The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-09-25
BY CONDO


! thought knew somewhat Of its
awful consequences. Sufficient It. is
for me TO say that in my widest
flights OF imagination, | never so
much as approached what my eyes
beheld during July.
MY third impression was of the
hatred Of war that visiting the bat.
tleflelds was producing in me. AS
l view 1t now, he must indeed be
strange being who would approve
OF an institution that produces what
can be seen In France and Belgium
today. II Sherman was living no
would have to improve on his oft
quoted remark, War is HE'LL TO.
the world was more awful than the
deepest hell.
1.-THE special points of inter est 10
me were those where uur boys
fought, and where my br&her
served.
Famous sattIefrelds.
Before leaving home, 1t was
Belleau Woods and Chateau Thierry
that | had in mind. Our first bap.
tism OF fire was at Cantigny. and
while Cantigny did not figure large
as a battle raging from Ypres to
Reims. yet as attest Of the mettle
OF the Americans, and us a proof
that they were first class fighting
men, and match for the Germans,
1t acquired on May 90 a place in
the World War record. Relleau
Woods and Chateau Thlerry. how.
ever, were the first battle names TO
grip the American heart, and as
such they will remain.
1.-THE fight OF May 81 at Chateau
Thierry was described thus by
Brigadier General Catlin, in his
book, With the Help OF Coil and
few Marines A hurried
and despairing call for help went
out, any help at all, so that 1t came
quickly. Some Kilometres 10 the
rear was stationed an American
machine.gun battalion that was
eager and ready for battle but was
waiting for the fuller organization
OF the Third Division. But this was
no time for waiting. The battalion
was ordered in without support, and
made speedy all night trip to the
front on motor lorries.
These boys had never faced Ger.
man shell fire before; they were
stiff and cramped after their long
night ride, but the smell OF powder
! and the roar Of combat was like
wine to them, and they jumped into
the fray like veterans. Joining a
battalion OF French Colonials they
entered the town and rushed to the
threatened bank OF the river.
Defeat Of Huns Receunted.
Under CALLING fire they brought
up their guns, and organized their
defense positions at the bridges
with mathematical precision. Then
came the Germans, long gray
flood Of them. streaming down to
the bridges. The Americans open.
ed upon them fire so furious, and
accurate that the advancing COL
umns hesitated, wavered. and then
halted behind the barrier OF their
fallen comrades. Then on they
came again. On the bridges and
in the streets OF Chateau Thierry
there ragged wild demonIacal
tempest OF machine gun and rifle
fire.
1.-THE enemy infuriated by this
resistance fought desperately to
brush the offensive Yankees from
their path. Our boys fell BY tho
dozen beside their guns. but there
was always SOME one to leap into
the breach, and keep the stream OF
bullets pouring into the ranks Of
the thwarLed Hun. They held the
southern bank OF the Marine against
the onslaught; they cleared the
bridges; and at last destroyed them
and the Germans. could not pass.''
In the meantime the Marines
arrived and on June 2 went into the
tight. It was in the late afternoon
OF a clear day. General Catlin
from his observation post had a fIne
view OF 1t all. He says: The
Germans swept down upon an open
slope In platoon waves, across a
wide wheat field bright with non.
pies that cleaned like spiasnes Of
blood in the afternoon sun. The
French met the attack and then fell
steadily back, First ] saw the
French coming back through the
wheat, fighting as they came. Then
the Germans, in two columns,
steady as machines. To me, as a
military man, II was a beautiful
sight. could not but admire the