Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-11
~drmhBt ySotnR Remember NATAL Day
md AeR veahono Ameian StrnHha BneW

history. frequently advanced in the
same manner, Notwithstanding orders
to the contrary. This is evident from
French and English descriptions of early
battles And yet, despite these poor
tactics, the Germans defeated and re-
pulsed all English and French armies.
driving them back to the Marine.
Under such circumstances 1t is easy
to see why dashing American battalions
were moved down by blaze of de-
structive machine-gun, infantry and
artillery fire. And thus the first Amer =
lean attack resulted in defeat and Sc
we're losses.
/ Their failure" Col. Otto remarks,
"by no means disheartened the Ameri-
cans. They attacked with renewed
energy. German artillery fire gradually
weakened. and we suffered severe losses.
To wit, the artillery battery of the 2lst
Infantry had but three men manning
all its guns. 1t was impossible to main
tain an effective barrage.
LAS the I'd Battalion, 9Th Marines.
Unanswered down the bed of a brook
there began a terrific struggle. After a
furious house toulouse combat the Ma
rines captured Boureches.
1T was the American plan to capture
Belleau Woods. the BourecheS railway
station and Hills 126 and 1873, cost what
it may. And German battalions de-
| Tended this, their salient defense line,
with equal determination. The upshot
was the retreat of American units.
! All they had done was to succeed In
holding on to Boureches.
| with what heroism the Americans
attacked is gained from the fact that
the Germans reported 100 of their
bodies in front of single company's
| ~ ha
something unusual occurred. Our in
| fantrymen had completely exhausted
| their ammunition and an emergency
supply had to be brought up from the
rear.
Capt Rickert, German battalion
commander, was ordered to clear the
wood patch east of Hill 1872. His attack
was skillfully executed. l. waited
until dusk. after the allies captive bal
| loon had been hauled down. For foul
minutes a hail of German machine
gun fire rained down from the north
| Two German companies crept, un-
observed, through ravine southeast
of the wood patch and while the allies
attention was turned north threw them
selves suddenly on the foe. The sur
prise was successful The allies sought
nasty retreat and in doing so met thu
killing fire of our 398th Infantry
Many dead and wounded American:
| covered the field. Some wounded
begged for water in German.
"THUs ended the battle on June 6
Both sides may be proud OF their
valor. The following day was COM
paratlvely quiet In the afternoon
| after strong artillery preparation. the
| Americans essayed an ambitious attack
| Their right wing broke, but the left
managed to make a slight advance be-
| fore the Germans repealed 1t. Whether
major attack had been planned OF
whether this was simply local demon
stration has not been determined.
"A characteristic instance of Amer1-
can intrepidity took place that day
Near Hill 204 two surprised American
soldiers were captured and led behino
the German lines. Despite their best
efforts, the Germans could get no in
formation from them.
Mai. Gen. Won Helsen issued ar
energetic order to clean out the 'Ameri'
can nest German efforts were repeated
June and June 10, but the allies helC
on to their position, despite the fac
they were hemmed in by semi-circlt
of foes. The German position wa
fortified to form a ring around tbs
American nest
Eat 2 O'Clock in the morning the
American Gath Infantry Regiment
| launched an attack that was beaten
back with great loss to them. Attempts
by our own men to bring in American
! wounded failed, because the enemy evil
IDENTIFY misunderstood the attempt and
opened fire on the hospital squad.
1.-The German commander OF the 18th
Division addressed his tired troops:
can American success along our
front, even If only temporary. may
have the most unfavorable influence
on the attitude of the entente and
duration of the war. In coming battles,
therefore, it is not the question OF pos
session or possession of this or that
village or woods, insignificant in itself;
it is a question whether the Anglo-Am-
erican claim that the American Army
is equal or superior to our own army
is to be made good
Nowhere is this same thought set
forth so lucidly as in this order by
Mai Gen. Boehm.
We now come to the decisive Amer