The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-01-14
SOUTH CAROLINA BOYS
PAY PRICE OF VICTORY
Long Officer Casualty List Shows
Heroic Work of 11sth Infantry
In Break Through Hindenburg
Line-Many Make the SUI
preme Sacrifice. +,

Fort Mill, Jan. 11.-Through the
courtesy of Lieut.. Col. Thomas B.
Spratt, The States correspondent has
been privileged. to examine copies of
field orders covering the instructions
to the One Hundred and Eighteenth
Infantry, Thirtieth Division, compos-
ed of the troops from South Caro-
lima, and reports Of the operations of
the regiment between, the period
from October to October 20, the
period during which the Hindenburg
line was first broken by these troops
and their lobjectives obtained. There
are also original maps which were
used on the field showing by annota-
ton the progress made by the troops
as they went forward to their lobjec-
lives. sn.. /.
The orders contain a wealth Of de-
tail which seem to cover every con-.
,tingency from the laying down Of
the first barrage to the, disposition
of the dead, wounded and prisoners,
and show the particular duty Of each
arm Of the service, including artil-
lery, machine gun detachments, ae-
roplanes, cavalry, water supply, food,
first aid, and all in such accurate de-
tail that the mind trained to the bust
ness should find no difficulty in any
contingency. The mass Of this infor-
nation is staggering to the lay mind
and indicates the necessity for. skill
full training. The orders originating
with the high command come down
BY grades and are written. usually in
sM bases except by the majors. Of
battalions who assemble their com
pany commanders and personally go
through their orders.
4% Regiment Occupies Trenches.
The regiment left lie Mesni1 where
it bad been stationed for twc lr;5I
following the opefaeiorls at Bellicourt
on October 5 and was moved by bus
convoy to Ronssoy, marching thence
70 the trenches southwest of Nauroy.
On the same night it proceeded to
the vicinity of Montbrehain and took
over the lines of the Twenty-frst and
Twenty-seventh Infantry Battalions
and the Second Pioneer Battalion, A.
E. p. Tbs line, was continually
harassel b. artillery fire on both
front and hanks, but in spite of this
the positions were improved and the
lines advanced in some instances,
while a few prisoners were captured
by raids on enemy posts by parties
from the Thir Battalion. On the
following morning, with the cooper
alton of the One Hundred and Sew
e1teenth Infantry, on the left, the
regiment made an advance of LOO
words on 700 yard front, with the
aid of creeping barrage, and suf-
fered few casualties in the opera
ton. This operation was for the
purpose of straigltenig out the line
aid providing jumping off place
- 81 attack planned for October 8.
.ihc orders for this attack came
&c AID; in the absence Of Colonel
F.o-fe, were issued to the majors by
Lieutenant Colonel Spratt, who spent
The whole night in the preparation in
cT4or that there should be no delay.
However, there was little time after
the receipt OF the orders since the
attack was to begin at 5 o'clock in
tie morning. 49,
!" Break iIiadcahurg Lire.
!, Shortly after this hour the regi-
ment attacked with the Sixth British
Division on the right and the One
Hundred and Seventeenth Infantry
CT the left and breaking through the
aindanburg line advanced to a denth
Of $500 yards OH a front of $500
"a.-d@, capturing the village Ct Bran
coHrt, the normal objective, and the
high ground beyond on a two battal-
on fro1t, the latter being the con-
:ilTcnt objective. The advance was
assisted by tanks and artillery bar:
rage. The advance of the left bat
talion was steady, but the advance
Tc the RIGHT was held UT temnorarily