Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-08
Corporal Leads Volunteer
Rescue Party After Com
rades Through Heavy Bar
rage of Shell Fire, and Take
German Officer
ENEMY SNIPER ENJOYS
A VERY SHORT LIFE

With the British Army in France,
July Tn the German
against the new posi-,
tions gained by the Australians ana
Americans around Hamel, TWO Amer
leans and five Australians were cap
tured by the enemy. Volunteers were
called for and an American party
brought back the captured men and
a German officer while twelve Aus
tralians brought the number OF
German prisoners to fifty.
The story of this incident as told
by an American officer who TOOK
part in the fighting follows:
''The Boches did not bother US
until Thursday night when they
made their counterattack which was
repulsed. They did succeed In the
first rush, however, in getting holu
of two Americans and five Austral-
ians whom they carried back.
Volunteers Aplenty
I'VE Immediately called for vol
unteers to go out after these cap
tured lads and all our men at once
began yelling for the chance. Cor
poral Raymond Powell was first up
and he was given a squad of men for
the work.
THE guns had put down a heavy
barrage, but the corporal led his
chaps straight through this fierce
fire and charged hot foot after the
retreating enemy. The Germans re-
tired to a strong point but the cor
poral with the other Yankees went
in after them.
"Our two boys were retaken along
with the five Australians and the cor
poral and his party also captured
Boche officer. In the meantime,
twelve Australians had circled
around and joined the American
party with the result that fifty Ger
man prisoners were brought back.
The Snipcr's End
"That night a Boche sniper caused
lot of trouble from a nest in the
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"
Recounting a story he had heard
of the grit of an American corporal,
the officer continued:
IAN Australian officer was telling
me about one of four corporals who
did what was considered a fine piece
of work. This lad had charge of a
machine gun squad. Early in the
push all his comrades were Knocked
out by shell fire and he was left alone
with the gun.
"He knew that the gun was need
ed so he started forward with it him
self 1t was no light job but he kept
setting it up and working it until he
got through to the final objective
where he made his final stand. He
was pumping away religiously at the
Boches and the Australian officer
was watching him with interest for
he knew he was a green man and
admired the way he as carrying on.
Suddenly the corporal raised himself
up and then dropped to his knee
again with his head hanging.
The Discovery
What's the matter Yank? Are
you hit?' called the on1cer.
mo. sir replied the corporal
quickly, but do you know this darned
thing don't kick at all
After fighting magnificently with
his gun for so long the corporal had
simply stopped firing for a moment
to inspect his machine with new in
terest. 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
taken. Most of them were strapping
fellows, but there were a lot OF
them who, while big, were very
young. The Boche put over some gas
at one time but 1t was only a mighty
good experience for our men as they
were equipped with the masks.
Magnificent Fighters
IT want to say here that those
Australians are magnificent fighters.
We have been learning the game
from them. Our fellows watched the
veterans closely and it was a case of
imitation without second lesson"
All the Americans are anxious to
get into the fight again and are
watching eagerly for the next call.
CITY SUES LANDLORDS
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