New Britain herald., 1927-04-16
SEICHEPREY Fight
ANNIVERSARY near
New Britain Soldiers Proved
Heroes Under Fire

Nine years ago today, the people
of New Britain knew that war ha d
come in all its reality. New Britain
boys had been in the thick OF the
front line trench miXups, some had
peon wounded and a few had been
Killed. Nine years ago next We'd
nesday. Connecticut was rocked
with the news that her own regi-
n1ent, the f02nd Infantry of the 26th
division, had successfully defended
its positions in front OF the city OF
foul III the first pitched battle OF
the war between German and Amer
lean troops. This engagement has
zone down in history as the Battle
Of Saicheprey.
Although the two companies of
the regiment Il and /, in which
served most of the men from New
Britain were not among those units
which bore the brunt OF the attack
hat day, Co. !, as a member of the
third battalion, took part in a coun-
i"r attack in the evening and drove
the German troops back to their
positions in the shadow Of Mount
Sec, their dead and wounded left
behind, their idea OF the amateur
american soldiers" decidedly chang
ID.
Seicheprey was the outermoSt
post of the position in the line held
by the Goth division. II was stu
ated about 20 miles north OF the
city of TOuI about the middle Of the
right wing OF the st. Mihiel salient.
The German lines were laid at the
foot of Mount Sec, an abrupt and
high hill that dominated the posi-
tons of troops opposing.
The third battalion with Com
panies I. part of it from this city
and X of Hartford, in the front
lines and L of Meriden and NJ Of
Winsted in support, had been hold
ing the lines for five days. April 10
was the date set through regimental
orders for relief and the first bat
talon was ordered into the lines to
take the positions to be vacated by
he third battalion units.
Silently Enter Stations
All night long, the relieving out
fits entered the Scichprcy Bayou at
Beaumont where regimental head
quarters were situated in dug outs.
crept down the long line of COM
niunicating trench, passed by Xiv
rey and proceeded silently and eau
tiouslv to their stations.
Company OF Middletown and
Company u of Bristol with Captain
Alfred H. Griswold of this city in
command were assigned to the sta
tons being vacated by Companies ]
aud X. With only whispered in
structions. the departing companies
stole silently out while their com
rades took their places. A swift
handshake, silent wish Good
Luck" and what proved later to be
final farcNclls We're given and the
relief was installed about 5 80 in the
morning.
Dawn came creeping over the
hills to light up the mud racked and
ruined country about. Desolation
from gun fire of four years faced
the men rs they silently peered
through the lookout posts FOR any
rowing patrol A deep and impene-
,,a o1a hI,c,, c,,rtoi,, in fran,
OF the parapets cutting Oft all view
OF "no mans land"
Excitement had roigned during
mo ninbt several fa1sn attacks had
,1o, ,,,od, an no,;,;o,s oocupiod nv
ma second hattolio, on the RIGHT
ava a,cb time tho ,rtillorv in an
.,rar ~ Tho orcan faros sent over
d. ourtoin of borroga to ont off ro;n-
f,,roan,,,,+s h,,, ,ha r,lse alarn,s
r.a.o a,,,,. mar, of tho clever ruso
~ ,ho Cnr,nans n sno,a ths ommu-
,,i,;o,, - +lo ,,,,ar;oo,, orti,or,-
a,,,h,i,,o s,u1rnss buno o,,ar
,ho ,;,,a. ,,bora ,,r;,,,, ,ba sartrias
,-i,,> .;eo 49,, .,,,,,.s a, n,o,d,,,
,,jaa 20 ,;orca IN. foe No sound
,,.aa ,c.,,'a o,a ,ha bo,- ,,.as "a,
ia,o 70 sond out natro,s Officers
~ tbo +hird h,tt,lio, uore Gil, in
~, p r. lnostn DO comnand> civ.
,n,~ an ma inform,tion noasihle to
~, su+ h,t,a,;o, off;oarr thon :,
f,,.,raa
crd1,,,v oho,. Az NJ , Tor
to- ,Io.t ro,+ t,o oi- cbol,e
3,o,;,o dao,h o,d destruction heg,n !
10 h,u an tho Aueric,n fror, lines /
RI. s.nt,;.s rusbod 70 the d,1gouts !
"a ooI,o5 ..h,rroro" c;r,.Is u.ora
.>,+ w, tor +bo el,n,or+in, ,rti,1ory
20 onor, IN and Tho attack was on
two har.,oa ,ifted and su,arm;nc
owl -, tha;r nlacos NJ sofatv the
,non from Rristol and Niddletown
,.onod ,o +bo;r nlaoes ar Tho narane+
ct;iI ath;r~ onr1a No s.or 1,i,ra
artar fare was sont I'M hut IN tho
,;.t,, ,,,,.,- 40 +ba .,,,,, ,,or,;no
49, w. ,.;an -. ,;.a oo,,1 y. soan
paa,-o. 49,, roo,,at ,,.os sbo+ into
tho a;r calling for artillery hut the
,,,1,s, we've IN ,,o,, boc,uso tbere was
No ommrnit;on short return tn
tn, hal, of fro laid down nv the