The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1919-05-30

| leIt IN lTOnl VI -IHe just e AiiN S'''
! tie started but l didn't know where
they were.
Shot the Whole Bunch.
IF I'd moved I'd have been Killed. in
a second The Germans were what
saved me. | kept up close TO them, and
so the fellers on the hill had to fire "A
little high for fear Of hitting their own
men, The bullets were cracking just
over my head and LOT of twigs fell
down ,
l. We'll, fired couple OF clips or so
things were moving pretty lively, so
don't know how many / did SHOOT
and first thing knew n boche got up
and flung little bomb at me about
tho size OF n silver dollar. II missed
and wounded one OF The prisoners on
the ground, and | got the Doche got
him square.
Next thing that happened, a Lieut.
enant rose up from near one OF them
machine guns and he had seven men
with him The whole BUNCH came
charging down the nil ait e--lfke
this. They held their guns like this.
~ had my automatic out by then.
and let them have It. Got the lieut.
onant right through the stomach and
he dropped and screamed n lot. All
the boches who were hit squealed just
like pigs Then | shot the others
"You killed the whole bunch2''
Yes. sir. At that distance couldn't
miss" He killed this detachment be-
fore they could charge twenty yards
down hill-eight men,
81 81. $50 ans IN
lieutenant drop, most OF them quit hr-
Ing their machine guns and the battle
quoted down. kept on shooting, but
in minute here come the major VINO
had surrendered with the first bunch,
/ reckon he had done some shooting at
us himself, because ! hoard firing from
the prisoners and aftcrward ! found
out that his pistol was empty
'fHe put his hand on my shoulder
like this and said 10 me In English:
Don't shoot any more and III make
them surrender SO | said All right;
and he did so. and they did so"
As York himself would phrase II
the battle now quieted down. and the
boches descended from their positions
on the hill. They came in droves;
their arrival swelled the number OF
prisoners to ninety.
Meanwhile the enemy machine guns
from the hills back OF the Americans
were stu splitting wildly in their direc-
ton, and none OF the little detachment
knew at what moment other Germans
might arrive or an undiscovered nest
open on them. Their own dead lay
about, and they had three wounded,
but il became imperative that the de-
tachment should return with their
captures Immediately. Accordingly
Corporal York formed up the prisoners
in column and placed his surviving
comrades as escort.
To him came acting Sergeant Early
and Corporal Cutting, The former
said: york, I'm shot, and shot bad.
What'll do?" York answered: you
can come out in rear of the column
with the other boys" Private Donahue
helped bring him in, for Early was
seriously wounded. Corporal Cutting
and Private Muzzi were able TO walk
out unassisted.
After the turmoil OF fighting none
but a woodsman could have found his
way back Yorks sense of direction
was perfect, but though he knew
whittier he wanted TO go he did not
know the best way OF getting there.
The boche major decided for him,
go along this path" he suggested,
pointing down the one that slSirted the
base OF the hill
or course York went the other way (.
that was all he needed to determine
him. He formed up his prisoners,
placed the major in front OF him as a
screen. a couple OF other officers be-
hind him, and started up the side of
the hill through the thick woods. The
llong line trudged behind. herded by
the seven men left OF the detachment,
with Sergeant Early and the two other
wounded bringing up the rear. All the
boches had flung down their weapons
and equipment on surrendering. The
field OF battle was Uttered with their
stuff.
Just as we started passed the body
of Corporal Murray Savage" York told
me. strongly moved. Him and l were
cronies-he was my bunkie-but / had
TO leave him there. / didn't dare to
take my eye of the mob OF prisoners"
As they toiled UP the hill the major
tried to engage York in conversation.
How many men have you got?" he
inquired.
II got aplenty," returned the second
elder grimly, and made him step
faster.
II was impossible to see where they
were going, on account OF the thick
brush, but York knew that the direc-
ton was right to bring them out on
the side OF the hill where the Ameri-
cans ought to have established a post
OF command by this time. A hundred
Yards or more, and they were chal-
lenged They had stumbled upon an
other boche machine-gun nest York
thrust the major in front of him. COW
cred the crew with his pistol and or
dered them to surrender. They aban-
doned their weapons and equipment