Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-05
By victor McNaueht.

Paris. Feb. ESPECIAL Corre-
spondence.)-The story OF Belleau
Wood. won so CALAMITY from the
Of American marines last June, Is
knownst to all. and 1t is not my pur-
pose now to tell it over again. I do
wish. however, to give some impress
stens gathered in a visit to the battle
feld today.
A small party of newspaper GORE
epondents was conducted to the
Chateau Thierry region in military
ears by two American captains. who
had been appointed to act as guides.
We passed through Meaux. the
point cares Paris reached by the
German hordes inA 1914; we saw
RoMresches and Vaux, literally knock
ed to pieces by shell fire last summer.
and now inhabited by a few VILLAGERS
who have crept back into h~abitations
apparently ready to fall down about
their ears.
side. felled by the French last sum-
mer in their retreat in order to give
u free field of fire for their machine
guns and artillery. We saw miles of
barbed wire entanglements, relics of
1914, that stand as grim souvenirs of
a time of dread and terror. We
passed along roads pitted with shell
holes. filled with dirt temporarily
while awaiting the attentions Of per-
manent road builders.
Bcileau Wood was not the scene of
a great battle. but the engagement
has a peculiar interest for Ameri-
cans because of the exhibition of
pluck and determination shown in
wrestling from the enemy a mos diff
fcult kept position. which was de-
Tended with the utmost tenacity.
Leaving our cars by the roadside,
we entered a field alongside the
wood. Before us was a stretch Of the
toughest hillside Imaginable, with
trees slashed to pieces, and with IN
derbrush and broken branches lying
everywhere. We mounted to the top
OF the hill with difficulty, crawling
over FALLEN logs, lodging shell holes
and pieces of trench, and watching,
warily all tho time for "duds"-unex-
pioded shells and grenades.
BE very careful what you investi-
gate" warned one of the captains.
An old shell may look very innocent.
put If You handle it, you might not
i've to see Paris again."
The marines came up to. the wood
from the southwark, and for three
weeks they struggled to drive out the
Germans, who were plentifully sup
pied with machine guns, and who
mad plenty of cover behind rocks and
trees. 1t was a desperately hard
night: The American artillery cut the
woods to ribbons before the marines
went in, but the Germans had hidden
IN fox pits and little holes they had
dug into sheltering banks, and were
ready. The American casualties
amounted to at least half of the
ppmber of men engaged.
AS we walked over the hill we
round many mute evidences of what
a taken place a few months before,
here is a hole where an American
boy died." said Captain Miller. "Here
Is his cartridge belt, his canteen, and
some d bits Of personal belongings,
just as they were left behind"
one OF our party gave an exclama-
tlon, leaned over, and picked up a BIT
OF /water-soaked paper. It was part
q a pocket testament, no doubt the
git Of a mother. All, about lay
names OF brands familiar at home
Close at hand was a book Of cigarette
papers. 1t0@ = -
A. few steps further on I saw n tin
box on the ground. 1t had contained
shaving powder, and through It two
bullets had passed. A broken Amer.
lean bayonet. stained and rusted. was
close by, and a little further a tooth
brush. On every hand were to be
seen little fragments Of things OF
everyday use.
As we walked further over and