The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-09

the French High Command, the
Third Corps commander, American
expeditionary forces, and in tele-
gram from the former divisional
commander. In spite Of two sleep
p less nights, long marches through
rain and mud and the discomfort OF
hunger and thirst, the division at
tackled side by side with the gallant
First Moroccan Division and main
tained itself with credit. You ad-
yanced over six miles, captured over
5000 prisoners, IL batteries Of artll-
lery, over 100 machine guns, min
nenwerfers and supplies. The
Second Division has sustained the
best traditions of the Regular Army
and the Marine Corps. The story OF
your achievements will be told In
millions Of homes in all allied
nations tonight.
j. G. HARBoRD,
Major General, N. A.
France, July 81.
Fight for st. MihieI salient.
Then came the battle for the st.
Mihiel salient. On the night Of Sep
TENDER IL the Second Division took
over q line running from Remenau-
vile 70 hmey, and on the night OF
September II and the morning OF Sep
tember 10 attacked, with two days
detectives ahead OF them. Overcoming
the enemy resistance, they romped
through to the Rupt de Mad. a small
river, crossed It on stone bridges, &C.
cupied Thiacourt, the first days OBJ
jective. scaled the heights just be-
yond II, pushed on to a line running
from the Zammes-J journey Ridges to
the Btnvaux Forest and there rested,
with the second days detectives oc-
cupied by 25o o'clock of the first day.
The casualties Of the division were
about 1000. OF which 1874 were killed.
OF these about half we're Marines
The captures in which the Marines
participated were so German officers.
$500 men, 90-odd cannon and vast
stores. In his congratulations follow
ing the battle Gen. Lejeune said:
September II, 1918.
General Orders, No. "a.
desire to express to the officers
and men my profound appreciation
Of their brilliant and successful at
tack in the recent engagement.
Our division maintained the pres
tige and honor of the country
proudly and swept the enemy from.
the field. JOHN A. LEJEUNE,
Ma jor- General, L. s. NJ. C.
Capture of Blanc Mont Ridge.
But even further honors were to
befall the fighting, landing and build
ing force, Of which the navy is justly
proud. In the early part of October Il
became necessary for the Allies to cap
ture the bald, Jagged ridge twenty
miles due east OF Rheims, known as
Blanc Mont Ridge. Here the armies
Of Germany and the Allies had clashed
more than once. and attempt after at
tempt had been made to wrest II from
German hands. 1t was a keystone OF
the German defence, the fall OF which
would have far reaching effect upon
the enemy armies.
ITO the glory of the United States
Marines, let 1t be said, that they were
again part of that splendid Second
Division which swept forward in the
attack which freed Blanc Mont Ridge
from German hands. pushed its way
down the slopes, and occupied the
level ground just beyond. thus assur-
ing victory, the fun import Of which
can best be Judged by the order Of
Gen. Lejeune. following the battle:
FRANCE, Oct. II, 1918.
Officers and Men Of the Second d.
Uision:
1t is beyond my power of eX-
preston to describe fifty my admira-
ton for your heroism You at
tackled magniticently and you seized
Blanc Mont Ridge, the keystone Of
the arch constituting the enemy's
main position. You advanced be-
yond the ridge, breaking the
enemy's lines, and you held the
ground gained with a tenacity which
Is unsurpassed in the annals of war.
AS direct result of your victory,
the German armies east and west Of
Rheims are in full retreat and by
drawing on yourselves several Ger
man divisions from other parts Of
the front you greatly assisted the
victorious advance OF the allied
armies between Cambria and ST.
Quentin.
Your heroism and the heroism of
our comrades who died on the battle
field Will live in history forever, and
will be enulated by the young men
OF our country for generations TO
come.
To be able to say when this war is
finished. Il belonged to the Second
Division; I fought with II at the
battle OF Blanc Mont Ridge" will be
the highest honor that can come TO
any man. JOHN A LEJEUNE,
MaJor-General, United States Marine
Corps, Commanding.
Workmanship AmaEes Allies.
Thus it is that the United States
Marines have fulfilled the glorious ira
ditions Of their corps in this their
latest duty as the Soldiers who go 10
sea. Their sharpshooting-and in one
regiment SO per cent. OF the men wear
the medal of a marksman, a sharp
shooter or an expert riheman-has
amazed soldiers of European armies.
accustomed merely to shooting in the
general direction of the enemy. Under
the nercest fire they have calmly ad-
Justed their sights. aimed for their
man and killed him, and in bayonet
attacks their advance on machine gun
nests have been irresistible.
IN the otfcial citation lists more
than one American marine Is cred,ted
with taking an enemy machine eun
single handed, baVODptinp its ,,o,,, =.