Omaha daily bee., 1919-05-31

Sneezing gas and lone shell was
the last thing the Germans sent
over on the morning the armlstlce
was signed. Corp. f. Engers of
Texas, recently a Nebraska boy,
tells the story.
I'VE had safely crossed the Meuse
and our advance patrols had come
in contact with German outpost be-
fore Stenay and Pouilly on the Ger
man side of the river. Marines of
the Fifth regiment, Second division,
were operating to the north in lals-
son with the S9th boys.
Resting on Ground
"Our battalion, the Third, was
lined up resting in line of combat
on the ground before Pouilly. We
had made preparations for grand
attack and were about to carry it
out.
"All of a sudden there was an in
tense silence.
Then after a few minutes-it
must have been 5 minutes to II
o'clock, the hour the armistice
took effect-a large shell burst 100
yards from where my squad lay in
a shell hole. A singe of sneezlng
gas floated across the ravine.
Germans Dance On Hill.
"The next thing l knew soldiers all
about were standing up and yelling
and raising their hands. The word
had been passed. We could see a
few Germans having a dance or the
hillside not far away. One thing
we were disappointed in not being
able to take that town. 1t was ours
and we should of had it,
SO the 89th record ended.
TO the French it is known as the
"galloping eighty-nintl," but to the
folks back home the division is SIM
ply the fighting farmers" and al
ways will be. Soldiers on the train
this morning said they were in en-
tire accord with the title.
Wright Real Fighter.
Another story by the colonel is
told of the divisions commander,
Gen. William M. Wright. General
Wright assumed command in the
place of Brigadier General Winn,
who had brought the troops across
the Atlantic and stayed with them
during their entire fighting period
on the battle fronts at Toul, St.
Mihiel and the Argonne.
In the attack in the Argonne in
the Bois de Bathanville sector, the
general had orders to await relief.
The general is quoted as sending to
the rear the message:
Tell 'em we're doing all right:
These boys are taking this fight stuff
first rate. Let 'em alone"
General Wright, more than any
other commander, gained the love
of his men, He was one of the few
generals on tie battle front who for
ever was "stcking his nose in
trench" or an outpost. He had to
be censured now and then or the
division would have lost comman-
der" Major Campbell said.
Hooper Boy Cited.
Private Henry Goettsche of
Hooper, Neb., is perhaps the best
loved of all comrades in the regi-
ment. He is a member of Com
pany L.
On the night of November 10 the
Meuse was crossed little south of
Stenay on the American side of the
river. A detail of six men under
Lieutenant Yardmouth was dis
patched across the river as a patrol
to meet and anticipate any German
counter move.
Rescues Commander.
1t was a cold night and the water
was icy cold. The detail to man
jumped into the river with full bat
tie equipment on and attempted the
swim. Lieutenant Yardmouth lost
strength in the swift current little
more than half way across and had
it not been for the powerful arms
of Private Goettsche would have
gone down.
The entire detail reached the op-
posite bank without mishap and
started at once on a searcch for the
German positions. A large German
patrol was met and overcome. Sew
eral Germans were killed and more
than 80 prisoners taken while a
strong attacking point on the town
of Stenay was obtained. |
For this Goettsche was mentioned
in orders, later cited and is now
awaiting decoration. |
Wagner Alfred E. Simpson, of
Omaha has an interesting ring made
made from a French two franc piece
that he wouldn't part with for all
the money in the United States. His
buddy, Jack Garrett, of Arizona, also
a wagner gave it to him on his
death stand when a large shell fell
amidst the supply wagon train on
the way to the Argonne front near