Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-12-13

OF six or seven miles a day: that they
met the attack in American fashion
and with American heroism; that ma
rines and soldiers Of the American
army threw back the crack guard di-
vision Of Germany. broke their ad-
vance. and then, attacking. drove them
back in the beginning OF a retreat that
was not TO end until the cease firing
signal sounded for the end of the
worlds greatest war"
\ striking picture of the fighting IN
Bcllcau wood. now renamed in honor
of tn" marine brigade, is given. The
place was Il jungle filed with machine
gun nests the secretary says. impossl-
bic to reach with artillery or grcnadcs.
There was only one way" he con-
tinucs. Ito wipe out these nests, by
hayonet. And by this method were
they wiped out. for United States ma
rineS. baro-ChcStcd. shouting their bat
tie cry of 'E-e-c-e-c y-a-a- -h-h-h ylp.
charged straight into the murderous
fire from these guns and won! Out of
the number that charged. in more than
one instance. only one would reach the
stronghold. There. he would either
kill or capture the defenders OF the
nest. and then swinging the gun about
in it's position. turn II against the re-
manning German positions in the for
est.
In all the history Of the marine
corps there is no such battle as that
one in Rellcau wood. The hcrOism and
doggcdncss of that battle are unparal-
lclcd."
The report describes the laying of
the North sea mine barrage, wholly an
American enterprise While there is no
way of ascertaininC definitely what
that 25O-mile barrier did to enemy
submarines. Mr.. Daniels says there is
reason To believe that ten U-boats had
ended their career at the barrage be-
fore the middle of October"
Ii-Inch Batteries Dealt With.
The building and manning of the IA
inch rifle naval batteries working with
the armies in France is also described.
The depth bomb has proved the most
effective means Of combating the sub
marines. the report states. and 1t shows
that American enterprise was rcspon-
sible for very largely increasing that
effectiveness. The earl? 50-pound
charge boElbs were crude and Of low
destructive force compared to the 300
pound "nd 6OO-pound charges now be-
ing produced. Many Allied ships have
been equipped with these American
improvement
Another ordnance development that
is noted is the perfection OF l6-inch
rifles for all new battleships. They
will make these vessels it is said. the
heaviestsarme craft in the world with
4 bro. .dside projectile weighing 25,200
pounds against 17.50S pounds for the
PENNSYLVANIA. the biggest and most
powerful craft now in commission.
To Captain +. Z. Jessop. engineering
officer of the New York navy yard. the
report gives credit for having recon-
mended the revolutionary practice of
electric welding when repair of the
damaged German shipping was under
taken. Careful estimates have shown
that this one innovation saved twelve
months in time and s20.OoO,O0O in
money. while the ships thus made
quickly available carried half million
soldiers to France.
Another engincr ring achievement OF
the year Is the completion AID testing
of the first electric drive battleship. the
New Mexico. Despite adverse criticism
which met the determination to en-
ploy this mechanism on battle craft.
the report says. the New Mexico has
not only met every requirement. but
has passed many additional tests. with
the result that lin this unique vessel
the United States navy has battlcShip
which hGS no peer in the worlds ma
vicS. not only for economic propulsion
and less liability to serious dcrange-
mcnt hut her military superiority in
greater mancuvcring power and in
creased under water protection" Gre
dit is given Rear Admiral Griffin, cngi-
ncer- in chief of the navy, for this ac-
compliShment.
The report shows that four battle
ships. one battle cruiser, two fuel ships
one transport. one gunboat, one "m-
munition ship. 232 destroyers, 5S sub
marines. ll2 fabricated patrolDoats
(caglcs). including Il for the Italian
government; 80 submarine chasers, In
cluding so for France: 81 mine sweep
ers and numerous tugs and harbor
craft, were contracted for during the
year. Up TO October one gunboat. s3
destroyers, 80 submarines, 26 mine
swccpcrs' and four eagles had been
launched. The additions to the navy
during the year included two battle
ships. sc destroyers. IS submarines,
355 submarine chasers and l3 mine
sweCpCrS. The actual number OF llO-
foot chasers now in commission. in
Guiding those delivered to France, is
400.
Mr.. Daniels expresses appreciation OF
the work done by George Crecl, chair
man Of the committee on public infor-
nation, and has this TO say of the
American press:
The most intimate relationship be-
tween Mr.. Crcel and the department
has been productive of genuine COOP
Grafton in a service that was new in
our country and not easy to carry out
successfully. The spirit OF the press
which patriotically responded to the
appeal for voluntary censorship. can
not be too highly commended. There
was full freedom of the press with full
recognition by the press of the govern
ments desire to withhold no informa-
,A,. ,l;l ,,nt liSc1nSa military So