South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-13

Inc following are extra clh from
a German document recently cap
tured. II IS the formal report OF
German intelligence officer at the
headquarters Of the seventh German
army, and is dated June Il. 1918:
Intelligence officer Of the supreme
command at army headquarters
number seven. j number number.
Thirty five hundred twenty eight
Army headquarters June IT,,
1918.
Second American infantry di-
vision.
Examination OF prisoners from
the dfth. sixth. ninth and 23rd regi-
ments captured from June 10 a
in the Bouresches sector.
Principal points or informs ton.
Purpose, Of the attacks
THE prisoners were not inform
ed Of the purpose OF the attacks
The orders for the attacks on Bel
Z leau wood We're made known only a
few hours before the attacks took
place
Arrival in line and relief
Report ON Marines.
THE marine brigade went into
sector from June 10 June T. and
clements Of the other TWO regiments
/ from June to IN the area Torcy-
4 NauX (4km west Of Chateau Thier-
, ~. one battalion from each unit
being i'm the front line. They re-
lieved French troops Of various di-
visions whose identity they did not
know They had no information
concerning their relief only the
( prisoners from the marine brigade
considered that on account of heavy
I losses. their relief was imminent.
Organization -- Para graph one:
I The third marine brigade belongs to
/ the marine corps which was already
+ i'm existence in the United states dur
( ing peace time. The first ard second
marine brigades are said 10 be still
at home
Paragraph two: Regarding the dis
tribution of machine guns the pris-
oners made contradictory state
ments They claim that in the third
marine brigade for instance, each
/ regiment, in addition 10 the infantry
Z battalions. has one machine gun bat
! talon Of four platoons, each platoon
/ having > machine guns. Further
more. each brigade is said 10 have
one machine gun battalion.
According 10 a captured order of
! battle Of the 26th American division
/ Intelligence order seven, mum Der
thirty-two hundred twenty eight.
June S. 1919 that division has only
/ one machine gun company TO a bat
! talon in each regiment. In case the
/ vague statements Of the prisoners
/ are correct, the discrepancy can
perhaps be explained by the fact
! that the marine corps was part OF
/ the United States peace army and
was therefore equipped according 10
( principles other than i'm the case OF
/ the 10Th American division. which
has been formed from national
guard troops since the war began
/ What German Learned"
History OF the division;
Elements Of the second American
division were put into the MouIan-
VILE Nerdun) sector from the
middle OF March to the middle of
I May for training and We're relieved
/ by unknown French troops
The division was then moved by
rail 10 the vicinity Of Nitry-le- Fran
co.'s. where it remained about five
DAYS. From there the division was
transferred by rail via Coulemmier-
{ sit, Denis Pontoise, into the regions
west of Beauvaiss. The fifth regi-
/ ment OF marines was in the vicinity
OF Gisors. 80 kilometers southwest
/ of Beauvaiss. The sixth regiment OF
marines was at Chars, seven kilo-
meters northwest of the marines
along the pontoise TO Beauvaiss
railway.
The ninth and 23rd regiments
were quartered with and near the
marines.
The division rested eight ,lays in
this region. Maneuvers on large
scale or with large units were not
held; only exercises in mine opera
tons. hand grenade throwing and
target practice were carried out =
few long practice marches wete
made.
ON May 5. marine brigade was
ordered 10 move and put into French
motor trucks GO men or 10 officers
in each truck. The fifth regiment
Of the marines was the first 10 leave
and travelled 10 Lily -sur-Ourcq,
where they were unloaded after a
journey of IS hours. The next regi-
ment 10 leave was the sixth regiment
OF marines, which were unloaded in
the neishborhOod OF La-FerJe- Sous
Jouarre. The fifth regiment OF ma
rines was put into line during the
night OF June "a, as the first resi-
ment OF the division. the other ele-
ments taking up their position in
the sector IN Echelon.
Very Good Division.
Fighting value:
The second American division
MAJ be classified as very good
division. perhaps even as assault
troops. The various attacks Of both
regiments on Belleau wood We're
carried out with dash nd reckless
ness. The moral effect OF our fire.
arms did not materially check the
advance OF the infantry; the nerves
of the Americans are stiu mistaken