Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-12-12
SHINC Tells
B STORY Of WAR.
Commander IN Detailed Report
Relates How the U. s.,
Men Won.
SETS MARCH II As CRISIS
vssws American Operations Prior to
That Date % Part Of Their Train
ing Pays Supreme Tribute
to Officers and Men.

Warrington, Dec. 5.-Gen. John j.
Il Resshing's account Of his stewardship
.Slas commander of the American expe-
didcnary forces was given to the pub
INC Wednesday by Secretary Baker.
ss II is In the form Of a preliminary re-
port to the secretary, covering opera
n lions up to November 20, after the
German collapse. It closes with these
i words from the leader of the great
army 10 France, expressing his feeling
Il Tor those who served under him:
= pay the supreme tribute to our
a omcers and soldiers Of the line. When
$Il think Of their heroism, their patience
& I. under hardships, their unflnching spir-
sit Of offensive action, i am filed with
4; em0ti which I am unable to express.
8 Their deeds are immortal and they
have earned the eternal gratitude of
sslour country
@ The report begins with General
N Pershing's departure for France to
.pave the way for the army that was to
emash German resistance on the
Megse and give vital aid to the allies
4 = forcing Germany to its knees 10
Il months later.
3s Crisis on March ~.
General Pershing views the encoun-
II tefs before March q Of this year, in
which American troops participated as
10 part OF their training, and dismisses
them briefly. On that date. however,
SS the great German offensive was
Y y launched and crucial situation quick
~ developed In the allied lines which
III called for prompt use of the four
b American divisions that were at the
u time equal to any demands Of battle
Il action
The crisis which this offensive de-
sveloped was SUCH" General Pershing
says "that on March % placed at
the disposal Of Marshal Foch, who had
been agreed upon as commander in
chief 0f the allied armies, all Of our
forces. At his request the First 1ivi-
zion was transferred from the Toul
sector to position In reserve at Chau-
1 mont en- vexin.
SAs German superiority in numbers
required prompt action, an agreement
was reached at the Abbeville confer
.ence of the allied premiers and COM
'manders and myself on May by
which British shipping was to trans
port ten American divisions to the
British army area, where they were to
be trained and equipped, and addition
q British shipping was to be provided
Tor as many divisions as possible for
use elsewhere.
Men Eager for Test.
z. aOn April 28 the First division had
gone into the line in the Montdidier
salient, on the Picardy battle front.
Tactics had been suddenly revolution
s!ized to those Of open warfare and our
,ime4, confident Of the results of their
training, were eager for the test. On
the morning Of May % this division
attacked the commanding German po-
isition in It's front, taking with splendid
dash the town Of Cantigny and all
other objectives. which were organized
and held steadfastly against vicious
counter attacks and calling artillery
lire.
although local, this brilliant action
had an electrical effect, as it demon
istrated our fighting qualities under
extreme battle conditions and also that
the enemy's troops were not altogether
5invincible''
Hold Foe at Chateau Thierry.
u. d - -
There followed Immediately the Ger
man thrust across the Aisne river to-
ward Paris. He continues:
u .sThe Third division, which had just
come from its preliminary training in
1.-THE trenches, was hurried to the
i; ;Marne. IT'S motorized machine-gun
battalion preceded the other units and
successfully held the brldgehead at
! the Marne, opposite Chateau Thierry.
.sThe Second division, in reserve
near Montdtdier, was sent by motor
!: trucks and other available transport
TO check the progress Of the enemy
y toward Paris. The division attacked
and retOok the town and railroad sta
tiOn at BOuresches and sturdily held
its ground against the enemy's best
guard divisions.
"In the. battle Of Belleau wood, which
h followed, our men proved their SUI
speriority and gained strong tactical
,lp0sition, with far greater loss to the
4 enemy than to ourselves. On July 1,
before the Second was relieved, it cap
tured the village Of vaux with splen-
did precision.
Stand Between Paris and Foe.
Meanwhile our Second corps, under