Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-11
KEYSTONE HEROES
ROUTED GERMANS.
Major Parkin Describes
How 315th Infantry Cap.
tured Hill 378
LAUDS PHILADELPHIANS
City's "Own" Regiment and
Commander Praised for
Valor and Courage

Major Harry ID. Parkin, of the 316th
Infantry. today told how the doughboys
In that all-Pennsylvania unit routed the
Germans on Hill 37s. one of the blood
lest backgrounds of the war More
than 1900 Philadelphians were attached
TO this regiment when IL went overseas
! IN July. Major Parkin is now at Camp
Dix, having Just returned from over
| seas.
"A row of more than 100 Germans
stood on the crest Of the hill," said
Major Parkin Their bayonets we're
hxed. and every boche looked deter
mined AS they stood out against the
shell-torn trees they presented won
uerful picture and one that eXemplified
all that Is ugly and brutal. But we had
been ordered to rout them, and obeying
orders had become fixed habit with
the Pennsylvanians. They never
weighed the cost and on that occasion
re-emphasized the spirit of the old Key
stone State. They kept moving. and as
they pressed nearer to the Germans
their faces became harder and in their
| eyes there blaZed the fire and deter
mination of crusaders. When they ad-
Hanced to within five PAGES of the Ger
mans the soldiers of the Kaiser fed
Until then / had believed that the Ger
mans would fight in hand-to-hand COM
bat, but i was mistaken, for they quit
| They didn't like the Pennsylvania style
of fighting"
Philadelphisns Won Renown
Major Parhn was wounded on Hill
oIS and taken prisoner by the Germans.
After month in a German prison camp
he was released and is now at Camp
DIX awaiting n discharge.
The 316th Infantry was n unit in the
Seventy-ninth (Liberty Division) that
trained at Camp Meade. The regiment
| sustained 500 major casualties, or more
than any regiment in the National Army.
Major Parkin commanded the first
battalion and today told vivid story of
the engagement.
During its recital he mentioned sew
eral Philadelphians and paid a tribute
to the 3l5th Infantry (Phladelphia's s
OWN. Colonel A. c. Knowles, COM
mander Of that regiment has been
recommended for n Distinguished Serv-
Ice Medal according to Major Parkin.
Colonel Knowles" said Major Parlsin
proved himself a gallant and efficient
ofiicer. For valor on the field Of battle
he won his way into the hearts OF the
doughboys and has been recommended
Tor Distinguished Service Medal"
Discussing the work of the S16th In
fantry the officer said: Our first fight
ing was at Montfaucon. and In that en-
gasement the boys came through with
nying colors They proved their mettle
under fire and gained such experience
that in later engagements they cleaned
UP the enemy.
Hill 31s Is in the Verdun sector and
Just east of the Meuse. It dominated
the entire German line in that sector
ana was or such strategic value it be-
came imperative that we take il. Our
regiment was assigned to the task and
II proved big one. We started on No.
vember and not until November did
We take X.
Hill Changed Hands Many Times
Because OF their position the Ger
mans could operate hundreds of ma
chine guns and managed to retaIse the
hill seven times before We routed them
for al! time. When the regiment got a
firm footing on the hill the entire Ger
man line gave way. for the hill DOM
mated the sector SO completely that IL
gave our division distinct advantage
ever them.
Behind machine guns the boche
Fought We'll but he would not stand up
against the cold steel.
through a deep gully and then scale the
hillside German machine guns played
: havoc with our men, but they never
wavered. In the first offensive the Ger
mans made an attempt to stem the
charge and took position on the crest
, Of the hill They stood there with fixed
bayonets and every man seemed de.
termined TO stand, but when they saw
that our boys were going right aftei
them with the steel they had a change
Of heart. They wouldn't fight with ths
A.; bayonet, in fact never did when the
numbers were even. They would stant
: If it was two to one. but not when out.
numbered or when met by an equa
number of our doughboys After being
routed they made heavy counter-at
tack and not until the afternoon OF
November did our regiment get q
: firm footing
Il was hit and sustained such a wound
that I was unable to. walk. In the
counter-attack the Germans got me anC
carried me back to a hospital. was
given good treatment and held unit
= November 2s."
a Celebrated Armistice Signing
Major Parkin, at this point disclosed
that the Germans permitted him tc
celebrate the signing of the armistict
and that they also Joined in the celebra.
, ton.
; -Four days before the signing of the
armistice," said Major Parkin. "the Ger.
man soldiers revolted against their of,
ficers and celebrated the establishment
of a republic. French prisoners served
as hospital attendants, so when the armi
stce was signed We all Joined in the
celebration. The Germans made merr,
over the event, and soldiers that poured
into the garrison from the front lines
! continued the festivities"
r Speaking of Philadelphia officers wht
were attached TO the regiment. the ma
I jor mentioned Captain James Montgom
] cry. personnel officer of the regiment.
He went into action on Septembe,
&C." added Major Parkin, ''and escane,