Evening star., 1942-11-24
Col. Semmes', Bravery
Credited With SAVING
U.S ). Force inMoroceo
D. c. Officer Led Tanks
Against Great Odds,
Repulsine Flank Attack

The tank action in French Mo-
rocco which won high commenda-
ton q week ago for Col. Harry H
Semmes, Washington attorney, sated
an American landing force from
being driven back into the sea, addi-
tional details of the encounter dis
closed today. If
Six American tanks sunder Col
Semmes' command, turned back a
flank attack by superior French
tank force, destroying all of the 1s
attackers, the new facts disclosed.
In the action Col. Semmes was
credited with putting four French
tanks out Of action himself.
The story was told to the Asso-
ciated Press by Capt. A. T. Netter-
blad, aide to Brig, Gen. Lucian K.
Truscott, commanding general in
charge Of the attack at Lyautey,
French Morocco.
Col. Semmes led six American
tanks against overwhelming odds
and when the action was finished
the landing force had firmly estab-
lished its position and l8 French
tanks were permanently out of COM
mission.
Main u. S. Force Occupied.
The American position was i'm
periled on the evening of November
8 when the French tank force and
a regiment of infantry. approaching
from Rabat, Is miles away, threat
ened to force the Americans back
into the sea.
The French we're detected by Navy
air scouts. The chief American
striking forces were engaged in bit
ter battle for the Kasaba, an ancient
stronghold overlooking the sea. Only
two American tanks, one 37-milli-
meter gun and one anti-tank gun
were protecting the right flank.
The French destroyed the anti
tank gun and its crew and were
blasting American infantry but ad-
vanced no farther that first night,
Capt. Netterblad related.
A heavy surf delayed landing
heavy armored equipment but Col.
Semmes, commander of the third
armored landing team, managed to
get two more tanks ashore over
night and attacked with his four
machines. Later he was reinforced
with two more tanks, and although
fighting against 3 to1 odds, smashed
the French forces, Capt. Netter-
blad stated.
Tank Hit Eight Times.
Col. Semmes' tank was hit eight
times, it was reported. but he man
aged to put four of the French
machines out of commission. The
French were using lotion, 1899
Renault tanks while the Americans
were fighting with new light tanks.
All of the American tanks were still
intact at the end.
IF they had gotten through"
Capt. Netterblad said, I'VE prob
ably would have been driven back
into the sea-"
After the battle Gen. Truscott
met Col Semmes with this ex-
change, "Semmes, you've had quite
an action here"
well, general" Col. Semmes re-
piled, I'VE just kept pecking away
at 'em"
Veteran of World War.
Tank warfare is not new to Col.
Semmes, whose home is at 5000
Thirty-ninth street NV. In the
World War Col. Semmes served in
the Tank Corps under Mai. Gen.
George S. Patton, now commander
Of the American forces in Morocco.
For his service in the last war
Col. Semmes received the Dis
tinguished Service Cross, the Oak
Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart.
He was wounded overseas.
Back in Washington, Col. Semmes
became an outstanding lawyer, spe-
cializing in patent laws. Two years
ago he applied for Army duty, but
was rejected. Last March, however,
he was accepted and commissioned a
lieutenant colonel. He was with
Gen. Patton at Fort Benning, Ga,
and later on maneuvers in North
Carolina.