Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-13
OTTAWA SOLDIERS
RIP FOE LINE AND
TAKE 600 PRISONERS
CABLE DISPATCH SAYS PRAIRIE
DIVISION DID HEROIC FIGHTING
BATTLE ON PIcARDY LINE.

Stories of how Illinois men, all
members of the Prairie Division
went into the fighting at Chipley, are
beginning to slit thru the tangle OF
cable dispatches now being shot
across the Atlantic from France The
latest story tells how the lllinoisans,
$50 of whom are from Ot0tawa, dash
ed into the fray, won their obiec'
tives and dragged out OF the German
ranks a toll of hundreds upon hun
dreds killed and almost a thousand
prisoners. II is contained in the fol
lowing to the International News Ser
vice and thence relayed TO the Free
Trader-Journal
With the British Army in Picardy,
Aug. 13.-Fighting men OF Chicago,
going into battle for the first time
with the British in the holly fought
Chipilly triangle, took their baptism
of Hun fire with a joyous grin and
then. IN a brilliant advance, tore TO
pieces the stiff defenses that confront
ed them. captured 600 prisoners,
whipped back counter attack and
opened the way for another advance
II was splendid action, and the
British officers who observed it prais-
ed the spirit of the raw young troops
and their firing line efficiency. All
up and down this part of the front
THE British, Canadian and Australian
veterans are telling how the Chicago
ranks ran--ran lest they miss the
chance to take part in the fighting.
(That Illinois guard regiment were
in the fighting was announced three
weeks ago by Gen. March. They are
banded in the 33d PRAISE Diyision).
which takes in all of the Illinois
guard troops except the old First Hi
mois Artillery, which is part of the
Rainbow Division)
Casualties Light.
The casualties as a whole are very
light. The yank troops almost
equaled the record of the Australian
division, which took five times as
many prisoners as it suffered
wounded. The principal casualties
were from machine gun bullets, but
these were no more than were to be
expected in troops constantly attack
Ing. It must also be considered that
they overcame the toughest opposi-
ton. The Hun fought hard for this
mighty important terrain.
: The decision to use the Chicago
troops was made at the last possible
minute. There was some doubt ex-
pressed that they could reach the
line before the first barrage was laid
down The Yanks soon wiped out
that doubt.
They made a forced march over
the long distance from their base. /.
During the latter part of it they were
subjected to heavy she'll fire. Just
as the British officers were looking
at their wrist watches, along the
road came the Yanks at double time,
sweating and dusty and leg weary
but on time, eager and ready for the
battle.
"Over the Top"
they were sent into their posi-. I
tons Just as they reached them
our guns began to lay down the bar
rage that preceded the attack. Then
came the signal to 60 over the top
The Chicago boys threw themselves
into the battling with zeal that
won the hearts of the veteran Bri. .
tish reserves. There we're no tanks (
ahead of them, but they did not mind
that. The lack Of tanks made the .
gun nests nasty. But the |
fanks went at them with bayonets .
and grenades. The Hun soon had
enough of this style of fighting and
many Of them were running when the
Yanks reached the fringe Of the
woods
in the woods and near by 900 pri..
oners were taken. It was discov.
cred that they were drawn from five
different divisions.
The first patches Of prisoners were
Interested IN the fact that the Yanks
were facing them Particularly the
officers One bull-necked, thick.
JaWeu Prussian artillery captain. al
though captured by the Americans.
refused 10 believe they were really
troops from the United States.
He Won't Believe.
II IS lie" he beloved. "All the
- Americans were used up in the
Marne counter attack"
After taking The Chipilly spur the
lanKs and British pushed along the
Peronne road toward Bray, hatten.
ing out the enemy wherever he tried
TO make a stand
According to recent announce.
menl by Gen. March. the following
units were IN the Prairie Division
when 1t started to the front in
France:
12laf infa nirr rn.n...t.. ~ ~.