The Colorado statesman., 1918-11-23

from Falmouth and followed pre-
scrlbed course going and returning; II
the steamers were painted in speci-
fed way and carried specified flags;
IL one steamer a week each way were
sailed, and If the United States govern
ment guaranteed that no contraband
was carried.
The immediate answer OF the United
States was given February 3-the sew
erance of diplomatic relations with
Germany. April 6 the president signed
joint resolution OF the two houses,
of congress declaring a state of war
TO exist with Germany. In quick sue
cessiOn came the selective service act
for the raising of an army; war
appropriation Of S3.000,000000; the
sending of an expedtionary force OF
regulars to France under General
Pershing; the registration of nearly
100000 men for military service
the closing of the first Liberty loan
with large oversubscription; the
drafting of the state militia into the
federal service. October 81 formal an
nouncement was made that American
troops in France had fred their first
shot in war.
Nevertheless. the spring of 1918 saw
three huge drives on Paris by the Ger
mans. BY June | the Germans were
within .46 miles of the French capital,
in Chateau-Thierry. Unless they were
speedily stopped Paris would he under
their guns. The plan of the. French
was to delay them as long as possible
by rear-guard actions until reserves
could be brought up.
Yankees Stop Huns.
And then took place the thing
which all good Americans were prayer
fully expecting: American soldiers
got into action In American fashion,
under American leadership, with
American artillery and machine guns.
The French commander sent to
Chateau-Thierry an American division
made up of marines and of infantry
from the middle West. June 2 the
leathernecks and doughboys moved
into support positions back of season
ed French troops. The French were
forced back and filtered through the
Americans the support positions soon
became the front.
June 4, about five o'clock in the aft
ernoon, the Germans attacked in force
through a wheat field, in platoon col
umns, in perfect order, supremely con-
fident. The Americans raked them
with shrapnel and machine guns. Then
they opened with rifle fire. Cool, un-
hurried, they picked their shots as II
at target practice Military experts
will tell you that the American ma
rines are the most effective fighting
men in all the armies of the world; GER
tainly they have no equals with the
rife.
The Germans wavered. then came
on again. Twice more they stopped;
twice more advanced. Then they broke.
Flesh and blood could not stand that
rifle fire. They crawled off through the
standing grain. The Americans sent
bullets wherever the wheat stirred.
That was the end.
DAYS and nights of heavy lombard
ment followed. Sleep was impossible.
The Americans lived on monkey
meat" bread and water. Then they
went on and took the town of Boures-
ches, cleaning out the nests of machine
gunners with rifle fire. bayonet an.
grenade.
What They Have They Hold.
Next they took the Bois de Belleau.
It was,a Jungle. 1t was every man for
70 oh
tree. from rock TO rock. The battnl-
ion of leathernecks which took the
wood went in with 95S men and 70
officers. They came out with $40 men
and seven officers. But they took
the wood. Then they dug themselves
in and fought off counter-attacks for
five days until relieved, constantly
shelled and gassed, not one hot meal
all that time. What the leathernecks
have they hold.
This one division used up five cracl
divisions of the Germans.
There are those among the allies
who say that the Americans at Cha-
teau-Thierry saved Paris, just as the
Canadians saved Calais. When the
military history of the Great War Is
written Chateau-Therry is likely to
be called the turning point of the
struggle. For its moral force was be-
yond estimate. 1t put new heart into
the war-worn French and British. All
France famed with JOY. The Ameri-
cans ha dstopped the Hun, had driven
him back. had beaten him off. And
thousands upon thousands of just such
Americans were in plain sight pushing
to the front!
General Foch in supreme command
of the allies on the western front, soon
afterward launched the allied offensive
and victory followed victory all along
the fighting line of $50 miles from the
North sea to Verdun. 1t was the be
.,;,,ipp Of tho end