The Washington times., 1919-01-11

on them, and they. returned the fire.
l was not hit then, but after we had
advanced, about a half mile high
explosive shell fell in front or me.
1t struck my head and shoulders. nd
feH TO the ground unconscious.
IA Battalien surrounded.
When / returned to the front my
men were at St. Mihief. This engage
ment Is one long to be remembered by
the marines. The fireworks started
at ! O'Clock in the morning. The ma
rines advanced with the infantry. It
was during one of these advances
that my battalion was completely sur
rounded by Germans. Machine guns
were on all sides and all points OF
escape were guarded.
"It looked as if our end was com
ing. The Huns were sniping US OF
every second. Had 1t not been for
the quick action of the major of the
battalion, we would have been wiped
out. He ordered US After the Ger
mans and give 'em hell
"we went after them, gave 'em
hell, ard fought our way to safety.
We lost hundreds OF men. but the
marines never, gave up in face of
danger, 1t was q, great sight. We
charged as one. There was no mixup.
The men obeyed orders without hesi-
tation when ii meant sure death. We
had alT decided that we were going
west, .s 'r..,.
'T told my company. that each man
had to get four huns before he got
sniped of. That was bis quota. I
think every man got more. They say
of the marine corps that to every
man killed in the marines five huns
were killed to give us revenge.
Was Wounded Twice.
During the fighting at Mt. Blanc
I was wounded twice. My company.
then a 7machine-gun company, Were
going over the top. We had just
hal n good range on the Huns.
a. few minutes later a high ox-
ricsive she'll went of a few feet
from me- 1t killed. four Of my men.
bIC only gave me a slight wound
on, the head" which was not very
painful. De termined to get the Huns
who killed our comrades. the com
pany advanced. During the advance
a machine-gun bullet struck me in
the arm and hand. Knowing that
the battle would not last much long
er. as we were gaining steadily,
continued with my company Several
hours afterward, when a temporary
halt was ordered. was removed
to base hospital. 1 am feeling fine
now," concluded Captain. Ladd.
What the Marines did at Chateau
Thierry was told The Times by Lieut.
II. A. Zischke and Lieut.. L. L. Bat
ties. both from Wisconsin, in these
words:
Foe Thought War Was Won.
'It was perfectly evident when the
Germans approached Chateau Thier q:
ry from the Belleau Woods, that they
believed the war to be won, and Paris
to be taken FOR the asking. The pick
of the crown princes army, the Fifth
Prussian Guards and the Twenty
ninth Bayarian Infantry, had been
honored with being selected as the
troops to enter the coveted city, ind
they were at the apex Of the advanc-
ing line. pouring down along the Metz
Paris road without the slightest an
tictpation of serious resistance.
THE came stepping out OF the
woods in line of groups. marching
along upright with guns held cor
rectly over their shoulders as if they
were on parade, and the gleam of
victory was in every mans eye. They
believed that their faxed attack on
scissors had drawn off the allied re-
serves. leaving the road to Paris clear
through Chateau-Thierry.
French Dishe.rteReG.
ION the other hand il is clear that
the French were dismayed b. the ter
rifle assault of the conquering Ger
mans. AS the marines came pouring
down the MetzParis road. the French
soldiers called out 20 them:
' The war is o. er.' To which our