The sun., 1918-07-07
Americans Show Great ValOr
in independence Day At
tack on BOches.
ATTAIN ALL OBJECTIyES
First Real Battle for Some
Yankees, Who show COur-
ace and Skill Of Veterans.
By fhs Assoc<afed Press.

me United States Army for velor were
brilliantly sustained yesterday in the
successful attack made against the Ger
mans south OF the River Somme. when
,o- the first time American infantrymen
took their stand beside their British
cousins and fought shoulder to shoulder
with them against the common foe.
II was a baptism of fire for the Yam
lee soldiers on this front. staged on In
dependence Day. and they came through
With flying colors-ftting comrades for
the famous Australian warriors whom
they were assisting.
The Americans fought like fends,''
declared one British stan oficer.
They did all OF that. They were mag
nfHcent, and the folks at home may be
proud Of the part their boys took in this
UNIQUE Fourth OF July celebration in the
she'll torn valley Of the winding Somme.
They were fighting over ground which
rad already been stained with the blood
o, thousands OF brave soldiers. but no
better troops ever charged across the
rolling fields than the pioneers from the
American army. Along with this IL Is
poesible to make the cheerful statement
mat their casualties were very small. ac-
cordlng to the latest reports. Virtually
the entire body Of Americans came
through unscathed. This was probably
due to the weak resistance which the
Germans offered to the Anglo-American
onslaught.
One does not need to detract from the
work of the gallant Australians by tell
.ng Of the prowess of the Americans.
The soldiers from the antipodes far out
numbered those from the United States
and did a corresponding amount OF the
sanguinary labor. 1t goes without say
ing that the big framed men from Aus
tralia, who fear neither man nor devil.
fought with the customary fiercenees
which has made them a terror TO the en-
envy
Celebration OF the Fourth.
Yesterdays operations were specif.
ically planned as a Fourth of July
celebration. which should bring the
Americans into the British battle line
for the first time. The American troops
who were to take part in this
memorable event were brigaded with
their Australian allies, who took this
deepest interest in the forthcoming
welding of the link of brotherhood
The plans were carefully rehearset
until every American knew his roll,
almost as well as the hardy veteran.
from his Majesty's army.
Few people along the front knew o.
the forthcoming event, but the British
stan officers were watching every move
with the keenest attention. Those Of
fcers to-day were ~outspokenly de
lighted with what they had seen.
The Americans want over the tot
with the Australians. behind big tanks
as though they had been doing tn,
same thing all their lives. Then CAM
the clash with the enemy %infantr!
among the shell hole d%efences anC
trenches under the gray light Of tn
early dawn.
There was no hesitation. For a weel
the British experts had been dinnini
into the ears Of the Americans tn
words Kill. Kill! XIII 1t is tn,
cardinal slogan OF the fighting man, ant
while II is not pleasant to dwell upol
yet that is what war is.
Hey, Yankee, take 1t a bit easy AM
wait for me. You amt running NJ
bloody hundred yard dash, you know
The speaker was a giant Australian
loose OF limb and with face bronzed b!
years OF constant exposure to the sun
His companion was equally sturdy, hi
Drawn acquired on his fathers farm II
a far Western State. These two, witt
many others from Australia and Amer
ica, were Just pushing across the still
mist shrouded field that stretched ava,
along the Somme Valley toward tn
strongholds OF the Germans. whom the,
were that day to vanquish In the mrs
Arglo-American attack Of history.
Just ahead of them was a curtain o
breaking shells from hundreds of Brit
ish guns in the rear. clearing the wa
for their advance. and the Yankee
were having thei initial experienc
with a barrage fire.
That barrage." continued the Aus
tralian, as he cleared a shell hole wit
a flying leap. landing beside his com
panion, that barrage amt no blink
ing bar TO be leaned against, young
ster'
OF on their right other men from tn
United States were eagerly pressin
forward with rifles grasped tensely an
faces expectant.
Out ahead there somewhere the
were to have their initiation into rel
warfare. They did not know exactl
what it would be like, but they wer
running TO 1t with an impetuous di'
waiting for them.
''A'iAy oiS WI wa
ahead of the others, staggered bac
hlindly and clutched at one arm while
hung helpless by his side. 81 was Jul
telling you So" muttered the Austria
ian TO his companion.
Advice of Veteran.
"Why-why it's good old Tom
stammered the other with a catch I
his voice. II was the irst time he ha
ever seen a man hit in battle and IN
was one of his own pals. TOO ba'
but those things happen remarked II
veteran, tersely, "he can be damne
glad he amt dead. You fellows ha'
got to learn not to charge into a ba'
rage. 1t don't help to lick the Boon
know how you feel-you want to e
at EN-. but there's time. old son. there
time for it."
The American fell in beside the Au
tralian and pushed ahead thoughtful
He had had his first vital lesson
warfare as II Is waged to-day. He mu
not let his eagerness carry him ahes
too fast, 50 hat he would get caugI
In that crashing line of steel. Old To
had just learned by burning his hnge
that fire was hot. and other America
boys were getting the same nara Ia
driven home to them. strange as II mig
seem, that there was such a thing as u
much speed In rushing the enemy.
The Australian and the Americi
pushed forward through the lshtenii
gloom. From somewhere far ahead q
German Machine guns began their sta
cato barking n bullets came singh
among the Allies like swarms OF ang
bees.
The Western boy ducked his he'
kharA1,. nAt1At auIah