Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-31
AMERICANS JOKE
WHEN THEY OPEN
ATTACK ON ENEMY
Men Fought Like Veterans
and There Was No HeSita-
ton When Their Officers
Shouted; "Come on, Boys"

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Tuesday, May 9s.-(By the
Associated Press. THE American line
now runs $50 to zoo yards east of
Cantigny. as a result of the successful
attack today. The nearest German
trench is several hundred yards east of
where the Americans have dug in. The
Germans. il has been found, had many
outposts and machine gun emplace-
ments in Cantigny.
The Americans penetrated the Ger
man positions 10 a depth Of nearly a
mile. Their artillery completely smoth'
cred the Germans. The roar Of the
American guns could be heard for many
miles in the rear. Several fires are
burning behind the German line.
Americas FIRST offensive blow was
struck in a mist. The French tanks
apparentIy did not have much to do, as
the American artillery already had pre-
pared the way. 4 bright sun came out
and shone on the Americans as they dug
in in their new positions.
As the Americans started out across
No Mans Land, there were many jokes
about eating boche for breakfast" The
Americans fought as though they were
veterans and there was no hesitation
when the officers sprang forward and
shouted:
Come on. boys"'
Several officers. describing the scene,
agreed that the outstanding feature in
their minds was the wonderful morale
of the men and their absolute confidence
in themselves. The Germans poured
machine gun bullets all around the
Americans as they were digging in. but
no attention was paid TO them as jokes
l.
Many of the American soldiers who
took part in the successful attack
against the German lines west of Mont
didier today also participated in the re-
pulse of the German raid against the
American lines Monday.
One participant I'm Mondays affair is
said TO have been found today in shell
hole in No Mans Land, with two wound
ed Germans as his prisoners. He was
unable to get back to the American
lines Monday night, so he stood guard
over them until the attack this morning
liberated him and secured the prisoners
to the Americans.
Lieutenant Irving w Wood. of Oak
land, Cal. said he did not see one Amer
lean fall during today's attack.
1t was more exciting that football
game" ne added. We have got the
huns on the run. All we need is more
Americans and then we shall lick them. IS
The demeanor of the men wounded in
action was cheerful when the CORE
spondent visited the field hospitals this
afternoon. He saw stretched out or
their cots a number of these Americans
for the most part only slightly wound
ed. who acted like school boys returned
from a great day of sport smoking CT
garettes. eagerly relating their personal
nd =
humorous incidents.
Lieutenant George Z. Butler. former
ly an attorney in Indianapolis, who was
slightly wounded in the leg, said that
going over the top was like maneuveI
in the training camp back home. The
men were eager for it, he said. and
some of them remained up in the
terenches all night talking about the APP
preaching adventure with cheerful an
ticipations.
when we reached Cantigny," he add
ed. 1t was only pile of bricks and
stones. Our artillery had leveled the
town. The German machine guns were
buzzinr about US like humble bees, but
our fellows did not pay any more atten-
ton to them than if they had been con
fetti.
1T was the finest example of team
work / ever saw. There was notIa hitch
anywhere. The men cracked jokes and
sang. but they were businesslike n
( their work"
Lieutenant Albert f. Billings. 81
Brooklyn. y. Y. who also was slightly
wounded was placed on a cot adjoining
chat OF Lieutenant Butler. AS soon as
their eyes met they clasped hands and
erS
1T was a great show. wasn't it,
Billings said. Gee. I wish the folks al
home could have seen it. 7 wouldnt
have missed IL for the world"