The sun., 1919-03-09
ElASHLiGHT SIGNALLING
q By COMMITTED /N<osh1AT1o~.

woods, but we knew they were full of
machine guns and that the enemy had
trench mortars there. We captured
five of their minnenwerfers later. So
far as We knew there might have been
any number of men in there, but we
had to attack just the same, and with
but a handful.
Sibley and Ferry had a thousand
men each, but only half OF these could
be used for the first rush. and as
Berry's position was problcmatiCal 1t
was Sibley's stupendous task to lead
his 500 through the southern end of
the wood clear to the eastern border
7 If the attack was not to be a total fall
lrc Even to a Marine II seemed
| hardly men enough.
The men knew in n general way
what was expected of them and what
they were up against. but l think only
the officers realized the almost impos-
sible task that lay before them. l
knew, and the knowledge left me little
, comfort. But l had perfect confidence
in the men; that never faltered. That
they might break never once entered
my head. They might be wiped out l
knew, but they would never break.
1t was a clear. bright day. At that
season of the year it did not get dark
till about $50. so We had three hours
of daylight ahead of us.
AS soon as received the orders got
Holcomb and Sibley together at the
formers headquarters, some 800 yards
back Of the line. With map in hand
explained the situation to them with
out trying to gloss over any Of its diff
ficulties and gave them their orders.
found them ready. AS we stood there
Sibley's battalion was filing by into a
ravine getting into position The two
Majors passed on the oral orders to
the company commanders.
With Capt. Laspierre I went on
to Lucy and from there to
point where l could observe the
action. AS I went through Lucy 1
passed around the left of Sibley's men,
now waiting in the shelter trenches,
ready to go over the top. The machine
guns were in position, both those of the
machine gun company Of the Sixth and
those OF two companies of the machine
gun battalion attached to the brigade.
They were just back OF the front line.
rifles and eight in reserve; all were
used.
Men CoO4-k I'd Ready for Battle.
The men seemed cool, in good spirits
and ready for the word to start They
| We're talking quietly among themselves.
l spoke to several as l passed. Some
one has asked me what | said, what
final word of inspiration | gave those
men about to face sudden death. / am
no speechmaker. If the truth must be
told ! think what I said was, give
'em hell, boys!" 1t was the sort of
thing the Marine understands. And
that is about what they did.
Our artillery fired for half an hour,
Smelling the woods, but there was no
artillery preparation in the proper
sense OF the term. They had no def
mite locations and were obliged to shell
at random in a sort of hit or miss fire.
1t must have been largely miss. The
German artillery, on the other hand,
increased it's fire as Sibley's men went
into line.
Before us stood the frowning wood,
with its splintered trunks and shell
shattered branches, and with the
little jungles of underground at the
edge filled with threat and menace.
1t was like entering a dark room filled
with assassins.
Watches had been synchroni1ed and
no further orders were given. AS the
hands touched the zero hour there was
a single shout. and at exactly o'clock
the whole line leaped UP simultane-
ously and started forward. Berry's 600
! and Sibley's 500, with the others i'll
support.
Instantly the beast in the wood barred
his claws. The Boches were ready and