The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-09-18
-EEassHS FOUGHT BRAvEDY.
Awho1e Regiment OF American Ne
groes I'm France Cited for Bravery.

OF negroes in the American army
fNo deieted by censor) has had its
baptism of fire on the fighting fields
ofFranee and acquitted itself so well
that the French commander Of the sec
tor has cited the whole regiment as
worthy OF receiving the war cross.
This regiments repulse Of the enemy
attack on the early morning Of June
10 (possibly at Belleau Wood or
Hburesches) was briefly referred to in
the official communiQue.
a later and official repcr. of the en-
gagement brings out interesting DE-
xatfs and gives credit to the officers
and men for fine fighting qualities
displayed in their initial experience
under shell and machine gun fire.
The French commander of that sec
tSr has given the regiment the high
est possible commentator for the re-
suits accomplished and the splendid
fkhting spirit shown by the Amerl-
can negroes.
,8For several days preceding the at
tack there were evidences that the
enemy was preparing 70 strike blow
Two days before one Of the main
points held by the regiment had been
subjected to a strong bombardrnen'
of nearly 100 shells, gas and shrap-
mel. Prior to the heavy enemy ar
tiilery barrage occurring on the
naorning Of the 18th, our advance
groups heard movements apparently
of narrow-gaug track trains in the
wood back Of the enemy lines, indi-
eating they were getting ready for an
attack.
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. special ma
cline gun section occupied special
lyscbosen position on small salient
projecting into the enemy line. It
was accompanied by combat group
detailed from reserve company and
,carrying rifles and hand grenades.
AT was 2.15 on the morning Of the
18th that the order to stand to-
wa given and al combat groups and
the machine gun section took their
fighting position. The enemy arti{-
ley now opened a violent lombard
uaent, engaging in a ''box barrage'
fi7s Of oumain groups and the spe-
cial machine gun position. The lines
of this bo0 barrage are well defined
on the ground, showing its outer cir
cult with a. considerable scattering OF
hits inside. The shells were mostly
.l7b, with some 1858, gas, shrapnel
and high explosives. One of our
pesnts received particular attention,
probably BY minewerfer, the craters
ofzwhich were two yards in depth and
fve yards in diameter. The artillery
bonbardment was extremely violent
atsthe start and tapered off gradually
until it stopped after thirty minutes.
Meantime under cover Of the ar
tiltery, the enemy infantry began its
oferations; adopting the infilterins
pSocess by which detached groups
aS6 thrust forward at plumber OF
points instead of moving in mass for
NATION. One group came on with
Two light machine guns, firing a rath-
er#intense fire into one Of our po-
sitions. Another group was estimat-
edto be about 25 or 30. At another
point on cur front a stationary enemy
pasrol took position, firing with two
sman machine guns. Now and then
squads would dart forward from
their gun positions Eight Germans
got up to the wire in front Of one of
our positions, and four others ap-
preached at another point. Besides
these assault groups which reached
ouf line, there were undoubtedly ad-
dMonal enemy forces in assaulting
columns and supporting columns
which were unable TO enter the field.
The special machine gun group un-
der command OF Lieut.. L. E. Shaw
wis in one Of the most exposed cen
ters Of the fighting, being under ter
riAc artiHerYEre and the fire Of two
G4rman machine guns. Lieut.. Shaw
hxndlEd this very difficult situation
With cool bravery The enemy bar
rage was 50 close that it was impos-
stSle 20 stand up and Lieut.. Shaw
centralized his guns by rolling from
one I'd. .thesother. His two guns fired
Gve tkousand rounds.
3Undert this violent onslaught the
men stuck TO their posts, carried out
every order without hesitation, often
under CALLING fire, and showed a
high degree of skill with their weap-
otts and coolness and courage. Each
machine gun jammed three times,
was. partly disassembled and cleaned
under fire, continuing in action
throughout the engagement.
One team fred fourteen clips when
thesgun jammed. Reporting this to
Lieut.. Shaw they were ordered to
clear the jam. While under intense
fire Of artillery and machine guns
they coolly dismounted the gun, re-
mounted 1t and continued firing until
ordered to cease. The fire of this
machine gun section was doubtless
wholly unexpected by the enemy, and
this fact coupled with the effective
fire laid down was chiefly instrument
tai in causing the withdrawal of the
enemy.
There were instances Of individual
bravery during the action. Private
Howard Gaiilard with small rapid
fire piece was unable from his posi-
tion to get a good fire to bear upon
the advancing enemy groups, so ne