South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-11
SAMMIES HOLD
OUT BRAVELY
BEFORE ODDS
Official Report Shows Five
Dead, Four Wounded and
Our Captured When Ger
mans AmbuSCade Patrol.
International News Service

International News Service:
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY
~ FRANCE. Feb l1.-An official
report on the action between an
American patrol and large Ger
man force. which ambuscaded il in
NO Mans Land, shows that all IF
the Americans fought bravely to the
nnish Notwithstanding the fact that
they were pitted against odds aud
at the disadvantage of having been
surprised.
Four Americans were killed. an
other died from his wounds. one
other was wounded and four were
captured.
Germans NclI "Kamerad."
The Germans opened the fight by
yelling "kamerad" and 10y the
throwing of grenade. Both sides
then opened fire.
The hghting lasted about a min
ute and a half during which the
Germans continued TO shout.
Complete details OF the encounter
which have just been received show
that there were il Americans in
the patrol. who suddenly found
themselves surrounded by a large
mum Der OF Germans.
After rounding up four men, the
Germans withdrew. leaving four
dead Americbns. two wounded
Americans and four uninjured
doughboys ON the neId.
The Americans continued hrinE at
the retreating forms of the Ger
mans as long as they could Zee seen
American Barrage Effective.
one American attracted by the
@-oaning OF one Of the wounded
men. went 10 his side and gave him
"a drink of water
Another started 10 crawl back
through the wire 10 give the alarm.
Machine gun and rifle bullets in a
perfect rain was directed toward
.he enemy until the Americans
guns started 10 put down "a barrage.
Cries in German proved that our
fire was well directed
one OF the wounded men had
started 10 crawl through the en-
tanglements i'm front Of the Ameri-
can trench line. but his strength
gave out. He was found 10y a com
rade and carried i'm.
Patrol Finds Bodies.
a second American patrol was
quickly sent out IL discovered the
nve dead bodies Cthe fatally wound
ed soldier having died in The mean
timel and one very much alive
American who was lying beside the
corpses. ready 10 fight in ease tho
Germans came back TO search the
dead
There was considerable artillery
activity ON Saturday night when one
American was killed and I'VE
wounded by German shells.
The sector of the western front
now held by the Americans is no
longer under the command of a
French general For almost week
the Yankee soldiers holding part s1f
the battle line have been under the
direct command of am American
general
I'm turning the sector over Co the
American general on Feb. tho
French command issued general
fTEtE IN WMItfa lt expressed ENfl
rlete satisfaction with our troops
and was confident that the sector
was in coed hands. and II attacked
would defend il with great yalor
The order turuiug the sector over
10 the Americans. a copy OF which
was communicated % our forces
read.
French Satisfied.
"On Feb. 5, the commanding gem
craI Of " American unit takes
command Of . sector The conn
maudng general of ... French
takes occasion TO express 10 the
American general the colonies Ct
artillery and All of the America
units. which have been under his
orders. complete satisfaction with
the way in which the American
troops have acquitted themselves ai
the mission entrusted TO them
1neir good viii and their ardent de-.
s.re TO excel and the rapidity with
which they have adapted themseIve.
ro life Of the sector have brought
them the admire ton ~ an Gen
... hands over the sector Win
confidence that it is in good hand.
and that the American troops vii
organize DO with method and IN
t,uacitv CharacterzinE America
genius and in case OF attack vil de.
lend IL with great taIOI.