Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-20
GOURAUD DEMANDED AMERICANS FOR HELP-By Herbert Corey

WITH THE AMERICANS, Aug. 15.-To under
w stand precisely how the great battle mas
w developed it is worth while returning TO
its first days and examining the part played by the
fresh division which has again gone into line. one
is aided to understanding OF the EXTRAORDINARY
grasp of the situation shown by General Foch ana
of the real genius with which he has pressed MS
enemy.
One division now lighting may be labelled for
the purpose of future Identification, when the CEN
sor permits the folk at home to know what troops
here have fought we'll, as Division DB. There are
men from the east and middle west and south in II.
From the beginning of its service in France 1t mas
possessed a remarkable morale
Its first action was some months ago in the
IuneviIle sector. Coming to that sector raw and
unframed it's staff quickly created in 1t very re-
markable esprit de The chief oil stan at tnat
time was young man we'll known in Washington,
soldier by profession. who was held to be one OF
the very best of the younger men in the regular
army. Division DB had hardly reached its place
in line than the French raided German salient
The chief OF staff went over the top" with the
French soldiers. He says it was imprOmptu, but
the fact remains that he so arranged his inspira-
ton that he was at the right place at the right
time He captured German officer with no other
weapon than a riding whip. Later on his action
was. criticised as showing somewhat reckless
spirit 1t was pointed out that the English armies
lost many of their finest oSdcers early In the war
through similarly daring exploits.
But if he lives he will make that unit a superb
fighting unit, lit was said
no REST FOR THEM
is now general. But that is beside the point.
After sufficiently arduous service in the training
areas Division DB ordered out of line on June
2S last 1t was be given rest, its orders said,
and little additional training after time. 1t
never did get that AS Generalissimo Foch got
additional information of the enemy plans he
moved the divisions of the allied army like checker
1t rode in trains and rode in camions and liked
again until it finally wound up in the ChalOns
area in the first days of July. Here it became
Hrdodh nv Conc al
Gouraud In the opinion of Foch and GoUraud the
fifth and greatest German offensive would be direct
ed though the Chalons plain.
THE DB American division is needed else
where was the word that once came.
Il can't spare the DIS" said Gouraud.
He had prepared the defenses at Chaions
no defenses have ever been prepared in this war,
perhaps For fifteen kilometers in the of the
front lines the plain serried with trenches and
The French information to the enemy plans
seems to have been complete in this instance. The
failure on the Chemin-des Danes not to be
repeated.
SLAUGHTER OF THE HUNS
Gouraud knew that the Germans were to attack
on the morning of July IS On the night of July
IA he took what military men consider long
chance, and pulled off great raid on the enemy
trenches. As result of questioning the prisoners
he took that night he learned the very hour of the
attack next day. Fifteen minutes before the mo-