The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-12-26


Of our artillery fire and our sudden
approach out of the fog.
"Our First corps advanced to Thiau-
court, while our Fourth corps curved
back to the southwest through Nom
sard. The Second Colonial French
corps made the slight advance re-
quired of it on very difficult ground,
and the Fifth corps took it's three
ridges and repulsed counter-attack.
"a rapid march brought reserve reg
iments of division of the Fifth corps
into Vigneulles in the early morning,
where it linked up with patrols OF our
Fourth corps, closing the salient and
forming new line west of Thiaucourt
to Vigneulles and beyond Fresnes-en-
Woevre.
10000 Prisoners Taken.
"At a cost of only 1000 casualties,
mostly light, we had taken 10000 pris-
oners and 443 guns, great quantity
of material, released the inhabitants
of many villages from enemy domina-
ton and established our lines in po-
sition to threaten Metz.
"This signal success Of the Ameri-
can First army in it's first offensive
was of prime Importance. The allies
found they had formidable army to
aid them, and the enemy learned final
ly that he had one to reckon with.
The report shows for the first time
officially that with this brilliantly exc
cuted coup, General Pershing's men
had cleared the way for the great ef-
fort Of the allies and American forces
to win a conclusive victory. The
American army moved at once toward
it's browning achievement, the battle
of the Mouse.
The general tells a dramatic story
of this mighty battle in three distinct
phases, beginning on the night OF
September q, when Americans quick
ly took the places of the French on
the thinly held line of this long, quiet
sector. The attack opened on Septem-
Der 26, and the Americans drove
through entanglements. across No
Mans Land. to take all the enemy's
urSI-Ilue pOSillOuS.
Battle of the Meuse.
Closing the chapter, General Per
shing says:
ION November 6 a division of the
First corps reached point on the
Meuse opposite Sedan, % miles from
our lines of departure. The strategy
cal goal which was our highest hope
was gained. We had cut the enemy's
main line of communications, and
nothing could save his army from
complete disaster.
an all forty enemy divisions had
been used against us in the Meuse-
Argonne battle. Between September
26 and November 6 we took 26,059
prisoners and 46S guns on this front.
"Our divisions engaged were the
First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth,
Twenty-sixth, Twenty-eighth, Twenty
NINTH Thirty-second, Thirty-third,
Thirty-fifth, Thirty-seventh, Seventy
eighth. Seventy-ninth, Eightieth,
Eighty-second, Eighty-ninth. Ninetieth
and Ninety-first.
"Many of our divisions remained in
line for length of time that re-
quired nerves Of steel, while others
were sent in again after only few
days of rest. The First, Fifth, Twen-
ty-sixth, Forty-second, Seventy-sev-
enth, Eightieth, Eighty-ninth and
Ninetieth were in the line twice.
Although some of the divisions
were fighting their first battle. they
soon became equal to the best.
Other Corps Active.
The commander in chief does not
lose sight of the divisions operating
with French or British armies during
this time.
He tells of the work of the Second
corps, comprising the Twenty-seventh
and Thirtieth divisions, in the British
assault on the Hindenburg line where
/ the st. Quentin canal passes through
q tunnel.
OF the total strength of the expedi
tionary force, General Pershing re-
ports:
There are in Europe altogether, in
Guiding regiment and some sanitary
units with the Italian army and the
organizations at Murmansk, also in
Guiding these en- route from the States,
approximately 2,053,S47 men, less our
losses"
First U. s. Planes in May.
"The first airplanes received from
home arrived in May, and together
we have received 1879. The first
American squadron completely
equipped by American production, in
Guiding airplanes, crossed the German
lines on August z, 1918.
"As to tanks, we were compelled
to rely upon the French. Here.
however, we were less fortunate, for
the reason that the French produc-
ton could barely meet the require
ments Of their own armies.
sTt should be fully realized that the
French government has always taken
a most liberal attitude and has been
most anxious to give us every posi-
BILE assistance in meeting our deficien-
cies in these as well as in other
respects. Our dependencies upon
France for artillery, aviation and
tanks was, of course, due to the fact
that our industries had not been ex-
clusively devoted to- military produc-
tiOn."
Small Things Once Precious.