The Republican journal., 1918-10-17

NLvs1AN - :.
him you have distinguished yourself
with notable valor ana plouths e1euit
upon your division ana upon 'no pIopie
of New England from winch sou nave
GREAT honor has been conferred
unon the whole division in that the
French and American High Command
has at this time picked your division to
come into this critical sector. That you
have been so hurried to this sector IS the
evidence to YOU all of the opinion OF the
Hioh Command of the mettle OF which
this division is constituted.
The past months in battle have
brouoht men and officers into that close
union of confidence and a1fectlon winch
have resulted in the growing morale OF
this division Looking back on the past
four months with its spotless record and
known achievements which have been
recognized by both France and America,
If is with unqualified faith in the future
and prjde of the past that see the 10th
Division 90 into new sector, certain In
NV conviction that the men OF New
England will prove once more that they
are capable of every effort and every
sacrifice which the future may demand
of them.
1Siened C. r. EDWARDS,
Major General Commanding.
| From July 9th to July 18th, it was
ouiet on the sector from Torcy to Cha
| team Thierry. On the latter date, how
ever the Germans launched their great
drive on a front extending from Chateau
| Thierry to the east of Rheims, and aimed
across the Marine, towards Epernay and
Chalons, their grand detectives. The
story of how American troops stood fast
against the savage rush of the Germans,
how they counter attacked at CreZanoy,
and drove the Huns back. across the
Marine, inflicting terrific losses, is already
familiar history to American readers. 1t
is also known how General Gouraud and
the French stopped the Germans In their
drive to the east of Rheims
This great German offensive halted by
American troops, Foch at once took the
initiative, and on the evening OF the
seventeenth of July the Goth Division re-
ceived orders to- 60 over the top at 43O
the next morning. The objective assigned
to the 103rd Regiment was the town OF
Torcy. The 104th Regiment was assigned
Belleau Wood, lying to the east OF Torcy.
The attack was started with a heavy
barrage, and at 4 80 the Maine boys went
over the top. They took Torcy in TWEEN
ty-two minutes. In forty-tlve minutes
they had overrun Torcy, taken the trench
es on both sides of the town, mopped up
the village, and consolidated their posi-
tions ready for a counter-attack. Serg
cant Harvey Butler of Whitefield, since
recommended for the distinguished ser
vice medal, was in charge of pla of
forty-three men, mostly Augusta boys,
who entered the town and, in less than
half hour, mopped up some two compa-
MES of Germans, concealed with machine
guns, in dug-outs, in the upper stories of
the stone dwellings, and in trees. Few
prisoners were taken.
Meantime the 1O4th Regiment, to the
east, had not Jared so we'll They failed
to take Belleau Wood plateau under the
first barrage. Another was laid at eight
o'clock in the morning, but this attack
also failed in the face of the desperate
German resistance. At ten o'clock, how
ever, under cover of a third barrage, the
plateau was taken and the Germans
driven out. During this time, the 103rd
were exposed to artillery fire from Bel
leau Plateau and had been Obliged to
protect their flank with machine guns
and infantry, in case the Germans should
finally hold their positions there.
The manoeuvre being executed by the
Allies at this time was a swinging of the
whole Soisson-Chateau Thierry line to
the east on the latter city as a pivot
When the 103rd went over the top on the
morning of July 18th, General Mangin
was launching an attack south of Scissor
The 32nd American Division was aiding
him in this move.
The French operating north of the
103rd Regiment were held up in their ad-
vance by a strong enemy machine-gun
nest at Monthiers. The third battalion
of the 103rd Regiment, consisting of the
Eastport, Houlton and Farm
ington companies, by well-executed
flank attack dislodged the Germans, and
aided the French in their advance. The
French general in command sent letter
to General Edwards, in which he stated
that his best troops could have done no
better
On the goth the division pushed on with
Etreplly, Chante Merle, and Bezuet as
its objective, all of which were finally
taken. On this day, between o'clock
in the afternoon and dark, Company M
of Augusta alone had five men killed and
sixty-six wounded, one of whom died
that night.
The Skowhegan Company, in this ad-
vance, found themselves in an impossible
owing to failure of their sup
ports to arrive on time, and were terribly !
punished, and forced. temporarily, to re- /
tire. They reformed, however, pushed |
forward heroically, and attained all their
detectives. The Livermore Falls Com
pany also met with heavy casualties, but
their conduct at all times was glorious. :
''During eight days, practically day and
night, our boys fought in the open. They
had to face and overcome, often advance
ing across open fields, artillery fire and
machine guns located on nearly
every hand. But they fought and ad-
during these eight days over ten
miles"
Acts of heroism were too numerous to
at this time. Every man did
his duty unflinchingly. Major Southland
of Bangor, wounded through the throat
by machine-gun bullet, with his ear
torn by shrapnel, continued to lead his
men until forced to retire for medical aid.
He left weeping, with the statement that
his boys would be all shot up and he