Evening star., 1918-06-06
YANKS HOLD POST
AGAINST BIG ODDS
Pershing Tells Of Heroic
Stand of American Patrol
in Lorraine.

The story Of how an American
patrol of forty men, outnumbered
two to one, held its ground in Lor-
raine on the night of June for
three-quarters of an hour and only
retired when it's ammunition became
exhausted. is told in a continuation
of Gen. Pershing's communique OF
yesterday received here today. The
patrol inflicted heavy losses on the
enemy.
The communique follows:
Section B. On the morning Of June
5 Lieuts. Campbell and Meisner
of Pont Mousson.
Between April IA and May 81 Lieut.
Douglas Campbell brought down six
tion has been confirmed. During the
same time Capt. Peterson and Lieut..
Rickenbacher each brought down
three, Of which destruction has been
confirmed. and forced down two more.
concerning which confirmation has
been requested.
During the night Of JUNE to June
one of our patrols, operating in Lor-
ra1ne. and consisting Of about forty
men, encountered a hostile patrol of
double its size. drawn up in skirmish
formation along a line parallel to
that Of our own patrol.
Both patrols opened fire with rides.
pistols, grenades and automatic rifles
and each tried to outfiank the other.
Our patrol. in spite Of being greatly
outnumbered. held it's ground for
three-quarters of an hour. inflicted
losses on the enemy and retired only
When its ammunition was almost ex-
hausted. Our casualties were very
light
During the night Of June to June
, one OF our patrols operating in
Lorraine penetrated the enemy's posi-
tioRs and advanced behind his second
line trenches. 1t inflicted on the
and withdrew successfully under
cover of barrage from our Stokes
mortars.
"A French report of the work of
an American machine gun battalion.
Whieh has I recently been in action at
owing on ohsry May 81 includes Sa ths threa 1o
ened to take Chateau Thierry, at
tempting to flank the town on our
left. and q breach was produced. The
- Machine Gun Battalion. U. s. A..
was Immediately thrown into Chateau
Thierry simultaneously with a colo
NAL infantry battalion. Immediately
the Americans reinforced the entire
defense, especially at the end of the
bridge. Their courage and ability as
all.
Crushed by our FIRE. the enemy hes
ttated. and as a result Of counter at
tacks. vigorously supported by Amer
lean machine guns. they were thrown
beyond the edges Of the town. Cha
hands. On the LIST Of June, toward
evening. taking advantage Of the
darkness. the Germans stole toward
the large bridge. in which direction
they penetrated through the western
suburbs to the banks of the Marne.
they made uss Of smoke bonn BIS, which
made the; aim of the machine guns
very difficult. At the same time the
town underwent an extremely violent
bombardment. At the moment when
the, Germans arrived on the large
bridge. and believed themselves to
be in possession of the same, a ter
rifle explosion destroyed the central
pier. Some Germans who had already
crossed were taken on the south bank
The American machine guns held
the south bank and gave protection
Tor the withdrawal of the troops re-
firing from the northern section for
the purpose of crossing the bridge
prior to its destruction. Here again
the courage of the Americans was be-
yond all praise The colonials them
selves. though accustomed to acts Of
bravery, were struck by the wonder
ful morale in the face of fire, the
coolness and the extraordinary steadi-
ness of their allies.
The watchfulness Of the Americans
never failed them. and with their ma
chine guns playing upon the ap-
proaches Of the destroyed bridges and
foot bridges they prevented any re-
attack by the enemy, They will r.,
relieved at tho same time as the
French troops. at the side OF whom
they have fought. The French COM
mand. knowing their just pride, fear
that they would have humiliated these
valiant troops II they had offered
them rest sooner than their French
companions in the fight. The episode
OF the Chateau Thierry will remain
one of the most memorable deeds OF
this war. 1t is a pleasure for ali of
US to know that our valiant allies
have shared with US there"