This I think saved me from being hit. During the firing, I remained on
guard watching these prisoners and unable to turn around and fire myself
for this reason. I could not see any of the other men in my detachment.
From this point I saw the German captain and had aimed my rifle at him
when he blew his whistle for the Germans to stop firing. I saw Corporal
York, who called out to us, and when we all joined him, I saw seven
Americans beside myself. These were Corp. York, Privates Beardsley,
Donohue, Wills, Sok, Johnson and Konatski."
From the affidavit by Private Percy Beardsley:
"I was at first near Corp. York, but soon after thought it would be
better to take to cover behind a large tree about fifteen paces in rear
of Corp. York. Privates Dymowski and Waring were on each side of me and
both were killed by machine gun-fire. I saw Corp. York fire his pistol
repeatedly in front of me. I saw Germans who had been hit fall down. I
saw the German prisoners who were still in a bunch together waving their
hands at the machine gunners on the hill as if motioning for them to go
back. Finally the fire stopped and Corp. York told me to have the
prisoners fall in columns of two's and take my place in the rear."
From the affidavit by Private George W. Wills:
"When the heavy firing from the machine guns commenced, I was guarding
some of the German prisoners.
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