The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-04-19
TELL. HONOUR Men
HELPED HOLD Nun
British General and FcTsh''ng
Praise Engineers.
OROPfEO SPADES TO FIGHT
Americans on Somme Front Filled
Gap When Allies Gave Way Before
German Attack.

With The American Army in France,
April 19.-Reports from the British
commanders, received at American
headquarters. give graphic deScrip-
ton OF the fight put up by American
engineers in the early days of the
German offensive on the Somme front.
They were part of the force hastily
assembled by Major General Carey
to fill the gap made by the assaults OF
the enemy. When the call came, the
engineers were building and operat-
ing field railways and constructing
bridges.
Three companies of an engineering
regiment We're caught ia the early
bombardment and ordered to fall
back. To one of the American COM
panies consolidated with the British
royal engineers, was delegated the
task of destroying an engineers dump
which it had been decided to abandon.
s2S detachment DESTROYED all the
Material, made rapid retreat, caught
up with the larger group, and imme-
diately resumed work, laying out
trenches. These operations lasted
from March - to 81.
AS the German attack became more
intense, the engineers were joined by
cooks, orderlies and railway men as
part of General Carey's forces.
The commanding officer of an Amer
lean regiment took charge of an in
fantry sub-Sector and directed the az
ton of his troops for one week until
the emergency passed at that point.
To this officer General Rawlinson.
commanding the British army engaged
in that sector, sent the following let
| ter:
"The army commander wishes to re-
cord officially his appreciation of the
excellent work your regiment has
! done in assisting the British army to
resist the enemy's powerful offensive
| during the last ten days. | fully real
| ize that it has been largely due 10
| your assistance that the enemy has
! been checked, and l rely on you TO
assist up still further during the few
! DAYS which are still to come before
| | shall be able to relieve you in the
| line.
81 consider your work in the line To
be greatly enhanced by the fact that
| for six weeks previous to taking your
/ place in the front line your men had
| been working at such high pressure"
| erecting heavy bridges on the Som
me. Ny best congratulations and
warm thanks to all. RAWLINSON."
When the British General HI. l.
| Mullers, commanding a cavalry divis-
| ion. received from his superior con-
gratulations and thanks for the work
| of his command in beating off the en-
envy he forwarded the following let
| ter to the commander of one of the
American engineering units:
'As a United States engineering
battalion was fighting with the first
| cavalry division in the line March 80
the army commanders congratulatory
message applies to them equally with
! the units of the first cavalry division.
1t has been brought to my notice that
| the men under your command fought
most CALAMITY alongside the British
| cavalry. | am most grateful to you
| and the unit under your command for
! the invaluable assistance you gave us
| on March 80. Please convey my thanks
and congratulations to all ranks"
The reports of the gallant conduct
! of the Americans on the British front
/ have caused General Pershing to send
! the following letter to the engineering
commander:
! The commander in chief has not
! ed with great satisfaction the fine
! conduct of the officers and men of
your regiment during the recent Ger
man offensive, as testified by British
army commanders"