Evening star., 1918-12-05
PERSI1ING SAYS u. S. TROOPS
PROVED WORTH AT CANTIGNY
Played Telling Role From Then On-De-
scribes Gallant Work at Chateau
Thierry, St. Mihiel and Meuse.

! The story Of the part taken by the
United States Army In the great war
/: overseas 10 told by Cen John J.
made public today by Secretary
Baker
Gen. Pershing views tho encoun-
ters before March 81 Of this year In
which American troops participated
as a part Of their training and dis
| misses them briefly. On that date.
however. the great German offensive
was launched and a crucial situation
quickly developed in the allied lines
which called for prompt use Of the
four American divisions that were at
that time equal to any demands Of
battle action"
First Crisis at Picardy.
The frs, crisis Of the German drive
had been reached in Ptcardy.
THE crisis which this offensive de-
veloped was SUCH" Gen. Pershing
, says. that our occ lpation of an
American sector must be postponed
of Marshal Foch. who had been agred
upon as n-chief OF the
allied armies all of our forces to be
used as he might decide At his re-
quest the lst Division was trans
ferred from the Toul sector to q po-
si,ion in reserve at Chaumont en-
EeXin. AS German superiority In
numbers required prompt action. an
agreement was reached at the Aboe-
vile conference of the allied premiers
and commanders and myself on May
2 by which British shipping was to
transport ten American divisions to
the British army area, where they
were to be trained and equipped. and
provided for as many divisions as
possible for use elsewhere.
"On April % the LIST Division had
gone into the line In the Montdidter
salient on the Picardy battle front.
Tactics had been suddenly reyoiu-
and our men. confident of the results
Of their training. we're eager for the
test On the . orning of May % this
division attacks the commanding
German position in Its front, taking
with splendid dash the town of Cam
we're organic and held steadfastly
against vicious counter attacks and
gazing artillery fire. Although loc Il,
this brilliant action had an electrica,
effect. as it de nonstrated our fight
ing qualities under extreme battle
conditions and also that the en- my's
troops were not altogether fnvinci-
ble."
Tells Of Thrust Across Aisne.
There followed Immediately the
German thrust across the Aisne
toward Paris.
that of the Picardy offensive in
March. Again every available man
was placed at Marshal Foch's dis
posal. and the Sd Division, which had
just come from its preliminary train
ing in the trenches. was hurried to
gun battalion preceded the other
units and successfully held the
bridgehead at the Marne. opposite
Chateau Thierry. TIE I'd Division. in
reserve near Montdidier was sent by
transport to check the progress Of
the enemy to"ard Paris. The d.
vision attacked and retook the town
ard railroad station at Bouresches
and sturdi'y held its Ground against
the enen,y's best guard divisions.
"In the battle of Bellean wood
which followed orr men proved their
superiority and gained a strong tao
tical position. with far greater loss to
the enemy than to ourselves. On
July l. before the I'd was relieved. 1t
captured IHe Vlltdrso vi tduA VIII
mnst splendid precision.
meanwhile. our I'd Corps. under
Maj Gen. 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 second-line defenses; Five
Of the ten divisions were Withdrawn
from the British area in June. three
to relieve divisions in Lorraine and
the Vosges and two to the Paris area
to join the group Of American divt-
sions which stood between the city
and any further advance of the enemy
in that direction"
Get Into Full Swing.
BY that time the great tide of
American troop movements to France
was in full swing and the older divi-
sions could be used freely. The 42d.
in line east of Rheims, faced the Ger
man assault of July 10 and held their
ground untiinchingly" on the right
flank four companies of the 2Sth Divt-
man infantry" and the Sd Division
held the Marne line opposite Chateau
Thierry against powerful artillery and
infantry attack. "A single regiment Of
tho 3d wrote one OF the most bril-
liant pages In our military annals on
his occasion" Gen. Pershing says.
1T prevented tho crossing at certain
points on It's front while. on either
tank the Germans who had gained a
footing pressed forward. Our men.
firing in three directions. met the Ger
man attacks with counter attacks at
critical points and succeeded IN
throwing two German divisions into
complete confusion, capturing 600
prisoners"
counter onfensive which, beginning
with the smashing Of the enemy's
Marne salient. brought overwnelm,ns @ elr,.
states In the eventful months that
have followed. The intimation is
strong that Gen. Pershing's advice
helped Marshal Foch to reach his de-
cision to strike. Gen. Pershing con-
"The great force Of tho German
chateau-Thierry offensive established
the deep Marne salient. but the on
emy was taking chances, and the
yuinerabi,ity of this pocket to at
tack might he turned to his d'sad-
vantage Selling this opportunity to
sunport my conviction. every division
with any sort of training was made
available for use In a counter Of
fensive. The place of honor in the
thrust toward Soissons on July ~
was given to our 1st ana "a al.
Describes American Success
without the usual brief warning
Of a preliminary oombardment the
massed French and American ertil-
iary. firing by the map. laid don
it's rolling barrage at dawn. While tho
infantry BEGAN its charge. The tao
tical handling of our troops under
these trying conditions was excel
lent throughout the action. Inc en
on,y hroupht un large numbers OF