The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-04-24
TROOPS
PRAISE vAL0R
OF AMERICANS
Many Germans Killed When
Attack Is Made on Our
Soldiers.
(By Associated Press)

WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
FRANCE, April 23.-The valor and
steadfastness Of the American troops
during the German attack at Setche-
prey last Saturday is given unstinted
praise by the French troops on the
same front.
This admiration for the fighting
qualities of his transatlantic COM
rades Is demonstrated in report for
warded to the general commanding.
by the colonel of French infantry
regiment, which took part in the Seich-
eprey engagement.
Il visited Renneres wood after the
counter-attack in which the position
was captured, and examined the STU
alton in detail" says the report.
Everywhere traces of hand to hand
fighting show that the American sol-
diers, despite two hours Of heavy bonn
bardment by large calibre guns, de-
Tended themselves valiantly.
"In the vicinity between the front
trenches and the communication
trenches connecting the Jury and the
Renners wood, two American machine
gunners died fighting on their weap-
ons after covering the ground around
with German dead. The enemy suf-
resistance.
Everywhere there are signs of Ger
man wounded having been carried of,
while many German bodies remain
because the retiring enemy was un-
able to remove them. Numbers of
these dead belong to German storminE
detachments.<
The French soldiers who joined in
the fighting declare that the Ameri-
cans displayed splendid spirit OF
combat. They relate that north Of
Seicheprey an American detachment
was separated into small groups and
was cut of from the company to
which it belonged throughout the en-
tire fighting.
Behind the Americans and on their
left flank we're German units. but they
could have retired on the right. How
ever, they decided to stick and fight,
which they did with wonderful valor,
Notwithstanding the incessant enemy
bombardment and rife fire. Numer-
Gus hand to hand combats were fought
in the course Of this long struggle
from which the Americans found
themselves obliged to retire toward
nightfall, but only after destroying
their machine gun.
In Seicheprey, a squad OF Amer1-
cans found several cases of grenades
with which they succeeded in putting
up terrific fight and holding out the
entire day on the northern extremity
of the village. They refused to sur
render when summoned to do SO and
at the end of the fighting only nine
out of the original twenty-three were
left A cook. surprised by the Ger
mans and half stunned by blow from
grenade, seized rifle and contin-
ued firing until he fell dead.
Toward evening a hospital which
had been established in Seicheprey
was blown up along with the doctors
and ambulance men. The chief surg
con of the American regiment en-.
gagged, hurried to the spot with
French and American ambulance cars
as soon as he learned Of the occur
renee. The rescue party passed
through a severe barrage fire but
eventually reached the village where
they tended to the wounded for many
hours under a heavy enemy fire.
An American lieutenant with only
six men patrolled six hundred yards
OF the front during the entire day
and maintained communication with
the battalions on his right and left.
Many other incidents of bravery are
recorded by the French, but details
are not obtainable.