Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05
BY JUNIUs b. WOOD.
Cablesram to The Sunday Star and the
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.

BY JUNIUS b. WOOD.
Cableeram to The Sunday Star and thu
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY AT
THE FRENCH FRONT. May 4.-Some
of the deeds of heroism showing the
stun of which our soldiers are made
and which shone out in the bloody fight
of April 20 when the enemy, out
numbering the Americans ten to one,
attacked the sector at Seicheprey. north
west of Toul, have just become public
The story of how wounded men fought
until some of them fell. never to rise
again, and how others escaped almost
miraculously shows the fighting grit of
our Army and gives heart-thrilling
picture Of the days in the inferno. where
the missiles of death fell like summer
hail
Reports of individual deeds have be-
gun arriving at division headquarters.
In other years each would make a
stery in itself, but in these days, when
youths shake hands hourly with the
grim reaper death, it is merely COM
posite of how one American unit stood
up. every part operating and doing its
duty so that almost certain defeat is
turned into victory.
100 Commended for Bravery.
About 100 of the 300 Americans who
held our positions on that day. against
5000 picked German "stosstruppen"
(shock troops) have been commended
for bravery. by their commander. Some
have already been decorated with the
French war cross. In addition the
American commanding major general
has commended Col. Bertrand and four
teen men of the French infantry, who
led back American wounded from
Premieres wood to the first aid station.
Our ambulance companies operated day
and night under fire. Every individual
in the regiment from teamsters up to
the commanding officers displayed the
same individual courage regardless of
death stalking on all sides. Most of
the men and commissioned officers
to be recommended hail from Massa-
chusetts, Connecticut, Rhode island.
New Hampshire and Vermont The
try and from distinguished families.
Among the individuals named were
Lieut.. Joseph /. c. Davis of the artil-
lery. who helped to work gun himself
after three fellow officers and eight
privates had been incapacitated While
doing SO he wore constantly a gas
mask and helped to move the guns by
hand power preparatory to withdraw
ing them. When. the Germans advance
ed he returned and continued firing.
Four times he brought up ammunition
under fire. being compelled to cross an
open space while carrying boxes of
fuses. Second Lieut.. Randall Wheat
Is also mentioned as having brought to
the rear Lieut.. Aver, who was knocked
down by shell.
Acts of Heroism Under Fire.
Drf~xo II D
emit. of the artillery, repaired wires
under Smelling from high explosives
and gas bombs until communications
were restored. though Johnson was
wounded in the arm and leg and Par
ent in the leg and head. Sergt. Ben
3amin James of the artillery, though
seriously wounded by shell splinters in
the chest and legs. brought stretchers
back under fire and refused medical
assistance until the others were cared
Tor. Corp. Leon Emery of an ammuni-
ton train trucked a load of ammuni-
tion to Dead Mans Curve" unloaded
and returned under bursting shrapnel
until his motor was struck He coast
radiator of the machine and the driv-
er's seat were punctured. a top wheel
guard was blown of and the wheels
and body were riddled with shots
Private Alvin Lugg of the infantry.
ordered back and fought his way to
the rear through a connecting trench
~ means of grenades and his bayonet
Corp: Ronald Tiet. leading a patrol.
drove out a German patrol ten times
the size of his own in Seicheprey, and
captured three prisoners.
Wounded, Climbed Tree, on Duty.
Corp. James Thornley, of the infantry,
wounded earlier in the action, urged
his squad to hold their position and
climbed tree from which he shouted
directions to the men as to where the
enemy was located
Serxt Robert Dundas Of the Infantry
signal Corps. when the rockets could
not be seen. mounted the parapets of
the trenches under fire and relayed the
signals by means Of a blinker. Private
Herbert Lining of the Signal Corps. a
iinesman. grabbed rifle of a fallen
infantry man and fought until ordered
killing American wounded. Corp.
Ralph NJ Whiting. a buzzer operator.
when driven in voluntarily Joined the
saved an ammunition dump. Private
Parker l. Poison. q linesman, repair
Ing the base telephone wire. climbed a
pole three times under IRE to restore
6ergt. Joseph X. Broadhead Of the ar
tillery, wounded in the back by a shell,
refused to leave his gun until MORALLY
wounded later in the day. Private Nor
ris w. Riley of the artillery crossed I'M
der shell fire to secure an ambulance and
also through the barrage q number of
times between the front battalion and
the headquarters. Chaplain William ].
Farrell personally conducted an ambu-
lance along shell road. removed wound
ed from a battery position. returned and
helped to serve ammunition to the guns.
Brave Five Hours in Gas Attack.
Private Edwin H. Hobbs Of the artil-
lery left dugout Of q reserve section
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