Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-12-11

of material. released the Inhabitants
of many villages from enemy domina-
ton and established our lines in a po-
sition to threaten Metz.
This signal success of the Ameri-
can First army in its first offensive
was of prime Importance. The allies
found they had formidable army to
aid them, and the enemy learned final
~ that he had one to reckon with"
The report shows for the first time
officially that with this brilliantly exc
cuted coup. General Pershings men
had cleared the way for the great eff
fort of the allies and American forces
TO win a conclusive victory. The
American army moved at once toward
its browning achievement. the battle
of the Meuse.
The general tells a dramatic story
of this mighty battle in three distinct
phases, beginning on the night of
September -, when Americans quick
ly took the places of the French on
the thinly held line of this long. quiet
sector. The attack opened on Septem-
Der %. and the Americans drove
through entanglements, across No
Mans Land. TO take all the enemy's
first-line positions.
Battle Of the Mouse.
Closing the chapter, General Per-
shing says:
"On November G division of the
First corps reached point on the
MeuSe opposite Sedan, % miles from
| our lines of departure. The STRATEGY
cal goal which was our highest hope
was gained We had cut the enemy'S
main line of communications, and
nothing could save his ARM from
complete disaster.
''In all forty enemy divisions had
been used against us in the Meuse
Argonne battle. Between September
26 and November we took 2GO59
prisoners and 46S guns on this front.
"Our divisions engaged We're the
First, Second. Third, Fourth. Fifth,
| Twenty Twenty-eighth. Twenty
ninth. Thirty-second, Thirty-third,
Thrty-iifth Thirty-seventh, Seventy
eighth. Seventy-nlnth, Eightleth,
Eighty-second. Eighty-ninth, Ninetieth
and Ninety-frst.
Many Of our divisions remained in
! line for length of time that re-
quired nerves of steel. while others
were sent in again after only few
days of rest The First. Fifth. Tween
! ty-sixth. Forty-second Seventy-sev-
enth. Eightleth, Eighty-ninth aud
! Ninetieth were in the line twice.
Although some of the divisions
were fighting their first battle. they
soon became equal to the best.
First U. S. Planes in May.
1.-THE first airplanes received from
home arrived in May. and altogether
we have received 1879. The first
| American squadron completely
1 equipped by American production, in
| Guiding airplanes. crossed the German
/ lines on August Z, 1918.
| "As to tanks we We're also com
| PEELED TO rely upon the French. Here,
| however. we were less fortunate. for
/ the reason that the French produc-
/ tion could barely meet the require
ments of their own armies.
1T should be fully realized that the
+ French government has always taken
i u most liberal attitude and has been
most anxious To give ms every possi-
bile assistance In meeting our deficien-
! cies in these as well as In other re.
! spects. Our dependencies upon
! France for artillery. avlntion and
/ tanks was. Of course, due to the fact
! that our industries had not been ex-
cluslyely devoted TO military produc-
! ton.
"All credit Is due our own mann
! facturers for their efforts to meet our
own requirements. as at the time the
armlstice was signed we were able Ia
look forward to the early supply Of
practically all our necessities from
our own factories"