Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-13

porting columns which were unable to
enter the field
The special machine gun group un-
der command Of Lieut. L. T. Shaw was
in one of the most exposed centers of
the fighting, being under terrific ar
tillery fire and the fire of two German
machine guns. Lieutenant Shaw han
died this very difficult situation with
cool bravery. The enemy barrage was
so close that it was impossible to stand
up and Lieutenant Shaw controlled his
guns by rolling, from one to the other.
His two guns fired 5000 rounds.
Under this violent onslaught the men
stuck to their posts, carried sout every
order without hesitation, often under
calling fire. and showed high degree
Of skill with their weapons and cool
ness and courage Each machine gun
damned three times. was partly disas-
sembled and cleaned under fire, con-
tinuing in action thruout the engage
mert.
One team fired fourteen clips when
the gun jammed. Reporting this to
Lieutenant. Shaw they were ordered to
clear the JAM. While under intense IRE
of artillery and machine guns they
coolly dismounted the gun. remounted
1t and continued firing until ordered to
ceaseA The fire of this machine gun
section was doubtless wholly unexpect-
ed by the enemy and this fact coupled
with the effective fire laid down was
chiefly instrumental in causing the
withdrawal of the enemy.
There were many instances of in
Aty,S1 h
Private Howard Gaillard with q small
rapid fire piece was unable from his
position to get good fire to bear upon
the advancing enemy groups, so he
coolly and with entire disregard of
danger. mounted the parapet and while
enemy bullets were flying around him,
fired his rapid Are piece from the hin.
first at one group and then at the other.
Prfvates Smithfleld Jones and George
Woods are especially mentioned for
their coolpess in the face of violent
Smelling when they dismounted the ma
chine guns and then reassembled them
and continued firing until the close OF
the action. Lieut.. R.f.C. Crane was in
command of the group which received
the brpnt of the enemy Are which, be-
sides the barrage added a heavy fire
of large minenwerfers. There was nc
fiinchtng; the group always worked I'M
der perfect control, keeping all com.
bat posts mann01, tho three men were
knocked down by the explosion OF
shells. Others commended for cou,sag &c
in the face Of fire are Corporal Frank
Harden, Private H. D. Brown, Cor
poral Bean, Sergeant G. A. Morton and
Private Sanders.
rFkom the elaborate artillery prepaa
ton, fhe. size of the box barrage, and
the extensive 'front.' occupied, the coup
de main attempted by the enemy was
clearly intended to be on a rather ex
tensive scale.
Whatever may have been the; object
of the attack it was successfully frus-
trated. No enemy party succeeded II
getting within assaulting distance o,
any part Of the line except at one poin,
and here they were quickly pressed
back and then driven off, The she'll
torn condition Of the ground tells. Of
the fierceness Of the action. That the
enemy suffered considerably in Gals.
ualties is not doubted, as some of thei,
groups pushed close into the machine
gun fire, but as their men fell they wer,
carried of, The casualties on our side
were small and none Of them serious
The chief Importance lof thu actor
was in bringing this American uni,
for the first time under fire and demon.
strating the steadiness and fightins
ability Of the men.