Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-04-04

X, y, u, F'RlDA L .
creeping artillery barrage lasting ten
minutes an advance Of 500 yards was
made on a front Of 1900 yards. the
First and Third battalions making the
advance. The attack resulted in COM
plete success, with very few casualties
considering the nature Of the action
Owing to the inability Of the Twenty
seventh division on our left to ad-
vance, the left flank Of the First bat
talon was uncovered, subjecting 1t to
severe firing by the enemy, it being
necessary to use the Second battalion
to protect this flank. All ob1ectiyes
were retained, however. The regiment
, remained in the front limo until Sep
tember, 9th, when the 11sth infantry
! relieved U.S. our regiment then being
placed in divisional reserve.
"The great attack on the morning OF
September 20, that resulted In COM
plete break through and the taking OF
all objectives, did not see the 11Sth
idle, although the preceding week had
been the most trying one ever ex-
perienced by any Of us. AS divisional
reserve we found many duties, even to
the sending Of the Second battalion to
reinforce the 18th infantry. Men
were used as stretcher-bearers, prison
guards as we'll as in many other ca
pacities.
Morale Remains Unshaken.
"our first real taste Of warfare gave
us a confidence that could be obtained
in no other way. We had suffered
pretty severe casualties, due to the
constant activities Of the enemy, but
our morale remained unshaken. One
of the greatest losses sustained by the
regiment occurred when Major G..
Hayward Mahop, Jr., Of Greenville'
commander Of the First battalion. was
severely wounded. The part taken by
the 118th had been the subject Of high
praise from Gen. Tyson, our brigade
commander. It did not seem possible
that we could engage in fighting more
severe than we went through during
the last days Of September. We were
soon to realize that holding a trench
system, even under the most trying
conditions, was an entirely different
proposition to chasing the Hun in the
face of constant artillery and machine
gun fire.
"The operations Of October. II told
in detail, would constitute volume Of
considerable size. Perheps the most
concise way Of dealing with them will
be to show the results accomplished.
October s, after q rest Of three days,
found US again moving toward the
front line. After the attack OF Sep
tember 20 the division had been re-
lieved by the Australians. These in
domitable fighters had advanced the
line until it was several miles further
east. On the night Of October 5 we
relieved tho remnant Of the Fifth Aus
tralian division in front Of the village
of Montbrelain. The territory now In
our possession had been under the rule
of the enemy for over four years, In
which time he had subjected the civil
ian population to every conceivable
form of cruelty and abuse. The Sec
tor taken over by our regiment was
held until the morning Of October 8
without any event Of great importance.
Supported by a heavy barrage, the
11Sth went over the top at $40 IN
the morning, thereby starting the bat
tie that was to last almost continuous
ly until October 20. BY noon OF Oc-
t. Der the regiment had gained Its
objective, having taken the towns OF
Montbrehain. There was no rest for
anyone, however, as 1t was necessary
to consolidate and entrench the new
position. A vast amount Of war mate
riIl, a large number Of prisoners and
an advance covering several square
miles were the fruits Of victory. Dur
ing the operation we suffered heavy
casualties, due to the effective artillery
and machine gun fire of the Boche.
Worn out with the days hghting,' the
men dug in for the night, with the
knowledge that the fighting had just
begun.
Another Day Of Hard Fighting.
"On the morning of October s the
regiment went over the top again,
with depleted numbers, but with the
same spirit and fortitude that have
carried it through all the hardships
with which it has been confronted.
During the operations on this day the
12Oth pushed through us, their objec-
tive being about 1000 yards ahead Of
ours. The fighting was not so severe
as on the preceding day. very few
prisoners being taken; but again the
casualties were 80 heavy that when
night came most Of the companies had
lost at least 40 per centum of the men
with which they had started on the
previous morning. BY nightfall the
men were physically exhausted. but a
few hours sleep put them in condition
to continue the fight next morning.
Although it seemed beyond the
possibility Of mere man to fight
through another such day, the regi-
ment again went forward on the morn
ing Of October 10. Advancing through
the town Of Bequigny, it was found
necessary to send part of the regiment
forward to protect our right flank.
The rest Of the companies dug in for
the night. after having been under
constant and effective shell fire since
reaching Bequigny in the morning.
Again we had suffered severe losses,
especially among the officers, some
companies having lost the entire per-
sonnel.
October II was another day Of hard
fighting, especially due to the fact that
the enemy had stopped retreating and
was making a desperate stand on the
h;ob oro,,nd acroaa the Selle river