Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-07
AMERICAN TRADITIONS
OF vALOR ARE UPHELD
Sommc Receiving First
Baptism OF Fire.
NO BETTER TROOPS CHARGED
Pioneers OF Army Fight Over Ground
Which Has Already Been Stained
With Blood OF Thousands OF Brave
Soldiers.
Thy Associated Press. ]

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE. Friday. July ALL the ira
ditions of the United States Army for
Vaior were brilliantly sustained yes
terday in the successful attack made
against the Germans south Of the River
somme. when. for the first time. Amer
lean infantrymcn took their stand he
side their British cousins and fought
shoulder to shoulder.
1t was n baptism Of fire for the
Yankee soldiers on this front. staged
on Independence Day, and they came
through with flying colors-ftting cons
rades for the famous Australian war
riors whom they were assisting.
1.-THE Americans fought like fiends."
declared one British staff officer. They
did all OF that. They were magnificent
and folks at home may be proud OF
the part their boys took in this unique
Fourth of July celebration in the she'll
torn valley Of the winding Somme.
They were fighting over ground which
had already been stained with the
blood OF thousands OF brave soldiers.
but no better troops ever charged
across the rolling fields than the
pioneers from the American army.
Along with this, IT Is possible to make
the cheerful statement that their cas-
ualties were very small. according to
the latest reports. Virtually the en-
tire body OF Americans came through
unscathed. This was probably due to
the weak resistance which the Ger
onslaught"
One does not need to detract from
tho work OF the gallant Australians
~
leans. The soldiers from the Anti
podes far outnumbered those from the
United States, and did correspond
ing amount Of the sanguinary labor.
1t goes without saying that the big
framed men from Australia, who fear
neither man nor devil, fought with the
customary herccness which has made
them a terror to the enemy. Ycster-
days operations were specifically plan
ned as a Fourth OF July celebration
which should bring the Americans into
the British battle line for the first
time.
CLASH WITH THE ENEMY
IN GRAY LIGiIT-oF DAWN
The American troops who were to
take part in this memorable event
were brigaded with their Australian al
lies, who took the deepest interest in
the forthcoming welding of the link OF
brotherhood. The plans were carefully
rehearsed until every American knew
his role as we'll as the hardy veterans
from His Majcsty's army. Few people
along the front know OF the forthcom-
ing event. but the British staff officers
were watching every move with the
keenest attention. Those officers to-day
were outspokenly delighted with what
they had seen. The Americans went
over the top with the Australians. be-
hind big tanks as though they had been
doing the same thing all their lives
Then came the clash with the enemy
infantry among the she'll hole defenses
and trenches under the gray light Of
the early dawn.
There was no hesitation. For week
past the British experts had been din
ming into the ears of the Americans the
words: xiii! XIII. KNIT
II is the cardinal slogan of the fight
ing man and while ii is not pleasant
to dwell upon, Yet that is what war is.
The Americans had learned their les
son we'll. The British officers spoke
OF this after the affair was over.
No drillmastcr ever got better re-