Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-07
I'd Names Heroic Deeds in France

j.. American troops took place in this
sector and the 1881 saw some fierce
fighting and won great distinction.
| The 104th Massachusetts, met the
first real attack launched by the Ger
mans against thu American troops.
and by their va1or Won glory and
decoration for the regiment, at Bots
Brule. They We're relieved by the
103d and it was here that the Maine
boys received their first real baptism
by fire and proved their mettle. On
May Goth the Connecticut regiment at
Seichprey saw terrific fighting and
met with great losses, but took the
town with the aid Of the 101st Mass
achusetts troops.
1t was at Xivray, on June 18th that
the Maine boys distinguished them
selves in an action that should live
long in the history of this war The
Germans had made great preparation
for an attack on the American lines.
From a German officer captured
later, it was learned that the Ger
mans planned to take American
prisoners for information purposes,
and then push on through Eivray to
! Toul and Bourcq, their detectives
Nine artillery trains were seen to pull
into the German lines on the after
noon preceding the attack. and others
were heard to arrive that night. The
assault was preceded by an intense
bombardment Of the town of Xivray
and the back areas for a distance of
II miles. Following the lombard
ment the Germans sent forward
some 600 picked shock-troops. Their
engineers came ahead and blew the
barbed wire. Then came the liquid
fire men. followed by the machine
gun men. the infantry. and the pio-
neers. in the order named The sup
porting American batteries caught
sight of the advancing Germans and
laid down a barrage behind them,
shutting off retreat to the German
lines or the bringing up Of supports
The attack was made on the village
OF Eivray, held by the PASSPORT Com
pany. supported by the Houlton Com
pany. The Skowhegan Company also
had some part in the fight Prob
ably 30 men out Of these companies
actually participated in the fighting.
The artillery and machine guns
opened up on the Germans at the
same moment. The American bar
rage was wonderful, not a shot went
astray. The laison work between
the fighting men and headquarters,
between the infantry and artillery
nprfocf oil
been carried down in the prelimi-
nary bombardment The Germans
were literally mown down. OF the
600 picked troops who came forward
but 50 escaped death. The German
dead lay four or five feet deep in
places. In front of one machine-sun
position. IS dead Germans were
strung along the wire. The attack
ing body numbered many more than
here mentioned, this being merely the
raidins party. There were at least
three times as many men coming as
re-lnforcements. but they were held
back by the fine work Of the 1oad Ar
tillery. assisted by the 1o;d Artillery.
and the disposition OF the remainder
or the regiment. Not a German got
by the wire and into the trenches.
Not content with waiting, the Maine
boys went out and mopped I'D what
was left of the Kaiser's best. who
RAD been told that the town was Held
os nut handful of Americans, and
to Go and get them
AT critical moment in the attack
herman machine-gun squad had
entered a road between the trenches
mat would have allowed them to
make flank attack and do terrific
damage to the defenders They were
met by Verne Boutlier of Houlton.
he attacked the advancing Germans
with an automatic rifle. The rife
oeIng put out of commission he went
after the Germans armed only with n
bayonet grasped in his hand. He
LOOK the machine-gun single handed.
and turned 1t against the attackers
and Tor few moments. alone until
MS platoon came up he held the road
and prevented what would have been
a disastrous flank attack. A liouid
fire squad. Of three men succeeded in
entering the town. They were seen
by Captain Williams. who shot with
his revolver. the man carrying the
tank. The bullet passed through the
mans body and into the tank which
exploded and destroyed the three
hame.throwers.
The Germans took one prisoner an
PASSPORT boy whose eagerness had
carried him-too far in advance of his
fellows. and who had been wounded.
Lleutetant Irwin E. Doane Of the
ioulton Company. observing the
plght OF this boy, called for volun.
teers from his company to go to the
rescue. Every man stepped forward.
choosing seven of his men. Doane
went after the Germans who were in
charge Of this prisoner. Needless to
say. he got them, and released the
wounded Eastport boy. On the way
back this squad. took two prisoners, a
Red Cross man and a German officer.
In this battle the American casual
ties were but 70 men eight Of which