Norwich bulletin., 1919-03-27

- - Americans operating along distinct sector of their own.
 The Second Division ccrsitirg of the two regiments of marines and the 9th and 23rd regulars. now rated as first class shock troops W~ given a place of honor in the hardest fight ing along the southern :<- of the salient, where the German assistance was stiffest. In the beginning of September, t9ey took tEeir places in the line running from Renlenauville to Liney. and here Israel Cohen for the first time came into active contact with the enemy.
 The part that he played ;n the hard fighting that followed we will not be able to learn for some time. for the two or three survivors of his platoon are at present in Germany Of his daring and bravery. his cheerfulness ana unse!hsnress. we have evidence in a letter from comradG in rarns, and l in the esteem of his captain, a marine l of marines, who knew not the mean ] ing of fear, and who recognized this quality in his young private.
 1 The 75th ompany, to which he be- l longed, had heen refilled five times. II I had already lost as many men as the
 company originally called. It now
 entered the fighting at St. Mihie1 with
 a full quota of 250. Of this number only twelve men and q sergeant came
 cut of the jaws of death of St. Mihiel
 and Mont Blanc. This fact alone
 tells the story Of that terrible fighting
 in which the marines played such l conspicuous part. it is sufficient 1 commentary on their daring and brav- cry. This a.one explains why the al- ! lies won the war for it was this very lfcarlessness this stubbocnass. this re- ! fusai to yieIi an inch, this willing | ness to give more thar their lives to their country, that broke the back of the German resistance, ard bent them l to their knees in defeat.
 l On the 1th of September the pre- l HaTations for the attack oG? the St l Aihiel salient were coIuplete That
 IEht, there began an intense ar . ay bombardment of the enemy's po-
 s7tion which lasted for four hours, ,
 2. III. was ths zero hour when inc or l der to advance was eivac. Nh two days objectiVes ahead Of them. The marines advanced in the first wave. 1 Before them lav successive lines of barbed wire jlefenoaS. aul behind them inc enemy trcra'la- and uacftina gun Lits. Tn -Ea face Of au this and
 amidst terr.G. hail of shot and shell, the narires charged forward. They islnasho,l through the stubborn enemy ''nH 2-l advanced to th3 Rupt de i-''=t . small river. crossed 1t on stone
 .ii:~es and occupied Tili"rolrt the
 7st days objective. Bu- fl never oc- "pTred to them to ston there. Thev Usllad right on. sealed the heights i5st beyond i;. smashed their way t2 tho BeveauN forest. an6 G'1c"0 rested i having obtair"d their second days o13- t@ctiNe by -. T. m. 0t he first day.
 Here in II. pevaau-, Forest, they
 remained for several davs. with sev-
 cral sorties into Nc s-~n's Lana, md
 here as well as in u precious fight
 ing. Israel Cohen disfinc-risreG him Heff. Je ha1 already ir he camp tv his bearine and genial nature, at t'aoted the attention CT Captain Chandler. tha ccrnpa9v commando" , yf-so had learned that his fearless wcNne private 2ou1d szoea'- irot'7 French . ed Cnrfg7au. He had fougi1 by tit : side If fje con7c c7ander. at the head ot ! tle troops. an6 mad served as inter rrete" in nueS,ioning he many pIis- : oI'a~s taken
 The second t'ivieiA~ ware now with l d-avn to 2 test earrn. far back o< thf liUes. and from there Israel Coher ] wrote 17is iae- letter Tft,ra is 2 -as 7 difference between inc tone e thi: 'neGsa@e and fhe previous letters. IL rad roy na zsnd through inc horr0r5 . nf ieii with Gaath col,StaTl'y stalk . i'g I7r lis ridn For weeks he hat ft7.,f7 t,7 ver-ni- oue df7Gou7s. win sho 2 a-tf =nriT r.7a~io~ ah7u@ l7itr' he i1at Q r-oon+~ata7 torrod --ire 7aFa~ses un 2 td~r tfe fir - r1urderoua tarra ge, h , Fa7 charged '1ac}ive gun pits. Fl
 l. I si(ta him ard mad tl'a next minut Q aea~ rcd their death. He is suprerneE n 0u1titirnt df ire VictoUT to come, bu C 1o makes n,rL 2 Nassi,t.c reference | !. his ret1'r7. instead Of the confident Q words of his fc~'cer letters. "We hay I 'hc Roches OIL the run. The war wi , fo c--or 71ef0~e tE,e cni of the yea
 ard riI1 soon be horne.
 ? Tie first two Of these prediction . o@rna true ar.d also tl,c last, hut h T. vent to another home. to his eterna Y lhcn7c beyond the grave. His last let l. ter which follows is not dated. but = 7.as written about September 18th: o Cr Active Service A. D. r.
 Ny Dear Parents, Brothers and Sis j. ttrs: Quite | long time has elapse
 since I wrote home. bu% of course, ,f have excuses to offer. The fact is, J. l7dve experienced my first attempt ; l. ire front Of course you have req 1T Of our great victory this month. IT l. part that I played I shall some da 'r1 relate to you. am sure you will 't + contented when I tell you that I can
 out without a scratch. I am conf is dent of myself now, for I had con Lh p,ete control of myself and never 10 a- my nerve.
 pr ] am far behind the lines now ar el drilling again. They call this re al when we must arise at 90 g. n1., al ne are on the go until $ T. IT From 5
 m. until 9.30 T m the time is our ow
 | OH can believe me. it is no einch.
 wish I were home now.
 We are billeted in 9 nice town no
 after having spent three weeks in |
 woods and on ts~ firing line. TT
 ground was my bed. and had ol
 lovely blanket with my tert as T
 home. This town and billet are Ii
 the Garden oc Eden and palace in
 l an1 perfeotiv contented. but,
 tourse. l am lonesome for home.
 The holidays will soon hc here and