The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-07-25
America Holds
POIUer Balance


in the cause of democracy in the fight
ing on the Marine. But during those
five days when thin line of Ameri-
cans stood between the German and
the road to Paris, the entire course OF
the war for the coming months was
changed. The American, despite his
lack of technical training, had won
for himself a place in the Line of bat
tie alongside the seasoned troops of
the Allies. He had demonstrated that
the fighting instinct of the American
had only TO be stirred to respond. In
stead of requiring long periods of
training, he had shown that with the
instruction he had received at home,
when he stepped from the transport
to French soil, he was ready.
On the Marne the American proved
his worth as a stout hearted open field
fighter, either on defense or offens-
i've.
At Cantigny he displayed his quail
tiles as storm troop"
here was a vast difference between
the fighting at Cantigny and about
Chateau hierry. On the Marine it was
first. resistance against wave after
wave of advancing Germans coming
across open country. through waving
wheat fields or woods. Every third
man carried machine gun. The
American was forced to find such COW
er as he could, also in the open. From
behind a rock or from a hastily dug
hole in the ground he poured his rifle
and machine gun fire into the Boche
lines. Then he fought his way for
ward and drove the enemy from his
advantageous positions in Boursches
and Bois De Belleau. Behind the
fighting man the munition men and
wagons worked tirelessly to keep him
supplied. Positions were constantly
being changed. Food was uncertain.
But the American hung on, and is
there today.
REHEARsiko cANTIGNY.
At Cantigny the American showed
his adaptibility to carefully planned
movements. ! witnessed a complete
rehearsal of the attack on Cantigny
days before it actually took place. 1t
was in a great open field back of the
lines. French machine gunners
played the role of Germans. They
had their machine guns hidden in pits
T., 81
diers, forming a long line. waved
green branches of trees to represent
the artillery barrage. French tanks
waddled across the field and took up
positions corresponding to those they
were to take in the actual fight.
French and American officers care
fully instructed the men who were to
make the attack as to just how they
were to follow the barrage, how ma
chine gun nests were to be cleaned
out, and how they were to work in
conjunction with the tanks. Then
came the signal. the soldiers carry
ing" the barrage began waving the
green branches, the infantry and tanks
moved forward and the German" ma
chine gune began firing. AS the bar
rage moved forward lines were re-
formed. and the advance continued.
The machine gun nests were cleaned
out in good shape. but the clever
machinegunners put over" one on
the Americans that they did not for
get when it came to the real battle.
FRENcHMEN IN TREE.
In the center of the mimic battle
waddled slowly by and detachment
of infantry dashed forward. Then,
from apparently nowhere, fierce
rattle of machine gun fire burst on
the Americans. The officer in charge
of the detachment knew that he was
theoretically wiped out. Every man
dropped to the ground for cover as
he would in a real engagement and
Frenchmen had mounted 1t in the tree
They had also withheld their fire
until the tank had passed, and made
their play for the men and got them
The tank was signalled to come back
to put cannon shot into the tree.
This done. so that they were theoret.
ically destroyed. the Frenchmen
climbed out of the tree in glee.
When it came to the real fight, the
Americans were as cool as in the
rehearsal. They followed the tanks
nxer and. ron ahaad Of than In, fhait.