Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 175, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1918 — AMERICAN SOLDIERS “FOUGHT LIKE FIENDS,” SAYS BRITISH OFFICER [ARTICLE]

AMERICAN SOLDIERS “FOUGHT LIKE FIENDS,” SAYS BRITISH OFFICER

'High Praise for Conduct of Yankees in First Fight Side by Side With Their British Cousins—Told to “Kill” and They Sure Did ; That—Australians Delighted With Comrades’ Prowess at Hamel

With the British Army tn FranceAll the traditions of the United States army for valor were brilliantly sustained in the successful attack made against the Germans south of the River Somme, when for the first time American infantrymen took their stand beside their British cousins and fought shoulder to shoulder with them against the common foe. It was a baptism of fire for the Yankee soldiers on this front, and they came through with dying colors, proving fitting comrades for the Australian warriors whom they were assisting. • “The Americans fought like fiends,” declared one British staff officer. They did all of that They were magnificent, and the folks at home may be proud of the part their boys took in the shell-torn valley of the winding Somme. They were fighting over ground already stained with the blood of thousands of brave soldiers, but no better troops ever charged across the rolling fields than the pioneers from the American army. Along with this it is possible to make the cheerful state- • nient that their casualties were very smalt Virtually the entire body of Americans came through unscathed. This was probably due to the weak resistance which the Germans offered to the Anglo-American onslaught One does not need to detract from the work of the Australians by telling <?f the prowess of the Americans. The from the antipodes far outnumbered those from the United States and did a corresponding amount of the sanguinary labor. It goes without saying that the bigframed men from Australia, who fear neither man nor devil, fopght with the fierceness' Which has made them a terror to the enemy. The American troops who were to take part were brigaded with their Australian allies, who took the deepest Interest in the weldingof the link of brotherhood. The plans were .carefully rehearsed until every American knew his role almost as well as ,the hardy veterans from his majesty’s army. Few along the front knew of the event, but the British staff officers were watching every move with the keenest attention. Those officers today were outspokenly delighted with what they had seen. ( Enjoined to "Kill," and They Did. For a week the British experts had been dinning into the ears of the Americans the words, “Kill! Kill! IKill!” as the cardinal slogan of the fighting man. The Americans had learned their (lesson well. The British, officers spoke lof this‘after the affair was over. No .drillmaster ever got better returns for ihis talks than the one who taught these Americans this 'hardest lesson lot all. A large number of Germans maid the price, and the men from the United States exacted a heavy toll. The Americans were naturally happy [over the success of the operation in which they had played a ‘ creditable part, and the Australians were no less (pleased with their new-found pals. The general in command of the .American troops was also pleased with Ithe work his men had done. “Our troops understood thoroughly ’when they went over the top that they iwere expected to do no less than any of their allies,” said the general to the correspondent. “Reports’ which I have received from the Australians indicate that our boys conducted themselves with great credit and did all that could have been wished.” • . The correspondent visited casualty clearing stations to see some of the wounded Yankees who had gone through the fight Boy Corporal’s Story. i , Lying on a cot, flanked by British ieotdiers, was a Chicago lad who had

been shot in the leg after a gallant fight. He was a blue-eyed, round-faced youngster who looked strangely out of place among the older veterans. He said he was twenty years old, but he was nothing more than a likable boy with a winning, but somewhat wistful, smile. The correspondent introduced himself and told the little soldier how proud everybody was of the Americans. The boy’s lips trembled, but his eyes brightened. “Are you from America, he cried, as he eagerly put out a hand. “Oh, Fin so glad of that.” He was homesick and hurt and wanted comfort from somebody from home. A friendly cha began and the soldier dung desperately to the correspondent’s hand. Suddenly his eyes fastened on the correspondent’s British uniform and a look of disappointment came to his face. “You’re not a Yankee, are yon?” he asked, and his eyes were moist. The correspondent assured him to the contrary. Instantly be brightened, and throwing his arm over the correspondent's exclaimed : Tm mighty glad of that. Tm glad you are a Yankee, too." Then he told the story of his part in the battle and here is the way it ran: “We alb were very anxious to do well and we were ready to fight to a finish. We knew there was trouble for us over in No Man’s Land. None of our boys cared for that, but the day before the attack all the men of my company got together and shook hands and said good-by, for, you see, we did not know if we should meet again. ■ Signal to. Advance. - “I had worked very hard to learn to be a good soldier, for I wanted to be a Credit to the folks back home. I guess I must have learned some things, for my commander gave me 24 of o.ur chaps to lead over the top as corporal. And my men fought well.” He paused, his face glowing with pride, and then continued: “At midnight Wednesday we went forward and Itfid out in the open waiting for the signal to advance. Then

about daylight came the barrage. . It was a pretty big thing—the biggest W 6 ever heard. The time came for the charge and we pushed out. “A few of our boys were too anxious and they got so close to the barrage that they were hurt. My pal was struck by a shell beside me.” Again he stopped and this time there were tears in his eyes and a lump was working in his throat. There was silence for a moment, then he went on: “We were advancing toward Hamel village and had to go over one slope, then down into a little valley and up another hill. We got along all right, but down in the valley there was a lot of barbed wire that held us up some. 1 know I got caught, but not for very long. “Our men were fighting like anything and killing a lot of Boches who were in the trenches and shell holes. A good many of the Germans were yelling ‘Kamerad,’ and surrendering too. . “Two of the Boches came running up to me with their iiands over their heads. I didn’t know what to do with them, but an officer came along and sent them to the rear. Wounded, but Killed Two. “Then we went oh and had about reached our objective when something hit me in the leg and I went down. I tried to get up but my leg wouldn’t let me and I was dizzy. While I was on my knee I saw two Boches charging at me with fixed bayonets. I had the butt of my rifle resting on the ground, my finger on the trigger, and I fired when they were about ten yards away. One of them fell over dead, but the other kept on coming and was on me before I could throw in a fresh cartridge. “Then I knew I had to fight him with the bayonet like a man. So I got to my feet somehow, and as he jabbed at me with his bayonet I parried it with my rifle and then swung the rifle to his head as hard as I could. The blow broke his skull and he went down. "That’s all I remember until I woke up and found a chum beside me. He had gone out and brought me back.” That finished the personal story of this boy who had fought and killed and been wounded, but he had something else which was much on his mind. After much hesitation it finally came, out “I wonder if my little girl at home is happy,” he said anxiously, referring to his sweetheart in Chicago. The correspondent told hinj she certainly would be very happy and proud to know how well he had done. “I hope she will be,” he responded thoughtfully, and then added: “Would it be too much trouble for you to drop her just a line to let her know that I am all right? I don’t know when I shall have a chance to write.” That letter will go immediately, but pending its arrival the girl in Chicago should know that he is wounded, but, as he himself“shyS, all right. Apparently, his wound is not serious. German prisoners, taken recently, have been surprised to learn of the number of Americans on this side. TheTFerman higher command has been spreading reports that the overseas troops were not arriving in such numbers as the entente capitals had stated. The German prisoners admitted ruefully that the drive had been conducted with Cleverness and Invincible courage. To this praise was added a telegram from Field Marshal Haig to the forces involved, including the American detachment, expressing his warm congratulations.

The Maryland state Industrial accident commission has ruled that where minors are employed in violation of the child labor law, and are injured, they cannot recover compensation. :