Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-05
Army Commander Over U.
S. Marine Contingent
Calls Work Splendid r.
GERMANS CANNOT PASS
Swift Success of Americans at
Belleau Wood and Vaux
Lauded
By WALTER DURANTY
Special Cable to Euening Public Ledger


Copyright, 1918, BIZ NeW York Times Co.
With the French Armies, July S.
Il am particularly delighted to have
American troops under my command.
They have fought splendidly. and as a
mark of our appreciation, Belleau wood
will be henceforth called the wood of
the Americans in all army orders. l
hope it will bear that name forever"
said the General commanding the army
north of the Marine. in which the Amer
leans are incorporated, to your corre-
spondent.
1t is doubtful whether in the whole
French army there is man better quail
ifed to judge the soldierly qualities
which the general declared the Ameri-
cans displayed so brilliantly. AS
Famous commander with four palms
and a star on his war cross, to attest
his own courage, he was noted as know
ing personally every man under his
ders and even kept in touch with them
by letters and inquiries when absent on
leave or wounded
My deep regret" he continued "s
that my duties as army chief have
prevented me from taking part in the
actions of the Americans and associ-
ating with them as I used to do with
my own men in our former position.
1t is the penalty Of higher responsible
ties that one cannot maintain the close
contact with hoops which. in my opn-
ion. is one of a commanders proudest
privileges and most important duties
Just the same I have seen enough of
the Americans to have absolute con-
fldence for the future.
Reading for Anything Now
''At present I can say We are ready
for whatever may come. If the enemy
should launch a big attack on this sec
tor they will not pass with their canes
in their hands. All of us. Americans
and French alike, realize what il means
to have been holding the road to Paris
We will not fail in our trust
An hour later your correspondent was
received by the general commanding a
corps of the same army. who explained
the successful local operations of the
past three weeks in which the French
and Americans have taken part in the
front from the northwest Of vilers Cot
terets forest to northwest of Chateau
Thiery :,
Speaking generally" he said. "our
purpose has been to straighten out the
line by the capture Of hills that are
useful to the boche as observation posts,
and woods or ravines that serve a s nests
for mtrailleuses or cover for cannon.
Thus in the neghborhood of Troesnes
two days ago, we advanced about a
half-mile on a front over a mile long
and took steep wooded hill at the juno
tion point of the Ourcq and its tributary
the Saviere. which gave the enemy a
view over the w:aole Ourcq valley down
to Ferte Mlon.
At the same time we occupied the
plateau further south, whose crest, called
the Sepulchre, commanded wide ex-
panse t .othe east and west. Here the
boche drove us back by strong counter
attacks, as fully awake 10 the difference
between overlooking us and submitting
to our survey all his movements around
Passy en- Valois, especially in view OF
the subsequent operations against the
very important forest of Nillers Cot
terats
Captured Boche Commander
"The brigade commander requested
me to order an immediate riposte.
replied Il have enough confidence in my
men to know that no such order is neces-
sary' 1t was not Before my MESA &c
could be transmitted to the zone of ac-
ton, the same troops that had taken the
positions and been pushed back attacked
and again recaptured the Sepulchre and
over 200 prisoners, including the com.
n1ander OF the DOCne DdItdHOn.
That is the sort of example we are
trying to give the Americans and / car
promise you they follow it admirably
The cooperation of the two nations
stimulates both to the highest efforts
and our men are just as proud of the
American success as of their own
" need not retell the story Of Bellea,
Wood, but when the full account comes
to be written the world will appreciate
.Ha .1ks- 49, ~-tA laI
face and how gallantly they overcam
them. And let me tell you, they profitet
by their experience Mondays affair a
Vaux was an even harder job than tha
at Belleau. Not only was the villag
crammed with machine guns, but tn
wood behind it Vas full Of machine guns
minewerfer, and artillery, the latter b.
the way, in far greater strength thai
we imagined-and the hill on the right
from which the enemy could pour
raking crossfre. But instead of havinl
trouble, everything went like clockwork
The Americans took Vaux on schedul
time, with over 800 prisoners and Yer.
slight losses. &.
Germans Completely Surprised
"The boche was so surprised by TIL
rapidly of the attack that in some case
he hadn't time to open fire, and on
group of about eight was capture
around a wounded man whose arm tw
of them were busy bandaging. Befor
the enemy countered, we had time to or
eanize a stout resistance and the resul
was that the Germans failed completed
and left another $50 prisoners benin
them.
It was one of the most brilliant lttl
operations one could desire and speak
wonders for the quickness with whic
the Americans are learning the gamt
1t is especially. important as an augur
for the future. / had already been as
ISOLATED with American troops in Lor
.raine and appreciated there their keen
ness and physical qualities. but it wa
even more satisfactory to see how the
have caught on to the use of quick fire
on the tanks in open order. grenades o
rifle mitrailleuse rushes and the compli
Gated teamwork that are the essence G
modern attack.
Altogether, in the series of operation
of the last month. the army has take
almost 1000 prisoners, of which larg
proportion has fallen to the Americana
and demolished six German divisions
For the first American participation
the active battle sector l think that
11ft