The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1918-08-16
DAYTON, ONO. FRIDAY AUGUST il. 1918
Fighting for
w- I'll
Denlocracy
c0L0RED SOLDIERS SHOWING
GREAT BRAVERY AT FRONT

With the American Armies iii
France, June 2G Correspondence
OF The Associated Press. One regi-
ment Of colofcd troops in the Ameri-
can army tho. deleted by censor)
has had its baptism of fire on tha
fighting fields Of France and ac-
quilted itself so we'll that the French
commander OF the sector has cited
the Whole regiment as worthy of re-
eeiving the war cross. This regi-
ments repulse Of the enemy attack on
the early morning Of June IL -tpos-
sibly al Belleau Wood o. Bouresehesl
was briefly referred to iii the oiiica
'communique.
A later and official report Of the
engagement brings out interesting de
tails aud gives credit to The officers
aud men Tor tine lighting qualities
displayed ii their initial experience
under she'll and machine gun fire. The
French commander OF that sector has
given the regiment the highest pos
slble commentator for the results ae-
compiished and the splendid fighting
spirit shown by the American colorea
men,
For several days preceding the ats
tack there were evidences that the
,enemy was preparing to strike i
blow. Two days before one OF the
lmain points held by the regiment had
been subjected TO Il strong lombard.
ment Of nearly 100 shells, gas ana
shrapnel Prior to the heavy enemy
artillery barrage occurring on the
morning of the 18th, our advance
groups heard movements apparently
of marrow gauge train tracks iii the
wood back Of the enemy lines, indi
eating they were getting ready for
an attack.
Every preparation has been made
Tor meeting the move il it came. Be.
sides the usual combat groups at the
main points OF the line, d special ma,
Ichine gun section occupied specially
chosen position on small salient pro-
,ecting into the enemy line. II was
accompanied by the cofnba groap d.
tailed from reserve company and car-
Irying rifles and hand grenades.
It was Ills on the morning of the
18th that the order To stand to- was
given, and all combat groups and the
machine gun section took their fight
ing position. The enemy artillery
now opened violent bombardment
engaging in box barrage' five Of
our main groups and the special ma
chine gun position. The lines Of this
Dox barrage are well defined on the
ground, showing its outer circuit,
with considerable scattering of hits
inside The shells were mostly IT'S,
with some l55s, gas, shrapnel and
nigh explosives. One Of our points
received particular attention, prob
ably by minenWerfer, the craters Of
which were two yards in depth and
| live yards in diameter. The artillery
bombardment was extremely violent
ut the start and tapered off gradu-
ally until It stopped after 30 minutes.
| Meantime, under cover of the ar
tillery, the enemy infantry began its
operations, adopting the infiitering
lprocess by which detached groups are
| thrust forward at a number of points
instead of moving in mass formation.
| One group came on with two light
machine guns, firing rather intense
| fire into one Of our position. Another
group was estimated to be about 25
or 80 AT another point on our front
ii stationary enemy patrol took posi-
| ton, firing two small machine guns,
Now and then squads would dart for
ward from their gun positions. Eight
Germans got up to the wire on front
Of one of our position, and four 9TH
ers approached at another point. Be
sides these assault groups which
reach our line, there We're undoubt-
adly additional enemy forces in as
saulting columns and supporting col
lmns which were unable to enter the
field.
The special machine gun group
ander command Of Lieutenant L. u.
Shaw, was in one of the most exposed
enters Of the fighting, being under
terrific artillery fire and the fire OF
Two German machine guns. Lieuten-
ant Shaw handled this very difficult
situation with cool bravery. The
enemy barrage was SO close that il
vas impossible to stand up and Lieu.
tetnant Shaw controlled his guns By
Trolling from one TO the other. His
two guns fired five thousand rounds
Under this violent onslaught tht
men stuck to their posts, carried oui
levery order without hesitation, OTTER
under calling fire, and showed high
iegree Of skill with their weapofs
II nani.n.s~ ..nL n~..-aa- III