New-York tribune., 1918-09-23
u. s. General
And Lone Aid
Capture own
Intrepid American Enters
St. Benoit Ahead Of His
Infantrymen
BY Wilbur + orrest
Especial Gable to The Trtbure>

Copyright, 1919, New York Tribune Inc
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
LORRAINE, Sept 22.--How an Areri-
can general, the commander of one OF
Uncle Sans best known fighting
divisions in France, advanced ahead of
his own first skirmish line during the
recent St Mihiel victory has just be-
come known. The generals name can
not be given for obvious reasons, but it
is sufficient to say that he is one of
those square iswed Americans Of
youthful vigor, whose intrepidity is
known throughout his division, to
which he has given the highest example
of contempt for danger The divisions s
fighting record is measured by its re-
suits.
Accompanied only by French lai-
son officer he left the division post
command 70 take over personally the
command of two battalions whose
leaders had just fallen in action. The
skirmish in which the leaders had
fallen had broken the enemy's tenn
porary resistance and the Germans
were in full retreat. Forging several
hundred yards ahead of the first line
of doughboys, they neared the village
of st. Benoit, where four wagon roads
meet and a railroad passes.
Kills German i'll Duel
Hero before their eyes they saw an
enemy train 6teaming away from the
station and an enemy column. about q
battalion in strength. marching hur-
riedly northwest on the road toward
Haumont. The doughboys were coming
from behind as fast as they could. but
it would have taken cavalry to round
up and cut off the enemy troops. and
the cavalry was not in the first line.
The general and the captain speeded
up and entered the village of st. Benoit,
where they encountered Frederick We'll,
German engineer lieutenant, who
showed fight. A pistol duel between
the French officer and We'll resulted in
Wells demise. A search of the body
revealed his identity. What prompted
We'll to stay behind remains mystery.
The village otherwise was deserted.
An entire wagon train loaded with
supplies was captured. The horses
evidently had been ridden off by the
fleeing troops. The general and his
companion had forged ahead, and had
distanced the first skirmish line of
doughboys by several hundred yards,
! when they sighted st Benoit and the
French officer says of the cnemy's rapid
exodus:
Was Real "Good Time
at was inspiring to see the enemy
column double -quicking it northward,
but we regretted, the general and I,
that VIC did not have our machine guns
with US. When our friend We'll met US
in the village he presumably was act
ing as rear guard for the whole Ger.
man army. He came brszenly out into
the open and we banged away at each
other several times. Finally got him
and down he vent. Really | don't
know whether he shot at me or the
general. We we're together but if he
had got me he would have had to deal
with the generals pistol"
"What did the general have to say
about his experience ?" | inquired of
the officer.
"He said that he had never had a
| better time since he was boy" was
the answer
The American general concerned is
noted for his bravery on many other
occasions OH hot sectors. He always es.
! tablishes headquarters nearer the first
line than any o,her general. and his
division never fails to cover itself with
fighting glory, under the example of
/ bravery given by him on every pos
sble occasion. His name will be given
to the American public in due time