The Washington herald., 1918-11-16

NOV. lS.-The war is over. but many
good Inside story that will make
part OF the history OF Americas share
remains yet to be told. Here As one
of them.
| lou must secure a foothold on the
other bank of the river Immediately
The whole army is waiting on it
You must get over at all hazards"
This, In substance. was what the
Dig Wigs OF the American army told
the rugged old regular with two sill
yer stars on his shoulder, who COM
rnanded division up on the Meuse
some ten days ago.
swer.
This is not an imaginary conversa-
tlon. he said IL. Moreover, he did
what he said. for now follows the
story OF one of the most desperate
and sanguinary struggles of the
American army in Frsnce-the cross
ing Of the Meuse.
1t was what strategy experts who
pore with heavily furrowed brows
over maps In every headquarters be-
hind the lines, sticking pins and lit
tie hags here and there, call a pivotal
blow" 1t was. in palmer language, a
punch in the stomach.
Won Sweeping sseeess.
Two nights later Sedan was burn
ing. Our troops, in the language OF
the military, were sitting on Stenay
and could take IL at will Mouzon
was afire. A vast amount of war
swag had been gathered in by the
A
long held by the Germans had been
released from the invaders domina-
tion and were wandering about the
streets Of their little home towns
blinking their eyes I'm bewilderment
like prisoners suddenly given free
dom.
The German retreat beyond the
Meuse was in full swing. Much or
this American success goes back to
the crossing of the famous crimson
tinged stream by troops OF the di-
vision commando with whom this
story has to do.
Surely some small credit for that
crossing y due to the thoughtful
looking young man with the wispy
blonde brain duster'' on his upper
lip. To the headquarters of an old
division commander came this young
man with his hands full OF blueprints
and his mind full OF ideas.
He is Capt T. 5. NJ. Smith. from
the West End of St Louis. They
made him a captain not long ago for
having ideas. He had Travelled far
over a muddy road to reach general
headquarters. The general was quar-
tered in a wine cellar under a build
ing in a shattered town well up the
-. 10 40
! from the ceiling.
This general has a passion for
| dwelling right among his guns. HE
/ batteries encircled his headquarters
/ There was little sleep in his neigh
, borhood.
Had Canvas Foot-bridge.
I The thoughtful looking young man
laid his blue prints out on the rough
table which, with an army cot con-
stituted all the furnishings Of the
generals dugoUt The prints showed
in detail an invention by Col J. G. B.
I.ampert, of the engineers. for getting
troops across uncrossable rivers.
Young Capt. smith represented the
colonel.
Besides the prints he had notes de-
scribing the invention as a canvas
type pe-portable-foOtbridg II was on
such a foetbridge that the old general
got across the Meuse- II was the
first time that Lampertis invention
was ever used in actual warfare.
though experiments had been made on
the MoselIe a short time before.
Smith is one of Lamperts experts
on these bridges. He can produce
ideas and drawings from his pockets
and haversacks like a magician pull
ing rabbits from a hat
No one analyzed the desperate ma
ture Of the Meuse undertaking better
than the division commander. He
could not pick his time with the whole
once. He impressed upon his brigade
and regimental commanders the i'm
perative nature Of the project
Decided to Cross
They. in turn. passed the word on
down the line. Even the enlisted
men knew what was expected II
was decided to make the crossing
near a town called Dun-sur- Meuse.
below Stenay. The river there is
about 160 feet wide II is shallow
at some parts and quite deep at
others. There is a ford below the
town. On the other side Of the river.
paralleling the stream, is canal
sixty feet wide and eight feet deep.
The banks of this canal are high,
steep and slippery. They afford no
foothoId. II is five-eighths OF a mile
from the river to the canal This
ground between is fiat and very
muddy. The Germans had machine
guns in position to enfilade all parts
of the river and canal. Further back,
on the line of hills, they had ar
tiIlery which could pour fire down
into the whole region.
At o'clock of the afternoon of
N-oxo,,hor tho A-erfr.p y,f,,f-v