The sun., 1918-08-19
M'KENNA WON
LEADING IRISH,
ASHE PRAYED
Major Killed in Battle of
the Ourcq Sought Glory
for Race.
LOVED CELTIC COMMAND
Splendid Acts of HerOism by
Men Of Old Goth Told by
Correspondent.
LOVED CELTIC COMMAND
by RAYMOND G. CARROLL.
Special Caoie Despatch to The Sun and IA.
Public Ledoey

Special Gable Despatch to The SuS and the
Public Ledger.
Copyright. 1918; oil rights rsserred.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Aug. 1S.-"Before the regi-
ment to which am attached loses
its Irish American complexity by in
fusion OF other racial replacements 1t
is my dearest wish that we have a
chance to uphold the traditions of this
great Celtic military organization"
said Major James A. Mckenna, Jr.,
some weeks ago when We were seated
before an empty fireplace at his head
quarters. The booming of heavy guns
filled our ears, but his clean cut face
was transfigured by pride Of race and
stern anxiety to again demonstrate
its proved courage upon the field Of
honor.
"Bide your time, jim" spoke up
Chaplain Francis Duffy. "Our boys
will have their innings. Don't be i'm
patient" McKenna was silent for
only a moment. I'VE must show the
whole world where Irishmen stand,
father" he said. We must show that
We are in this fight for liberty heart
and SOUL" ...
Exactly ten days later this superb
leader OF men. lawyer by profession and
out and out American, was killed in ac-
tion at the head OF his beloved Irish
American troops. Nothing that has hap
pened since we entered the war has
touched me like the passing Of Major
Mckenna. for his soul went marching
on with his boys. Crying Remember
McKenna :" they fought like demons.
charging into machine gun emplace-
ments, advancing through artillery bar
RACES and rolling the enemy back from
ridge to ridge. 1t almost seemed that
the feats of these boys were super
human.
Germans Could Not stop Them.
As a military operation the attacks
OF the men from Manhattan and Brook
lyn were only fraction of the large
undertaking which regained 1900 square
miles for France north OF the Marne,
and liberated more than 200 villages.
For several days previously there had
been a running fight nortnward from
the Msrne, from village to village and
from hill TO hill.
The Germans, caught in the p!ncers
OF the Franco-American attack. were
attempting to get out OF the lower por-
ton OF the pocket. Occasionally they
would anchor their machine guns and
light artillery and offer short resist
ance. and then again fall back. But
always driving northward came detacn-
ments Of French and Americans.
In the town Of Besuvardes and to the
wooded section to the north our troops
followed the enemy until they reached
the south bank of the OurcQ, where on
Sunday morning. July 2s, stiff enemy
resistance was encountered from the
opposite bank. This region. where the
traditions OF American Celts were up
held. is a good deal like Westchester
county. New York, a hilly. wooded
landscape. broken by innumerable ra-
vines and gullies. with many cleared
spaces and trickling ribbons OF streams
winding through. One OF these creeks
is the river Ourcq, and from the ad-
joining hilltops look the ruins OF cha
teaus In the valleys nestle quaint
little French towns or small clusters Of
dwellings designated as farms, Except
for the wheat and oats fields spread out
like a golden blanket. with red polka
dots OF poppies upon the undulations.
the scene was bright. rich green.
History shows us said Father
Continued on Third Page.