Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-23
vERM0NTERS MADE
BRILLIANT FIGHT
102nd Machine Gun Battalion
Officers Describe Seiphe.
prey Battle

Montpelier. May 2o.-The adjutant.gen-
erals Office has received a letter dated
May l. from an officer in the 1O2nd M. c.
battalion In France. This is the orgsni-
cation from which most of the Vermont
men have been reported killed. wounded
and missing since the battle Of Seiche-
prey, April 20-21
Extracts from this letter follow:
Lieut. Tenney was captured several
days ago as an incident of one Of the
sharpest and bloodiest battles which the
American troops have engaged in. His
company was next to mine in the line and
i have been able to gather all the infor-
nation available.
Lieut.. Tenney commanded two guns
situated in an advance post. The Ger
mans attacked with large numbers Of
trained shock troops and had the protec-
ton and concealment afforded by the ex-
tremely heavy artillery barrage and a
thick fog. Under cover Of these they
were able to advance their storm troops
within few yards of our posts without
detection. At their attack signal several
OF our outposts were instantly over
whelmed and captured. The Americans
met them on the rear Of thos position and
after a prolonged struggle, drove the enc.
my from our lines and captured his own
front trenches.
1T Is almost certain that Lieut.. Ten
ney and his crews were captured with
out a chance to fire a shot, since an ex-
animation of the ground, made after the
German retreat, showed no traces of a
fight. 1t is safe TO assume that he is an
unwounded prisoner in the hands Of the
enemy. and we derive considerable COM
fort from the fact that the Germans
across the line from us seem to possess
the spirit Of humanity to a degree which
prevents them from firing upon our Red
Cross men. They were also very kind
to two of our wounded who fell into their
hands and later came into our own lines.
You will find several Vermont names
upon the casualty list as result Of this
battle. Men from the list Vermont met
the shock of the combat as machine gum
ners. and they fought as we knew they
would tight Those who died we found
dead at their posts beside their guns when
the battle had turned. fully appre-
ciate the tragedy to those at home who
hoped for the return of these soldiers. but
I hope they will see also the sweetness
and courage and calm simplicity which
Jignified Vermont's first sacrifice. Their
officers and comrades are proud Of them
and no one of us but hopes that. II his
turn comes, he may go out as calamity
as these men who have shown us tho
way.
1T is a principle of machine gunnery
that the gun crews must be men of cali
Der who will stand their ground and face
| an odds In order to protect their infan.
try Our men did this and to good effect.
In front Of one position We found the bod
| les Of 100 Germans. This was principally
| the effect of fire from the guns Of Lieut..
| Tenneys company. We know that the
Germans are prepared to carry off their
dead and wounded and the fact that they
were forced to leave SO many dead test.
fes to the accuracy of our fire.
II wish you would convey the sympa-
thies of the officers and men Of this bat
| talon to the families Of the men who are
gone. We believe that the men who have
fallen into the hands of the enemy have
every chance of good treatment and safe
return when the war is finally over"