Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-10-18
CHAPTER vil-contlnued.

AZ ten o'clock the French attacked
a fourth time. They came on In enor-
nous numbers. Our leaders recognized
the danger OF our position aud ordered
us back. abandoning the wounded and
much booty. by n superhuman erort
we did manage 70 ave the machine
guns and ammunition. We reiterated
1000 meters and took n stand In u
former trenches. The officers told us
we would have 20 make n stand under
n circumstances and that the re-en-
f0rcements would come loon.
In n moment the machine guns we're
set mn and soon we were sending n hall
Of bullets into the ranks Of u pur-
suing enemy. His advance stopped In
stnntly. Encouraged by this success
we fred harder. so TINT the French
were compelled to seek over.
The promised re-enforcements failed
10 appear. About 600 meters 10 u
rear we're six German batteries In po-
sition, but they maintained only n very
weak fire. An artillery officer appeared
before us and asked the commander OF
our detachment II II would not be well
to recommend that the batteries be
taken back. He said he had learned
by telephone that the German line was
waverlng on Its entire length.
Before the commander could reply,
another attack en- mnsse followed,
which outnumbered us by from five to
seven times. Our commander now gave
up this position also. Completely de-
morallzed, we retired In flight, leaving
the six batteries CSC guns) to be takGsl
by the enemy.
The French stopped their bnrrnge
nre because they feared to hurt their
own troops. The Germans utilized this
moment TO bring up re-enforcements
made up OF all branches Of the service.
Scattered infantrymen, unmounted cav
airy, detached pioneers. had all been
assembled. Every makeshift was EN-
ployed 10 M the ranks. Complete re-
serve units apparently no longer exist
cd on this the third day OF the battle
OF the Mnrne.
Once more the command was given
10 turn and take n position and the un-
equal fight began new We saw the
enemy advance. and seize the bat
tories. Then we saw him storming
ahead with fixed bnyonets. We fought
like wild animals. For minutes there
ragged a bnyonet fight beyond descrip-
ton. We stabbed through the breast,
through the abdomen, and wherever
else we could. This was no occasion
10 employ the bnyonet tactics taught NJ
driil, something which must be left for
battle-ground practice only.
The butts Of the rifles whi2zed
through the air md any mans head
which they struck was broken. Hell
NETS and knapsncks had been lost long
since. In spite OF the superiority OF
numbers, the French could not defeat
this little group Of desperate men. We
forgot everything around us and Tough,
like hlnodthirsty beasts, thinking OF
nothing else. Part OF our men pene-
tnted the hostile ranks and fought Ia
retake the lost cannon. The enemy
recognizing the danger, retreeted. and
tried 10 hold the conquered guns with
all his energy. We continued 10 stab,
~ club. man for man, hut the enemy
held on to the batteries. Every can.
non wns surrounded by corpses. and
every minute new victims were ere
ated The nrtillerymen who we're fight.
ing with MS tried 10 remove the breech
blochs u the guns.
Three Germans fought four French.
men NJ the third gun which was just
n my right. They were all that war
left around that piece. AZ another guu
10 men lay dead or wounded. A pho
neer went 20 the mouth OF this gun and
with astounding calmness pushed shell
after shell into the barrel, touched
mem on and ran. Friend and foe alike
we're torn by the terrible explosion
The gun was completely demolished