“There were evidences everywhere, during this fighting, of German
treachery. Those Prussians were nasty fighters. The following is quoted
from the letter of a quartermaster’s sergeant who talked with a number
of our wounded in the hospital:
“‘If evidence were lacking of ingrained German untrustworthiness and
treachery, the following from the lips of three men, one an officer,
would be ample. During the progress of a hot engagement a number of
Germans, hands aloft and crying “Kamerad!” approached a platoon of
Marines who, justifiedly assuming it meant surrender, waited for the
Germans to come into their lines as prisoners. When about three hundred
yards distant, the first line of Germans suddenly fell flat upon their
faces, disclosing that they had been dragging machine guns by means of
ropes attached to their belts.
“‘With these guns the rear lines immediately opened fire and nearly
thirty Marines went down before, with a yell of rage, their comrades
swept forward, bent upon revenge. I am happy to state that not a German
survived, for those who would have really surrendered when their
dastardly ruse failed were bayoneted without mercy.
“‘As stated, I talked separately with three different Marines at
different times, and have no doubt of the truth of the story. When it
spreads through the Corps, it will be safe to predict that the Marines
will never take a prisoner.
“‘Can they be blamed? As one man remarked, “A good German is a dead
German.” Another said, “They are like wolves and can only hunt in
packs. Get one alone, and he is easy meat.”
“‘Little of this sounds uplifting, and smacks of calloused
sensibilities. But the business that brought these men to France is not
a refined one. It is kill or be killed, perhaps both, and the duty of
each man in the American army is to kill as many of the enemy as may
be, before he, in turn, is killed.
“‘I will not deny that my nerves are tense with horror at what I have
seen, and with pride at what our boys have done, even while my soul is
sick with this closer view of the red monster, War.’”
The Marine brigade was cited by the French army for its work in the
capture of Bouresches and Belleau Wood and the regimental colors have
the Croix de Guerre with the palm; but, let it be recorded as evidence
of what the Marines were that there were 518 individual citations
for conspicuous valor and extraordinary heroism in action, including
officers and privates.
“FORWARD, LANCERS!”
And Captain Grenfell’s Cavalry Troops Lived Over “the Charge of the
Light Brigade”
The first officer in the British Army to win the Victoria Cross in
the great war was Captain Francis O. Grenfell. He gained the coveted
reward on August 24, 1914, almost at the commencement of the British
fighting in Belgium, it was at the time of the great battle at Mons and
the perhaps more momentous retreat that followed. The gallant little
English army was struggling desperately to escape from the superior
force of Germans, who gave it no rest. The cavalry was ordered to
charge the enemy—to delay, head off and harass him as much as possible.
Foremost among the Lancers—mounted soldiers carrying lances—who were
always to the front in this dangerous and difficult undertaking, was
Captain Grenfell of the 9th.
The German guns caused terrible execution. The German infantry came
on in dense columns—like peas thrown out of a sack, as one soldier
described it. They pressed hard on the whole of the main body of the
army but especially dangerous was the position of the 5th Division. To
relieve this section the 9th Lancers were ordered to charge.
“Although all knew they might be going to certain death,” as the story
is told by G. A. Leask, “not one of the gallant men faltered. They
sang and shouted like schoolboys as their horses thundered over the
ground. They treated the charge in the spirit of sport. These dashing
cavalrymen, as they rode straight at the German guns, presented one of
the finest sights of the whole war. There has been little opportunity
to engage in cavalry charges since. Grenfell rode at the head of his
men, encouraging them by his coolness. One who took part in the charge
has said that he was the life and soul of the squadron, shouting the
loudest, always in the front, setting an example to his comrades by his
fearless riding.
“At first all went well. Few of the Lancers had fallen, and the dashing
cavalrymen were looking forward to a real fight at close quarters with
the German gunners, who were playing such havoc among our troops. The
men were in excellent spirits, although they knew their danger.
“INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH”
“Suddenly a murderous fire from the enemy pulled them up. Grenfell’s
cheery voice rose above the awful din of bursting shells, urging his
men to continue the charge. They recovered, and followed their leader.
Then the enemy’s fire became hotter. It was like riding into the
jaws of death. Twenty concealed German machine guns rained death on
the horsemen at a distance of not more than 150 yards. Even then the
gallant 9th did not waver, for they were led by a hero. Standing up
in the stirrups and brandishing his sword Captain Grenfell called to
his men to ride straight on. They cheered and obeyed. It now seemed as
though nothing could stop this wild charge. Both men and horses had
become infuriated.
[Illustration:
© _New York Herald._