The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-12-12
PAYS HIGHEST TRIBUTE.
.Continued from page 2, column A.

PAYS HIGHEST TRIBUTE.
tContinued from page 2, column A.
forest of Argonne, was taken over,
the Second Colonial French, holding
the tip Of the salient opposite st.
Mihiel, and the French Seventeenth
Corps on the heights above Verdun
being transferred to General PERISH
ing's command.
The combined French, British and
American air forces mohilized for the
battle, the report says, was the larg-
est aviation assembly ever engaged
on the western front up to that time
IN a single operation.
OF the reduction of the st. Mihiel
! salient, General Pershing says:
After four hours artillery prep
aration the seven American divis-
ions in the front line advanced at 5
a. m., on September r., assisted by
J q limited number of tanks, manned
partly by Americans and partly by
the French. These divisions, accom-
panied by groups of wire cutters and
others armed with bargalore torpe-
does, went through the successive
banks of barbed wire that protected
the enemy's front line and support
trenches, in irristible waves on
schedule time, breaking down all
defense of an enemy demoralized by
the great volume of u artillery fire
and our sudden approach out OF the
fog.
Our First Corps advanced to
Thiaucourt, while our Fourth Corps
curved back to the southwest
through Nonsard. The Second Co
lonial French Corps made the slight
advance required of it on very diff
cult ground and the Fifth Corps took
its three ridges and repulsed a coun-
terattack. A rapid march brought
reserve regiments of a division of the
Fifth Corps into Vigneuiles In the
early morning, where it linked up
with patrols of u Fourth Corps,
closing the salient ond forming a
Anew line west of Thiacourt to Wig
aeulles. and beyond Fresmes-en-
Woevre.
AT the cost of only 1000 casual
ties. mostly light, we had taken 49,
900 prisoners and 443 guns, a great
quantity of material, released the
inhabitants of many. villages from
enemy domination, and established
lines in a position to threaten
Metz.
The signal success of the Ameri-
q First army in it's first offensive
was Of prime importance. The allies
found they had a formidable army
to aid them and the enemy learned
finally that he had n to reckon
WITH
The report shows for the first time
offcfally that with this brilliantly
executed coup, General Pershing,s
men had cleared the way for the
great effort of the allied and Amerl-
ear forces to win a conclusive VIC
tory. The American army moved at
once toward the crowning achieve
ment, the battle of the Meuse.
The general tells a dramatic story
81 this mighty battle in three dis
tinct phrases, beginning on the night
Of September ~, when the Amerl-
cans quickly took the places OF the
French on the thinly held line OF
his long quiet sector. The attack
opened on September &c and the
Americans drove through entangle-
ments. across No-Man's-Land to take
All the enemy's first line positions
Closing the chapter, General Perish
ing says:
sOn November 6 a division OF the
First Corps reached a point on the
Mouse opposite Sedan, 25 miles from
j lire of departure. The strate'
gical goal which was our highest
hope was gained. We had cut the
enemy's main line of commun1ca'
lions, and nothing but surrender
or an armistice could save his army
from complete disaster.
/ Many Prisoners Taken.
aIn all 40 enemy divisions had
been used against US in the Meuse'
Argonne battle. Between September
rs and November 6 we took 26,O5S
prisoners and 46s guns on this front
Our divisions engaged were the
First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth
Twenty-sixth, Twenty-eighth, Twen'
ty-ninth, Thirty-second, Thirty-third
Thirty-ffth, Thirty-seventh, Forty
second, Seventy-seventh, Seventy
StER-E- Hs-lks&l,