The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-07-06
AMERICAN FIGHTING Vim
CARRIED TROOPS OYER TOP
Chicago YOungster Who Was Among Yankee
Soldiers Assisting Australians in Capture of
Hamel Pours Out Story of Battle That Was
"Real Fourth of July Celebration"
ASSOCIATED Press.)

With the British Army in France.
Friday, July 5.-American fighting
spirit and courage as displayed In as
sisting the Australians in taking Hamei
and Vaire woods Thursday has
brought much favorable commenda-
ton. Soldiers wouhded In the fighting
were glad Of the opportunity to meet
the enemy and the general In command
of the American troops was exceeding
ly pleased with the work his men had
done.
sour troops understood thoroughly
when they went over the top that they
were expected to do no less than any OF
their allies" said the general to the
correspondent today. Reports when
l have received from the Australians
indicate that our boys conducted them
selves with great credit and did all
that could have been wished"
They had more than done their pit
and he well knew 1t.
The Americans were exceedingly
keen in the attack, the general said. and
several units which had expected TO
take part were heart broken when
they found they would not be en-
ploycd The American casualties ap-
parently were very light.
Later the correspondent visited cas-
ualty clearing stations to see some OF
the wounded Americans who had gone
through the show.
Lonely, .Homesiek, Hurt.
Lying on a cot flanked by British
soldiers was Chicago lad. who had
been shot in the leg after gallant
fight. He was blue-eyed, round
faced youngster who looked strangely
out of place among the older veterans.
He said he was 20 years old. The cor
respondent told the little soldier how
proud everybody was of the Amer
leans.
"Are you from America. too?" he
cried as he eagerly put out hand.
"Oh, I'm glad of that" He was lonely,
homesick and hurt, and wanted COM
fort from somebody who came from
home. A friendly chat began and the
soldier clung desperately to the cor
respondents hand.
Then he told the story Of his part ir
the battle and here is the way 1t ran:
I'VE all were very anxious to do
we'll and we were ready to fight to a
finish. We knew there was trouble for
us over there in No Mans Land. None
of our boys cared for that, but the |
day before the attack. all the men Of |
my company got together and shook |
hands and said goodbye for, you see, |
we did not know II we should Meet |
again.
"I mad worked very hard to learn to
be n good soldier. for I wanted to be
credit to the folks back home. l guess
must have learned some things, for
my commander gave me twenty-four
of our chaps to lead over the top as
corporal. And my men fought WELL"
Glowing With Honest Pride.
He paused, his face glowing with
honest pride, and then continued:
AT midnight Wednesday. we went
forward and laid out In the open
waiting for the signal to advance.
Then about daylight came the barrage
1t was a pretty big thing, the biggest
we ever heard. 1t was just like a real
Fourth of July celebration. The time
came for the charge and we pushed
out. A few of our boys were too
anxious and they got 80 close to the
barrage that they were hurt. My pal
was struck by a shell beside me.
I'VE were advancing toward Hamel
village and had to go over one slope,
then down into a little valley and up
another hill. We got along all right.
but down in the valley there was lot
of barbed wire that held us up some.
know i got caught, but not for very
long.
Our men were fighting Hike any
thing and killing a lot of boches who
were in the trenches and shell holes.
A good many of the Germans were
yelling Kamerad' and surrenderlng,
too.
1.-TWO of the boches came running up
to me with their hands over their
heads. ! didn't know what to do with
them, but an officer came along and
sent them to the rear.
chur. Brought Him In.
"Then we went on and had about
reached our objective when something
nit me in the leg and went down.
tried to get up. but my leg wouldn't
let me and ] was dizzy. While l was [
on my knees saw two boches charg-
ng at me with fixed bayonets. had :
the butt of my rifle resting on the +,
ground. my finger on the trigger and {
fired when they were about ten yards
away. One of them fell over dead but
the other kept on coming and was on
me before could throw in a fresh
Then l knew had to fight him
with the bayonet like a man. So | got
10 my feet some how and as he jabbed
1t me with his bayonet ! parried 1t
with my rifle and then swung the rifle I
% his head as hard as ] could. The
low broke his skull and he went down. I
That's all ] remember until I woke up