Evening star., 1918-07-20
americans PLAYED
PARTONMARNE
: Brought From Far and Rush.
ed Into Thick of Ter
ribIe Battle.
FIGHTING BLOOD SHOWN
BY HERBERT COREY.

MARINE, June 6.-On tne nght OF
June 1 a gap of more than four kilo-
meters, or two and one-half miles in
length, existed in the French line in
the neighborhood of Gandelu and
Montigny.
Fill this gap if you can," was the
mander of the American troops newly
arrived in the Chateau Thierry-Sois-
sons area. 'The Germans may attack
at any moment"
The Thing Is Done.
One infantry unit and a machine
gun unit and a detachment of ma
rines were reused from their sleep.
They were hurried along the dark
into positions, for positions did not
eXist-but into place on the open hills.
At o'clock on the morning of June
they were in readiness to resist at
tack.
The wave of German drive broke on
the dixie Of American resistance. 1t
need not be said that the Americans
stopped the German thrust. There is
a dispropordon in numbers to be ac-
counted for il that claim were made.
But tired Germans had been fighting
tired French, and were suddenly
called upon to fight young. vigorous.
tremendously forceful American con-
6ngents. The German forward move
. ment stopped short
Before the achievement of the
american unit which fought in the
Chateau Thierry area can be fully
comprehendeo 1t must be understood
that in open warfare Of the sort that
has been fought hereabouts a gap in
a line does not possess the significance
that gap in a trench line has. In
open fighting the possession of the
terrain swings from one side to the
other as the fortunes change. A gap
, may be plugged, as was done in this
case. or new line may be formed
IN the rear of the breach, to which
the shattered elements of the advance
must retreat
What is Of importance is the move
ment of the two sides. The one that
presses forward may be accepted as
the winner of the joust When that
movement forused Is stopped the
check becomes victory.
Magnificent Fighting.
The importance of the part played
by the Americans in the fight on the
Marne in 1918 need not be unduly
magnified. Neither is there any ex-
cuse for too great humility. They
fought magnificently and with sue
cess. The greatest praise for them
comes from the French who watched
them fight.
The story of the part played by this
American unit-the censor's rules
forbid my giving to the men of this
unit the recognition which is their
right by naming it's an important
feature OF the years lighting. It is
Mt IN fh1 o.
other that American stan work has
been freely criticised and sometimes
very justifiably criticised. In this in
stance it was superb.
On May 80 then this unit was at
rest 1t had played its part in the
fighting near verdun, where its men
had been broken In. It consisted of
two detachments of marines and two
detachments Of infantry. with the
usual auxiliary services. Its enlisted
no higher quality. SO far as I can
observe, than the remainder of the
American Army. Perhaps this de-
tachment has somewhat larger pro-
portion of Regular Army officers than
ts the case in most American units.
i Get ready to move tomorrow" was
the order received at o'clock in the
\ afternoon CT May 30.
Only those who have passed through
It can understand the tremendous
amount of work required TO get so
many men, scattered in their billets
in fifty d more villages, out of those
'bi1lets and on trains for an unknown
destination Yet at $50 o'clock on the
following morning-twe1ve and one
half hours from the time the order
men and horses were on trains or in
trucks and on their way. The first
had left hours before.
Hardly had the first of the unit
reached the line in the afternoon of
May 81 than the French headquarters
urged that as considerable force as
possible be put in position at once
The situation then was, as every one
now knows, most unpleasant one.
The Germans had effected their old
trick of surprise concentration. The
allies had not ventured to interfere
with the German plans by an Of
fensive ,on their own part. Outnum-
bered in some places two and three
to one. the French had been slowly
d1ven back: AT times the rate of
retreat had become disquietingly
rapid. because the Germans had been
their tired units. Thus fatigued and
disheartened French soldiers found
themselves constantly opposed by
fresh and vigorous troops. who had
the plan created by success.
At midnight, May 81. certain emer-
been placed in position. The French
general commanding in this area
asked for aid. Other elements of the
department took up positions at Cha
teau Thierry.
II I seem to be violating that rule
Of secrecy in which the American
censorship shrouds from the American
people all knowledge Of the move
ment Of their troops 1t is because !
am assured that for the past thirty
of the American troops on the Cha
feau Thierry road has been complete.
These first American troops to take
up positions In the fight on the Marine
were none too well provided with
things needful. Such immediate action
American or French, when the Amer
leans were sent forward. The men
were sent into position with their
travel rations and with only one hun
dred rounds of ammunition in their
pouches. However, these deficiencies
were Immediately remedied.
Filling the Gap.
BY o'clock on the morning OF
June the Americans were in position
across the Chateau Thierry road. Two
days rations and supplies had been
issued to them. Fourteen hours after
the order Of march was received
ammunition dumps had been estab-
1ished. On this day the engineer
troops built, some temporary entrench-
ments, and the artillery got into DO
sftion to support the infantry.
It was on the night of June 1 that
the French corps commander reported
the existence of q gap four kilometers
{or two and a half miIes) long near
Gandeiu-Montigny, to which references
has hean made and urped that ii he