The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-07-13
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Opoyr.xhl by D<xrci: Free Press


their hands were soon covered by bli
ters. bur nevertheless we had 10 70
on There was no rest
When we were 20 meters from ti
bank. our ponfoon was hit below III
water line by several bullets. Whe
only tiny hole. but as II emerged o
the bottom. It tore an opening as larg
a. a plate. As result our pontoo
settled rapidly and there was nothIn
else fog us TO do except 10 jump int
the icy water and swim. Hardly hal
we left the boat when II sank. but W
all reached the other bank safe for tn
moment.
In spite OF our wet clothing we hat
20 take a new boat at once. and witt
our blistered hands had to man th'
oars again IN the middle OF the river
We colllded with another boat. Thi.
boat had lost its pilot and two rowers
II rsmmed US and our pontoon tipped
over and IS infantrymen and one mem
Der of the crew were thrown into the
water. We were saved along with
four men from the other pontoon and
taken TO the left bank Hardly had
we landed before We were ordered 10
take over a pontoon loaded with am
munltior.
About five more times we crossed
the Meuse. Maanwhile day broke
and then terrible battle developed
between the troops which had crossed
and the French. The Germans had the
best In this encounter because ufsy
could NOT be shelled BY the French ar
tiIlery.
We were given short rest and lay
In our water-soaked clothing In an old
abandoned trench shiverIng with cold.
Our hands were swollen TO twice their
normal size. They pained so greatly
that we could not hold bottle to our
lips. 1t was terrible sight TO see
young and strong men lying on the
ground helpless and broken.
After short rest we were ordered
20 seek for wounded In the burning
houses but we did not find many. for
most OF those who had been badly
wounded and unable to save them.
selves. were burned TO death. Only
the buttons cf their uniforms and their
weapons indicated to US to which side
they had belonged.
In some cases. there were not even
these vestics. Only a little heap OF
ashes within the ruins Of house, was
all that was left OF whole families for
whole streets During the search most
Of US behaved as II we had not taken
part In the terrible events Of the last
hour. as II we had not seen the hor. /
rors OF this encounter and as II we /
had forgotten entirely the danger we I
had t,fst escaped.
As 10 honoring the dead. something i
which had been taught US 10y our moth /
ers from infancy. or fear which the
average person feels toward q body.
there was no sign. My pen would ball
II I tried 10 recall the expressions. 10
describe the acts soldiers as well as OF. f
ncers committed 70 determine the na.
tionallty or sex OF the dead. In the
meantime. the battle between our
troops and the French lad reached A
climax. Our troops had suffered great
losses but now our turn came.
The German artillery shelled as we
crossed the enemy's position with
great fury. Our artillery succeeded In
silencing the enemy's batteries aud We
tried TO take his high positions By
storm.
When we were within 200 meters Of
the enemy's defenses. the French ma
chine guns were turned upon Us and
we were driven back with enormous
losses
Ten minutes later. we stormed a
second tine and had 10 retire again
with great losses We again formed
for attack within the shelter Of our
trenches. but tbe fighting spirit was
gone But We dared not los ,t rage,
although the victims Of our useless
storrnIng attacks covered the field and
We were able 20 look az our dead CON-
rsdes all about u.s.
Ihe artillery started up again; re-
Endorsements arrived: after kalf an
bour. we storned q third time. over
the bodies OF our fallen comrades. As
we halted about 20 meters from the
neny's trench. be withdrew his en-
lire first line. Soon after we saw the
6ernaas advance along the whole line.
The reason for this unexpected retreat
vas explained later when we learned
hat the main part Of the French army
had retired some tine before. The
heavy toll Of iife among cur comrades
Fas taken In q mere rear-suard action.
During the NEXT hour the enevy
bAodoned all the heights Of he
ieu<e- As we reached the cred Of !
hese heights. we could easily over
cok the roads over which the French 9
'ad retreated- They were departing in !,
lose formation. In long columns Our 2
uupany and Others received orders z
o assemble and soon we pursued the y
eefne enemy II was our work to re-
afr roads which had been destroyed :
. that they would be pzsssble for cur
rmies. . task that Was harder IN the 2
uru1ng midday sun owing to the fact :
laf ~ dead and wounded had 1rst to r