Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-21
REGIMENT IS
WORTHY OF
WAR CROSS
Negro Troops do Excellen,
Work When they are First
Sent into Battle.

- With h American ARMIES IN
France, Aug. 3o.-(Correspondence
ment of negroes in the American
army Number deleted by c~ensor)
has had its baptism Of fire on the
fighting fields OF France and acquit-
ted itself so well hat the French
>:nmander of the sector has cited
The whole regiment as worthy Of re-
ceiving the war cross. This regiments
repulse of the enemy attack on the
early morning Of June ~ POSSIBLY
at Belleau Woo " Bouresches) was
briefly referred to in the Official COM
munique.
A later and official report of the
engagement brings out interesting
details and gives credit to the officers
and men for fine fighting qualities
displayed in their initial experience
under shell and machine gun fire.
tor has given the regiment the high
est possible commentator for the re-
suits accomplished and the splendid
fighting spirit shown by the Ameri-
a negroes.
For several days preceding the at
tack there were evidences that the
enemy was preparing to strike a
blow. Two days before n of the
main points held by the regiment had
been subjected to a strong lombard
ment of nearly 100 shells, gas and
shrapnel. Prior to the heavy enemy
artillery barrage occurring on the
morning Of the 18th, our advance
groups heard movements apparently
of narrow guage track trains in the
wood back of the enemy lines, indi-
eating they were getting ready for
an attack. 4
Every, preparation had been made
for meeting the move if it came. Be-
sides the usual combat groups at the
main points of the line, a special ma
chine gun section occupied a special
ly chosen position on a small salient
projecting into the enemy line. 1t
was accompanied by a omba group
detailed from reserve cmpany and
carrying rifles n hand grenades.
It was 2:15 in the morning of the
18th that the order to stand to" was
given and all combat groups and the
machine-gun section took their fight
ing position. The enemy artillery
now opened a violent bombardment,
engaging in a box barrage" five OF
chine u position. The lines Of this
box barrage are we'll defined on the
) ground, showing it's outer circuit,
with a considerable scattering OF hits
inside. The shells were mostly It's
with some 1855, gas. shrapnel and
ulSu Explosives. one or our points
received particular attention, prob
ably by minewerfer, the craters OF
which were two yards in depth and
five yards in diameter. The artillery
bombardment was extremely violent
at the start n tapered off gradually
until 1t stopped after thirty minutes
Meantime under the cover Of the
artillery, the enemy infantry begar
Its operations, adopting the infilter.
ing process by which detached
groups are thrust forward at a mum.
Der of points instead Of moving ,ir
mass formation. One group came
on with two light machine guns, fir,
ing rather intense fire into one Of GU,
positions. Another group was esti
mated to be about rs or 80. At an
other point on our front a stationar,
enemy patrol took position, firms
with two small machine-guns. Nov
and then squads would dart forward
from their gun positions. Eight Ger
mans got up to the wire in front O
one Of u positions, and four other
approached at another point. Beside
these assault groups which reach GU:
line, there were undoubtedly addi
tlonal enemy forces in assaulting col
umns and Supporting columns which
We're unable to enter the field.
The special machine-gun grour
q command of Lieutenant L.. %
Shaw was in n most exposed cen
ters OF the fighting, being under ter
rilic artillery fire and the fire Of tw,
German machine guns. : Lieutenan
shaw handled this very difficult sit
qatlon with cool bravery. The enem,