New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-09-02

French General Personally
! Praises Work of Ameri-
cans at Juvigny
Division Wins Fame
In Three Days Fight
Crack Enemy Units Wither
Before Fierce Attack
of Doughboys
By Wilbur Forrest

WITH IHE AMERICAN IROOPS
NORTH OF SCISSORS, Sept. 1.-Gen>
eral Mangin, commander Of the French
army with which the American troops
are operating, to-day personally called
on the American commanding officer
and complimented him on the excellent
work and wonderful combative spirit of
his men.
The fact that a deep advance, char
acteristc of other recent attacks, did
not follow quickly in the present attack
was explained by the commander as not
to be expected. The disposition of the
best of the enemy troops in this par
ticular sector, where big strategic ad-
vantages for the Allies will soon follow,
was known by the French command be-
fore the attack was launched.
The enemy holds this sector with
some of his freshest and best units.
Therefore desperate resistance is ex-
pected and the advance must be slow.
The American units are fighting side
by side with elite French units, famous
for their tenacity in hard battles.
Mangin Is Pleased
General Mangin assured the Ameri-
can commander that the American
forces engaged, who have already shown
excellent fighting ability in previous
battles, have been highly satisfactory
in this.
~ am entirely satisfied and congratu-
late you," he said. The army COM
mander also talked with the commander
of one of Frances most famous divis-
ions which is cooperating with the
Americans here.
The Tribune correspondent was in
formed by staff officer that the work
of the doughboys was equally COM
mended by the division chief. Censor
ship regulations will not permit the
naming Of the American division or it's
commander.
The division faced two highly capable
and highly fresh divisions within three
days and is still going strong. 1t is
permissible tc say that this unit came
to France not many months ago as a
-combatant unit-men to be used
merely as requirements" for other
divisions. It's commander insisted that
they be allowed to fight, and his re-
peated requests finally were granted.
The division, which probably has a
spirit identical with the youthful vigor
Of practically all the American divis-
ions, whether in France or America, has
won fighting name.
The Tribune correspondent has been
at the front with this division for the
last three days, and has seen an ex-
ample Of this spirit from the actual
battlefield to the dressing stations,
slightly behind them.
The Americans, in the hardest fight
ing and under terrific fire night and
day in the vicinity of the stone quarry
in the village of Juvigny. kept up such
a pressure on the enemy and inflicted
such losses with rifles, machine guns
and artillery that the fresh enemy
division was shattered and was with
drawn at an early stage of the fight
Another fresh division which was
thrown into the line Friday left more
than two hundred prisoners in Ameri-
can hands within a few hours, lost the
Juvigny stronghold and suffered ter
prisoners.
Joke Even When in Pain
/ have spent hours in the advanced
dressing stations where the wounded
are taken for treatment before being
removed to the rear. Here the spirit
shown is the same that wins battles.
"Your amazing doughboys!" COM
mented a French officer who stood with
me while the surgeons were attending
the wounded. A private with tract
ured leg was sitting up smoking a
cigarette as the surgeons were pulling
the bones into place. This operation
must have caused excruciating pain, for
the doughboy screwed up his face, but
he remarked:
"If you fellows want that leg why
don't you shake dice for u" After the
leg was fixed the doughboy smiled
when lifted to stretcher en- route to
safer and quieter spot.
Near by, on roughly constructed
operating table, lay youngster with a
German officers pistol bullet in his
shoulder. He had insisted upon bring
ing with him a fine Luger pistol which
one officer tried to buy from him.
Cant sell it," he said. owe got to
keep it as q souvenir"
"Where did you get it," asked the
DOCTOR
ut belonged to a German officer
answered the boy. "Guess he's dead
now. He got nasty with the Luger and
l had to feed him with my Colt. |
thought I'd take the gun along, becaus Sc
I've heard these Germans are PREACHER
Gus, and he might wake up and shoot
some one else"
"What did you get-a piece of shrap-
nel?" the doctor asked walking CASE
who sat waiting for attention.
"Nope-just machine gun bullet"
was the calm reply.
A biz corporal arrived later with q