New-York tribune., 1918-06-18
Division, Outnumbered by
Three to One, lnAicts De-
feat Upon Germans
Commanding General
Praises Americans
One Man Alone Puts Hun.
dreds of Enemy Out
of Action
By Wilbur Forrest

tSDect1x CQOIe 70 i ne IrtSANfi
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD, June 17-Among the
French units in the hottest fighting of
recent days has been a division l Wis
tied to-day which, although it has been
almost constantly under fire or fighting
in critical actions, is still holding the
line on which the enemy, outnumber-
ing them three to one, on June 12 was
outfought and defeated after one
third of the enemy's strength had been
killed or wounded.
This section was only one of many
in the past few weeks in which these
French troops and the valent mixture
of nationalities composing the legion
have taken an enormous toll of the at
tacking enemy, executing many coun-
ter attacks and displaying bravery
which every American soldier can only
hope TO emulate.
Though their losses have been heavy,
always fighting against superior num-
bers. l found them resting on their
arms under the enemy's nose to-day.
waiting for Hindenbu-g's next move.
Ground which forms the best sort of
No Mans Land between them and the
Germans is literally dotted with
corpses.
Not an Inch of Ground Coded
They ceded not an inch of ground
and the teldgrauen which overflowed
from the decimated waves into their
midst were downed with cold steel.
Some Of the German companies lost all
but ten or fifteen men, according to
the statements OF captured survivors.
Though only few Americans remain
in the legion, myself and my companion
declined to break the needed rest which
they were getting with their guns
ciasped in their arms beside a group
OF sleeping companions. Another
ieglonnalre, however, vo. unteered the
statement that his small group of
machine guns had easily accounted for
thousand of the Feldgrauen during
the attack three days ago. apparently
the legion referred to is the French
Foreign Legion
1t is doubtless safe to add that since
the enemy's mass defensive methods
began in March, the legionnaires and
their companions have knocked out at
least $1,000 of the flower of the Ger
man army, because on every occasion
they faced such troops.
saw the general commanding the
division in small shelter near the
lines. Overhead German shells were
constantly whining. The fresh she'll
holes everywhere and the surroundings
truly befitted man who leads men
to whom bravery is a commonplace.
General Praises Americans
With typical French politeness the
general stopped to praise the fighting
OF the American troops. Praise from
like high honor.
After exhibiting q map taken from
!. dead Prussian officer, showing the
Germans had planned to advance over
hfteen miles in their three-to-one at
TACK against this division, the general
showed us the list of citations which
ne was preparing
ut is with difficulty" he said, "to
prepare citations for my men. Every
one is hero. Mais voila!"
. In no better way can the bravery Of
'nese men be explained or the char
acter OF the recent fighting-a strug-
gle IN which American troops are en-
erlng IN ver-increasing numbers-be
= .I'u, eiioi ny quoIiIS Drleuy a lew
OF these citations.
Many men have received the military
medal on the actual battlefield. Pri-
vate Clot, legionnaire. the sole sur
vlvor OF small combat group, main
'ained mis- position with rifle, killing
every enemy who tried to enter it.
One Man Kills Hundreds
Corporal Michel placed machine
gun IN front of his own lines and
moved down several hundred of the
enemy attacking in solid formation,
ana only retired when his cartridges
were exhausted.
lieutenant Vanniere conducted a
section of fifty men with courage, com
petely annlhilating an enemy recon-
rraisance party attempting to enter the
rtepeh hne.. an officer and thirteen
.s Men being taken prisoners, and twenty
m,ee corpses left on the ground
MAJOR Patriarche, defending with his
battalion a village forming salient in
'he line, violently bombarded with