Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-08
u. S. SOLDIERS
SUSTAIN RECORD
OF VALOR IN WAR
Baptism of Fire For Yankees
on Front South of the
Somme River
With the British Army in France,

With the British Army in France,
July S.-AI the traditions of the
United States Army for valor were
brilliantly sustained in the successful
attack made against the Germans
south of the River Somme, when for
the first time American infantrymen
took their stand beside their British
cousins and fought shoulder TO shout
der with them against the common
foe.
IL was a baptism of fire for me
Yankee soldiers on this front, ana
they came through with flying colors,
proving fitting comrades for the Aus
Iralian warriors whom they were as
sisting.
The Americans fought like
fiends." declared one British staff Of
ricer. TheX did all of that They
were magnificent, and the folks al
home may be proud OF the part their
boys took in this unique Fourth OF
July celebration in the shell-torn val
ley of the winding Somme. They
were lighting over ground already
stained with the blood OF thousands
of brave soldiers, but no better troops
ever charged across the rolling nelds
than the pioneers OF the American
Army. Along with this ii is pos
sible 10 make the cheerful state
ment that their casualties were very
small. according 10 the latest re
ports. Virtually the entire oodE OF
Americans came through unscath-
ed. This was probably due 10 the
weak resistance which the Germans
offered to the Anglo-American on
-laught.
stan Officer Tells Story
Then he told the story of his part
in the battle and here is the way
il ran:
we all we're very anxious 10 do
we'll and we were ready TO nght 10 n
1inish. We knew thtre was trouble
for us over there in No Mans Land.
None OF our boys cared for that, out
the day before the attack all the men
of my company got together and
shook hands and said good-by. for.
YOU see. We did not know II we
should meet again.
y had worked very hard TO learn
10 be q good soldier, for l wanted 10
he a credit TO the folks back home.
guess l must have learned some
things. for my commander save me
twenty-four OF our chaps 10 lead
over the top as corporal And my
men fought well"
He paused. his face. glowing with
pride. and then continued:
AT midnight Wednesday We went
forward and laid out in the open
waiting for the signal 10 advance
Then about daylight came the par
rage. II was q pretty big thing-the
biggest We ever heard. II was just
like real Fourth OF July celebra-
ton. The time came for the charge
and we pushed out
"A few OF our boys were too anN-
- afsN n ~ n
rage that they were hurt. My pal
was struck by 4 shell beside me"
Again he stopped and this time
there were tears in his eyes and
lump was working in his throat.
. There was silence for a moment,
'then he went on:
We were advancing toward Ha-
mel Village and had to go over one
slope. then down into a little valley
aud up another hill. We got along
all right. but down in the valley
held us UP some. l know l Sot
caught. but not for very long.
Our men were fighting like any
thing and killing a lot OF boches who
were in the trenches and shell holes.
\ good many OF the Germans were
yelling 'kamerad,' and surrendering
TOO.
Two Of the hoches came running
up TO me with their hands over their
heads. / didn't know what TO do
with them, but an officer came along
and sent them TO the rear.
Wounded. But Killed Two
Then We went on and had about
reached our objective when some
thing hit me in the leg and I went
down. I tried 10 get up but my leg
wouldn't let me and I was dizzy.
While I was on my knees I saw two
boches charging al me with fixed
bayonets. I had the butt of my
rife resting on the ground. my finger
on the trigger. and fired when they
we're about ten yards away One Of
them fell over dead, but the other
kept on coming and was on me be-