Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-19
Yankee Sergeant
Captures I59 Huns
But Four "Die o., Him"

With the American Army In the
Champagne. July 1S.-After killing or
capturing the crews OF four machine
guns and raking German trench with
his automaicrfie. Sergeant J. F. Brown
walked into American headquarters
late yesterday with 159 prisoners.
Il am sorry. sir, that I was unable
TO bring In all l had" he said in re-
porting. but four of the wounded died
on me-"
The fighting in the fields and woods
in the present battle OF the Marne is
most unusual.
companies, platoons and even groups
OF two or three men are waging their
own warfare In clearing out the
boches
Sergeant Brown. separated from his
platoon, encountered the captain OF
another company. Pointing at four en-
emy machine guns. the captain said:
Let's get EN-
The pair charged the nests. SEEM
ingly impervious to the hail of bullets
and killed or captured the crews OF
two guns.
The prisoners were in their way so
Brown turned them over to the captain
and cleaned up the other two guns
alone, taking additional prisoners and
smashing the pieces.
The captain had started back TO tho
American lines with his captlves.
Brown followed some distance in his
wake. The sergeant encountered a COM
rade, Corporal Pipp. who volunteered to
guard the prisoners.
Brown readily accepted. as he had
Just caught sight Of shallow section
Of trench. half filed with dad hoche..
The other half was nlled with boches.
too-very much alive.
Browns automatic rifle had become
so hot that he could barely hold H.
But he put 1t across his arm and
opened fire on the trench. killing
several Of its occupants.
One OF the Huns yelled "Kame-
rad!"
All right, come out" Brown re-
piled. between shots. All OF the Ger
mans numbering nearly a hundred,
dropped their guns and surrendered
Brown aand Pipp again started for
the rear and encountered other mem
bers of their platoon with prisoners.
Brown took charge OF them all.
The wood where Brown and the
others had been lighting was being
shelled continuously. Once Brown and
Plpp were surrounded, hut they fought
their way out with their automatic
rifles.
At the edge Of the wood Browns
companions left him to "get some more
Heinies." and ne herded his prisoners
along a shell-pitted road toward the
rear. still clutching his trusty auto
matte.
Arriving at headquarters, Brown
made an accurate count Of his bag for
the first time. There were 159 of them,
including major, a captain and two
lieutenants.
The sergeant assured the commander
he had a receipt" and turned over
pistol and pair of wire cutters he had
taken from the major
Brown had narrowly escaped death
a number Of times. as his uniform was
torn with bullets, Early In the fight
ing his pack had been shot from his
back by shrapnel.
Browns feat was the climax OF
dozens Of similar episodes Eight
Americans captured by boches were
tdheH W tHt nOTtN sue OF Lne river.
They overpowered their guards. took
valuable maps from a German officer
grabbed boat and padded back.
A single machine gunner saw two
patoons OF Germans advancing. The
gun had been damaged and ne was un-
able to swerve to bring them into the
line Of fire.
Whipping out his automatic pistol
he fired several shots picking off the
Germans on ore side and causing them
to alter their course. This brought
them within range OF the machine gun.
He then wiped them out.
Small groups OF Germans filtered
thru the Americans lines near Mezy,
but our line was not withdrawn In
stead the Americans hunted down and
killed or captured every boche.
One American trumpeter took COM
mand OF his company when the captain
became separated from them.