The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-11-20
TELLS HOW U.S..
y MARINES HELD
WAY TO PARIS
Major Denig Paints Thrilling Pic
lure of the Battle of
July 10.
THREE FRIENDS ARE KILLED
eattaiIon Of 900 Men Cut to Pieces IN
Two Days Fighting, but Held Foo
IN check-Describes ParaIyzing
Horrors Of the Battlefield.

Horrors Of the Battlefield.
Washington.-Details of the par
ticipation Of the United States ma
rines In the counter-attack against the
German forces on the Marine on July
Is are given In a letter written shortly
aftcrward by Maj. Robert l.. Denig of
the United States marines to his wife,
who lives at 2131 Porter street, Phil
adelphia, and which has been forward
ed to Washington for the historic files
Of the marine corps.
In addition to giving a graphic pic
ture Of modern war, the letter cites
an instance Of German treachery In
using airplanes painted with the al
lied colors in their unfair methods of
aerial warfare.
The letter also establishes the fact
that the marines who helped to stop
the German drive on Paris ut Belleau
wood early In June were honored by
being brought forward from this wood
to vierxy and Tigny, near scissors, for
participation with a crack French d.
Vision In the great countersattack
which started the d~isintegration of the
German front In the west. Names that
became familiar through the fight
Ing In Belleau wood are mentioned in
Major Denig's letter rs being promi-
nent In the allied counter-attack-
Lieut.. Col. Thomas Holcomb, Lieut..
Col. Benton w. Sibley, Lieut.. Col.
John A. Hughes, Capt. Pere Wilmer,
and others who took a prominent part
In the fighting when the Hun was
blocked In his drive on Paris. The
letter follows:
sThe day before we left for this big
push we had a most interesting fight
between q feet Of German planes and
q French observation balloon right
over our heads. We saw five planes
circle over u town, then put on, what
we thought afterward. a sham fight.
One Of them. after many fancy stunts,
headed right for the balloon. They
rel all painted with our colors except
one. This n went near the balloon.
One kept right on. The other four
shot the balloon up with incendiary
bullets. The observers jumped into
their parachutes just as the outfit went
up In . mass of flames.
'yrhe merit day we took our positions
ut various places to wait for camions
that were to take us somewhere In
France, when or for what purpose we
did not know. Wass passed me at the
head Of his company-we made a date
for . party on our next leave. He was
looking lne and was as happy as could
be. Then Hunt, Keyser, and a heap Of
others went by. I have the battalion
and Holcomb the regiment. Our turn
to embark did not come till near mid
night.
Do Shells Falling Fast.
I'VE 1t last got under way after a
few BIG . bags had hit near by. VIII
yuer and / led In q touring car. We
went ct o good clip and nearly got
ditched IN q couple of new shell holes.
Shells were falling fast by now, and
y the tenth truck went under the
bridge q big one landed near by with a
crash and wounded the two drivers,
killed two marines. and wounded FIVE
more. We did not know 1t at the
time and did not notice anything wrong
till We came to a crossroad, when we
found we had only IL Ears all told.
We found the rest Of the convoy after
Z hunt. but ever then were not told
OF the loss, and did not find 1t out
until the next day.
We were finally. after IL hours
ride. dumped in a big field and after
q few hours rest started our march.
1t was hot as hades and we had had
nothing TO eat since the day before.
We 1T last entered a forest; troops
seemed to converge on it from all
points. We marched some six miles
In the forest; a finer one / have never
seen-deer would scamper ahead and
we could have eaten one raw. At ten
O'Clock that night, without food, we
lay down In a pouring rain to sleep.
Troops Of all kinds passed up In the
nigAt-a shadowy stream, over a half
million men. Some French officers
told ~ that they had never seen such
constitution since verdun, IL then.
'sThe next day, the 18th of July. we
marched ahead through a Jam OF
TROOPS, trucks. etc, and came at last
TO = ration dump where we fell to and
ats orr heads on FOR the first time In
nearly two days. When we left there
the men had bread stuck on their bay.
onets. ! lugged a ham. All were
loaded down. Here / passed one Of
Wassf ueutenants with his hand
wounded. He was pleased as Punch
and told 10 the drive was on-the first
~ knew Of II. / then passed q few
man Of Hunts company bringing pris.
onoEs 10 the rear. They had a colonel
ond H. stan. They were well dress.
~. clean and polished, but mighty
Ganm hooking.
sWa finally stopped at the far end
= ~ forest near q dressing station
WhoCe Holcomb again took command,
xNle station had been 4 big. flne stone
AsDhc0Dob but Wa nov : co1nplets