Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-07-26

1 ~ RtHAr- 6t ~ I&oulk WI DNUlot
settled rapidly and there was nothln
else for US to do except 10 jump Int
the icy water and swim. Hardly ha
we left the boat when Il sank, but W
all reached the other suk safe for IL
moment.
In spite OF our wet clothing we hat
10 take n new boat at once, and Will
our blistered hands had to man tn,
oars again. In the middle OF the rive
we collided with another boat. Thi,
boat had lost it's pilot and two rowerr
IL rnmmed us and our pontoon tipped
over and is infantrymen and one mem
Der OF the crew were thrown into the
water. We were saved along with
four men from the other pontoon and
taken TO the left bank. Hardly had
we landed before we we're ordered to
take over a pontoon loaded with am
munition.
About FIVE more times we crossed
the meuse Meanwhile day broke
and then terrible battle developed
between the troops which had crossed
and the French. The Germans had the
best In this encounter because they
could not be shelled by the French ar
tiliery.
We were given a short rest and lay
In our water-soaked clothing In an old
abandoned trench shlyering with cold.
Our hands were swollen to twice their
normal size. They panied so greatly
that we could not hold bottle to our
lips. II was terrible sight to see
young md strong men lying on the
ground helpless and broken.
After short rest we were ordered
10 seek for. wounded In the burning
houses but we did not find many for
most of those who had been badly
wounded and unable TO save them
selves, were burned to death. Only
the buttons OF their uniforms and their
weapons Indicated to US TO which side
they had belonged.
In some cases. there we're not even
these yestiges. Only q little heap OF
ashes within the ruins Of house, was
oil that was left OF whole families for
whole streets. During the search most
OF us behaved as IL we had not taken
part In the terrible events of the last
hour. as II we had not seen the hor-
rors OF this encounter and as II we
nad forgotten entirely the danger we
lad just escaped
AS to honoring the dead, something
which had been taught us by our moth
RS from Infancy, or fear which the
average person feels toward a body.
here was no sign. My pen would balk
I tried to recall the expressions, to
describe the acts soldiers as well as Of
lcers committed to determine the ma
ionality or sex OF the dead. In the
meantime, the battle between our
roops and the French had reached a
iimax. Our troops had suffered great
osses but now our turn came.
The German artillery shelled as we
rossed the enemys position with
reat fury. Our artillery succeeded In
llencing the enemy's batteries and we
ried tc take his high positions by
torn
When we were within 200 meters of
ne enemy's defenses, the French ma
hine guns were turned upon us and
e were driven back with enormous
sses.
Ten minutes later, we stormed a ,
'cond time and had to retire again :
18th great losses. We again formed :
II attack within the shelter OF our !
enches, but the fighting spirit was .
me. But we dared not lose courage, ,
though the victims OF our useless n
orming attacks covered the field and {
e were able TO look at our dead COM =
des all about us. |,
The artillery started up again; re- !,
forcements arrived; after half an r
ur, we stormed a third time, over 9
e bodies of our fallen comrades. AS ,
} halted about 20 meters from the !.
emy's trench. he withdrew his en- :,
e first line. Soon after we saw the p
'rmans advance along the whole line. :,
le reason for this unexpected retreat -
IS explained later when we learned =,
ii the main part OF the French army :.
d retired some time before. The =,
avy toll OF life among our comrades =
= NttNfA ~ a ihtAt AtNA uttlQ uNAlOn-
During the next hour the enemy q,
lndoned all the heights OF the o,
use. AS we reached the crest OF q,
sc heights. we could easily over W
k the roads over which the French "a
1 retreated. They were departing In ~
Sc formation, In long columns. Our IT
npany and others received orders he
assemble and soon we pursued the a,
ling enemy. II was our work to re- ~,
r roads which had been destroyed A.
that they would be passahle for our =,
MES, task that was harder In the 90
ming midday sun. owing to the fact 81,
I the dead and wounded had first to -
disposed OF. ~,