Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 154, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1918 — YANKEE TROOPS WIN HIGH PRAISE [ARTICLE]

YANKEE TROOPS WIN HIGH PRAISE

French and British Impressed by Splendid Enterprise and Initiation. HEROIC DEEDS ARE PREDICTED General Says American Spirit at Critical Moment Served to Maintain Morale of French at Chateau Thierry. London. —The behavior of the American troops at Chateau Thierry has demonstrated more than anything that has happened on the American front the splendid initiative and enterprise with which Hie American army Is endowed, and nothing has aroused the keener enthusiasm of the commander, says the Dally Mail correspondent with the American army In France. He quotes an unnamed French general as saying that the American spirit and enterprise at a critical moment served to maintain the morale of the French troops around Chateau Thierry. Among the Incidents of the engagement the correspondent mentions is the steadiness and persistence of the American machine gun fire in the streets of Chateau Thierry. Company after company of the enemy marching four abreast, repeatedly tried to advance, but recoiled sorely shattered before the fire of the American gunners.- The streets were strewn with German dead and wounded and the American officers estimate they Inflicted at least 1,000 casualties.

Predicts Heroic Deeds. When a bridge across the Marne was blown up, the correspondent adds, the Americans were left on the northern bank with the enemy in front of them and the river at their backs. Carrying their guns, the Americans descended to the lower banks of the river, and under enemy, machine gun and artillery fire succeeded in reaching the next bridge. The correspondent predicts that much will be heard of the deeds of the Americans in the next few days, and adds: “American troops fresh from the United States continue to arrive with regularity and in numbers more than sufficient to justify renewed confidence in the ultimate triumph of the entente. The Americans at this moment are distributed over a very wide front “In some sectors entire American divisions form one unit holding a certain extent of line, while elsewhere they are brigaded with French and British regiments. In the Luneville apd Toul sectors the Americans hold very difficult salients—in the Toul sector completely dominated by the German artillery on Montsec. The Germans recently have been drenching these positions with gas, but the Americans stood firm and won the ready appreciation of all observers.” The spirit and morale of the American soldiers wounded in the Cantlgny battle, 90. per cent of whom will recover, is wonderful. The first question they ask the surgeon is: “Doc, when will I be able to go back after the Germans who fixed me?” Two young privates were wafting their turn to enter the operating-room of a large American hospital in Paris. One said: "I have been over the top three times, and it Is the greatest sport I ever had. Fix me up quick because I want to go back after the Boches again.” The second soldier, who had a serious wound in the thigh, said: “If I do not return to the trenches I have the satisfaction of knowing

that I fixed three —two bayoneted and one shot lam satisfied.” The soldier probably will recover, but be will never cross bayonets with the Germans again, as he will lose his leg. Show Great Daring. Many American officers and privates showed great daring and fortitude in withstanding the German attacks along the Marne at Chateau Thierry and Jaulgonne. Capt. John R. Mendenhall of New. Rochelle, N. Y„ went without sleep for three days and remained steadily at the head of his company during that time. Corp. Jules Mangold of McDonald, Pa., was sent out to investigate German Snipers under a heavy fire from the American line. He found the snipers, pointed them out to his comrades and the Germans fired no more. Capt. George Wakerlne, the French liaison officer with the American unit, stood by the Americans in the thick of the fight, encouraging and cheering them. The Americans, he said, showed most wonderful fighting spirit and were jolly, even laughing and joking while a perfect hell raged around them.