El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-04-10
j. s. ENGINEERS
DEFEND ANIEN5
But for Their Stubborn
Fighting, Enemy Might
Have Broken Through.

London, Eng. April 10.-But FOR the
/ gallant defence put Up by Gen Carey's
improvised army in which American
railway engineers played a prominent
part, says the correspondent on the
western front OF the Daily Mail, the
enemy might have pushed through
TO Amiens in the first few days Of
his great attack The improvised
force held an important stretch OF the
front against fierce German on
slzuEhts.
There was no doubt in snybody's
mind that they would hold on grimly
as long as breath remained in their
bodies" says the correspondent
u was not until II had been in the
field for some time that the force was
able to set artillery. But as soon as
they had II they certainly used ii TO
good advantage.
IN the beginning. however. Il was
the men who held the enemy back
with their bodies
The sector involved began at the
river Somme near Saiily-Laureat and
extended southwest to about the Luce
river.
When the German attack began the
Americans were working in the rear
lines with the Canadians, under Cana
dian command They quickly threw
4lN u AAlEAL AglAa anu EEALEL A44E q cap
ons with which they had been armed
for some months and formed them
selves into a fighting unit. The Ger
mans came on and finally reached the
positions where the Americans were
waiting
The exact numbers OF the engineers
cannot be given, but they were com
paratively small.
Americans Pour Hot Fire.
As the first gray enemy advanced.
the American forces let them come
until they were within certain range;
then opened fire, pouring in a storm
Of bullets Gaps appeared In the ad-
vancing lines at many places, some OF
them large where the machine guns
had chewed through Still the Ger
man waves came on, without firing q
single shot-just advancing.
The Americans we're unable 10 IN
derstand these tactics, but never the
less were certain that il vas a Cues-
ton OF slauEhterinE the enemy or be I
ing themselves smothered under the Z
advance BY this time their weapons /
were so hot they could not he used 4
effectively and the enemy was close, I
SO that the engineers retired, fighting, Z
and took up another position Then !
they turned and began operations ]
again A British officer who wit /
messed the engagement is reported to 1
Held On to the Last.
They held on by their teeth until
the last moment, inflictin- terrific I
casualties on the enemy Then they
moved back and waited for the Ger
mans and repeated the performance"
BY the time the engineers had
reached q place somewhere near
NoVon they were nearly exhausted
and almost without equipment There
they were given chance 70 rest and
-eeQuip. According 10 all reports they
the Germans
~ what the enemy is TO expect from
he American army.
Ruse OF the Enemy.
During a battle unusual stories al
ways crop up, but the following is
me which the correspondent heard
rom an unquestlona bic source;
In one Of the periods when the
american engineers and their Cana
lian comrades in arms were holdlng
position. what appeared TO be q
British staff motor drove Up The
river was in the uniform or Brit
sd soldier and man IN the tonneau
ras In the Uniform Of British stair
fficer.
The officer stepped out and asked
or the commanding officer ordered
he commander 70 retire four kilome-
ers. saying that the Germans were
ressinE on both TANKS and he might
e cut or.
Find He Is a German
For some reason the Canadian com
lander became suspicious He had
he staff officer searched, when the
after failed TO produce his authority,
nd papers were found on him prov
ne that he was a German officer. He
nd his chauffeur were Immediately
hot
American engineer officers are said
o have been present when this Incl
ent occurred
OF prepared to lose the chance OF a
GOD dinner through neglect OF DUTY
Col. Busch sailed up IN his motor
A. a hout 8 o'clock Ia the afternoon.