The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-20

unnoticed by his comrades he lay in
a semiconsclous state until finally,
aroused by the reverberations Of the
belChlng Berthas of the enemy and the
numbering oar Of the heavies of the
Yanks and the huge naval rifles now in
action, he started 70 crawl on his belly
to a place where the fighting was less
severe. The spot was about two kilo-
meters east OF Chateau Thlerry, Private
Hufstedder later found out. During the
boys soul-trying ordeal for the next
"a hours the marines OF the Fifth regi-
ment, of which he was a member,
swept the hunnish hordes from theii
positions winning that memorable bat
tic and driving a wedge deep into the
German lines.
Private Hufstedder, however, was moi
aware of the significance of the events
going on all around about him. Crawl
ing n dragging toward nm American
listening post, which position he hac
marked In advancing, the soldier sud
denly found himself rolling over anc
over down the sides of a ravine to the
bottom.
Mastering his last ounce of energy his
teetch clenched in logged determine
tIon not to give up, Private Hufsteddei
eventually gained the edge of the ravine
on the opposite side from that from
which he was so unexpectedly hurled
The listening post gained, again his
senses left him, n all through the
terrors of that night of June U, 1918
the battle ragged near him. Half twixl
sleep and wake Private Hufstedder die
not know that the kaiser's hordes sent
over wave alter wave of deadly gas
over the very area where he lay. Seek
ing the lowest level the gas settlad In
the bottom of the ravine he had just
left, and thus he escaped.
Gone West" 1t would have been fol
his, had he not mustered his strength
In his final effort to reach the top o.
the bank.
Lies on Field "a Hours.
Like an age seemed the hours Of the
night, pain now shooting through his
body from the undressed wound and
pangs of thirst INC hunger assailinG
him. Not until 1890 o'clock the mex
morning, June I. did rescue come. Col
Holcombe, of Private Hufstedder's reg,
iment, happened along with u command
during a lull In the battle looking FOL
the wounded.
Careful arms gathered the lanky
frame OF the young hero to the frs
aid station neal the little village Of
Bouversche. The first and only thing
the soldier did vas to ask for a cigarel
and ii drink of water. These given hi
lapsed into complete unconSclousneSs
II knew nothing until he came to al
the base hospital some distance behind
the lines. 1t was not until then that
the Arkansan learned that he had par
ticipated in one Of the greatest battlet
In history and that he had been recon-
mehded for the Distinguished Service
cross, the highest honor OF the United
| States army.
1t a. found that his injury was moi
as serious as was at first thought anC
In a fortnight Private Hufstedder wa
back again with his command. He par
ticipated in the final fighting and wher
the news of the signing of the arni.
stice came with his command he wa
just about to cross the Meuse in pur'
suit of the fleeing Germans when tn,
regiment was stopped by tho blowing
up Of a bridge across that stream.
Private Hufstedder would talk In de,
tail only Of the two exploits Just re,
cited but n perusal of his dairy readi
like al epic only It dismisses acts o
heroism which written by another woul(
make the pages glow with praise. Blu
they are dismissed with a laconic "Wen
over again. Five of us took ID. Don
know how many we left on ground.
"Hikcd ~ kilometers In SO hours OIL
meal and two cigarets," and othe
similar entries.