{ title: 'The Rio Grande rattler. ([McAllen], Hidalgo County, Tex.) 1916-1917, December 25, 1918, Page 31, Image 31', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/sn87030234/1918-12-25/ed-1/seq-31/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn87030234/1918-12-25/ed-1/seq-31.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn87030234/1918-12-25/ed-1/seq-31/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn87030234/1918-12-25/ed-1/seq-31/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
Image provided by: New York State Military History Museum
104 MACHINE GUN BATTALION I t was up in Belgium, b etween Mt. Kemmel and Ypres, that this battalion made its debut into the active military circles of the world. In preparation for this big event we had been put through six weeks of contin uous training. After that period of work we figured we were ready for anything that came our way. W e had been told this was a quiet sector, and we found that it probably had been so before the Avar. T h e initial trick .began Avith o u r men taking up fonvard positions Avith their guns. W e w e r e directly under Mt. Kem m e l on one side o f Scherpen b e r g hill. Some of our guns Avere forward o f the infantry, a few in support and others w e r e mounted for harrassing fire and anti-aircraft Avork. W e learned later that the Boche AAras expected to begin a push to the sea, and that Ave Avere to change his mind for him. The boys Avere ready, but he disappointed us. W e had to be content Avith numerous aeroplane battles, failing, however, in each case to bring down the German craft. The German 44 straffe ” that came our way gave us sufficient instruction in the art of dodging iron pineapples and making use of holes in the ground. Casualties Avere suffered by the battalion at Scher- penberg. Our next appearance Avas doAvn in Picardy where it became the task of the division to crack the Ilindenburg line. In this stunt, the battalion Avas held in reserve, to advance in the rear of our infantry-and take over the support at the critical time. That time came, but Fritz had counterattacked just previously, making it necessary for a brigade of Australians to take the place of our 24 guns. The boys were dorvn in the dumps when they Avere ordered to the rear, and to duck the 44 heavies ” coming over instead of being up Avhere the fun Avas. But orders are orders. It Avas while following up the lines, prelim:nary to the next job, that Captain Molyneux of the io 5 Machine Gun Battalion was placed in command of the 104 th. For a few days before the battle our guns held break through positions but had 110 occasion to become active. Gas Avas heavy, hoAvever, causing a few casualties. Later, after our doughboys had successfully attacked, we followed up, crossed the Selle river and stood ready in reserve. W e took over several positions in front of the infantry that night. Sgt. B. E. S a u l . I 05 t h MACHINE GUN BATTALION A short spell of extensive training after the arrival of the i o 5 th M. G. Bn. in France, and the Battalion moved with the Division up to the Flanders front. In the East Poperinghe Line, the finishing touches Avere applied and the baptism of fire receiAmd. The next move that brought the Battalion into action Avas at Dickebusch in the Ypres salient, at Avhich place the Battalion relieved the Sixth English Division and took over, for the first time, a section of the line. Battalion Headquarters was established well fonvard of the position occupied by the British and under the command of Major Gardner. The gun teams imme diately commenced an harrassing fire amounting to approximately 4000 rounds a night; but this was raised to as high as 43000 rounds. Early in the morning of the 3 1 st news was received of the German AvithdraAAral from iMt. Kemmel and at eleven a. m. orders were received for 'the Battalion to move its guns fonvard in support of 'the io 5 th and 106th Infantry. Keeping on the heels of the infantry they selected their positions on the Hallebast- Vierstraat Road. Heavy shelling throughout the night resulted in casualties. On the morning of the 3 rd the Battalion was relieved by the 41st British Division. After a short rest the Battalion moved south to the Tincourt Area, where, with the Australians, they Avere to attack the great Hindenburg Line. The Battalion moved forward to its position on the night of the 26th and, after taking over, sat tight until the 27th. Out of the gray dawn at 4:80 on the morning of the 27th Companies A, C and D opened the barrage with Co. B covering Tombois Road. Three guns of Co. C Avere destroyed by shell fire during the barrage after which their remaining guns, and the guns of the other companies Avere laid on the S. O. S. On the 29th the attack on the Ilindenburg Line took place. At 5 : 5 o, zero hour, the 35 available guns of the Battalion opened up their deadly barrage, firing over the heads of the infantry Avith the Hindenburg Line as a target. The firing lasted for half an hour, at the rate of 200 rounds a minute. After the barrage had been laid and the infantry had made its advance the gunners packed their guns on the fighting limbers, and moved forward to establish a strong line to repel any possible enemy counter-attacks. They remained there until the first of October, when they were relieved and moyed back for a short rest. After following the advance of our Allies for several days the Battalion moved into positions to assist in another attack Avith the Australians and on the 17th the Battalion again went into the line, Co. D suffering heavy casualties on the Avay up as a result of enemy strafing along the roads. At 5:20 the barrage started, the guns of the Battalion firing approximately 110,000 rounds. As soon as the barrage had lifted Co. A moved up to the banks of the Selle River, folloAAmd by Co. B which also moved forward crossing the river, some of their guns getting across before the infantry, Avhile Cos. C and D remained in readiness to move forward. In view of supporting the infantry’s advance, Co. A moved over the Selle to Advantage Farm, and although holding successfully in all the operations the Battalion suffered heavy losses. On the 19th of October, Co. A moved forward again into the town of Arbre-Guernon, where Avord was receiv ed from the io 5 th Infantry that the situation Avas critical. Guns Avere mounted along the road to repel any enemy attacks. During this operation Cos. B, C and D moved up, and all positions Avere maintained in spite of the ever-increasing barrage laid down by the enemy. P v t . J ack C o l l i n s . — 30 —
