New Britain herald., 1927-04-16

were left kept up the fight. Hand
grenades. rifles. bayonets, one
FOUNDERS, pistols, trench knives,
everything a man could lay his
hands on, were used to drive the
Germans out.
Forward, Without Breakfast
Back in Mandres Just beyond the
famous dead mans curve" tho
third battalion. weary after its long
hike back, had been routed out of
the dugouts and sent back without
breakfast, to support the lines in
case the attack succeeded in break
ing through. Getting into the COM
municating trench about 6 O'Clock.
Co. l was placed along the walls OF
mud In readiness for whatever
might come.
All day long the enemy artillery
pounded the positions. Having a
clear view of the land from the look
out posts on Mount Sec, the German
eunners leveled their big guns on the
positions of the third battalion and
rained shrapnel and high explosive
on the heads Of the local boys. Dug
into the side of the trench not dar-
ing to lift their heads. even then
death was seeking them out.
Back in Mandres and Bernacourt,
the l04th was moving in, but no at
tack came through. Machine Gun
Parker, commanding officer OF the
1o2nd, through sobs at his inability
to get relief through to stop the
massacre in the front lines, ordered
runner after runner out to find out
II possible the damage that had
been done. Many went out but none
came back.
Motor truck after motor truck.
loaded with artillery ammunition.
was sent with all possible haste from
divisional headquarters at Menil-la-
tour to the artillery positions up the
line. Everywhere with thankful ex-
pressions. the cry was raised, The
First is Holding"
BY 9 o'clock, c and D were prac-
tcally wiped out. A and B counter
charged and countercharged but
could do no more than keep the
Prussians in what had been their
own front lines. Attack after at
tack failed to throw the enemy
horde back.
Yankee Artillery Opens Fire
The hours crept slowly by and
still that deafening roar Of explod-
hf11c wit h Il al Sayia
tore up the fields and roads. Then
at II o'clock. a different note crept
into the roar Something was 60
ing the other way. The American
with the hungry maws OF
the guns fed with tons of shells,
began to pay back what the Ameri-
can troops had withstood for several
hours, This stopped all movement
behind the first line Of Germans.
Thompson still held Seicheprey
with handful OF men. Rau still
held Reiaiere woods with men whose
could be counted on the
fingers of both hands. Company |
still held on in Seichcproy Bayou
though many We're dead and wound
ed.
The heat of the battle cooled with
the exchange OF artillery in full
blast. Order started to como ont of
and the intense fighting
lulled. The hour was noon.
Then the situation changed. 1t
was whispered that the third" was
going to counter attack. Inccssant-
y the lost, 102nd and 103rd ar
.illery with one Founders poured hot
lead and shrapnel into the midst OF
he Prussians in front OF them.
Every inch of the ground was be-
ng covered.
The afternoon cront by and dusk
settled over the bloody scene Tho
word came to be ready. Seven |
o'clock passed and then the word |
anne TO attack. Following a curtain !
If fire. the third battalion lined out /
II its trench and crcpt slowly to- .
wards the place where their con-
aides had held so bravcly all day.
Wave after wave came over the
ground and the Prussians saw them i,
coming.
Having stood a pounding all DAY |
ong, exhausted by their efforts to
ilslodge the men OF the first" they
lad had enough. They tried to so |
Jack. Those who got out of the
rench were swept down by artillery
Ire and the rest covered back. The
bird struck and in panic. the prus-
ians, with the tables turned, tried
o fee.
Some got away, but very few. and
n short half an hour. the front
inc was retaken and strict orders
we're given not to advance.
Then began the terrible work Of
airing for the dead. Groans all
bout turned most of the men into
tretcher bearers. The wounded We're
arried out. The dead were being
ounted. Stock was being taken of
he losses. One for one was the
cunt in dead. One hundred and
ighty-three Americans were missing,
resumably taken prisoner. Many
lore We're wounded.
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