The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-07-10


[ the chicago Tribune and the oklahoma
CITY Iimcs)
WITH 'TTlE AMERICAN ARMY
. ON THE MARINE, July 9--Youthiul
American soldiers, who volunteered for
The task. went with the French against
The Germans in furious fighting yester-
day afternoon for the possession of Hill
2l4, and covered themselves with glory.
When word came that the French would
use detachments OF Americans OF in
fantry who wished to go, these boys
from the United States stepped for
ward to a man. More than five times
The needed number offered themselves
OH the instant.
All Volunteer Al Once.
Never before having faced the Hun,
practically none OF them having ever
been under lirc, they lcaped at the
chance 70 come to grips. 1t should in
spre America TO know that among those
who stepped forward for this nasty, but
noble tack were youths but a few
months drafted Not that they stepped
forth first all stepped forward to-
gether-but these drafted boys showed
nerve equal to that Of the more sea
soned soldiers.
1t was a bloody and desperate fight
for that hill commanding Chateau
Thierry. 1t stands Just outside the
American sector, but all our soldiers
knew its importance Detachments OF
our forces were nearby, waiting for
their chance. Some of them were swim
ming in the silyery Marne, where it
winds its way through a marquctry Of
the gold OF rlpenlng wheat the red OF
glorious poppies, and the green OF grow
ing oIt fields. Others were catching
baseball on the banks of the war famed
stream.
80 Needed-iSo Volunteer.
Except foT the booming of distant
cannon, the wars nasty face seemed
very far away, when Just before noon,
the word spread that if the Americans
wished to they could get into the French
show. A little later the call came. and
the companies were lined up and the
volunteers called for. One captain told
me where he asked for 80 men, $50 Of
fered themselves.
The attack started Just after the noon
hour, and our boys were in its midst
For their iirSt fight they got into the
nastiest mix-up imaginable and met the
meanest boche tricks. They found what
it was to GO against hidden machine
guns, Camou'laged rapid fire nests, gas
shells and the dcaicning roar OF a heavy
barrage. They were shot at BY snip
ers hiding in trees they were shot at
by big and little cahnan with a roar
that deaicned them; but they did not
falter. They went ahead with the
French veterans OF many a battle They
took, machine gun posts, they took
trench positions, fighting like demons.
Bayonets Cut Paths.
There was the case OF Lieutenant (de-
leted) which shows the spirit of our
men. lie was leading his men when a
German bullet got him through the
shoulder. He was taken back TO a
dressing station, after which, with his
arm in a sling, he returned and led
his men until the fight was ended.
Our boys fought through woods that
were almost imprcgnablc, where bayon-
cts were sometimes used to cut paths,
and all m the face Of German machine
guns clcyerly concealed,
The efficient resistance OF the Ger
mans was due IN part to their new stunt
Of climbing into the tops OF trees dur
ing the artillery bombardmcnt. The
trick OF hiding in holes in the ground
to escape shell fire is as old as this
war, but the boche Yesterday tried sue
cessiully the trick of climbing into high
trees, where he was almost safe from
shells exploding. on the ground When
the French and Americans advanced
through the supposedly clear woods they
suffered from these boches An Amer
ican lad saw German machine gunner
in tree kill several Frenchmcn He
threw all his hand grenades without
success Then this boy climbed the tree