The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-07-10
Youthful American Soldiers
Volunteer for Attacks on
Hill 2O4 and Win Honors

and with his bayonet killed the boche
and threw the body to the grolnd
French Praise Americans.
All in all, nothingslco be better
than the behavior of these boys. Re.
member. it was the first fight and they
stuck it out. In these same woods,
fighting for these same hills, other vol
unteer soldiers took part on the night
Of July |, while their comrades to the
left were capturing Nauv and the BoiS
de La Roche The American soldiers
and officers were so modest about II
that the American headquarters did not
know Of the exploits of these men serv-
ing with the French until the French
commanders reported it.
On July the French colonel who hal
led the attack on the night OF July !
scnt a letter to the American general
in which he said
From the beginning Of the attack the
American detacfmen,S were marked
by their ardor, their bravery and the r
enthusiasm In spite Of the firing Of tho
encmv's heavy and light machine guns
trench mortars and riflemen placed in
the trees. these men bravcly threw
themselves upon their adversareS
Fierce hand-to-hand contests immcdj-
atcly took place in the thick and almost
imnregnah'e woods Each man sought
during all the operation to arouse the
enthusiasm and admiration Of his
French comrades by his magnificent
behavior
"Superb In Courage"
Lieutenant Shenkel especially dStin-
guiShed himself during this combat.
making a great impression on his own
troons and on our soldiers. Led on
by his ardor, with seven men, the lieu
tenant. himself surrounded on all sides
This detchment cut its wav through by
using the butts of their rifles and bay
oncts on the encmy's ranks, and sue
cecdcd in reioning their comrades
Lieutenant Shenkel, himself killed
with a pistol shot German officer
The attitude of all the American ranks.
especially the on-commissiored off
GERS was also noticeable. or the six
non-commissioned ofiiccry participating
IN the attack. five have fallen gloriouS-
" killed or wounded All officers. non
commissioned officers and privatcs
were superb in their enthusiasm and
Courage | would aDprecia,e II very
much II YOU would bring to the knowl-
edge Of your regiment the splendid CON
duct Of YOUR men. who fought for the
first tinc with us, and let everybody
know that with such admirable sol
dicrs as yours and ours the defeat OF
The Germans is certain in the near fu-
iurc"
Spirit Hearters French.
The French general under whom the
Americans fought sent this message
70 the American general; 81 join with
all my heart in the sentiments Of admi-
ration which Colonel (deleted) ex-
0resstd for the valiant troons which
have Just given TO ours a splendid ex-
ample Of bravery I Join my saluta-
,'ions and respect to the brave men who
have fallen on the field of honor, tho
7umbcr of which, unhappily was too
great"
The American commanding general
has commanded the soldiers participat-
ing in this fight I, was in this fight
vat Lieut. Fred c REM assisted by
Sergeant Hoffman and Private Smith,
'ook thirty-eight prisoners.
Word of what American soldiers
now at the front did in fighting for
lIill 204 has gone in the official orders
md hv word of mouth up and down
the French lines and is everywhere re-