Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-10-22
HONOR MEDAL PRESENTED
Ceremony Held at the Christian Church
Sunday Afternoon at 800.

Sunday Afternoon at 800.
Sunday afternoon at three o'clock
the medal of honor was presented to
Mrs. Nellie Lemert for the heroic SER
vice rendered ty her husband, who was
killed in France. September 20. 1918.
1.-The ceremonies were presided over
by former Senator 4. G. Toilet and
the address of the occasion was made
by Judge &. P. Burnett. The presen-
tation of the medal was made by
Colonel Z. z. deArmond. Chief of
Staf commanding South Eastern De-
partment, Charleston, S. c., under
the direction of the secretary of war.
The church was beautifully decorated
with flowers and on the wall behind the
pulpit was displayed the church SER
vice flag with sc stars on it, including
the single gold star in honor of Ser
geant Milo Lemert, deceased. The
county honor flag was also dispalyed
with the 26 names Of those from this
county who made the supreme sacrifice.
Old Glory was also draped upon the
wall behind the pulpit. All in all the
setting was very fitting. The opening
song lone Sweetly Solemn Thought"
was sung by Jonas L. Snodgrass in his
rich. clear voice and deeply impressed
the audience that filled the house TO its
seating capacity.
The exercises were opened and closed
with prayer by Rev. c. L. Ledford. of
Hartman. Senator Toilet made a
brief talk stating the object of the
meeting. Ca e1iogizing the deceased and
explaining h iefly the great honor that
had been Inferred ana outlined the
heroic acts of Sergeant Lemert at the
time of his death. The closing song,
"No Night There, was sung by
Misses Winnefred and Mary Loshbough
in a wery touching and beautiful man.
neE.
Foslowing Is
WHAT JUDGE BURNETT SAID
LIT was about 9 80 a. m. September
70, 1913, that the subject of these re-
marks lost his life while attempting to
break through the Hindenburg line
with his comrades.
That we may understand what is
meant by this Hindenburg line give
the description of one who is perfectly
familiar with it in its details:
On September 20 the 30th Division
(CNd Hickory with oth1r American
Divisions on the left and the 18th
British Division on the right. assaulted
the Hindenburg Line. The Hinden-
burg Line at this point curves in front
of the Tunnel of st. Quentin. This
was considered impregnabie by the
Germans for the following reasons !:
The Hindenburg Line curved west of
the tunnel consisting Of three main
trench systems protected by vast fields
of heavy parbed wire entanglements
skilifully placed: this wire was very
heavy and had been damaged very
little by artllley fire. The dominating
ground enabled them to bring devasta-
ting machine-guns fire on all approach
es. The lines had been strengthened
with concrete machine gun emplac-
ments. 1t contained at this point
large number of dugouts, lined with
mining timbers, with wooden steps
leading down to a depth of about 80
feet with smaller rooms capable of
holding from about tour to six men
EACH In many cases the dugouts were
wired for electric light. The large
tunnel through which the canal ran,
was of sufficient capacity to shelter
division. This tunnel was electrically
lighted and filled with barges. Con-
Meeting it with the Hindenburg, trench
system were numerous tunnels. In
one case direct tunnel ran from the
main tunnel to the basement of large
stone building, which the enemy used
for headquarters. Other tunnels ran
from the main tunnel eastward to the
city of Bellicourt and other places.
This complete subterranean system
with it's hidden exits and entrances,
unknown to the allies, formed most
complete and safe subterranean
method of communication and rein
forcement for the German sector.
1t was at 5 80 a. m. September 29, |
1918, that orders were given the
armies of the allies to move forward.
This they did in the face of the most
deadly firing ever witnessed in this