The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05

line. When I think of their h, hardships, their unflinching sr filled with emotion which 1 am are immortal, and they have cal country"
 The report begins with General Per shing's departure for France to pave the way for the army that was to smash German resistance on the Mouse and give vital aid to the allies in fore ing Germany to it's knees 1s months later. It's striking feature is the sec ton devoted to combat operations" where 1t told the story of fighting by the man who directed it.
 General Pershing views the encount- CTS before March 2l of this year in which American troops participated as a part of their training and dismisses them briefly. On that date, however, the great German offensive was launched and a crucial situation quick ly developed in the allied lines which called for prompt use of the four Amerl- can divisions that were at that time equal to any demands of battle ac- tion.'' t4ls
 CRISIS IN PICARDY
 The first crisis of the German drive had been reached in Picardy.
 "The crisis which this offensive de- veloped was such,' General Pershing says, that our occupation of an Amer ican sector must be postponed. On March 2S I placed at the disposal of Marshal Foch who had been agreed Y...- H.. .tx ~e H.. lied armies. all of our forces to be used as he might decide. At his request the first division was transferred from the Toul sector to a position in reserve at Chaumont en Vexin. As German superb ority in numbers required prompt ac- tion, an agreement was reached at the Abbeville conference of the allied pre- miers and commanders and myself on May 2 by which British shipping was to transport 10 American divisions to the British army area. where they were to be trained and equipped, and additional British shipping was to be provided for as many divisions as possible to use elsewhere.
 "On April 2s the first diy&tap had gone into the line in the Nidier salient on the Picardy WI Sront nactics had been suddenly revolutK ..zed to those of open warfare. and our 4 en confident of the results of their train ing, were eager for the test. On the morning of May 2S this division at- tackled the commanding German posi- tion in it's front, taking with splendid dash the town of Cantigny and all other objectiyes which were organized and held steadfastly against vicious count er-attacks and galling artillery fire Although local. this brilliant action had an electrical effect, as it demonstrated our fighting qualities under extreme battle conditions, and also that the en- emy's troops were not altogether invin- cible."
 DRIVE FOR PARIS
 There followed immediately the Ger man thrust across the Aisne toward Paris.
 "The allies," General Pershing says, faced crisis equally as grave as that of the Picardy offensive in March. Again every available man was placed at Mar shal Foch's disposal, and the Third divi- sion which had just come from it's pre- hurried to the Marne Its motorized machine~gun battalion preceded the oth- ea units and successfully held the bridge head at the Marne, opposite Chateau Thierry The Second division, In reserve near Montdidier, was sent by motor trucks and other available transport tc check the progress of the enemy towarc Paris. The division attacked and retook the town and railroad station at Bou- resches and sturdily held it's ground against the enemys best guard divisions
 is.Tn the battle of Belleau Wood, which followed, our men proved their superiori ty and gained a strong tactical position with far greater loss to the enemy than to ourselves. On July l, before the Sec ond was relieved. it captured the village of vaux with most splendid precision. Meanwhile our Second corps, under Mai. Gen. George w. Read, had been organized for the command of our divi. sions with the British, which were held back in training areas or assigned tt second-line defenses. Five of the 10 di. visions were withdrawn from the Brit ish area in June, three to relieve divi sions in Lorraine and the Vosges an6 two to the Paris area to join the grouI of American divisions which stood be tween the city and any farther advance of the enemy in that direction.
 HELD THEIR GROUND
 By that time sthe great tide of Ameri can troop movements to France was il full swing and the older divisions coult be used freely. The Forty second. il line east of Rheims, faced the German assault of July l5 and held their grount unflinchtngly;" on the right flank fou companies of the Twenty eighth division faced "advancing waves of German In fantry" and the Third division held th' Marne line opposite Chateau Thierr, against powerful artillery and infantr, attack, "A single regiment of the Thirt wrote one of the most brilliant pages il our military annals on this occasion General Pershing says. Tt prevented the crossing at certain points on iti front while, on either flank. the Ger mans who had gained footing pressed forward. Our men, firing in three di rections. met the German attacks witt counter-attacks at critical points and sue ceeded In throwing two German divisions Into complete confusion. capturing 60 prisoners.'
 Thus was the stage set for the counter offensive which beginning with thu smashing of the enemy's Marine salien' brought overwhelming victory to the al lies and the United States in the event ful months that have followed. The In timation is strong that General Persh ing's advice helped Marshal Foch tt reach his decision to strike. Genera 1. Pershing continues:
 sThe great force of the German Cha teaus Thierry offensive established tn, deep Marne salient, but the enemy wal taking chances. and the vulnerability O 1 this pocket to attack might be turset to his disadvantage. Seizing this oppor