Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-03
HEROIC DEEDS Related
IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
Fierce lIand-to- Hand CombatS
Ragged, With Pennsylvania Men
Holding Position.
PEACOCK'S DARING TRIO
Although BADLY Wounded, lie Takes
Charge OF German Machine Gun
and Turns Weapon Upon It's Eo.'-
MGR Operators.

WASHINGTON. October 2-E'rom the
official account Of our own military
observers it is now possible To form
some conception of the terrific ordeal
VIGOROUSLY passed before General
Pcrshing was able TO cable the stirring
news OF the capture OF the French vii
laga Of FiSmcttc
This famous action. lasting several
days. ii Will he recalled. occurred early
in August. In the memoranda accom-
american distinguished service crosses.
made public to-day. some of the more
astounding Individual deeds Of hCroism
and bravery are related. The lauGuagc
used to describe them. even in the oiii-
cial document shows how they have
stirred the pride Of hardened and cX-
pericuccd officers and won the un-
bounded admiration of General Perish
ing himself.
toulouse fighting cnsued as soon as
the Americans swept into the village.
Corporal Raymond Rowbottom. PENN
sylvania lad. at the head of an auto
matte rifle team. succeeded with Il
handful of companions in occupying Il
house IN an advanced position on the
fighting zone. He WAS ordered to hold
the house at all hazards.
Its loss at that particular stage would
have jcopardizcd the lives OF his own
company and seriously hiudcred the
entire plan of military operations then
taking place. y vcritablc hurricane OF
enemy rifle and machine gun fire WAS
When gun fire failed TO dislodge the
intrepid occupants, the Germans finally
succeeded in shooting an inccndiary
flare into the house Flames were seen
TO issue from within. The German ma
chine sunners and Shippers aimed Il
fussilade of shots at the windows and
doors
Within the now brightly lighted
room Corporal Rowbot;om and his
companions could be observed dcsper-
ately striving to eNtncuish the flames.
al
the fire and held the fort until cheer
ing columns Of American reserves
rushed by a few minutes later in hot
pursui, OF the bewildcred and fleeing
foe.
CORPORAL. JAMES MOORE
WINS his DECORATORS
Another Pennsylvania hoy. Corporal
James II. Moore WAS decorated for
similar acts OF fcarleSSness IN the same
exploit.
In another section OF the village,
there was dire need OF an operator for
captured machine gun. The order
came 10 Corporal Raymond Peacock.
also Of the keystone state, as he was
the only member of his detachmen,
machine gun. He volunteered to so
Coward in spite OF having been So
badly wounded that his left arm,
hung limp ut his side.
He reached the spot ana manned the
captured gun until a second wound.
more serious than the nrst. put HIM
OUT OF action. HIS uOsEcu determine
tion. however. enabled his rcEimentai
commands to hold the position ana
retain il under overwhelming odds.
An equally striking feat was per-
formed By Private Fred cute. OF Penn
sylvaui0. For -FOUR days during the
fighting in the uciChborhood OF Fis-
m"ttc, and while me action was at it's
height. he had been acting as runner
between his battalion headquarters at
Fismcs and The American troops at
rismcttr. He had made dozens OF trips
over Il bridg. across the NcSlc River.
all the time under heavy shell and ma
Chiu"-Eun fire.
sWIM> NESlE RIVER
TO DELIVER MESSAGES
When the Germans finally succeeded
il: destroying the bridge, ptte simply
laid aside unnecessary impcdimcniS
lcapcd into the river. which had been
blocked with wire entangiemcntS. and
swan TO the opposite side. In this
manner he continued 10 make his trips
and thus kept open the absolutely es-
scntial line 81 communication.
Private Philip Maurer. OF baltimore.
and TWO companions heard that two
wounded comrades We're lying in the
sheN-swcpt area just ahead Of his com
pany's advance lines. They promptly
volunteered to go TO their rescue. AL
though wounded on their first attempt
and driven back, they advanced a sec
ond time. reaching III" wounded men
and safely returned with them TO the
lines. where both the rescued and res
cUerS received mcGica! attention.