Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-06-28
j. s. TROOPS WIN
BIG VICTORY IN
BELLEAU WOOD
More Than 264 Prisoners Cap
tured by Americans.
WIPE OUT FORCE or 1900
Yanks Not Only Clear Wood Of the
Enemy but Extend Own Lines
Germans Were Taken by
Surprise.

With the American Army in France,
June 27.-German prisoners captured
by the Americans in storming the Bel
leau wood section now number 264, in
Guiding seven officers. Most of the
prisoners taken belong TO the Three
Hundred and Forty-seventh German
division. After seven hours of furi-
Gus fighting the Americans overcame
a force of 1000 Germans. With few
exceptions the whole German force
was killed, wounded, or captured. The
prisoners so far brought in total 267.
This does not include hundred more
wounded brought back. The prisoners
have not yet stopped coming in. Fifty
machine guns were taken.
One of the officers said the German
commanders have been telling the sol
diers that the Germans have landed an
army in America, captured New York,
and are now marching toward Phila-
Ielphia. The Germans also are told
fhat submarines have sunk between
.5rty and fifty ships in Long Island
sound.
U. S. Attack Is Irresistible.
The Americans made an irresistible
rush for the complete clearing of the
wood, in which it was discovered yes
terday the Germans were still occupy
ing a small strip of the underbrush
They not only drove the Germans out
but extended their own lines north
west of the wood
The Importance of the American
advance in Belleau wood is not indi-
Gated by the amount of territory cap
tured, as that only amounts to approx
mately 500 square yards. The new
positions of the Americans. however,
dominate the ridge beyond, so that
they now hold the upper hand.
Glad to Be Captured.
Another German officer, arrogant
and sarcastic, remarked: I'VE are just
starting with the Americans. We are
going to wipe out whole divisions as II
they we're companies"
The German privates were less arr0-
giant and apparently were glad they
were captured. One declared that the
Germans were surprised at the Ameri-
cans, who appeared so young, but
fought like devils when they got start
ed Another declared:
The war will soon be ended. There
are too many Americans coming to
Europe"
Foe Taken by Surprise.
This prisoner was a Prussian. who
fought ON the Russian front. He con-
fessed that the Germans were prepar-
ing TO attack the Americans in Belleau
wood, when the American troops start
ed their attack. 1t was a surprise af-
fair. The Americans came one way,
and the German officers tried to force
their men forward the other way. This
prisoner was shot in the leg by his own
officer because he hesitated corfusedly
between the American guns and bay
onets and the pistols in the hands of
the German officers.
Raymond S. Howell of Barnesville,
o.. who was In the first line of the adj
vance, describing the operation. said:
we took up position in the open
wood; there were no trenches The
Germans opened heavy fire and shells
fell around us like rain. We charged
over the rocky hill, our fellows laugh
ing and yelling war whoop.
I'VE then came upon a wheat field
and crossed in the face of whitening
shell and machine gun fire and drove
back the Germans at the point of the
bayonet
lowan Takes Prisoner.
at was wonderful sight. The
Americans never heSitated, and the
sound of their shouts and whoops We're
almost drowned by the Germans cries
of 'Kameradr
The Germans got a few of our fell
lows but we made them pay dearly for
every one"
Herbert E. BARLEY of Anita Ia. told
about a wounded American forcing a
big German to lead the way to the rear
Of the American lines. When they
reached the lines, the American said
quietly: Here's my prisoner" The
German sheepishly nodded and said
yah"
5000 Shells in Hour.
Some idea of the thoroughness with
which the Americans prepared for the
attack may be cleaned from the fact
that they fred approximately 5.00O
high explosives in one hour. The
American gunners worked so fast. the
Germans said they did not have time
To think. The German lines were torn
up and the ground around strewn with
German dead and wounded. Two men,
bers of German hospital corps were
captured.
The Germans were virtually cleared
out of Belleau wood several days ago,
hut the discovery was made Tuesday