Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-03-11

reached french SOIL some tnree weeks
! later, having been detained at Camp
Merritt, N. j., quarantined for measles
The latter division had the unique ex-
perience of having left Halifax, Nova
Scotia, just three days prior to the
awful explosion which wrecked that
whole city and killed hundreds Of peO-
Pile. The first division started twice,
returning from their first attempt be-
cause of engine trouble which they
Experienced just as they reached the
outer edge of the submarine zone.
They returned because the ships off
GERS feared to enter the danger zone
with crippled engines.
Since reaching France, the Rainbow
division has been undergoing intensiv, ,
training in the trenches, until recently
when it was assigned to an American
sector on an active front.
James Ernest Wedding was killed in
action March 5, probably in the Lor-
raine sector in the vicinity of St.
Mihiel, which is southeast of Verdun, a
fortress which will ever be Immortal
| lized in French history as the scene Of
a continuous siege of two years now
at the hands of the German crown
prince, Frederick William, probably
the bloodiest siege in all the history of
the world. The laconic message of tn ,
adjutant general announcing Sergeant
Weddings death is as follows:
Washington, d. c., March O.
| Deeply regret to inform you Serg-
cant j. E. Wedding killed in action
March 5.
Adjutant General Mccain.
| Willie the location in which Serg-
cant Wedding met his death is not
known for certainty, it was more
than likely in the Lorraine sector, be-
cause American troops were there en- :.
gagged with the Germans the night of
March and during the morning of the
9Th. An official dispatch from the
French war office said the Americans
showed a rare quality of courage,
self-possession, and calm bravery,
which won them the admiration of the
neighboring French troops and the
hearty congratulations of the French
high command" X
The Americans engaged were the
latest to enter the trenches, going in 10
train with the French. First news
OF their presence on the battle line
came in the French official statement
of March 5, which told of their brave
conduct in repulsing the Germans.
While the French dispatches men,
toned the names of no particular divi-
sion, they gave the following details
OF the fight in which the Americans
probably the Rainbow division--were
engaged:
After very heavy artillery prep
aration, including shells OF all cali
Lers, which completely demolished the
ground Of the sector, strong attacl,
| WIS AbiNS upoA tHS pOSlllOHS OCCu-
pied by the Americans A few of the
enemy succeeded in penetrating into Il
trench, but an energetic and severe
counter attack threw them back in
confusion.
| Meanwhile another section sue
Ceeded in cutting the barbed wire in
front Of the positions where the ,ight-
ing was going on, but they also were
quickly dispersed by the precise firing
from the rifles and machine guns.
"a third company finally succeeded
IN stealing their way into the lines and
attempting a flanking attack, which
was on the point OF succeeding. Here
the Americans gave proof Of splendid
energy and morale beyond all nraise
Almost entirely surrounded. they did
not dream of surrendering, and their
efforts to eXtricate themselves were so
determined that they succeeded in dis
placing the enemy without leaving a
single prisoner in his hands.
Towards 4:30 in the morning an
American patrol of four men and one
sergeant encountered an army patrol
that was cutting the barbed wire and
which was composed of nine men, The
American patrols threw themselves
upon the adversaries, and after a
furious combat succeeded in putting
them to flight, bringing back with them
two prisoners.
I'm the attack and in the defense
the American soldiers assumed the
brilliant place which they intend to
hold among the allies armies
Sergeant James Ernest Wedding was
the third son of Mr.. and Mrs. j. w.
Wedding. who live at 1900 Superior
street The young man is survived by
his parents, three brothers and two
sisters. He was born in this city. at
tended the schools here and had al