Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-11-12
CROSSING The MUSE
How Americans Passed River Un.
der Terrible Fire
SPLENDID DASH and REAL COURAGE
First Men Swan Across River and
Then Pulled Others Across With
Ropes - All Make Long Plunge
Through Mud-Germans Driven on
While Engineers Built Bridges.


Through Mud-Germans Driven on
While Engineers Built Bridges.
! With the American forces on the Sc
dan front. Nov (Associated Press).
THE crossing OF the river Mouse and
the capture of the town OF Dun by the
Americans will he claimed as one OF
the most gallant fcats OF the operations
above Eurdun.
The troops who accomplished it will
rank as heroes. Their work was
strategic move OF magnificent daring.
II involved forcing a way over 100
| feet OF water half Il mile stretch OF
mud and 6O-foot canal in the face
Of friGhtful enemy fire.
Some Swan Across.
II also involved swimming by those
who knew how and the pulling of 9TH
ers over on ropes. Graphing irons
| We're used To scale the sheer walls OF
the canal along which enemy machine
gunners had been posted. and all under
| the fire OF scores otlhatteries from III"
hills adjoining.
When the order to cross the canal
came the men knew almost ~ well a.
their commanders how well nigh i'm
possible the task would be. Yet they
never hcsitated.
The orders wcn TO send over one
brigade first and II II failed to send
another and others one after the other
Theoretically they had the choice OF
| crossings anyM here for five miles. Ac-
| uIally they were limited to one point.
where thirds OF n mile OF mud
lay between the river itself and the
canal that roughly parallels the river
The Germans were too firmly In
trcnchGd NJ all other spots. They had
| not protected themselves with trenches
here only because they never dreamed
that the Americans would bs so daring
az TO try to negotiate the passage. This
was short distance north OF Bri-
eulles.
Use Ropes to Advance.
All the swimmers of the lst Bri-
gauc were hrst singled out and put
in the van. II was intended TO attack
in this way on the theory that the
swimmers were less likely to be- hit by
the Germans owing to the fact that
thew would be nearly submerged. On
the other hand they could carry with
them ropes and other paraphenalia
for assisting non-swimmcrs across.
The building OF pontoon bridges was
put off until at least some American
elements had crossed the river.
Notwithstanding some losses and
the fact that the swimmers could not
defend Themselves -mny of-thes.-
reached the east bank OF the
river with lines, which were drawn
tamt across the stream.
Some Float on Rats.
Others lloated on RATS and collap-
siblc canvass hoats. These men had
less success than the swimmers. be-
cause they were better marked for the
rnrmy's rife and the boats could cas-
lily be sunk by bullets even " their
occupants were not hit.
Close to where the swimmers cross
ca the engineers began TO throw over
pontoon boats and n tiny foot bridge.
| The pontoons were destroyed by the
enemy. but the bridg" remained IN
tact and added materially 10 the con-
s,antly increasing numbers OF men
arrived on the west bank OF
the river. Soon after dark the lst
Brigade was across the first barrier
and more men were ready to make
the journey.
Plunge Through Mud.
The second phase OF the perilous un-
dertaking then bcgan--the crossing OF
the two thirds OF mile OF mud STREET
ching between the river and the canal.
under tremendous enemy fire. the
Americans stumbled across through
the witherinz fire. Their feet sank
into the mud and soon the pace of the
men was slowed down TO laborlous
walk. Nevertheless they got through.
even II the task caused some deple-
i ton In their numbers.
| The next phase constituted the
crossing of the narrower but deeper
canal. with its sheer sides and the
Germans almost nj the very top OF
the eastern edge. The swimmers again
got into action and plunged through,
notwithstanding the enemy fire. and
scrambled to the top. Here the men
divided their attention In driving on
tho enemy and helping non-swimmers
across by the same method used al the
river. Two bridges were finally laid
down by the engineers. greatly facili-
tating crossing.
Two Bridges Hold.
These two bridges withstood at
ltcmuts OF the enemy to destroy them
and contributed largely to the speed
of getting the American troops over.
When the swimmers reached the
cdpe OF the canal they could not land
without the aid Of the graphing hooks.
which had to be caught on top OF the
wall edging the canal so that the
swimmers could pull themselves up
Inv means Of ropes. II would have
been n hard enough task for men un-
disturbed by the enemys guns, but
its accomplishment was almost IN
conccivably difficult under the violent
nncmy fire.
With two water ways and two
thirds OF n mile Of mud land success
fully negotiated. the Americans had
only the customary fighting and went
70 It with no delay and In ever-in-
creasing numbers
The Germans. who apparently had
assumed that It was impossible 10
cross the Meuse. gave way without
great resistance before men who could
brave their fire. swim two rivers and
cross a swamp with slmost charmed
lives and attack them without
paus.ng for even moment.