The sun., 1918-12-05
PERSHING CALLS
EXPL0TTS0F HIS
MEN IMMORTAL
Earned Eternal Gratitude
of Country" He Says in
First Report.
HELPED AT RIGHT TIME
Also Lauds Part Played by
Those Who Did Their
Work at Home.

WAsHfNGToN, Dec. 4.--Gen. John j.
Fershing's account of his stewardship
as commander Of the American Expe-
dictionary Forces was given to the pub
lie to-day by Secretary Baker 1t is
in the form Of preliminary report to
the Secretary, covering operations up
to November 20, after the German COL
lapse. It closes with these words from
the leader OF the great army In
France. expressing his feeling for
those who served under him:
II pay tho supreme tribute to our
officers and soldiers Of the line. When
I think Of their heroism, their pa
tience under hardships, their unfiinch-
ing spirit OF offensive action am filed
with emotion which 1 am unable to
express. Their deeds are immortal
and they have earned the eternal graf
itude Of our country"
The report begins with Gen. Per-
shings departure for France. Its strik-
ing feature is the section devoted to
combat operations" where it told the
story Of fighting by the man who d.
rected it.
Gen. Pershing views the encounters
before March 21 OF this year in which
American troops participated as a part
Of their training and dlsmisses them
briefly. On that date. however, the
great German offensive was launched
and a crucial situation quickly devel-
oped in the allied lines, which called
for prompt use OF the four American
divisions that were at that time equal
to any demands of battle action"
The first crisis OF the German drive
had been reached In Picardy.
Had to Postpone Occupation.
THE crisis which this offensive de-
| veloped was such." Gen. Pershing says
that our occupation OF an American
sector must be postponed. On March
2s placed at the disposal Of Marshal
Foeh all OF our forces TO be used as he
might decide. At his request the First
Division was transferred from the Toul
sector to a position in reserve at Chau-
mont en- Vexin.
! "On April 26 the First Division had
/ gone into the line in the MontdidieI
1 salient. Tactics had been suddenly
revolutionized TO those OF open war
/ fare, and our men. confident of the
results of their training, were eager
, for the test. On the morning Of May
% this division attacked the com
: t,,
taking with splendid dash the town Of
! Cantigny and all other detectives
which were organized and held stead
fastly against vicious counter attack;
and CALLING artillery fire. Although
local this brilliant action had an elec
trical effect, as II demonstrated oul
fighting qualities under extreme battl,
conditions, and also that the enemy
troops were not altogether invincible.'
There followed Immediately the Ger
man thrust across the Aisne towart
Paris.
THE Allies Gen. Pershing says
faced a crisis equally as grave as tina
Of the Picardy offensive in March
Again every available man was place.
at Marshal Foch's disposal, and tn
Third Division, which had just COM
from it's preliminary training in tn
trenches, was hurried to the Marine
Its motorized machine gun battalion
preceded the other units and success
fully held the brdgehead at tn
Marne, opposite Chateau Thierry. Tn
Second Division, in reserve near Mont
didier, was sent by motor trucks an
other available transport to check tn
progress OF the enemy toward Parts
The division attacked and retook tn
town and railroad station at Bou
resches and sturdily held its groun
against the enemy's best Guard di
visions.
victory mt BelIeau Wood.
I'm the battle OF Belleau Woot
which followed. our men proved thei
superiority and gained a strong tacti
cal position. with far greater loss t
the enemy than to ourselves. On Jul
l, before the Second was relieved,