The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-07-18
Take 1900 Germans.

armies.
Take 1900 Germans.
The American counter-attack which
cleared the river bend of the enemy
resulted in the taking of between 1000
and 1900 prisoners, including "A com
plete brigade staff.
Failure of the enemy to renew his
attacks may he significant, as infan-
try actions usually start before six
O'Clock.
The German attack on the Marine
began at 3 Il. IN. Initial attempts Of
the enemy to bridge the river were
frustrated by American artillery and
machine gun fire.
As the Boche fire was concentrated
on the American positions in the bend
of the river, from three sides, our men
gradually fell back in perfect order
and the Germans succeeded i'm throw.
ing six pontOOns across.
Following the cleverest dictates of
strategy. the American retirement con
tinucd until our men reached the base
of the salient created by the bend of
the river There they halted at ten
O'Clock and resisted all efforts of the
Boches to diSlodge them.
Cool Under Fire.
Coolly, despite the harassing fire,
the officers began preparing for
countcr-attack. Shortly after noon it
began. Slowly and methodically, as
though executing some training ma
ncuver, the Americans pressed for
ward.
Their advance was irresistible.
They drove the Germans back more
than two kilometerS On mile and a
qunrter) before there was any slack
cning of the attack. When it did halt
it was voluntary.
Hurl Foe Into Marine.
The cOunter-attack was resumed al
ter brief pause. This time the
American assault was conducted with
an almost unbelievable ferocity. The
Boches were caught up in the cyclonic
rush and great numbers of them We're
hurled bodily into the river
When the BocheS reached the river
bank they were compelled to plunge
in. and many were drowned. Others
were caught in the rain Of shells and
machine gun bullets, and the stream
was soon thickly dotted with shat
tered bodies.
Battle Most Remarkable.
The battle WAS one of the most re-
markable of the war. For ten hours
ihc intense Smelling by guns Of all cali
Der continued Everything within 40
kilometers Go niles of the front was
shellod while the front lines and or
ganiZationS Immediately in the rear
were subjected to the tierceSt deuse
of gas shells and high explosives.
When the Germans attacked a
creeping barrage five kilometers (more
than three miles, deep swept over the
American and French lines. Behind
this curtain of fire the Boches crossed
the river.
In addition to the pontoons, canvas
boats ana RATS, each holding Il score
of men, were sent out from the con
cealmcnt of wooded banks, their occu-
pants polling them across.
The Boches looked like gnomes
while crossing the river, being forced
10 wear gas masks, owing to the yiO-
lence of their own casing.
Brave Three-Mile Inferno.
Numerous stories are told of indi-
vidual bravery of the Americans. one
artillery outfit maintained such Il con-
slant rapid fire that it ran short Of
ammunition.
Volunteers were called for to 20
three miles over roud every inch Of
which was swept by shell fire. Every
man volunteered.
The necessary number was picked.
They drove their horses, dragging the
humping caissonS at a gallop through
shell bursts. Several horses We're
killed Returning, more horses were
killed
Men Help Haul Burden.
The number of horses was so re-
duced the men were forced to sub
stitute themselves. They would leap
off. cut loose the mangled bodies Of
the faithful animals. grasp the traces
and run along beside the remaining
horses.
When this strange calvacade ar
rived M the battery the men serving
fhe guns paused long enough in their
deadly work to cheer their heroic com
radrs