the prowess of the Americans, The
soldiers from the antipodes fur out
numbered those from the United
States and did n corresponding
amount of the sanguInary labor. II
goes without saying that the big
framed men from Australia. who fear
neither man nor devil. fought with the
fierceness which has made them ter
ror to the enemy.
The American troops VIM were to
take part were brlgaded with their
Australian allies. who took the deep
est interest In the welding of the link
of brotherhood. The plans were care
fully rchearsed until every American
knew his role almost as well as the
hardy veterans from his maJestys
army.
Few along the front knew of the
event. but the British stan officers
Here watching every move with the
k~enest attention. Those officers to-
Gay were outspokeniy delighted with
what they had seen.
Enloined to "kiii." and They Did.
For a week tho British experts had
been dinning into the ears OF tho
Americans the words. "klill Knii
XIII" rs the cardinal slogan Of the
fghting man.
The Amerlcaas Ind learned their
lesson well. The British officers spoke
Of this after the affair was over. No
drttimaster ever got better returns for
his talks than the one who taught
these Americans this hardest lesson
OF all. A large number ot Germans
paid the price, and the men from the
Unite Ssates eSacted heavy toll,
The Americans we're naturally happy
over the success Of the operation In
which they had played creditable
part. and the Australians were no less
pleased with their uew.found pals.
The general In command OF the
American troops WAS also pleased with
che work his men had done.
Our troops understood thoroughly
when they went over the top that they
were expected 10 do no less than any
" their allies" said the general 10 the
correspondent. Reports which have
received from the Australians Indicate
that our boys conducted themselves
~ith great credit and did all that could
have been wished"
The correspondent visited casualty
Hearing stations TO see some OF the
wounded Yankees who had gone
through the fight.
Boy corporsl's Story.
Lying on cot. fianked by British
0disrA uas Q Chicago lad who had