The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-04-19
AMERICAN TROOPS
TO AID OF ALLIES
Fill Gaps Made by German Adj
Vance-AssistanceA Appreciated.

With the American Army in
France, April IS, (By Associated
Press. Reports from British COM
manders which have just been receiv-
ed at American army headquarters
give the first definite information
that American engineering troops in
large numbers were among the for
ceS hastily assembled from all bran
ches of the services by Major General
Carey for his improvised army which
filled the gap in the line made by
the Germans at the opening of their
offensive last month. The ArIeri-
can engineers were at work con-
structing and operating field rail-
ways and building bridges.
Three companies of an engineer
ing regiment were caught in the ear
ly bombardment and ordered to fall
back. To one of the American COM
panies, which had been consolidated
with the British Royal Engineers,
was delegated the task of guarantee
ing the destruction of an engineers
dump which it had been decided to
abandon. This detachment destroy
ed all the material, made a rapid re-
treat, caught up with the larger
group and immediately resumed
work laying out trenches. These OPP
erations lasted from March 90 to 27.
AS the German attack became more
intense the engineers were joined by
cooks, orderlies and railway men as
part of General Carey's forces.
The commanding officer of an
American regiment took charge OF
an infantry sub-Sector and directed
the action of his troops for one week
until the emergency passed at that
point. To this officer General Raw
linson, commanding tthe British ar
my engaged in thtat sector, sent the
following letter:
The army commander wishes to
record officially his appreciation of
the excellent work your regiment
has done in assisting the British ar
my to resist the enemy'S powerful
offensive during the last 10 days.
fully realize that it has been largely
due to your assistance that the enc
my has been checked, and / rely on
you to assist us still further during
the few days which are still TO come
before l shall be able to relieve you
in the line.
Il consider your work in the line
to be greatly enhanced by the fact
that for six weeks previous to taking
your place in the front line your men
had been working at such high pres
sure, erecting heavy bridges on the
SOmme. My best congratulations
and warm thanks to all
'RAWLINSON."
When the British General H. L.
Mullers, commanding a cavalry diyi-
sion, received from his superior con-
gratulations and thanks for the work
of his command in beating off the
enemy he forwarded the following
letter to the commander of one OF
the American engineering units:
LAS a United States engineering
battalion was lighting with the LIST
Cavalry division in the line on March
80, the army commanders congratu-
latory message applies to them eq-
ually with the units of the 1st Cav
airy division. 1t has been brought
to my notice that the men under
your command fought most gallant
ly alongside the British cavalry.
am most grateful to you and the unit
under your command for the invalu-
able assistance you gave us on
March 80, 1913. Please convey my
thanks and congratulations to all
ranks"
The reports of the gallant conduct
of the Americans on the British front