_42nd Division, 167th Infantry, Headquarters Company_
While in command of a Stokes mortar platoon October 16, 1918, near
Landres-et-St. Georges, Argonne, Sergeant Atkinson with three soldiers
was advancing with the first wave of the assault, when on nearing
the objective, he discovered about 250 of the enemy forming for a
counter-attack. He advanced with the Stokes mortar under fire, and
opened a murderous fire on the approaching enemy, dispersing them.]
“Oh, well, I oughtn’t to grouch. We never used the tanks. And no one
that I know minds much. Those Renault tanks were little dandies. You
have no idea how easily they run. You can crawl over a telegraph pole
and hardly feel it, so well worked out has been the spring suspension,
the relation of rollers, chariots and treads. And they didn’t go in for
any fancy touches, the Renaults. No armor for the guns nor fancy locks
on the door to keep some one from crawling up and throwing a grenade
inside, nor deflection armor at odd angles which never did anything
but stop bullets and make splinters that otherwise would never have
endangered any one’s eyes.