Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-13
GERMAN ESTIMATION OF
 AMERICANS AS SOLDIERS
Revealed in Extracts From Report of
 German intelligence Officer.

Washington, July 12.-Extracts from the formal report of a German intelli- gence officer at the headquarters of the Seventh Germany Army on the exam ination of American prisoners captur- ed last month are contained in the communique received from General Pershing today. The document, which was captured recently, is dated June IT and deals with prisoners from the Fifth, Sixth, Ninth and TWenty-Thlrd regiments of the Second American In fantry division, captured from June 5 to 14 in the Bouresches sector.
 Although the majority of the prison CTS lis of German, Dutch and Italian f percentage" the report states, these semi Americans fully feel themselves to be true born sons of the country"
 Elements of the Second American division, says the report, were put into the Moulanville (Verdun) sector | from the middle of March to the mid- dle of May for training and were re l lieved by unknown French troops. 'The division then was moved by ] rail to the vicinity of Bitry le Fran | cois, where it remained about five days. From there the division was transferred by rail, via CouIommiersit i Denis-Pontojse, into the regions west
 
 l Marines was in the vicinity of Gisors 1 thirty kilometers, southwest of i Beuvais. The Sixth Regiment Of Marines was at Chars, seven kilome- 1 ters northwest of the marines along l the Pontoise to Beauvais railway
 The Ninth and Twenty Third reg i iments were quartered with and near ! the marines.
 | Only Minor Tactics, '|The division rested eight days in 1 this region. Manoeuvers on Q large l scale or with large units were not | held; only exercises in minor tactics, l hand grenade throwing and target practice were carried out. A few long practice marches Chikes) were made. "On May 31. the Third Marine | Brigade was ordered to move and put l into French motor trucks (twenty men i or ten officers III each truck. The Fifth Regiment of the Marines was the first to leave and travelled via I Beaumont, Lucarches, Ermenonyt lie 1 (west of Nateuilles F'Iessis- -Belleville l and AieuaN to Lisy sur Ourcq, where they were 1naided after 8 journey of ] eighteen hours. The next regiment to leave was the Sixth Regiment of Ma 1 rines, which followed -he same route while the Ninth and Twenty Third regiments apparently moved via Veau- mont, Ecoven, Genesse, Aulnay. (En- 1 vilons of Paris), Clave, Meaum and were unloaded in the Aeighborhood of l La Gerte- Sours- Jouarre. The Fifth i regiment of marines was put into line ! during the night of June 2-3 as the l first regiment of the division, the other | elements taking up their positions in ! the sector of Echelon.
 
 | Fighting Value,
 Fighting value:
 1 The Second American division may l be classified as Very good division perhaps even as assault troops The | various attacks of both regiments on Belleau Woods were carried out with dash and recklessness. The moral ef- feet of our fire arms did not material ly check tha advance of the infantry the nerves of the Americans are still unshaken.
 Value of the individuals:
 "The individual soldiers are very good. They are healthy, vigorous 4n6 physically well developed men ,f ages ranging from IS to 28, who at present l lack only necessary training to make them re0oubtabIe opponents. The
 troops are fresh and full of straight forward confidence. A remark of one
 of the prisoners is indicative of theil
 spirit: We kill or get killed | Morale of American Troops.
 Morale:
 The prisoners in general make ar
 alert and pleasing impression; regard.
 ing military matters, however they d(
 not show the slightest interest. Theil
 superiors keep them purposely withou
 knowledge of military subjects, for ex. ample, most of them have never seer
 a map. They are no longer able to de.
 scribe the villages and roads througl
 which they marched. Their ideas or the organization of their unit is en l tire1y confused. For example. one O
 them claimed that his brigade has si,
 They still regard the war from tn point of the big brother who come
 to help his hard pressed brethren ant is therefore welcomed everywhere. 4
 certain moral background is not lack
 ing; the majority of the prisoners sim } ply took as a matter of course tha they have come to Europe in order t defend their country.
 Only a few of the. troops are of Dur r American origin. The majority is o - German, Dutch and Italian parentag ge 3 but these seni-Americans, almost a 3 never have been in Europe, fully fee f their country.
 e "(Signed.)
 n WON BERG,
 i Lieutenant and Intelligence - Officer"