The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-09-10
French Commander Lauds
Colored Yanks For Cool
ness In Action.
INDIVIDUALS ALSO CITED

of The Associated Press) One regi-
Inent of negroes i'm the American Ar.
my mo. deleted by censor) has had its
baptism of fire on the lighting fields
of France and acquitted itself so well
that the French commander of the sec
tor has cited the whole regiment as
worthy of receiving the war cross.
This regiments repulse of the enemy
attack on the early morning of June
12 tpossibly at Belleau Wood or Bour-
esches) was briefly referred to in the
official communique.
A later and official report of the en-
gagement brings out interesting de.
tails and gives credit to the officers
and men for fine fighting qualities dis
played In their initial experience un.
der shell and machine gun fire. The
French commander of that sector has
given the regiment the highest posi-
BILE commentator for the results ac
cOmplfshed and the splendid fighting
spirit shown by the American negroes
For several days proceeding the at.
tack there were evidences that the
enemy was preparing to strike a blow.
Two days before one of the main
points held by the regiment had been
subjected to a strong bOmbardment of
100 shells, gas and shrapnel. Prior to
the heavy enemy artillery barrage oc.
mn fnU hn nc hn
our 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 preparation had been made
for meeting the move If II came. Be
sides the usual combat groups at the
main points Of the line, u special ma
chine-gun section occupied n specially
chosen position on small salient pro.
jecting into the enemy line. II was ac
companied by combat group detailed
from reserve company and carrying
rifles and hand grenades.
II was 2:15 on the morning Of the
18th that the order to "stand to" was
given and all combat groups and the
machine-gun section took their fight
Ing position. The enemy artillery
now opened n violent bombardment,
engaging In "box barrage" five Of
our main groups and the special ma
chine gun position. The lines of this
box barrage are well defined on the
ground, showing its outer circuit with
considerable scattering of hits in.
side. The shells were mostly IT'S,
with some LBS, 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
yards In diameter. The artillery BON.
bardment was extremely violent at the
start and tapered off gradually until
Il stopped after thirty minutes.
Meantime under cover of the artil-
lery, the enemy infantry began It's OPP
erations. adopting the inhiltering pro
cess by which detached groups are
thrust, forward at n number of points
instead of moving In mass formation
chine guns. firing a rather intense fire
into one Of our positions Another
group was estimated To be- about 25 on
30. At another point on our front u
stationery enemy patrol took position
firing with two small machineguns
Now and then squads would dart for
ward from their gun positions. Eight
Germans got up to the wire In front OF
one OF our positions. and four Others
approached at another point. Besides
these assault groups which reach ON
al enemy forces In assauting columns
and supporting columns which were
unable To enter the field
The special machine gun group un
der command of Lieutenant l.. r.
Shaw was In one Of the most exposed
centers Of the lighting, being undel
terrific artillery fire and the fire oI
two German machine guns. Lieuten
ant Shaw handled this very dinicul
situation with cool bravery. The enc
my barrage was 80 close that II wa,
impossible To stand up and Lieutenan
Shaw controlled his guns by rollnl
from one to the other. His two gun
fred Ave thousand rounds.
Under this violent onslaught III
men stuck to their posts. carried on
every order without hesitation, oftel
under calling fire. and showed a higl
degree OF skill with their weapons an
coolness and courage, Each machin
gun jammed three times. was partl
disassembled and cleaned under Gr,
continuing In action throughout tn
engagement,
One team fired fourteen clips whe
tha Oun "A fnrna al Ronortino thls .