The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1918-07-12
FOUGHT LIKE FIENDS
SAYS BRITISH OFFICER
Traditions of U. S. Army for Valor
Brilliantly Upheld.

With the British Array in France,
+, July 5 (by A. p. All the traditions
of the United States army for valor
were brilliantly sustained yesterday
in the successful attack made against
the Germans south Of the River Som
me, when for the first time American
infantrymen took their stands beside
their British cousins and fought
shoulder to shoulder with them
against the common foe.
1t was baptism of fire for the
Yankee soldiers on this front, staged
on Independence day, and they came
thru with flying colors-ftting COM
rades for the famous Australian war
riors whom they were assisting.
"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 valley of the wind
ing Sonnet. They were fighting
over and 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 casualties were very small, &C
cording to the latest reports. Vir-
tually the entire body of Americans
came thru unscathed. This was
probably due 10 The weak resistance
which the Germans offered to the
Anglo-American onslaught.
Zone does not need to detract Com
the work of the gallant Australians
by telling of the prowess of the
Americans. The soldiers from the
Antipodes far outnumbered those
from the United States and did cor
responding 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 fierce
ness which has made them a terror to
the enemy.
yesterdays operations were spe-
officially planned as Fourth of July
celebration, which should bring the
Americans into the British battle
line for the first time. The American
troops who were to take part in this
memorable event were brigaded
with their Australian Allies, who
took the deepest interest in the
forthcoming welding of the link of
brotherhood. The plans were care
fully rehearsed until every American
knew his role almost as we'll as the
hardy veterans from his majesty's
army.
Few people along the front knew
of the forthcoming event, but the
British staff officers were watching
the move with the keenest attention.
Those officers to-day were outspok-
emily delighted with what they had
seen.
"The Americans went over the
top with the Australians, behind big
tanks, as tho they had been doing
the same thing all their lives. Then
came the clash with the enemy in
'antry among the shell-hole defenses
nd trenches under the gray light
of the early dawn.
There was no hesitation. For a
week past the British experts had
been DINING into the ears of the
Americans the words kill! kill! kihn |
1t is the cardinal slogan of the fight
ing man, and while it is not pleas |
ant to dwell upon, yet that is what |
the war is.
'The Americans had learned their
lesson well. The British officers |
spoke of this after the affair was
over. No drillmaster ever got bet
-er returns for his talks than the one
who taught these Americans this
hardest lessons of all. A great num-
Der of Germans paid the supreme
price yesterday, and the men from
he United States exacted a very
leavy toll.
"The Americans were naturally
Happy last night over the success of
he operation in which they had
played a creditable part, and the
Australians were no less pleased with
heir new-found pals"