New Britain herald., 1918-08-20
NEGROES CITED FOR
 FRENCH WAR GROSS
Their First Experience But They
 Fought Like Veterans
Correspondence of the Asso. PressN

Correspondence of the Asso. Press)
 With the American Armies in France, July 30.-One regiment of negroes in the American Army (No. deleted by Censor) has had it's baptism of fire on the fighting fields of France and acquitted itself SO well that the French commander of the sector has cited the whole regiment as worthy of receiving the war cross. This regi- ment's repulse of the enemy attack on the early morning of June ? (possibly at Belleau Wood or Bureskes) was briefly referred to in the official com munique
 gagement brings out interesting de- tails and gives credit to the officers and men for fine fighting qualities dis played in their initial experience under shell and machine gun fire. The French commander of that sector has given the regiment the highest possible CCmmendation for the results accomplished and the splendid fight ing spirit shown by the American negroes.
 For several days preceding the at tack there were evidences that the enemy was preparing to strike blow. Two days before one of the main points held by the regiment had been subjected to a strong bOmbardment of nearly 100 shells, gas and shrapnel Prior to the heavy enemy artillery harrago occurring on the morning of the 18th, cur advance groups heard movements apparently of narrow guaGe track trains in the wood back of the enemy lines indicating they were getting ready for an attack.
 Every precaution had been made for meeting the move if it came. Besides the usual combat groups at the main points of the line, a special machine gun section occupied specially chosen position on a small salient pro jecting into the enemy line. It was accompanied by a combat group dc tailed from reserve company and carrying rifles and hand grcnades.
 It was 2:15 on the morning of the 12th that the order to stand to- was given and all combat groups and the machine gun section took their fighting position. The enemy artillery now opened a violent bOmbardment. en- gazing in q "hoN barrage' five of our main groups and the special machin" gun position. The lines of this ho>
  ground, showing it's outer circuit, with a considerable scattering of hits in side. The shells were mostly ITS, with some 155s gas shrapnel and high explosives One of our points re ceived particular attention, probably by minenWerfer, the Craters of WhiCH were two yards in depth and five yard" in diameter. The artillery bOmbard- ment was extremely voilent at tn" start and tapered off gradually until it stopped after thirty minutes.
 Meantime under cover of the artil- lery, the enemy infantry began it. operations, adopting the intilterinG process by which detached groups arc thrust forward at a number of points instead of moving in mass formation. One group came on with two light ma. chine guns, firing a rather intense fire into one of our positions. Another group was estimated to be about 25 OF 30. At another point on our front stationery enemy patrol took position firing with two small machine gun- Now and then squads would dart fni ward from their gun positions. lIi%l Germans got up to the wire in frr@ of one of our positions, and fot1 others approached at another p0iNt. Besides these assault groups WnIt'i reached our line there were undoubt- edly additional enemy forces in as saulting columns and supporting columns which were unable to enter the field.
 The special machine gun group under command of Lieutenant l.. E. Shaw was in one of the most exposed ceuters of the fighting being under terrific artillery fire of two German machine guns. Lieutenant Shaw handled this very difficult situation with cool bravery. The enemy bar rage was so close that 1t was i'm possible to stand up and Lieutenant Shaw controlled his guns by rolling from one to the other. His two guns fired five thousand rounds.
 Under this violent onslaught the men stuck to their posts carried out every order without hesitation often under gaIIinE fire and showed high degree of skill with their weapons and coOness and courage. Each machine gun iammed three times was partly disa ssembled and cleaned under fire continuing Tn action throughout the enga cement.
 One team fired fourteen clips when | the gun jammcd. Reporting this to Lieutenant Shaw they were ordered to clear the jam While under intense 1