The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-12-07

training ana QtneSS lot war naQ uOt
yet been perfected but that they
were improving notably. AS is the
case among all kinds Of men, some
of the Americans were daredevils and
others less energetic; some were re-
solute. One man, taken on April II
(Twenty-Sixth Division at Siray),
fought heroically and single-handed
against superior forces, and refused
to say anything after being disarmed.
Many Nationalities in Prisoners
Some of the prisoners taken on
April 20 I had brought before me,
Their descent was as follows: 7S full
fedged Americans, % Irish, %
French, IA English, 13 Italian, nine
Poles, eight Germans seven Swedes,
four Russians, two Scotch, one Dane
and one Swiss.
OF those of German descent hard
ly one could speak word Of Ger
man. 1 asked the officers if they be-
lieved that the, Intervention Of
America would give new turn to
the war, and while they answered
hesitatingly, it was always id the :
affirmative. -
It is interesting to state that from
many Englishman- taken during our
March offensive we heard: eve are
dumfounded by the defeat, and see
the reason for our failure, but we are
not discouraged. If we only perse-
we're, with the aid of the Americans,
the tide will be turned"
They were unfortunately right.
The American equipment was
praised by all our men. Their uni
forms and arms were perfect. Their
auxiliary service of administration
and their food supplies seemed un-
limited. We could see that they had
the men and the money.
In the first surprise attacks on the
American trenches during that wet
spring, our men were lured less by
the prospect of taking American
prisoners than by the booty Of the
Americans wonderful leather pants,
through which the dampness Of the
trenches could not penetrate. The
ample food of the Americans also
arouse envy, as our men were scantily
SUPPLIED, and knew that their fami-
lies at home were starving, often dy-
ing, on account Of the enemy block
ade.
:. During this period the American
Infantry seemed to make great pro-
gress in defense, but they were not
yet sufficiently trained for attack.
The shooting of their artillery was
by no means exact. 1t futtered to and
fro. We believed that the American
Infantry had their most efficient as
sistance where French batteries were
posted behind them.
Americans air service was well IN
evidence. We found that the Amer1-
can flyers were daring, even rash,
and that they compared in that re-
spect with the English flyers, while
the French were far more prudent.
Thus, the American front before us
became gradually stronger in both
number and quality. By the middle
of April there were six divisions in
France, by May eight. A more extern
sive attack against Sivray, under
taken by us on June 16, failed be-
cause it had been foreseen in time
by our opponents, and as the fore
field was clear their machine guns
operated most efficiently I find in my
diary of that day: Those men have
learned something"
An attack against the American
Twenty-Sixth Division at the Forest
of Remieres, undertaken June 19, led
to little success on account OF tnelf
hard resistance, and netted only
few prisoners. The growing con-
sciousness of their strength was de-
monstrated by American prisoners
taken on May 2S, who expressed the
intention of the American divisions,
then stationed at the Meuse, to reach
the somme, the focus Of battle at
that time. In fact, on June 6 this di-
vision was reconnoitered at the
Marne, to which the greatest battle
force had been transferred.
About this time the American mill
tary leaders adopted the plan OF
sending back to the United States Tor
the training of troops, officers VINO
had been in active service, in order to
take advantage Of the practical ex-
perience these officers had gained.
The dangerous position Of the Env