Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-02-26
AMERICAN TAKES A PRISONER
To New England Lad Belongs the
Honor of First Captive.

To New England Lad Belongs the
Honor of First Captive.
With the American army in France.
Feb. 22.-In patrol fight Americans
from units under instruction in the
famous Chcmin des Danes sector.
killed one German ana captured
another. One American was slightly
wounded This Is the first time II has
been permitted to reveal the fact that
new American units have entered the
line. The troops have been there for
some time, suffering light casualties.
but their presence was kept secret
until it was certain the enemy knew
they were there.
Details of the patrol fight are as
vet unavailable. beyond the unofhcial
report that the prisoner taken was
captured single handed by young
American from one OF the New Eng
land states who during the engage
mcnt dropped into a shell hole on top
of German hiding there and later
brought him in.
The American forces entered the
line on one of the darkest OF nights
through shcll-pitted region dotted
with shell wrecked towns. The
French general commanding the sec
tor. a hero of the Marine. greeted them
as comrades i'm arms and kissed the
American flag.
Throughout the irregular period Of
service in the line these troops have
displayed great cagerncss to establish
n record equal to or better than that
of the troops holding the sector north
west of Toul.
Orders Come Suddenly.
The orders for them to leave their
hllcts came suddenly few weeks
ago. The troops entrained and rode
to the railhead nearest the position
in which they were going. They
knew whittier they were bound and
welcomed the opportunity to start the
work Of fighting the Germans.
The units as they cntrained were re-
ceived by the French general COM
manding the sector who kissed the flag
reverently and addressed the men.
saying that he held them in the same
regard aas his own soldiers and that
they were brothers in arms fighting
for the same great cause. He warn
cd them to be cautious in dealing with
the enemy over the distant hills. The
French soldiers, he said. were skillful
i'm hunting these wild beasts" and
were glad of the opportunity to
pass along all they knew to their
American comrades.
The troops made a long march to
the line. singing at intervals to help
the feet move faster and tighten the
load they were carrying. They passed
through mile after mile OF shell
scared, idesolate ground and through
:: number of great piles of stones and
,:.'tris which once were villages. but
now without single house left stand
ing. The scenes OF destruction on
such q large scale impressed the
y ohu NA N'a~'-
expressed the hope that they would
soon be able to help punish the per-
petrators.
Guns Furnish Music.
The troops marched in and took up
their positions without hitch to the
music of the roaring guns, both
friendly and hostile, their flashes fire.
quently stabbing the blackness OF the
night. first here and then there as far
as the eye could see.
On this occasion as on previous oc-
casions when American troops reached
the front they were warmly welcomed
by their French comrades.
An American general with these
troops had not been in the field two
hours when the enemy dropped num-
Der Of six-inch shells close by him.,