The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-18
The Thir tieth Division
Capt. r. E. Craig, of Hartsvi!!e,
Gives Authentic News Of
i Its Valor.

Greenville, Dec. 12.-One of the
first real narratives Of the heroic
work Of the Thirticth division il
France and Pelgiunl was brought to
Greenville Wednesday By Capt. Robert
f. Craig, of Hartsville, S. c.. COM
mander of Company Z, 11Sth infan-
try Gold First South Carolina Nationa!
Guard). Capt Craig was in Green
vile for a short time en- route to the
base hospital at BiltnloTe, y. c. He
landed at Newport News November 27
and is suffering from bronchial
asthma, which he contracted while in
the trenches.
In conversation yesterday Capt.
Craig told OF the wonderful work of
the. North and South Carolina and
Tennessee men of the Old Hickory
Division in the war and expressed re-
Het that he was rot able to be with
them at the memorab BILE date when
they completely shatte-d the Hinden-
burg line. You have never seen such
courage, such absolute ,oyaltt as these
men displayed, and they have accom-
plished a feat that generations will
herald he said. when they come
here they are entitled to our best. for
they are none others than the saviour:s
pf civilization
The Thirtieth division, upon landing
ins Flanders, was first billeted at Mont
KENNEL, said Capt. Craig. This sec
tor had seen some cf the bittcreSt
lighting Of the war during tho first
two years and presented very des-
olate scene. At the time the Thirtieth
arrived the British were daily expect
ing a heavy attack by the Germans.
and the sight OF the stalwart Amer
cans greatly 're5oiced them. The di-
vision remained here for some time
and when the attack never came.
they were moved up nearer the front.
- Capt. Craig said that his battalion
was the first unit Of the Th:rtieth to
enter the trenches, which was late III
June. The division was first under
shell fire on independence Day, July
AS soon as the men we're IN the
trenches they began to take great
delight in picking of snipers- The
very first day men from Company L
killed two enemy sn:pers.
8 On July 90, Just a month after his
entrance into the trenches. Capt.
Craig contracted a ,nalady which was
thought to be trench fever. Physicians
later contended, however. that he
must have been gassed in some way.
as he contracted bronchial asthma.
He waa evacuated from his COMPANY
hoc 1nc-
pitai in France. He remained there
suns November. when he was sent to
srica
Capt. Craig pad q high tribute to
the courage and bravery of the enl St
ed men. When the histories OF this
war are written the honor fer victory
should be given to the privates and
corporals and serge nts." he said
They are the men who have done the
fighting. They ere the hravest set O.
boys in The world and e-o,y person
in the United States should honor
them. I never saw a yellow man in
the Thirtieth d:v:sion. never saw a
man IN Old Hickor-- wall when he
was wounded have seen men shot
through the limbs ho'd their wcuad'
and ask their comrades for c:garettaS
You cannot beat men who fight like
that. I would be willing to wager
that for every casualty IN our division
there We're five in the er enny's."
Capt Craig told Of the heroic act
OF Sergt. Gardner. OF his company
During an attack early one morning
Sergt Gardner was leading his p'atoon
Just behind the c-eeD.nS barraSe
when they suddcn-y ran upon ma
chine gun interference. The Ger
man gun was hardly twenty yards
away. Sergt. Gardner. instantly
rea lizing the peril, drew MS revolver
and in four clear sho OTIS ann:h;la;ed the
machine gun crew.
Although Capt. Craig was In the
hospital at he time of the briG drive
which broke the Hindenhurg line ne
heard many thrilling details OF the
fighting from comrades lie said that
his compa went into battle with 23o o
men and came out with ffty-siX Of
its original personnel. They Went
over the top nineteen times in twenty
one days and never failed to galn
their objectives. Severe casualties
were suffered by the 119th infantry,
the old Second North Carolina Reg
ment. This regiment received orders
at Mont KENNEL one morning to ad-
vance without any artillery prepara-
tion. The regiment gained what 1t
was sent out for in spite CT the heavy
casualt. IS suffered.
Although reticent in commcatin@ 9
upon casualties Of the Thirtieth eivi-
sion, Capt. Craig sid he believed the
casualties would include from one
fourth to one-third OF the div!son'
though many Of them would recover
before being sent home.
Plcdgers Do Not Buy.