The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-05-14
Experiences Of 118h Engineers
Told BY Y. VI. c. A. Officer

service imaginable, except the aero
plane and submarine. In the Chateau
Thicrry drive they built roads and
bridges under shell fire when it was
almost unbelievable that their tasks
could be completed; their work in
building bridges across tho Ourcq
river under observation Of the enemy
was marvellous; this work was per-
formed by units Of the 1st battalion
from South Carolina. These men
would work with picks and shovels
all day making roads for the ammuni-
ton, rations and artillery. and at
night would be held on the alert
waiting for the time to go over the
top" as infantry. Filling gap be-
tween the S3rd and S4th infantry bri-
gadcs, the engineers made the fru-
thcrcst advance of the I2nd Division
in this campaign, Tho next day
when the other organizations were
resting. the engineers were split up
into details to repair roads and bury
paign that my chief the division sec
rotary Of the Y. M. c. A.. cautioned
me not to let the men of my regiment
got the impression that was scared.
My reply was-"Hell-I am scared an(
the man that says he isn't is liar or
q fool ! was able, however, to fur
ish each company with supplies every
day during this campaign. When the
division was relieved from this front
we all expected a rest. but shock troops
were needed for the st. Mihicl drive
and Of course, the i2nd Division was
hikcd up above Toul for this SCRAP. In
this engagement details from the on
ginccrs were used with the artillery.
with the tanks. with the signal corps.
with The infantry and rs engineers for
tho purpose Of Keeping roads open.
Eight Of our men were sent out at
night to locate the position for the in
iantry laying white tape to Indicate
TO the infantry the course for them 10
take. and while these eight men were
lying in Il shell hole waiting for the
infantry Il shell landed AMONGST them
killing seven and severely wounhing
the eighth man, who was brought back
to the y. NJ {. \. Ten at Ansauvillc
which WAS being used as dressing
station.
\ct rs Reserve Infantry.
When the fight was over and Ger
man prisoners had been brought back
until we wcrc tired of looking al
them, the engineers were ordered tC
construct positions in order that W,
should be prepared against a coun
ter attack from the enemy. On tho
nlShl OF October lSt The outiit was
moved in Ecnch trucks up from
part OF the Argonnc Pores! 10 Nc,>
and hNcrmOnt. Here they were agai,
called upon 10 act as reserve infantry
at ni&ht and engineers during INC
DAY. In" roads were in miscrabl,
condition and il was necessary that
'hc cn9inccrs put them in shape fol
the division to function. After Inc
position was constructed and The
Germans were driven back. We hikcd
towards Sedan. At one point ON
SUNDAY orders wcro received tC
move hcaduuartcrs TO a town named
N"Iricr"s. went up With the ad-
vance party on horseback Monday
morning and when we reached
RruicllcS, about kiomctcrs from
NcrricrcS, we could see the German
and American infantry in action in
the town 10 which we were ordered
to proceed. Acting on advice of the
colonel commanding the American
infantry. we stopped at BiuicllcS. II
was AT this place that the German
demolition squad had gotten in such
splendid work. The road had been
blown up and completely demolished
lor something over a mile, and il
was up 10 the engineers to rebuild this
road so as TO make it possible for ra-
ions and ammunition trucks before
night. Our rcgimcntm headquarters
were located in Chateau a short dis
tancc from this demolished road. and
during the afternoon while the cor
duroy road was being built. the Ger
mans placed a box barrage around our
oilicc. To one who has never been
caught in a box barragc il is mpos-
Siblc TO describe. 10 one who has been