The sun., 1918-07-13
!. S. TROOPS PRAISED
IN ENEMY'S REPORT
Data Taken From Captured
German Officer Refute
TeutOn Snecrs.
YANKEE COURAGE NOTED
Rcdoubtablc Opponents, of
Fine Physique, Undaunted
by Fire: Terms Used.
YANKEE COURAGE NOTED
Special De,pntch to THE sps.

rom berlr 10 CAIN tne Iears OF Yer
many have been answered and refuted
tr'the German army itself. The answer
Il in the captured report of a German
Intelligence officer. mdde part OF to-
fsys official war communique from Gen.
Pershing. The German oficer who made
the report was attached to headquarters
of the Seventh German army. The re-
por7 is dated June II. 1918.
Excerpts from the report already
have been published in The SUN. The
full report follows:
Intelligence officer Of the supreme
command at army headquarters, No. Z.
J number thirty-nve hundred twenty
eight.
Army Headquarters, June II, 1918.
Second American Infantry Division.
Examination Of prisoners from the
Fifth. Sixth; Ninth and Twenty-third
Regiments. captured from June to II
In the Bluresches sector.
principal points of information.
Purpose Of the attacks.
The prisoners were not informed OF
the purpose Of the attacks. The orders
for the attacks on Belleau Woods were
made known only few hours before
the attacks took place.
Arrival in line and relief.
No Information Given.
The marine brigade went into sector
from June 2 to June 4. and elements
@. the other two regiments from June
S 10 8 in the area Torcy-vaux (four
kilometers west Of Chateau Thierry),
one battalion from each unit being in
the front line. There they relieved
French troops. OF various divisions.
whose identity they uid not know.
They had no information concerning
their relief. Only the prisoners from
the marine brigade considered that on
account Of heavy losses their relief was
imminent.
Organization.
Paragraph One-The Third Marine
Brigade belongs to the Marine Corps.
which was already in existence in the
United States during peace time. The
First and Second Marine Brigades are
said to be still at home.
Paragraph Two-Regarding the dis
tribution Of machine guns the prison.
ers made contradictory statements.
They claim that. in the Third Marine
Brigade for instance. each regiment. in
addition to the infantry battalion. has
one machine gun DattdHOn OF IOuf pta-
ICONS, each platoon having twelve ma
chine guns. Furthermore each brigade
IL said to have one brigade machine gun
battalion.
According to a captured order OF bat
tie of the Twenty-sixth American d.
vision Intelligence Officer z. No. ACES.
June s, l9lS). that division has only one
machine gun company to battalion IN
each regiment. In case the vague state
nents of the prisoners are correct this
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
Tventy-siXth 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 Mouianviile
fVerdun) sector from the middle OF
March TO the middle OF May for train
ing and were relieved by unknown
French troops.
The division was then moved by rail
- the vicinity of vitry-le- Francois
where II remained ABOUT five days. From
there the division was transferred By
rail. via Coulommiersit, Denis Point Disc
INTO the regions west of Beuvais. The
Fifth Regiment of Marines was in the
vicinity OF Gisors. thirty kilometers
southwest of Beuvais. The Six Regi.
ment of Marines was at Chars, sever
Slometers northwest OF the marines
along the Point Disc to Beuvais railway
THE Ninth and Twenty-third Regi
ments were quartered with and near tn,
marines
The division rested eight days IL
his region. Man9uvres on a Iarg,
scale or with large units were not held
only exercises in2 minor tactics, hant
grenade throwing and target practic,
were carried out. A few long prac
tee marches thikes) were made.
On May 81 the Third Marine Bri
FADE was ordered to move and put int,
French motor trucks twenty men o.
Ten officers in each truck, The Fiftl
Regiment of the Marines was the frs
70 leave and travelled via Beaumont
Lugarches. Ermononville (west of Ma
teuiles, Flessis- Belleville and Meuax I,
Lisy-sur-Ourcq). where they were un
loaded after a journey OF eighteen hours
The next regiment to leave was tn
sixth Regiment of Marines, which fol
lowed the same route. while the Mint
and Twenty-third Regiments APPARENT,
Toved via Veaumont, Ecoven. Genesse
Au.nay (environs of Paris). CLAW
Meaum and were unloaded In the neigh
tfrnood OF La Derte-sous-Jouarre. Tn
t.fta Regiment OF Marines was put int
Inc during the night OF June "a as tn
f'st regiment OF the division. the othe
Elements taking up their positions Il
Inc sector in echelon.
Fighting Value.
The Second American Division ma
he classified as a very good division
perhaps even as assault troops. The va
i.ous attacks of both regiments on Bel
!esg Wood were carried out with das
ana rscklessness The moral effect @
our firearms did not materially chez
The advance of the infantry. The nerve
Of the Americans are still mistaken.
Value of the Individual.
The Individual soldiers are yer
good. They are healthy. vigorous an
\ PHYSICALLY we'll developed men of age
ranging from Is to rs. who at preser
Lack only necessary training to max
them redoubtable opponents. The trooI
are fresh and full Of straightforward
confidence. A remark Of one OF ii
Prisoners is Indicative Of their spiri
We kill or get killed
Method of Attack.
IN both attacks on Belleau Woo
which were carried out by one or tw
hattaIions, the following method OF q
iAck was adopted:
Three or four lines OF skirhishe
Al about thirty TO nfty pacss distanc
:s;her close behind these isolated q
sAclt parties In platoon column. Album