Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-12-14

signed to second-line defens.s. Five of
the ten divisions were withdrawn from
the British area in June. three to re-
heve divisions in Lorraine and the
NoSges and two were sent TO the Paris
area to join the group of American
divisions which stood between the city
and any further advance of the enemy
In that direction"
by that time the great tide of Amer
lcan troop movements TO France was
in fun swing and the older divisions
could be used freely. The Forty-sec-
0nd, In line east of Reims, faced the
German assault of July IS and held
their ground unfiinchingly :" on the
right flank four companies of the
Twenty-eighth division faced "ad-
vancing waves of %erman infantry"
and the Third division held the Marine
me, opposite Chateau Thierry. against
powerful artillery and infantry attack
Single Regiment Checks Enemy.
A single regiment of the Third
wrote one of the most brilliant pages
IN our military annals on this occa-
sion, General Pershing says. cit pre-
vented the crossing at certain points
on its front while, on either flank.
the Germans who had gained foot
| ing pressed forward. Our men. firing
IN three directions, met the German
| attacks with cOunter-attaczs at criti-
cal points and succeeded in throwing
two German divisions into complete
confusion. capturing 600 prisoners"
Thus was the stage set for the
| counter-offensive which. beginning
with the smashing of the enemy's
Marine salient brought overwhelming
victory to the allies and the United
States in the eventful months that
have followed. The intimation is
strong that General Pershing's advice
helped Marshal Foch to reach his de
cision to strike
Counter Offensive Opens.
General Pershing continues:
"The great force of the German
Chateau 1'herry offensive established
the deep Marine salient. but the enemy
was taking chances, and the vulnera-
bility of this pocket to attack might
be turned to his disadvantage.
Selling this opportunity to support
my conviction every division with any
sort of training was made available
for use in a cOunter-offenSive. The
place of honor in the thrust toward
scissors on July IS was given to our
First and Second divisions in com
pany with chosen French divisions.
without the usual brief warming of
preliminary commandment. the
massed French and American artillery.
firing by the map, laid down its rolling
barrage at dawn while the infantry he
gan its charge. The tactical handling
of our troops under these trying condi-
tions was excellent throughout the ac-
ton
THE enemy brought up large mum
hers of reserves and made a stubborn
defense both with machine guns and
artillery. but through five days fight
ing the First division continued to adj
vance until it had gained the heights
above scissors and captured the vii
lage of Rerzy-le-Sec.
"The Second division took Beau Re
paire farm and Very in very rapid
vance and reached position in
front Of 1IGny ut the end Of its second
day. These two divisions captured T.
600 prisoners and over 100 pieces of
artillery"
First American Army Formed.
The report Describes in some detail
the work Of completing the reduction
Of the salient mentioning the opera
tions of the Twenty-sixth, Third
Fourth, Forty-Second. Thirty-second.
and Twenty-eighth divisions. With
the situation on the Marine front thus
relieved. General Pershing writes. he
could turn to the organization Of the
First American army and the reduction
of the ST. Mihiel salient long planned
rs the initial purely American enter
prise.
A troop concentration, aided by gen
erouS contributions Of artillery and air
units by the French, began. involving
She movement, mostly at night, OF
100000 men
Z. sector reaching from Port sur
Settle rs. Of the Moselle eastward
through IS. Mihiel 10 Verdun and later
enlarged 10 carry ii to the edge Of the
forest Of Argonne WAS taken over. the
Second Colonial French. holding the
tip Of the salient opposite St Mihel
and the French Seventeenth corps. on
the heights above Nerdun. being trans
ferrPd To General Pcrshing's command.
The combined French, British. and
American air forces IT ,hili2ed for tire
battle. the report 81 IS. was The largest
aviation assembly evor engaged on the
western front up to THAT time in sin
gle operation.
Battle Of ST. Mihiei.
OF the reduction of the st. Mihiel
salient General Pershng says:
After four hours artillery prcpa-
ration the seven American divisions
In the front lire advanced IN , II. M.
on September -, assisted by limit
ed number Of tank manned partly by
Americans and partly by tbp French.
t.sr.l...... .4.-.s..r- .-..-