Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-15

IaSnlOneQ Dy Jne ruCnleSS DoCne III
that rolling French country which
will go down to the ages as the
Chateau -Thierry sector and scene of
one of the worlds greatest military
operations.
From the heights of Hill 204 the
boche dominated a wide stretch of
territory near the town of Essomes
and the Marne river, and French
military experts held that it formed
one of the outposts of the German
army that was pressing on toward
Paris in the latter days of June,
1918.
Many times the French had
stormed the wooded heights, but
always to be repulsed. In a word,
Hill 2O4 stood out like a miniature
Gibraltar.
German machine guns and field
artillery guarded every approach to
the stronghold. They taunted and
challenged the French by keeping
up an incessant and nasty fire, and
every few hours German raiding
party would leave the area and
harass the outposts of the 159d
French regiment that stood between
the hill and the roads to Paris. =,
Such was the situation in that
sector on the afternoon of July 1,
1918.
Iron Division on Job
In reserve and just behind the
French lines in this sector the Iron
Division of Pennsylvania, officially
styled the Twenty-eighth Division,
was waiting for the word that would
send it into action against the Prus-
sian guard.
Every man in the command, from
Major General Charles H. Muir, the
commander, to the newest recruit,
felt ready for any test Of war, but
deep down in their hearts they felt
that another fortnight would pass
before the division would be given
an opportunity to prove it's fighting
qualities.
Imagine the surprise of the Penn
sylvania division when Colonel Mat
ter, of the 153d French regiment, an
nounced in the afternoon of July l
that he would attack Hill 204 at 6
o'clock that evening and that 14O
men in the Iron Division would be
selected to aid in the attack.
The joy that swept through the
network of trenches and dugouts
knew no bounds and every unit in
the division pressed claim for the
honor of going forward with the
French.
Little did the doughboys know the
real motive that prompted the even
ing attack against Hill 2O4.
Now that the war is over the story
can be told by the officers who par
ticipated. Briefly, the morale of the
French was weakening and drastic
steps were being taken to bolster up
the fading hopes and spirits of a
heroic people.
can attack will be made on Hill
204," said the French officers. "We
will take two platoons of American
doughboys with US and see how they
fight. If they fight with valor and
intelligence it will give our army in
this sector of the line new hope"
Select 14O Pennsylyanians
And with that thought in mind,
Colonel Matter, after consulting
with Iron Division officers, selected
two platoons from the l.1tk In
fantry. One hundred and forty
Pennsylvanians made up these COM
mands. One platoon was picked
from A company and headed by
Lieutenant Cedric c.. Shenkel. II
Joined the French regiment. 1t had
orders to operate on the eastern
edge of the hill.
The second platoon, picked from
B company, was commanded by
Lieutenant John H. Benzt, and was
ordered to operate on the western
edge of the hill.
These were the first actual battle
orders to be given the Iron Division
For nine months it had been train
ing for the day when it would cross
swords with the Prussians. The day
had come and every man from Penn.
sylvania was proud aud happy.
The old National Guard Division
from Pennsylvania was to enter the
battle for world freedom. How
you'd itperform?
That was the question that was