The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-09
American Corporal Shows Euro
pean Soldiers Type of
Yankee Move.
THEY CAPTURED
THEIR CAPTORS
Two Were Taken With Five
Australians, and Turn
Trick on Germans.

| With the British Army in France.
July S.-(By the Associated Press lin
the German counter attack against the
new positions gained by the Austral-
lans and Americans around Hamel, two
Americans and five Australians were
| captured by the enemy. Volunteers
were called for and an American party
Drought back the captured men and a
German officer, while twelve Austral-
ians brought the number of German
prisoners to fifty.
The story OF this incident as told by
an American officer, who took part in
the fighting, follows:
The Boches did not bother us until
Thursday night when they made their
counter attack, which was repulsed.
They did succeed in the first rush.
however, in getting hold of two Amer
loans and five Australians, whom they
| carried back.
I'VE Immediately called for volun-
teers to go after these captured lads,
and all our men at once began yelling
Tor the chance. Corporal Raymond
Powell was first up and he was given
squad Of men for the work
THE guns had put down a heavy
barrage, but the corporal led his chaps
straight through this fierce fire and
charged hot foot after the retreating
enemy. The Germans retired to a
strong position, but the corporal with
other Yankees went after them, and
the obys were re-taken. together with
| the five Australians The corporal and
his party also captured a Boche officer.
In the meantime twelve Australians
had circled around and joined the
american party with the result that
| nny German prisoners were brought
back.
4 That night Boche sniper caused a
| lot OF trouble from nest in the front
line. and one OF my men went out
| across No Mans Land alone after him.
| The Yankee got him and left him dead
on the neld."
Recounting the story he had heard OF
the grit Of an American corporal. the
omcer continued:
An Australian officer was telling me
| about one OF our corporals who did
what was considered a fine piece of
work. This lad had charge of
machine gun squad. Early in the push
all his comrades were knocked out by
shell fire and he was left alone with
| the gun.
"He knew that the gun was needed,
| so he started forward with it himself.
4
1t up and working it until he got
through to the final objective, where
he made his final stand. He was pump
ing away religiously at the Boches,
and the Australian officer was watching
| him with interest, for he knew ne was
| green man and admired the way he
was carrying on. Suddenly the cor
poral raised himself up and then drop
ped to his knee again with his head
hanging.
Whats the matter, Yank? Are you
lhit?" called the oflcer.
| No. sir" replied the corporal quickly.
but do you know this damned thing
don't kick at ALL"
After fifghting magniflcently with
his gun for so long, the corporal had
Just made that big discovery and he
simply stopped firing for a moment to
! inspect his gun with new interest The
onicer was delighted with the soldiers
action and told the story to us later"
I'VE were surprised he officer add
ed. at some OF the prisoners taken.
Most Of them were strapping fellows,
but there were a rot Of them who,
| while big. were very young. The Boche
put over some gas at one time. but it
was mighty good experience for our
young men, because they were equip
ped with the masks
II want to say here that those Aus
tralians are magnificent fighters. We
have been learning he game from
| them. Our fellows watched the veter-
ans closely, and it was a case of imi-
tation without a second lesson"
During the evening of the day the
correspondent spent with the Ameri-
cans, big bunch OF mail arrived from
home and there was great jubilation
| among the men to have letters from
| the folks as a reward for their work
In the trenches. One young fellow
| came tearing around waving a torn
dollar BIN which he had Just found
| In letter
Il got It'll got itr' he yelled with
delight.
"Five franc, kids" laughed an officer
who was standing by.
1T ANTI It's dollar, and it's from
| home,'' and the boy ran of with his
treasure.
| All the Americans are anxious t. get
| into the fight again and are watching
eagerly for the next call.