Evening star., 1918-07-21
ny JUNTUy b. WOOD

but tho individual statements O.
American officers and men agree tina
the courage of tho Germans Is ebbins
that they are discouraged at thu
length of the war and are eager tt
surrender once they escape from th'
domination Of their ofiicers.
The exceptional few light Ike
wolves until they are quieted. One
cursed an American major question
ing him. Another, being carried into
the hospital, vindictively prophesfee
that the time would come when al
the Americans would be killed. This
man was unceremoniously dumped
from the stretcher on which he was
being carried.
German Wounded Protected.
Since the Germans started thetI
policy of bombing hospitals 1t has
become necessary to place guards over
the German wounded to protect them
from the violence Of other wounded
1t is not yet possible to give con-
nected story of what the Americans
have done in this great battle. There
are Americans in many parts Of this
long front. They form parts OF many
Armies and many corps
Their action is disconnected and
consequently recital OF their deeds
must likewise be more or less dis
connected. 1t Is safe to say. however
that all, from seasoned veterans down
to the greenest recruits, many OF
whom never heard the whistle OF
shell until the terrific German bar.
rage opened the battle. have acquitted
themselves we'll.
The story is told of how q company
In a regiment which for military rea-
sons I am not permitted to name, was
given up for lost when 1t was sur
rounded in that first fierce onrush In
the darkness. When day broke word
that the company was still part OF
his unit. 1t had fought its way
through the enemy, bringing more
than its own number in prisoners.
This was q part Of the unit on the
Crezancy front, where it was getting
warfare 1t had been only four days
In the line.
The barrage cut all the telephone
wires and all other means OF COM
munication. Runners were unable to
pass through the rain of shrapnel and
clouds of gas and live, yet parts OF
all the detachments returned.
Second Line Holds.
The remainder of this outfit. holding
tho second line of defense. stemmed
the tide when the first line retired
after receiving the first shock of the
German onrush. The enemy advanced
no farther at this point.
The music Of those machine guns
was the heavenliest tune ever
heard" said the Rev. H. j. Johnston,
pastor of the Park Avenue NJ. E
Church s.,,a in East Orange. n \. .sc,s.ssv J; Bs
the fighting myself. but Capt Led
ford would not permit It,"
). In view Of these and countless
the Germans are surprised at the way
the Americans fight. At the end OF
the first day our front to the east OF
Chateau Thierry had been restored
Mezy-Moulfns was recaptured with
only one battered unit still holding
advanced along st. Agnan and the
Bots de Conde and the only Germans
left on the south side of the Marne
were those hiding in clumps Of bushes
sheiled the river through the day and
the aeroplanes which constantly few
over 1t destroyed the eight pontoon
bridges which had been thrown over
the narrow Marine in the darkness
Of the night.
Crossing River.
Several methods were used by the
Germans in crossing the river. which
point. In most instances the boats
were hidden along the shore and pro-
footed by smoke screens. In other
places, where there were dams such
rs that at Mont st. Pierre. the enemy
vaded across, protected by machine
guns on the opposite bank. after a
grilling barrage had been kept up
tor q couple of hours.
Second Lieut.. William P. Urban OF
Buffalo was surrounded by a dozen
engaged in liaison work with the as
eistance of a sergeant. They shot
the sergeant without mercy and then
took Urban's automatic pistol from
him, firing point blank at him, but
inflicted only a slight flesh wound.
They then turned their attention to
fifing the pockets of the dead
Aergeant. Urban took to his heels
and escaped through the brush.
After the first hour Of fighting the
Germans began appearing in American
uniforms, sniping our men and at
xsmpting to confuse them with con-
dicting orders. A French officer was
Wounded by two such spies. The
ffeacherous act was seen and both
were killed. Search disclosed that
they had German identity tags around
their necks.
Another new trick of the Germans
was to mount machine guns on aerial
sFunways made Of telephone wire. and
fy means Of these moving the guns
Rapidly from tree to tree without dis
closing their real location.