Evening journal., 1918-07-13
German Tells Of j.
s. VAL0R ON MARINE
Officer Pays Tribute TO Our
Dash and Morale in
Several Battles
REFERS TO SOLDIERS
AS STORM TROOPS

pershing In his communique received
here yesterday, gives the full text OF
the remarkable report made by a Ger
man officer detailed TO question United
States prisoners In this report, cap
tured from the enemy, tribute Is paid
to American dash, physical condition
and loyalty, and the units which fought
near Chateau Thierry are called almost
assault troops. Portions Of the re-
port have been cabled by correspond
ents previously.
Tho section OF the communique deal
ing with The captured document fol-
lows:
The document Is dated June 7. 1918.
Extracts from It follow:
Intelligence officer OF tho supreme
command at army headquarters No.
~, No. 362s.
Army headquarters, June a., 1919.
Second Americana Infantry Division.
Examination Of prisoners from the
9th, 9th, 9th and 23d regiments cap
tured from June 3 TO "a IN the Bou-
resches sector.
Principal points OF information.
The prisoners were not informed OF
ders for the attacks on Belleau Wood
were made known only few hours
before the attacks took place.
Arrival In line and relief.
"The marine brigade went into sec
tor from June 9 10 June 4 and ele-
ments Of the other two regiments from
June 10 June In the area OF Torcy-
Naux two and a half miles west Of
Chateau Thierryl, one battalion from
each unit being In the front line. There
they relieved French troops OF vari-
Gus divisions, whose identity they did
not know. They had no information
concerning their relief. Only the pris-
oners from the marine brigade con-
sldered that on account Of heavy losses
their relief was imminent.
Organization.
Paragraph THE Sd Marine Bri-
gade belongs to the Marine Corps which
WIS already In existence in the United
States during peace time. The ist and
2d Marine Brigades are said TO be still
at home.
Paragraph 2-Regarding the distri-
button Of machine guns the prisoners
made contradictory statements. They
for instance, each regiment In addl-
ton TO the infantry battalion, has one
machine gun battalion Of four platOOns,
each platoon having one machine gun.
Furthermore, each brigade is said to
have one brigade machine gun bat
talon.
According to a captured order OF
battle OF the 26th American Division
Intelligence Ofilcer Z. No. 1928, June s,
1919. that division has only one ma
chine gun company TO a battslion in
each regiment. In case the vague state
ments OF the prisoners are correct, the
discrepancy can be perhaps explained
by the fact that the Marine Corps was
part OF the United States peace army
and was therefore equipped according
TO principles other than In the case OF
the 26th American Division which has
been formed from National Guard
troops since the war began.
History OF the division:
elements OF the second American d.
vision were put into the MoulanVille
fVerdun) sector from the middle OF
March 10 the middle Of May for train
ing and were relieved by unknown
French troops.
THE division was then moved by ran
10 the vicinity OF Nltry-Le Francois,
where IL remained about five days.
From there the division was transferred
by rail. via COulommiersit, Denis-POn-
toise. into the regions west Of Beuyais.
The 5th Regiment OF Marines was ID
The vicinity Of GisOrs, thirty kilometres
southwest OF Beauyais. The 9th hegi-
ment Of Marines was at Chars. seven
Kilometres northwest OF the Marines
along The POntOise to Beauyais Rail-
way. -.
quartered with and near the Marines.
Srhe division rested eight days In
this region. ManOeuvres on large
scale or with large units were not
held. only exercises in minor tactics,
hand grenade throwing and target
practice were carried out. A few long
practlce marches (hikes) were made.
son MAY 81 the Sd Marine Brigade
was ordered to move and put into
French motor trucks twenty men or
ten officers in each truck. The Jth
Regiment Of the Marines was the first
TO leave and Travelled via Beaumont,
Lucarches. Ermenonville west OF Ma
teuiles. Flessis-Belleville and Meaux
TO Lisy-sur-Ourcq). where they were
unloaded after Journey OF eighteen
hours.
The next regiment to leave was the
9Th Regiment OF Marines. which fol-
lowed the same route, while the 9th
and 23d regiments apparently moved
via VeaunOnt, Ecoven, Genessee, Aul-
nav fenvirons OF Paris), Olave. Meaux,
and were unlOaded in the neighb0rhood
OF La Derte-sous-Jouarre. The 9TH
resiment Of Marines was put into line
during the night OF June 2-3 as the
first regiment Of the division. the other
elements taking up their positions in
the sector in Echelen.
Fighting Value:
sThe second American division may
be classified as a 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 firearms did not materially
check the advance of the Infantry; the
nerves OF the Americans are still un-
shaken.
ayaIue OF the Individual:
"Thc individual soldiers are very good.
They are healthy. vigorous and physic-
ally well developed men OF ages ranging
from IS TO 2s, who at present lack only
necessary training 60 make them re-
doubtable opponents. The troops are
fresh and full OF Straightforward conil-
dence remark OF one OF the prison.
ers Is Indicative OF their spirit: we
XIII or get killed,
"Notbod of Attack: