The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1918-11-20

Germany had in four years fortified
it to the last degree of military skill,
with superb roads, both rail and
motor, connecting up to the rear po-
sitionS and bases.
The outstanding feature Of the
Argonnc forest is a long chain of
kills running north and south, COW
cred with dense growth of trees and
undergrowth, making an advance diff
ficult and offering superb defensive
qualities. Virtually no roads exist in
this forest, except for a few transver-
sal passe running east and west. The
soil is such that the least rain con-
verts it into a slippery, miry mess
In other words, the physical condi-
ton is such that the line attack for
an advancing army is limited to val
lcys, chief among which is that of
the Aire river.
Huns life Artery"
From the edge Of the forest, where
the resistance was viciously strong,
the enemy possessed innumcrablc
thanking positions. But beyond this
difficult region, lay the Montmedy-
Sedan line, which was recently cap
tHred A German order described it as
"cur life artery" 1t represented one
half of the German rail supply on the
western front. 1t meant death if cut.
The high command told Perish: :ng
to cut it. The American First army
! WAS put in motion from st. Mihicl.
| In nine days it was on the Argonnc
: line ready FOR an attempt, the failure
of which might mean disaster, and the
success of which would give untold
{ results. This quick movement Of an
| enormous body Of men, the establish
mcnt of a new line Of supply and at
the complicated military preparations,
was regarded with pride by the Amer
lean commanders.
The Americans knew what con-
frontcd them. They realized that this
was no second st. Mihiel but an en-
tcrprise at which other armies had
baked for four years. They knew that
mere was to be fought fight to rank
with the first battle of the Marnc
with Vcrdun, with the Sommc, and the
Chemin Des DANES; and they knew
that on them depended the fate of the
great attack on the rest of the front
1t forced back here the enemy must
give way to the west. If he held he
could hold elsewhere.
1t was at daybrcak Of September 2G
when the Americans went in. Using
lme divisions for the preliminary at
tack and under vigorous artillery sup
Port they advanced five kilometres the
first day. But the enemy was not
taken wholly by surprise. The second
Gay he threw into the line five count
er attack divisions he had held in
close reserve. They were his best
troops, but they failed not only to
push the Americans back, but they
Jailed to check the gradual advance
CT the Americans over the difficult
terrain.
First Phase Ended
! The first phase Of the action ended
October 81, during which the Ameri
can gains were not large but thcv
compelled the enemy to use a large
number of divisions, which became
slowly exhausted, and thus were un-
able to parry the hammerng he was
receiving from the French and British
on the west. 1t was bitter fighting
N the woods, brush and ravincs, over
"a region perfectly registered and
Plotted by the enemy where his guns.
tig and little, could be used with the
greatest efficiency. The original nine
American divisions in some cases were
kept IN the line over three consecu-
tive weeks. The American res, rvcs
ineh were thrown in until every divi-
sion not engaged on another part of
the line had been put into action.
1t IS fact commented upon with
PRIDE by the American commanders
and complmentcd by the Allies that
seven of these divisions that drove
their way throug hthis hard action
never before had been in an active
sector, while green troops, fresh from
home wer poured in as requirements.
Germans Beaten
The Associated Press dispatches
from day to day told what these men
did; how the enemy was slowly pushed
Lack from his trongcst and most vital
Eositions, through one defense system
after another, using his finest selected
troops, which had been withdrawn in
many instances from other portions of
the line in an effort to hold an enemy
which he declared last spring could
not be brought to Europe, and if so,
would not fight, and even if he tried
to fight would not know how to do so
The attack delivered the morning of
November |, which began the second
phase of the Argonnc battle, was the
Geath blow to the German army. Be
tween September 26 and October 81 :,
enemy divisions to the number of
thIrty-six were identified as being op-
| posed to the Americans in this sec
tor. Between November and Novcm
Der q the enemy threw i'm fourteen
1FcSh divisions, but all i'm vain.
Fighting every foot OF the wav the
| american advance averaged five kilo-
meters daily over terrain constantly
growing more difficult, with the lines
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