Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-04-04
was to end With the armistice, the
Hun defeated and Prussianism crush

Hun defeated and Prussanism crush
ed"
Regimenta, r::5s:v.T::z.".'s Narrative.
The following narrative Of events
participated in by the organization or
the western front has been prepared
by the historian of the 11Sth infantry
After an absence Of nearly clever
months the 11Sth infantry has return.
ed to its own with pride in the knowl-
edge of a duty fully and nobly ac-
complished. In order that the truth
of our accomplishments may be told
to our people who have followed our
every move the writer has attempted
to give below brief summary Of the
the activities of the regiment from Its
arrival in France.
Having spent a few days in Eng
land, the regiment crossed the English
channel, landing at Calais on May 81.
We did not remain there long enough
to get our first touch Of real warfare
when the enemy's lanes were seen
flying over the city.
AFTER a few days spent in rest
camp, the regiment moved to what
was known as Eperleques training
area, in the department Of Calais. reg
mental headquarters being establish
ed in the village Tourneliem. While
occupying this area the Thirtieth d.
vision, less the artillery, was transfer
red to the Second British corps. In
tensive training was continued here,
small parties being sent to the front
lines for observation. The transfer to
The British necessitated many changes,
particularly true as to our system OF
and supplies.
In the Ypres Salient.
The entire month of June was spent
in this area, but with the coming of
July our status underwent a great
change, which was to take US out of
that Of untried soldiers. On July 2
we started the march that carried us
into the forward area, where the lights
shine and the wind whistles behind
your ears. July 4, 1918 is one 1nde-
pendence Day that will live In the
of all those who made that
hike and who have been fortunate
enough to pull through the great show.
On that day the division marched into
with this regiment heading
the column. Col. McCully has the sig
nal honor of leading The first Ameri-
can regiment into that ill-fated coun-
try. Camp was pitched in the Dirty
camp, in tho famous Ypres
salient, about five miles behind the
ruins Of Ypres. Our initial baptism OF
fire took place here, all Of US soon be-
coming used to the screech of the
shell and the hum Of the plano. Our
induction into the line was gradual;
first small parties were sent up to OBJ
serve. our final movements being made
by battalions.
"Tne first part Of August sector OF
what was known as the Blue or East
Poferinghe line was assigned to the
regiment, to be manned and held In
case of the expected big drive by the
Boche. This drive failing to material
Ize. the entire regiment was assembled
at school camp in August. Here we
remained in support while the Sixth
eth brigade took over the front line OF
what was known as the Canal sector.
ARRANGEMENTS were made by our regi-
ment to take over the part Of the front
line occupied by the 118th infantry,
but on September l orders were re-
removing US from the area.
Though we had been in the forward
area for two months, our casualties
had been very light especially when
we had gained so much from the ex-
perience Of what was meant by being
under shell fire. Our experience In
the famous Ypres salient came to be
looked upon as great recreation, In
view of what we went through in the
months of September and October.
Days of Real Warfare Begin.
THE final weeks Of September saw
tn, division transferred fr?m the Sec
ond British army to the Fourth Brit
ish army. We bid a glad farewell to
Belgium and our days Of real warfare
DON began. Our next home was loca-
ted a few miles behind Arras, in the
Saint Pal area. Here an intensive
course Of manoeuvres was taken up,
special stress being laid on work with
the tanks. After about ten days spent
in this manner another move toward
the front was started. A halt of two
days at Teutencourt brought US to the
edge Of the old Somme battlefield.
Erom there lorries carried us through
this devastated area Of Tincourt. The
of this area Is beyond all
description, ruined villages. shell holes,
old trenches, barbed wire and innum-
erable crows being the only objects to
be seen for a distance Of at least thir-
ty miles. What might be termed Tor
US the great adventure was about to
start, so a short description of this To-
cality might not be amiss.
I'VE were confronted by what has
been called the most complete system
of defense ever established the Hin
denburg line. The sector in our i'm
mediate front took in the village OF
Bellicourt, through which ran the ST.
Quentin canal. The system Of trench
es was protected by vast network OF
barbed wire and machine gun out
posts. The sector, in fact, was regard
ed as one of the most formidable IN
the entire system.
One Hundred and Eighteenth Knocks
at Huns Front Door.
"On the night of September % the
regiment, relieving the Australians
took over the front line, facing the
main defense system Of the Hinden-
burg line. This front extended IN
length about $3.50 yards, most OF
which had been taken by the Austria
lians in the preceding two days. TWO
battalions were placed in the front
.-o hainp moved