_32nd Division, 121st Machine Gun Battalion, Company D_
Under heavy fire from machine guns and artillery. Sergeant Korth
crawled to the crest of a hill, near Juvigny, north of Soissons,
August 31, 1918, setting stakes to line the American artillery on
enemy machine-gun emplacements. He remained in observation in this
perilous position for half an hour, signaling back when American
troops were endangered by the fire of the batteries.]
“When I came home Boelcke and my other comrades were already at
breakfast. They were surprised that I had not turned up. I reported
proudly that I had shot down an Englishman. All were full of joy, for
I was not the only victor. As usual, Boelcke had shot down an opponent
for breakfast and every one of the other men also had downed an enemy
for the first time.
“I would mention that since that time no English squadron ventured as
far as Cambrai as long as Boelcke’s squadron was there.”
“Still,” said von Richthofen, in his airily patronizing way, “the
Englishman is a smart fellow. That we must allow. Sometimes the English
came down to the very low altitude and visited Boelcke in his quarters
upon which they threw bombs. They absolutely challenged us to battle
and never refused fighting.”