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Show WORLD WAR YARNS by Lieut. Frank E. Hagan That "Counter-Attack Note" One of the classics of the war Is the famous "counter-attack note" written by an American general during dur-ing the lighting at Chateau Thierry. According to the popular version, ver-sion, a German attack had forced back an American and a French division and the French corps commander com-mander advised retreat, whereupon the American general replied, "The American flag has been compelled to retire. This Is unendurable. We are going to counter attack " These statements have been attributed to both Maj. Gen. Robert L. BullardV "C and Maj. Gen. Omar Bundy. As a matter of fact, the author of the counter-attack note was Maj. Gen. Joseph T. Dlekmnn. commander command-er of the Third division. On July 19, 1918, at his headquarters at Chateau-la-Doultre, Col. It H. O. Kelton, his chief of staff, showed him on the map how a part of the division had apparently been dislodged dis-lodged from Its advanced position and how the French One Hundred and Twenty-fifth division bad been forced to give ground. General da Montde8lr, the Frencb corps commander, com-mander, ordered both units to withdraw with-draw to a position further back. General Dlckman glared at the map which showed the Germans In his front lines. Then his lower Jaw was thrnst forward and be growled, "Well, d n It, let's get 'era out of there." - So be dispatched to the French high command this note: "We regret being unable on this occasion oc-casion to follow the counsels of our masters, the French, but the American Ameri-can flag has been forced to retire. This Is unendurable and none of our soldiers would understand their not being asked to do whatever what-ever is necessary to re-establish the situation. At present It Is humiliating humili-ating to us and unacceptable to our country's honor. We. are going to counter-attack." , French G. H. Q. seized on that letter as propaganda to prove that the new American troops not only would fight but preferred to tight. A new day dawned In the deadlock on the western front. e -Lafayette, We Are Here!" No doubt, 09 out of 100 Amerl-leans Amerl-leans believe that soon after General Gen-eral Pershing arrived in France as commander in chief of the American Ameri-can expeditionary forces he' stood before the tomb of the great Frenchman who had aided Washington Wash-ington during the Revolution and, making an appropriate gesture, exclaimed, ex-claimed, "Lafayette, we are here I" It seems a shame to spoil a good story and one . which would naturally nat-urally find Its way into the school histories of the future, but It must be done. For General Pershing nver uttered that sentence, even though he might have Indorsed It as highly appropriate. It Is true that he was present at the Picpus cemetery In Paris when it was uttered, but the man who . voiced the fact that America was, repaying an ancient debt to France was a member of Pershing's staff CoL Charles E. Stanton. The words which he used were "Lafayette, nous somme la I" and the thought back of those words thrilled the people of France Immeasurably. But when the story was cabled back to America, the phrase was credited to the commander of the A. E. F. It became one of our famous "popular "popu-lar beliefs" and even President Wilson Wil-son In a speech before the French chamber of deputies quoted it as having been ottered by Pershing. American "Canadians" . Thousands of Americans served In the British forces during the World war, and Judging by the stories one hears today they felt perfectly at home with the "Tommies." One of the principal reasons, doubtless. Is the treatment they were accorded, for apparently the British paid them the highest compliment com-pliment of treating them Just as their own, with' no favors and no discriminations. An American recmlt for British service, Carleton G. Bowden, a seed Industry leader of Boise. Idaho, today, to-day, who afterward Became an officer offi-cer in the British army, tells of his experience In taking the . "king's . shilling," the British expression for Joining np. When the recruiting ofllcer asked his birthplace be gave It as Memphis Mem-phis Tenn. "Canadian," said the officer, with a slow wink, "what was the birthplace?" birth-place?" ' Bowden fumbled for a reply. "Shall we say Ottawa?" asked the ofllcer. "Correct sir." "Ottawa It Is." And Bowden found himself In the army. Two years later, when he was on observation duty In the front line for an English battery, the eve of an attack, Bowden learned that eight of ten supposed Canadians who shared his dugout had been "born In the United States. ' (tel. 1931. Weetero Newspaper Union.) |