Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-10-15

Infantry, in which Maine takes such
Second Maine 10 part Of 1t, has been pre-
q the Liberty Loan campaign, and ha
en here was prepared especially for nj
o the whole state. The compilers OF !
nation, and while It may not be accurat'
made great preparation for IN at
tack on the American lines. From
German officer captured later, IT wa
learned that the Germans planned t.
take American prisoners for informa
tion purposes, and then to push or
through Xivrsy to Toul and Bouco
their detectives. Nine artillery train'
we're seen to pull into the German line'
on the afternoon preceding the attack
and others we're heard to arrive that
night. The assault was preceded by an
intense bombardment Of the town ol
Xivray and the back areas for distance
Of twelve miles. Following the bonn.
bsrdment the Germans sent forward
some six hundred picked shock-troops.
Their engineers came ahead and blew
the barbed wire. Then came the liquid.
6re men, followed by the machine guu
men, the infantry, and the pioneers, In
the order named. The supporting
American batteries caught sight of the
advancing Germans and laid down bar.
rage behind them, shutting Of retreat to
the German lines or bringing mp oi
supports. The attack was made on the
village OF Xivrsy, held by the Esstport
Company, supported by the HoultoD
Company The Skowbegan Company
also had some part in the fight. Prob.
ably City men out of these companies
actually participated. in the fighting.
Fbe artillery and machine guns opened
up on the Germans at the same moment.
The American barrage was wonderful.
Not sbot went sstray. The laisoD
work between the fighting men and
headquarters, between the infantry and
the artillery was perfect, although all
wires bad been carried down In the pre-
liminary bombardment. The Germans
we're literally mown down. OF the six
hundred picked troops who came for
ward, but City escaped death. The
German dead lay four or five deep 10
places. In front of one machine gun
position, forty five dead Germans were
strung along the wire. The attacking
body numbered many more than here
mentioned, this being merely the raidiug
party. There were at least three times
as many men coming as reinforcement,
but they were held back by the fine
work Of the 102 Artillery, assisted by
the 10Sd Artillery, and the disposition of
the remainder of the regiment. Not Q
German got by the wire and into the
the trenches. Not content with waiting,
the Maine boys went ont and mopped up
what was left of the Kaiser's best, who
bad been told that the town was held by
but handful of Americans, and to "Go
and get them".
At the critical moment In the
attack German machine gun squad
had entered . road between the
trenches that would have
allowed them to make q flank attack
and do terrific damage to the defenders.
They we're met BY Verne Boutlier Of
Houlton. He attacked the advancing
Germans with an automatic rife. The
rifle being out Of commission, he went
after the Germans armed only with q
bayonet grasped in his hand. He took
the maohine-gun single banded, and
turned 1t against the attackers, and for Q
few moments, alone, until his platoon
came up, he held the road and prevent.
ed what would have been . dIsssterous
flark attack. A liquid. fire squad, Of
three men, succeeded In entering the
town. They were seen by Captain
Williams, who shot with his revolver,
the man carrying the tank. The bullet
passed through the mans body and into
the tank which exploded and destroyed
the three me.throwers.
The Germans took one prisoner, IN
Eastport boy whose esgerness had
carried him too far in advance of bis
fellows, and who had been wounded.
Lieutenant Irwin E. Doane Of the
Houlton Company, observing the pligh,
Of this boy, called for volunteers from
bis company to 60 to the rescue. Every
man stepped forward. Choosing seven
of his men, Doane went after the Ger.
mans who were In charge Of the prison.
or. Needless to say, he got them, and
released the wounded Eastport boy.
On the way back this squad took prison
ers, Red Cross man and q German
officer. In this battle the American
casualties were but twenty men, eight oi
which were from the Esstport Company.
The number included both the killed
and wounded. For this magnificent
work the regiment received special
communication. o.
Under date of June 1s, 1918, General
Passage, commanding the 32nd. Army
Corps, French Army, issued the follow.
ing general order:
"Translstion, 26th Division.
June 1s, 1918
81. O., June 19, 1918.
With Army, 80 Corps,
Stah-Sd Bureau,
No. 1904.
General Orders No. 131.
On June 16, Q strong detachment, con.
sistiug of 600 picked German troops, re-
enforced by Storm Battalion elements,
attacked at daybreak the front line Of
the 26th American Division at Xivrsy and
between Xivray and Seiohprey. The
enemy Was everywhere repulsed by i'm.
mediate oounter-attacks and left
numerous bodies on the terrain, and IL
prisoners including one officer.
This brilliant action does the greatest
honor to the 26th American Division,
and in particular, to the l0Sd Regiment
Colonel Hume.
It demonstrates the upquestionable
superiority of the American soldier oveI
the German soldier. II indicates clearly
what can be expected from these
magnificent troops when, In its turn
the Entente assumes the offensive.
| GENERAL PAssAGA
Commanding the 82nd Army Corps.
| PAssAGA"
This was the first time that ar
American regiment had been 90 cited
mentioning an officer BY name.
The regiment remained In the Tou
sector during April, May and June. Al
the Yankee Division were leavinf
General Passsga'st Corps /. for another
sector, he issued another General Order,
In which be said: y
"Under the distinguished command o
their chief, Gen. Edwards, the high
spirited soldiers Of the Yankee Division
have taught the enemy Same bite
lessons, ct Beis Brule, ct Seichprey, o
Kivray. .Marvoisin; they have taught hin
to realize the staunch vIgor Of the son,
Of the great republic fighting for th,
worlds freedom"
The first Of July tho regiment startet
% they supposed for Paris and rest
They expected to take part in the grea
Fourth Of July celebration In that city