The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-06-17
Yankees Are Ready
For Toul Offensive
If DRIVE is MADE BOCHE
WILL PAY HEAVY COST
Americans, Constantly Fight
ing Have Held Sector for
Three Months.
By GEORGE RoTHwELL BROWN.

w ADn1NG1OpN, June ia Ter
man offensive west of Metz, the large
railroad ceter held by the enemy in
Lorraine, and where troop movements
have been in progress for more than
a week, would transfer American in
terest to a sector where our soldiers
have already distinguished themselves
and where they are more familiar
with the terrain, perhaps, than on
any other front in France. Adequate
preparations have been made here to
Withstand the boch push that seems
immientn, and there is every reason
to believe that no great gains could
be made against the French and
American forces north and east of
Toul.
No Immediate Military Gain.
This sector is so far to the east
that no immediate military advantage
could be hoped for by the Germans
in that direction. If movement is
made with the object of threatening
Verdun from the flank or forcing
Gen. Foch to send reinforcements
from the Montdidier-Noyon front, the
enemy will be made to pay a heavy
cost.
Fighting has been almost continu-
GUS on this front for nearly three
months, but inApril the engagements
first became serious, and it was in this
month that the Twenty-sixth national
guard division, composed of New
England troops and commanded by
Maj. Gen. Clarence R. Edwards, made
It's Reputation and gave the boche a
taste of the American fighting pual-
ity. The Toul sector was held at that
time by the Kankee troops, who are
likely to be heard from any time now
on another part of the front.
The fighting in April in this sector
makes a story of exceptinl interest in
Washington, where Gen. Edwards has
lived for many years, and also be-
cause Col. George H. Shelton, COM
manding the 104th infantry, which
was decorated by the French govern
ment on April % with the croix de
guerre, formerly lived here. Last
year he was member of the general
staff in Washington. He was trans
ferred to the Twenty-sixth division as
chief of staff and later was promoted
to the command of regiment of n
fantrywhich was destined, for its part
in Bots Brule fight on April 10, to be
the first American regiment to win
the famous French decoration for
valor in battle.
All His Men Were Honored.
Col. Shelton, in addition, was given
the croix de gueere, as were lit of
his officers and men, while every man
in the regiment is entitled to wear
the insignia of te decoration, green
cord over the shoulder. / should not
be surprised to hear that Col. Shelton
has been made brigadier general.
He has demonstrated exceptional
ability.
These national guard troops from
New England made good from the
start. One o ftheir artillery regiments
relieved French regiment at the
front at night, when the sector was
taken, laid its guns by the prescribed
French methods that are taught to
our army in France, and wet into ac-
ton early the following morning.
So great was the demand for man.
power in France at that time, when
the Somme offensive was on, that the
Twenty-sixth division was hurridly
filed up with casuals, who had been
drafted yn Februari and sent across
to replacement division. One colo
mel had nine Chinese sent to him, and
there were men Of all nationalities.
A Great Melting Pot.
So great a melting pot is the army
n France, and SO naturally does the
American take to soldering. that
these men, called upon in a great
emergency, made good, and in strong
German attacks which followed few
days later distinguished themselves by
beating off the boche and carrying
the fight across No Mans Land into
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