The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-05
HEROIC DEEDS IN
FISMETTE FIGHTING
Town Across Vesle From
Fismes Is Held Only Under
Merciless Fire.
RUNNERS SHOW y VALOR
Pennsylvania Captain Gives
Life to Save His Men From
Rear Surprise.
RUNNERS SHOW y vALOR
ny RAYMOND G. CARROLL.

by ma MOND g. CARROLL.
Special Gable DespafcA to The Sun and the
Public Ledger.
Copyright. 1918: oil rights reserved.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE,
Sept. 4.-what Jersey City is to New
York In miniature Fismette Ia to Fis-
ines. Instead of the broad, stately
Hudson River intervening. there curls
the narrow unobstrusive vesle River.
spanned by a shell riddled bridge, the
continuation Of its roadway being the
main street Of Fismette.
Five kilometers westward along the
winding course of the river on the
same north bank In the town of Ba-
zoches. Fismettes and Bazoches have
been the scenes OF desperate encoun-
tiers between the Americans and coun-
ter attacking German shock troops, and
during the last month have changed
hands several times
The following instances of individ-
ual heroism chiefly centre around Fis-
inette. which has been under cease
less enemy shell and machine gun and
rife fire. especially thu approach to
the bridge. which is the only road back
to the hospitals and for bringing up
ammunition.
sergeants Save wounded Man.
Sergeant Ralph Ord of Dravosbure.
Pa, showed extraordinary bravery, cool
ness and skill in handling a platoon, in
addition to rescuing several wounded
men, dragging them to safety away
from a shot and she'll swept area. with
Sergeant Alois ]. Guenther he helped to
clear Fismette OF snipers Telling Of
one exploit he said:
"Guenther and I went after one of our
lads who was lying on our left flank
and In the open. We got upon our hands
and knees and crawling along tugged
and hauled him into our lines
Private Michael Fisher, Pittsburg. is
runner who crossed the bridge many
times under machine gun fire and swept
nv enemy bullets. including those from
ihree inch guns, which were coming
down the street direct to the bridge.
He also escorted twenty-five of our
wounded. walking with them one at a
time across the bridge and apparently
bearing a charmed life.
Private Fred OFT, a runner in the
same outfit, carried messages between
Fismes and Fismette for Ave days and
when the bridge was down, which was
frequently, he swan the river. appear
ing at headquarters with his clothes
dripping water. His feat Of swimming
was amazing. as the bottom Of the river
is covered with barbed wire entangle-
ments, which reach up almost to the
surface OF the water. Another runner
who successfully evaded the snipers
was Private Frank Presta.
We are using dogs as couriers over
the dangerous ground at Fismes, eight
French trained animals being in our SER
vice and carrying messages in tin bags
tied to their necks, but when the dogs
fail to get through. which happens
often. and when wire communications
have been cut, volunteers are called
for. inasmuch as the business of war
reuires uninterrupted Haison between
the front and rear.
Captain Dies for His Men.
Lieuts Walter Ettinges and Robert B.
Woodbury.. both of Chester. Pa. had
commands in Ffsmette. and by their ex-
ample and energy kept their men at
their posts, going for three days without
sleep and walking up and down our lines
encouraging the men.
Sergeant Thomas ]. Cavanaugh of
Pittsburg was ordered to organize a
, strong point commanding the bridge
| across the Vesle. He did SO. Then, al
| though 1t was not in the line Of duty he
volunteered to stand in a certain door
way of stone house in Fismette, call
ing out when II was advisable to bring
| on the wounded All the time he was
under the direct fire Of the enemy.
Fortunately can tell the wonderfully
! fine story of the death Of Capt. Edward
| b. Lynch Of Chester. Pa. whose name
has appeared In the casualty lists, as he
gave his life to save his Lieutenants,
Frank NJ Glendenning Of Pittsburg and
Edward F. Fitzgerald Of 1891 UndercIifr
avenue. New York city. and their COM
mands.
Capt. Lynch came out Of his dugout to
obserce that others than making an at
tack were in danger of being cut Off and
wiped out by a group Of Germans with
machine gun, who had got in their
rear and were unseen by the Americans
Before the Germans could set up their
machine gun and start firing CAPT.
Lynch. single handed. was upon them,
blazing away with his automatic re-
volver, killing six of the enemy before
he In turn was shot down. In the
meantime Glendenning and Fitzgerald,
hearing the racket at their rear, with
drew 10 frmer position in the shelter
OF stone wall without the loss OF a
| single man.
Lieut. Fitzgerald. with Sergeant John
s. Miller and Prirates Charles Manda-
| a. +,
Chester. Pa. u. George r. Milltron Apollo.
Pa; Floyd F. Marbaugh. Pleasant Mills,
Ind. and John Binkley. Pennsylvania,
| were the only men who remained on the
| left OF the sector during the German
frontal attack beyond Fismette. They
lay twelve hours in open shell holes, un-
der n hail OF bullets and exploding
projectlles and pumping their own fire
into the line of the attacking enemy and
preventing repeated attempts TO flank
our lines.
Private Luigi Mammala, Philadei-
pha. after several OF our men had
been killed by snipers who were in q
tree. was detailed to get the enemy
he lay exposed in shallow ditch fifty
yards further out than any one else
finally bringing the snipers down.
Anthony Miloitais of Chicago crawled
out 10 get wounded man under FIRE, blu,
when he reached the man he had died
and Miloitais brought In two Identified.
ton tags by mistake Learning OF his
error ne went out again and brought ir
the body OF Corporal Raymond Rombot
tom, Avalon. Pa. who had an outpost II
a house which was set on fire by ar
enemy shell. He put out the flames with
his canreen az water and bare hands.
Risked Life Getting stretchers.
Had he not acted as he did the llght
of the blaze would have exposed the de
tachment coming to relieve u.s." sale
Lieut.. l.. II, Fielding. Besides. We
were using the house as sniping ant
observation post
George ]. Georgeson of oneonta, N. Y.
rsked his life getting stretchers FOL
wounded man.