Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-06

review OF WAR
TRIBUTE MEN
Commander Praises Deeds of YAM
KEGS in Turning Battle Tide in
Report OF His Work.

stewardship as commander OF the
American expedidonary forces was
slven TO the public today by Sec
rotary Baker. It is in the form Of
q preliminary report 10 the secre-
tary. covering operations up to Nov
20 after the German collapse. It
closes with these words from the
leader Of the great army in France.
expressing his feelings for those
who served under him.
I pay the supreme tribute 70
our officers and soldiers of the line.
When I think OF their herOiSm, their
satcuce under haTdsEjps. their uu-
E5ncuIng spirit of offensive action,
! am hlled with emotion which l
ann unable to express. Their deeds
are immortal. and they have earned
The eternal gratitude OF our coun-
try
y The report begins with General
Tershlng's departure TOT France to
pave the way for the army that was
to smash German resistance on the
Meuse and give vital aid TO the al
lies in forcing Germany 10 its knees
is months later Its striking fea-
lure is the section devoted to com
bat operations" where It told the
story of fighting by the man who
directed it.
General Pershing views the en-
counters before March 81 Of this
year in which American troops par
ticipated as a part Of their training
and G5smisses them briefly. On
that date. however. The great Ger
man offensive was launched and
crucial situation quickly developed
ira the allied lines which called for
prompt use of the four American
divisions that were ar that time
equal TO any demands Of battle
action"
The first crisis Of the German
drive had been reached in Picardy.
The crisis which this offensive
developed was SUCH General
PershinE SAYS. that our occUpa-
ton of an American sector must
he postponed. On March Is l plaC-
ed at the disposal OF Marshal FOch,
who had been agreed upon rs COM
mauGer in chief OF the allied ar
mics. all Of our forces 10 be used
as I4t GL-4F gu httAtiI- NJ AIS u 49,
the first division was transferred
from the Tout sector to q position
IN reserve at ChaumOut en- EeZin.
As German superiority IN numbers
required prompt actiCa. an agree
meut was reached a. the AbbevIile
conference of the allied premiers
and commanders and myself on
MAY > by which British shipping
was TO transport ~ American diyI-
sious to the British army area.
where they We're 10 me trained ana
equipped. and additional British
shipping was Ia be provided for as
many divisions as possible FOR use
elsewhere.
"On April 26 the First division
had gone into the line in the Mont
Iid.er salient on the PicaTdy battle
.rout Tactics had been suddenly
rev1lutiOuiZet to those OF open war
fare and our men, confident Of the
results of their training. were Gag
er for The test on the morning Of
Nav 2S this division attacked the
Commanding German position In Its
front. taking with splendid dash
the town of Cancjguv ami all other
hHAtfr.H. Is f-- " II t& " p. tfA El-tr-Lt
and held steadfaszly against vicious
counter attacks and calling arti1-
Iery FIRE Although local. this bril-
liant action had on electrical effect, .
as i- demonstrated our fighting
qualities under extreme battle con-
ditiou=- and also that the e0emy's .
troops were not altogether iHviuc-
tbTn."
There followed immediately tic
German thrust across he Aisnc to-.
ward Paris.
"Tbe allies General T-ersbiug
says. faced q crisis equally as
grave as that of the Picardy often /
sfYe in March. Again every avail /
able man was placed at Marshal .
Foch's disposal. and the Third divi- /.
Ton. which had just come from its !
preliminary training IN the trenches
was hurried TO the Marine Its mo-.
e0rized machine-guu battalion pre-
Ceded the other units and success
fully held the bricgahead AT the
Marine. opposite Chateau Thierrv.
The Second division. in reserve near /.
-Toutdidier. was sent by motor
: rucks and other available trans
EEDi ~ CLUE i-Ei EEb-ltnS vi tIt
enemy toward Paris The division f
attacked and retOok the town and 4
railroad station at Bouresches and +.
sturdily held its ground against the +.
euemv's best guard divisions. Il
sin the battle Of Belleau wood,
hitch followed. our men proved
their superiority and gained a
strong tactical position with far
greater loss to the enemy than to
On July /. before the
Second was relieved. it captured
the village of Vaux with most
splendid precision. II
Meanwhile our Second cOrps
under Major General George W. !
Read, had been organized for the
Command Of our divisions with the
British. which were held back in
training areas or assigned to Sec
1nd-llHe defensee. Five Of the 10
ifyisions were Withdrawn from the
British area in June. three to re-
eve divisions IN Lorraine and the
osges and TWO 10 the Paris area to
DIN the group Of American divi-
ions which stood between the city
a'''- 8 ar q 5I