Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-12
RESCUED FROM THE BocHES
Americans and Australians Go After
Men Who Had Been CAPTURED.


With the British Army. France.
July TN the German counter at =
| tack against the new positions gained
by the Australians and Americans
around Hamel two Americans and five
Australians were captured by the enc
my. Volunteers were called for and
an American party brought back the
| captured men and n German officer.
while twelve Australians brought the
number of German prisoners up to so.
The story of the incident as told
hy an American officer who took
part in the fighting, follows:
1.-THE Boches did not bother us until
Thursday night when they made their
countcr-attack which was repulsed.
They did succeed in the first rush.
however, in getting hold Of two
they carried back.
I'VE Immediately called for volun-
tccrs to 20 out after these captured
lads and all of our men at once be-
gan yelled for the chance. Corporal
Raymond Powell was first up and he
was given a squad of men for the
work.
"The guns had put down a heavy
harragc but the corporal led his chaps
straight through this fierce fire and
charged hotfoot after the retreating
enemy. The Germans retired to n
strong point but the corporal with
the other Yankees went in after them.
"Our two boys were retaken along
with five Australians, and the cor
poral and his party also captured
boche officer. In the meantime IL
Australians had circled around and
joined the American party with the
result that fifty German prisoners
,ra h5o,aFht hRshE --...s
THAT night a Boche sniper caused
front line and one Of my men went
out across No Mans Land alone
after him. The Yankee got him and
left him dead on the field"
| StOIy nN
of the grit OF an American corporal.
tho officer continued:
| "An Australian officer was telling
me about one of our corporals who
did what was considered fine piece
of work. This lad had charge of n
machine gun squad. Early in the
push all his comrades were knocked
out 10y shcllirc and he was left alone
with the gun.
| "Hc knew that the gun was needed.
so he started forward with 1t himself.
II was no light job but he kept set
ting il up and working il until he
got through the final objective
where he made his final stand. He
was pumping away religiously Mt the
Roches. and the Australian officer was
watching him with interest, for he
knew he was n green man and admir-
cd the way he was carrying on. Sud
denly the corporal raised himself up
and then dropped to his knee again
with his head hanging.
Whats the matter. Yank. are you
hit" called the officer.
| "'No. sir replied the corporal
quickly. but do you know this darned
thing don't kick at ALL
After fighting magnifcently with
his gun for SO long the corporal had
| Just made that big discovery and he
simply stopped firing for q moment
to inspect his gun with new interest.
The officer was delighted with the
soldiers action and told the story to
us later
| I'VE were surprised" the officer
added, at some of the prisoners TAX
en-. Most of them were strapping
fellows but there were a lot Of them,
who while big. were very young. The
ISochc put over some gas at one time
but II was a mighty good experience
for our men as they were equipped
with the masks.
| Il want to say here that those Aus
tralians are magnificent fighters. We
have been learning the game from
L tneln. OUR lellOWS WdtcHtu thc NVtei
ans closely and 1t was case OF imi-
tation without second lesson"
During the evening of the day the
correspondent spent with the Ameri-
cans n big bunch of mail arrived from
home and there was great jubilation
among the men to have letters from
the folks as a reward for their wori;
in the trenches. One young fellow
came tearing around waving a torn
dollar bill which he had just found
in letter.
II got it! 1 got it," he yelled with
delight.
"F'ive francs. kid" laughed an Of
fcer who was standing by.
ut amt, it's q dollar bill and its
from home" and the boy was OF with
his treasure.
All the Americans are anxious to
get into the fight again and are
watching eagerly for the next call.
The murder Of Count Won Mirbach
lCerman ambassador to Russia, has