Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1918-06-07
SEEKING TRACE
OF PRIVATE HER
Red Cross Is Searching Be-
hind Lines
Congressman Greene Learns Of Battle
In Which Bristol Boy Was Lost

ApnBlthhNlal hlNNHE ANHAA' va HANNN
In Which Bristol Boy Was Lost
Mr., and Mrs, Hicr have received a
letter from Congressman TanE J.,
Greene at Washington, msuuctiug
them that all efforts ace peius made to
locate their son, William Her. who was
captured by the Germans at The en-
gagement when Lieut. lmney also Tell
into the hands OF the enemy, Congress
man Greene writes as follows
My dear Mr., Her, / have your
letter OF May sth referring TO the case
OF your brave son and to my effort TO
secure some information that may al
ford some comfort to his parents, You
will be interested to learn that ! have
Just received a letter from the Ameri'
can Red Cross reading as follows IL
have your letter OF May 10Th calling to
my attention the case OF William HER
OF Bristol who has been reported as
missing | have already written TO Paris
asking them TO start the search for this
boy, and 1 will notify you upon receipt
OF any news from abroad. AS matter
Of fact he is now and has been being
looked for behind the German lines by
the American Red Cross OF Switzer.
land 50 | hope il will not be long be-
fore we can report back TO you You
will be advised just as soon as ! get any
further details" The foregoing was
written by a man who is very famil-
lar with the inquiry work along these
lines being conducted by the Red
Cross, Trusting that you will soon
get word to the effect that your son is
safe and sound and that you will not
hesitate to call upon me if you think
there is any opportunity for me to be
OF further service, am sincerely yours,
i. l., Greene.
From the Adjutant Generals Office,
he received the following letter;
Dear Sir am enclosing you here
with a copy of letter just received
from an officer of the l02nd Machine
Gun Battalion, which gives in as great
detail as it will be possible to get an
account of the capturing OF these boys
| felt that you would appreciate seeing
this, | am endeavoring to find out how
mail can be sent to them and if you
care to write me later | may have this
information. Following is the letter
from the officer of the l02nd Machine
Gun Battalion in France,
Lieut.. Tenney was captured several
days ago in an incident of one of the
sharpest and bloodiest battles which
the American troops have engaged in.
His company was next to mine in the
line and | have been able to gather all
the information available. Lieut. Ten
ney commanded two guns situated in
an advanced post. The Germans at
tackled with large numbers of trained
shock troops and had the protection
and concealment afforded by an eX-
tremely heavy artillery barrage and a
thick fog Under cover of these they
were able to advance their storm troops
within a few yards of our posts without
detection. AT their attack signal, sew
eral of our outposts were instantly over
whelmed and captured, The Americans
met them in the rear of these posi-
lions and after a prolonged struggle
drove the enemy from our lines and
captured his own line trenches.
1T is almost certain that Lieut.. Ten
ney and his crew were captured with
out chance to fire a shot, since an eX-
animation of the ground made after the
German retreat, showed no trace of a
fight. 1t is safe to assume that he is
an unwounded prisoner in the hands of
the enemy, and we derive considerable
comfort from the fact that the Ger
mans across the lines from us seem to
possess the spirit of humanity to de-
gree which prevents them from firing
upon our Red Cross men. They were
also very kind to two of our wounded
who fell into their hands and later came
into our lines. You will find several
Vermont names upon the casualty list
as a result of this battle. Men from the
First Vermont met the shock of the
combat as machine gunners and they
fought as we knew they would fight.
Those who died were found dead at
their posts beside their guns when the
battle had turned. fully appreciate
the tragedy to those at home who
hoped for the return of these soldiers,
but | hope they will feel also the sweet
ness and courage and calm simplicity
which dignifed Vermonts first sacrifice.
Their officers and comrades are
proud of them and no one of us but
hopes that if his turn comes, he may 60
out as CALAMITY as these men who have |
shown us the way. 1t is principal of |
machine gunnery that the gun crews
must be men of calibre who will stand |
their ground and face any odds in or
der to protect their infantry. Our men
did this and to good effect. In front of
one gun we found the bodies of 100 |
Germans, This was principally the eff
feet of fire from two guns of Lieut.
Tenneys. We know that the Germans