Phoenix tribune., 1918-09-07
AMERICAN NEGRO
TROOPS TERROR
TO GERMANS

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMIES
IN FRANCE, August-One regiment
of negroes in the American army
has had its baptism of fire on the
fighting fields of France and ac-
quilted itself so well that the French
commander of the sector has cited
the whole regiment as worthy of re-
ceiving the war cross. This regi-
ment's repulse of the enemy attack
on the early morning of June 12 (Pos-
sibly at Belleau wood or Bouresches)
was briefly referred to in the official
communique
A later and official report of the
engagement brings out the details and
gives credit to the officers and men
for fine fighting qualities displayed in
their initial experience under shell
and fire. The French commander of
that sector has given the regiment
the highest possible commentator for
the results accomplished and the
splendid fighting spirit shown by the
American negroes.
For several days preceding the at
tack there were evidences that the
enemy was preparing to strike blow.
Every precaution has been made for
meeting the move.
1t was 2:15 on the morning of the
hof 20 Gcko %r0S,.
given and all combat groups and the
machine gun section took their fight
ing position. The enemy artillery now
opened violent bombardment, engag-
ing in "box barage" five of our main
groups and the special machine-gun
opened a violent bombardment, en-
position. The lines of this box bar
rage are well defined on the ground,
showing its outer circuit, with a con-
siderable scattering lof hits inside.
The shells were mostly IT'S, with some
1855, gas, shrapnel and hig explosive
The artillery bombardment was ex-
tremely violent at the start and ta-
pered off gradually until it stopped
after thirty minutes.
Meantime, under cover OF the artil-
lery, the enemy infantry began its op-
erations. adopting the infiltering pro-
cess by which detached groups are
sent forward at a number of points
stead of moving in a mass forma-
tion. One group came on with two
light machine guns, firing a rather in
tense fire into one of our positions.
Another group was estimated to be
about twenty-five or thirty. At an
other point on our front a stationary
enemy patrol took position, firing with
two small machine guns. Now and
then squads would dart forward from
their gun positions. Eight Germans
got to the wire in front of one of our
positions and four others approached
at another point. Besides these as
sault groups which reached our line,
there were undoubtedly additional
enemy forces in the assaulting column
and supporting columns which were
unable to enter the field.
The special machine gun group un-
der command of Lieutenant l.. E.
Shaw, was in one of the most exposed
centers of the fighting, being under
terrific artillery fire and the fire of
two German machine guns. The enc
my barrage was so close that it was
impossible to stand up, and Lieuten-
ant Shaw controlled his guns by roll
ing from one to the other.
His two guns fired 5000 rounds.
Under this violent onslaught, the
men struck to their posts. carried out
every order without hesitation, often
under CALLING fire, and showed a high
degree of skill with their weapons
and coolnes sand courage. Each ma
chine gun jammed three times, was
partly disassembled and cleaned un-
der fire, continuing in action through
out the engagement.
There were instances of individual
bravery during the action. Private
Howard Gaillard, with small rapid
fire piece, was unable from his posi-
ton to get good fire to bear upon
the advancing enemy groups. SO he
coolly and with entire disregard of
danger, mounted the parapet, and
while enemy bullets were flying
around him, fired his rapid-fire piece
from the hip. first at one group and
then at the other. Privates Smith
field Jones and George Woods are es-
pecially mentioned for their GOODNESS