Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-11
BOCHE STOPPED
IN GREAT DRIVE
BY AMERICANS
Story Of Fighting at Chateau
Thierry Graphically Told
by Officer Of Ma
rines Engaged.

iH'CS Giiydyct'
Washington, Aug. l0.-An eye wit
ness story of the fighting near Cha
teau Thierry. in which American d.
visions, including the marine brigade,
took part early in June, was made
public today by the Navy department.
1t is in the form of letter from an
officer of the marines to Major Gen.
eral Barnett, commandant of the
corps. The name of the writer is not
disclosed.
The Americans were rushed to the
line in motor trucks to support the
hard pressed French and on June
the marine brigade deployed on a sup
port position, the battalion COM
manded by Major Thomas Holcomb
hurrying into the line as the men
climbed out Of the trucks. The Ger
mans were coming on and on June 2
the French dropped back, passing
through the American lines.
1--WE had installed ourselves in
house in La Vote Chattel, a little vii
lage between Champillon and Lucy
lie Bocage," the letter says. From
one side we had observation of the
north and when the Germans at
tackled at S p. III. we had box seat.
"They were driving at Hill los from
the north and northeast and they
came out on a wonderfully clear day
in two columns advancing in perfect
order until two-thirds of the columns,
we judged. were in view.
Put Up Barrier Of Fire.
"The riAo and machine gun FIRE
was incessant and overhead shrapnel
was bursting. Then the shrapnel
came on the target at each shot. The
white patches would roll away and
we could see that some of the columns
were still there, slowed up. 1t
seemed perfect suicide for them to
try. You couldn't begrudge tribute
to their pluck, at that.
Then under that deadly fire, and
a barrage of rife and machine gun
fire, the boche stopped. 1t was too
much for any men. They burrowed
in or broke to the cover Of the woods
and you could follow them by the
ripples of the green and white as they
raced for cover"
The writer says the rife fire of the
marines amazed the French who
saw it.
That men should FIRE deliberately
and use their sights and adjust their
range" he says, was beyond their
experience. 1t must have had tell
ing effect on the morale of the boche,
for it was something they had not
counted on. As a matter of fact after
pushing back the weakened French
and then running up against stone
wall defense, they were literally up
in the air and more than stopped.
We found that out later from pris-
oners, for the Germans never knew
we were in the front line when they
made that attack. They were abso-
lufely mystihed at the manner in
which the defense stiffened up until
they found that our troops were in
line"
The letter describes daylight
charge against a machine gun nest
and of scouting raids up to June 3,
when the whole brigade swung for
ward to straighten out the line. This
action resulted in the capture Of Bel
leau wood.
Individual Acts Of Bravery.
Major Sibley's battalion of the Sixth
marine regiment led the way here
with Holcomb in support The
woods were alive with enemy ma
chine guns. That night word came
back that Robertson with 20 men of
the Goth company, had taken Bour-
esches, breaking through heavy ma
chine gun barrage to enter the town.
Robertson, fighting with an automat-
ic in either hand, was hit three times
before he would allow himself to be
taken to the rear.
Speaking Of individual acts Of bra
very, the writer says Duncan, COM
pany commander, before he was
moved down, had his pipe in his
mouth and was carrying stick"
LdtcI, HC duuS I|CHtdi Jul 6Soi ~
borne picked up Duncan and with a
hospital corps man had just gained
some shelter when a shell wiped all
three out"
Private Dunlavy, killed later, cap
tured an enemy machine gun in Bour-
esches which he turned on the foe
with great effect. while at another
point young Zimmerman charged a
machine gun at the point of the bay
onet and sent in II prisoners at
clip"
The SD company lost all, its Off
GERS and Major Sibley and his adju-
tant, Lieutenant Bellamy, reorgan-
lied it under fire, and charged ma
chine CUR nest at the most critical
time in all the fighting.
81 wonder if ever an outfit, the
letter says, went up against more
desperate job, stuck to it so gamely
without sleep, at times on short ra-
,tions, with. men and officers going
off like flies; and ! wonder if in our
long list of gallant deeds there ever
were two better stunts than the work