The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-06
AMERICANS ONCE
MORE DISPLAYED
FIGHTING SPIRIT
IN HANEL WOODS.
Part Played By q. S.
Troops Brought Them
Favorable Mention
CHICAGO CORPORAL
TELLS HIS STORY
Wounded Boy Gives Cor
respondent Thrilling
Description
(By Associated PEess.)

With the British Army in France,
July 6.-American fighting spirit
and courage as displayed in assist
ing the Australians in taking Hamel
and Hamel and Varie woods, Thurs
day, has brought forth much favor
able comment. The general in
command Of the American troops
was exceedingly pleased with the
work his men had done.
"Cur troops understood thorough
ly when they went over the top that
they were expected to do no less
than any Of their allies" said the
general to the correspondent today.
Reports which l have received
from the Australians indicated that
our boys conducted themselves with
great credit and did all that could
have been wished.
They had more than done their bit
and he we'll knew it. The Ameri-
cans were exceedingly keen to par
ticipate in the attack, the general
said, and several units which had
expected to take part were heart
broken when they found they would
not be employed. The American
casualties apparently were very
light.
Later the correspondent visited
casualty clearing stations to see
some Of the wounded Yankees, who
had gone through the show. Lying
on q, cot flanked by British soldiers
was a. Chicago lad. who had been
shot in the leg after a gallant fight.
He was a blue eyed, round faced
youngster, who looked strangely out
of place among the older veterans.
He said he was 20 years old, but he
was nothing more than a likeable
boy with a winning, but at the mo-
ment, somewhat wistful smile. The
correspondent introduced himself
and told the little soldier how proud
every one was Of the Americans. The
boys lips trembled, but his eyes
frightened.
Are you from America, too? he
cried as he eagerly put out a hand.
"Oh, I'm glad Of that.
He was lonely, homesick and hurt
and wanted comfort from somebody
who came from home. A friendly
chat began and the soldier chung
desperately to the correspondents
hand. Suddenly his eyes fastened
on the correspondents British uni
form and a look of disappointment
came to his face.
You're not a Yankee, are you? ?"
he asked with a quivering voice, and
his eyes were moist. The CORE
spondent assured him to the con-
trary. Instantly the boy frightened
and throwing his arm over the cor
respondents shoulder, he ex-
claimed:
Boy Corporal Tells Story.
I'm mighty glad Of that, I'm glad
you are a Yankee, too" Then he
told his story of his part in the bat
tie and here is the way it ran:
1--WE all were very anxious to do
we'll and we were ready to fight to
a finish. We knew there was trou-
BILE for us over there in No Mans
Land. None Of our boys cared for
that, but the day before the attack
all Of the men Of my company got
together and shook hands and said
goodbye for, you see, we did not
know If we should meet again.
Il had worked very hard to learn
to be q good soldier for wanted to
be a credit to the folks back home.
I guess I must have learned some
things, for my commander gave me
"a of our chaps to lead over the top
as corporal. And my men fought
well".
&AS pcLADCAB Ills 4cSSO E4Og44l5 WALL
honest pride, and then continued:
Eat midnight Wednesday we went
forward and lay out in the open,
waiting for the signal to advance.
Then about daylight came the bar
rage. 1t was a pretty big thing, the
biggest we ever heard. 1t was just
like a real Fourth Of July celebra-
ton. The time came for the charge
and we pushed out
"a few Of our boys were too anxi-
Gus and they got so close to the bar
rage that they were hurt. My pal
was struck by a shell beside me".
Again he stopped and this time
there were tears in his eyes and a
big lump was working in his throat
There was silence for a moment and
abruptly he went on:
we were advancing toward Ha
mel village and had to go over one
slope, then down into a little valley
and up another hill. We got along
all right but down in the valley
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