Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1919-04-03
PATTON LED B[UECORDS

Continued from First Page.)
ties, while to 23.13 per cent of the en-
listed men fell the same fate. The
tanks themselves suffered more Sc
verely, as 2304 per cent were entered
as Casualties" 1916 per cent1peing
destroyed.
Perhaps the best action of the tanks
was that of October 1. while serving
with the 2Sth Division. a counter ats
tack of the Germans being broken up
completely by the surprise which the
tank commander was able to bring to
bear on them. Some of the bOche pris-
oners stated that they were de-
moralized by the tank attack"
According to Maj. Brett (who is
great admirer of the discipline of the
German army the next best encoun-
ter was that of the 18th of October.
when the tanks went in ahead or
the Rainbows (42d) and attacked the
boche after hiking seventeen kilo-s
meters This also was opposing
counter attack and was mainly re-
enemy's offensive. The same author
lty said that the boys enjoyed their
work with the I'd Division November
l., as the plans of,battle were Well
laid and we'll executed. This was
at the Hindenburg line.
The boys went into action eighteen
times and served with the LIST and
5th Army Corps, including these di-
visions: LIST, I'd, 2Sth. S5th, 42d, nth,
sgd and 91st.
In the first action Corp. Pattlsoni
succeeded in capturing twenty Ger
mans with his tank. while Runner
(Private) Merwin Childress was sue
cessful in gaining four prisoners ana
destroying a machine gun in single-'
handed encounter on foot. 1t was aG
~ nnA {ARNk Ia
Saul of the 345th Battalion did such
valiant service in maintaining the
mechanical fitness of the tanks and
helping the engineers to make lane
through the trenches for the advance
of the battaliOns He directed the
which he was rewarded with the
distinguished service cross.
Buckler Ordered to Lead.
Lieut.. Leslie III. Buckler was ordered
by Gen. Traub of the 35th Division
to proceed to Very with eleven tanks.
his captain, Harry H. Semmes, having
been wounded. So skillful was the
lieutenant, a Baltimorean, that the
town was captured on the first as
sault 1t is interesting to note that
the generals post of command on
InlS OCCdSIOn was LA q OACAA AAVASs 49,
was that of Capt. Compton, then IN
command of the advance tanks
Mai Brett was made acting COM
mander Of the brigade, including the
French groups, September ~. and ne
placed Capt Compton in charge OF
bank of the Aire. Charpentry was
assaulted and taken, but not cons0fs
idated by the infantry until later.
Tanks entered Apremont. led hrst by
Lieut.. Brown and later by Lieut.
Bowes, but the infantry did not fol-
low up the advance. At shutdown,
however, the doughboys went for
ward and Apremont fell into theiI
hands. = 80
Treated Like Ironing Clothes
While at Apremont, Lieut.. Heitz and
Lieut.. Louiselle furnished a thrill by
going out and breaking up a bOche
attack, which was turned into small
rout for the enemy. This was done
with two platoons of five tanks each
Gen. Nolan sent his compliments foI
this action. Boche prisoners stated
that the tanks treated them JUS
like ironing clothes. passing through
their lines, turning and running ovel
them"
Montrebeau woods, Exermont and
Chehery were captured and the tanks
went on toward Flevi1le. Fifty tanks
were operating in this sector, but ths
towns were not taken without sewers
losses, including the death OF capt
English, Lieut.. Llewellyn and Ioul
enlisted men, besides the woundinl
of many others.
1t was coincidence that a.
Verennes, which served g headquar'
tiers for Maj. Brett, october 3. Louis
Napoleon surrendered to the army O
Won Moltke in 1870. The Germans
were going very fast in the other di'
rection on the day that the tank
passed through this historic town.
One of the officers who received
promotion for excellent. service wa
Lieut.. Harry Bolan of headquarters
345th Battalion. He was reconnois
sance officer and was made captain
before leaving France. Lieuts- Struy1
and King were also warmly com
mended for their werk as supply OF
fceFs. as there was no time when tn!
tankers were without rations, gas, OF
! and ammunition.