Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-05-07
AMERICANS vs.. GERMANS
Through Acid Test Without My
fllnching
SPLENDID CONDUCT IN BATTLE,
Here is a Thrilling Account that an
Eye Witness Has Told About the
First Encounter the Sammies Had
With the Eritzes.

First Encounter the SamnIes mac
With the Fritzes.
In American Trenches in France
April 10.-(Controle American.)-l
have just come through the mos
thrilling experience Of my life.
Mingling and touching shoulder
with our American troops In then
first line trenches, l have seen them
shatter their German enemies ano
carry to a brilliant conclusion the
biggest military operation yet at
tempted by the American army IN
France.
1t will always be one Of my mos
cherished memories that was privi'
legged to observe with my own eyes
the behavior of American troops IN
their first big "acid test"
And of added interest Is the fact
that many of the boys whom oade
Godspeed as they went over the TOP
with their bayonets fixed are lads
known since they wore knee pants
Will the American army in France
made good? Is the American soldier
destined to outstrip the fighters oi
all other nations in GOODNESS, dasn
and bravery?
The answer is to be found In the
simple narrative I'm going to give
of what I heard and saw.
For some time a German salient
opposite a part OF the American front
had been n source OF constant danger
and annoyance to our troops. The To-
cation Of the salient was such that II
afforded unusual opportunities Tor
hid snipers and machine gunners, who
had, for days, been popping away at
every American head that showed It
self above the top of the trenches.
1t was decided that the salient must
he wiped out.
So great was the pressure from
officers and men of all the units COM
prising the regiments designated to
make the attack, that it was thought
best to permit every company to con-
tribute it's quota to the attacking
party. But even then difficulties
arose, because company commander
after commander found every man In
his organization stepping to the front
when volunteers were called for. In
many cases, the attackers were chos-
en- by lot.
The day Of the attack was bright
and sunshiny, and the warmth OF an
early spring had sent the army over
coats to cover and everybody was out
Of doors enjoying the fine weather.
I had stood, the day before, in .fEont
cfune rofonefs Headquarters and
had watched one company quota af-
ter another march by in informal re-
view before him and the rest Of the
regiment, on their way to little VII
lage Just back of the lines where they
were to meet and be welded into one
attacking force.
have never seen any soldiers In
finer fcttlc than they. Every man
among them was proud and cocky
TO be a member Of the first lover the
top" party: and as they marched
along most of them whistled or sang
patriotic songs.
Dawn the next day found our "over
the top men in their places In the
first lines. Then came the long hours
of waiting for the attack to begin.
They were to go over the tops IN
broad day light, after the artillery had
In pulverizing the German
pill-boxes and machine gun
complacements.
had made my way into the trench
cs shortly after the noon hour and as
passed from place to place there was
hardly q face that was able to hide
signs of extreme nervousness. There
were frequent attempts at levity. but
noticed that very few Of the jokes
got a hand"
Nearly every officer and man was
Soon q colonel came through the
stopping a moment or so to
say a few words to every group that
he met.
Nowhere had 1 seen such intimate
between officer and men,
The boys crowded around him and
eagerly drank in his every word. II
was easy to see that he had their en-
tire confidence and that he was
popular leader with them.
Here is where we show 'em what
we're made of, boys" he said a num-
ber of times. "The whole world Is
going to know what we do this az
ternoon."
4 captain stepped up to him and
said:
rs 1t true, colonel, that you are go
ing over the tops with us?"
1T is," replied the colonel, quietly
But. colonel" protested the cap
tain, you have no right to risk your
life in this fashion"
I'm not thinking or concerned
with that side Of 1t, captain. What
| do know is that this attack must
be made a success. We can't afford
to start of with a fall-down. I'm
going over the top ahead Of you and
your men, because l want you all to
realize the importance Of success"
Not very many minutes after this,
our artillery. hidden In woods and
gullies and under camouflage be-
hind our line. opened up. At first,
the firing was desultory. but as the
German guns began to reply. our
own increased the intensity Of their
fire until there was nothing but one
long deafening roar. louder. from time
to time, as the biggest calibres sent
their enormous shells screeching and