Gilpin observer., 1918-12-12

barbed wire that protected the enc
my's front line and support trenches
In irresistible waves on schedule time,
breaking down all defense of an en-
emy demorallzed by the great volume
OF our artillery fire and our sudden
approach out of the fog
our First corps advanced to Thiau-
court. while our Fourth corps curved
back tc the southwest through Non.
sard. The Second Colonial French
corps made the slight advance re-
quired of 1t on very difficult ground.
ana the Fifth corps took its three
ridges and repulsed counter-attnck.
rapid march brought reserve reg
iments of division of the Fifth corps
into Vigneulles In the early morning.
where 1t linked up with patrols of our
Fourth corps. closing the salient and
forming new line west of Thiaucourt
to Vigneulles and beyond Fresnes-en-
Woevre.
10000 Prisoners Taken.
"At cost of only 1000 casualties,
oners and 443 guns. a great quantity
Of material. released the inhabitants
OF many villages from enemy domino.
ton and established our lines In po-
sition to threaten Metz.
This signal success Of the Ameri-
can First army in its first offensive
was of prime Importance. The allies
found they had a formidable army to
aid them. and the enemy learned final
ly that he had one to reckon with"
The report shows for the first time
officially that with this brilliantly exc
cuted coup. General Pershing's men
had cleared the way for the great ef-
fort Of the allies and American forces
to win conclusive victory. The
American army moved at once toward
Its crowning achievement. the battle
of the Meuse.
The general tells dramatic story
of this mighty battle in three distinct
phases, beginning on the night Of
September q. when Americans quick
ly took the places Of the French On
the thinly held line of this long, quiet
sector. The attack opened on Septcm-
Der 20, and the Americans drove
through entanglements, across No
Mans Land, to take all the enemy's
first-line positions.
Battle Of the Meuse.
Closing the chapter, General Per
shing says:
"On November division of the
First corps reached point on the
Meuse opposite Sedan. % miles from
our lines of departure. The strategi-
cal goal which was our highest hope
was gained. We-had cut the enemy's
main line of communications, and
nothing could save his army from
complete disaster.
"In all forty enemy divisions had
been used against us In the Meuse-
Argonne battle. Between September
20 and November 6 we took 26,059
prisoners and 46S guns on this front.
"Opr divisions engaged were the
First. Second. Third. Fourth. Fifth,
Twenty-sixth, Twenty-eighth, Twenty
ninth, Thirty-second, Thirty-third,
Thlrty-hfth. Thirty-seventh. Seventy
eighth. Seventy-ninth, Elghtieth,
Elghty-second, Eighty-ninth, Ninetieth
and Ninety-first.
Many of our divisions remained in
line for a length of time that re-
quired nerves of steel. while others
were sent in again after only few
days Of rest. The First. Fifth. Twen-
ty-slxth, Forty-second, Seventy-sev-
enth, Eightieth. Elghty-ninth and
Ninetieth were In the line twice.
Although some of the divisions
were fighting their first battle. they
soon became equal to the best.
The commander in chief does not
lose sight of the divisions operating
with French or British armies during
this time.
He tells Of the work of the Second
corps, comprising the Twenty-seventh
and Thirtieth divisions, In the British
assault on the Hindenburg line where
the st. Quentin canal passes through
a tunnel.
OF the total strength of the expedi-
tionary force, General Pershing re-
ports:
There are in Europe altogether in
Guiding a regiment and some sanitary
units with the Italian army and the
organizations at Murmansk, also in
Guiding these en- route from the States,
approximately 2,O53.S47 men, less our
losses"
First U. 8. Planes In May.
"The first airplanes received from
home arriyod I'm May and together
we have received 1879. The first
American squadron completely
equipped by American production, in
airplanes, crossed the German
lines on August Z. 1918.
"As to tanks, we were compelled
TO RELY unOn the French. Here.