The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-07-16

J rear were six German batteries In po
sltion. but they maintained only a yer,
, weak fire. An artillery officer agpeare,
before US and asked the commander o
our detachment II 1t would not be wei
to recommend that the batteries b.
taken back. He said he had learned
by telephone that the German line wac
wayering on its entire length.
Before the commander could reply
another attack en- masse followed
which outnumbered US by from five to
seven times. Our commander now gave
up this position also. Completely de-
morallzed. we retired In fight, leaving
the six batteries (3G guns) TO be taken
by the enemy
The French stopped their barrage
Ere because they feared 10 hurt their
own troops. Ihe Germans utilized this
moment to bring up re-enforcements
made up OF all branches OF the service.
Scattered infantrymen. unmounted cav
airy. detached pioneers. had all been
assembled. Every makeshlft was en-
ployed 10 fill the ranks. Complete re-
serve units apparently no longer exist
ed on this the third day OF the battle
OF the Marne.
Once more the command was given
to turn and take a position aud the uu-
equal fight began anew. We saw the
enemy advance. and seize the bat
teIies. Then we saw him storlnIng
ahead with fixed hayonets. We fought
like wild animals. For minutes there
ragged bayonet fight beyond descrip-
ton. We stabbed through the breast.
through the abdomen. and wherever
else we could. This was no occasion
10 employ the bayonet tactics taught N
drill. something which must be left for /
battle-ground practice only.
The butts Of the rifles whizzed
through the air and any mans head
which they struck was broken. Hell
NETS and knapsacks had been lost long
since. In spite of the superiority OF
the French could not defeat
this little group OF desperate men. We
forgot everything around us and fought
like bloodthirsty beasts. thinking II
nothing else. Part Of our men pene-
trated the hostile ranks and fought 10
retake the lost cannon. The enemy
the danger. retreated. and
tried TO hold the conquered guns with
all his energy. We conuAued to stab.
10 club. man for man. but the enemy
held on TO the batteries. Every can.
ION was surrounded by corpses. and
very minute new victims were ere
tied. The artillerymen who were fight. ,
ng with US tried TO remove the breech ,
llocks Of the guns.
Three Germans fought four French. Z
uen at the third gun which was just $
0 my right. They were all that was 4
eft around that piece. At another gun 4
0 men lay dead or wounded. A plo- q
Ger went 10 the mouth OF this gun and $
nth astounding calmness pushed shell
fter she'll into the barrel. touched
hem OF and ran. Friend and foe alike 7
Tere torn by the terrible explosion. !,
he gun was completely demolished.
evenly to eighty men were killed for
cthing.
After an hours fght. al; the ecns 2
'ere once more IN o1r scssessson. We =
ere now able 20 approximate the ter
hle casualties. in the battle for this ,
artery. Dead and wounded by hun q
reds. Infantry. cavalry. artillery and v
loneers. covered the narrow strip OF
round o
Once more we Received re-enforce- h
entS This time four regular compa- h
les OF infantry had been taken q
Way from another detachment Even
3 soldier takes part In everything. be a
IN get only n very restricted view Of r
has Is going on and has absolutely 10
ay OF determining how the battle Is q
,lnS. .,
These re-enforcemenfs had been o'
ken from all different arms and late "
rivals hsd been taken from a division
hieh had been threatened exactly Ike n,
rs was. This led US to conclude that
e could only resist further attacks n.
divided fresh troops reached us. n n
As We could get something 70 eat -
u there seemed 10 way to relieve the n
niger and thirst which tortured Us =,
Nov. horses EaIlcped up 70 remove Of
9 guns We had lett. and AZ the same y,
slant the French artillery opened . fs
smendous IRE from guns os an cali
- The shells fen snorx the - a,
ms cuur-f<frr srr corrr~r- Confu-
q reigned Groups Of six hcrses en-
each team sprsnx into fhe a,
t. then ran IN IN directions. pulling
.ir carriages with the wheels up b. -
d then- Some of the fsrrt6ed AMI -.
Is ran directly into the hezr1e<< Gre.
y TO be torn 90 sbreds With their ~
rer& -