The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-08-13

With the American Armies in
France, Aug. 13-Correspondence of
the Associated Press)-One regiment
of negroes in the American Army (No.
deleted by CENSOR has had its bap-
tism of fire on the fighting fields of
France and acquitted itself so we'll
that the French commander Of the
sector 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
IL POSSIBLY at Belleau wood or Bour-
eschesl was briefly referred to in the
official communique.
A later and official report OF the
engagement brings out interesting
details and gives credit to the offic-
ers and men for fine fighting quail
ties displayed in their initial expert
ence under shell and machine gun
fire. The French commander of that
sector has given the regiment the
highest possible commentator for
the results accomplished and tho
splendid fighting spirit show by the
American negroes.
For several days preceding the at
tack there were evidences that the
enemy was preparing to strike a blow.
Two days before one of the main
points held by the regiment had been
subjected to a strong bombardment
of nearly 100 shells, gas and shrap-
mel. Prior to the heavy enemy artil-
lery barrage occurring on the morn
ing of the 18th, our advance groups
heard movements APPARENTLY of mar
row guage track trains in the wood
back of the enemy lines, indicating
they were getting ready for an at
tack.
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. II
was accompanied by a combat group
detailed from reserve company anC
carrying rifles and hand grenades
It was 2:15 on the morning of the
18th that the order to stand to- wa.
given and all combat groups and the
machine-gun section took their fight
ing position. The enemy artillery
now opened violent bombardment
engaging in a box barrage" five o.
our main groups and the special ma
chine gun position. The lines of thi
box barrage are well defined on tn,
ground, showing it's outer circuit
with a considerable scattering of hit
inside. The shells were mostly IT'S
with some 1855, gas, shrapnel ant
high explosives. One of our point
received particular attention, probabl,
by minenwerfer, the craters of whicl
were two yards in depth and five yard
in diameter. The artillery lombard
ment was extremely violent at tn
start and tapered off gradually unit
It stopped after thirty minutes.
Meantime under cover of the ar
tillery, the enemy infantry began it
operations, adopting the infilterin
process by which detached groups ar
thrust, forward at a number of point
instead of moving in mass FORMATION
One group came on with two light ma
chine guns, firing a rather intens
fire into one of our positions. Ar
Other group was estimated to be abou
% or 80. At another point on on
front a stationary enemy patrol too
position, firing with two small ma
chine guns. Now and then squad
would dart forward from their gu
positions. Eight Germans got up I
thew ire in front of one of our pos
lions, and four other approached &
another point. Besides these assau
groups which reached our line, ther
were undoubtedly additional enem
forces in assaulting columns and SUI
porting columns which were unabI
10 enter. the field.
The special machine gun group III
der command of Lieut.. L. e. sha
was in one Of the most exposed Ger
ters of the fighting. being under lei
rifle artillery fire and the fire of tv
German machine guns. Lieut.. Sha
$andled this. very diSScult situate
with cool bravery. The enemy ba
rage was so close that It was impo
eible to stand UP and Lieut.. Shaw col
trolled his guns by rolling from OF
20 the other. His two guns fired Fl,
thousand rounds.
Under this Violent onslaught u
men stuck to their posts. carried O.
every order without hesitation, oft,
under CALLING fire. and showed a hil
degree OF skill with their weapons al
poolness and courage. Each machil
gum 1emzned three times, ewasspart
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