The Monticellonian., 1918-12-13
STORY IF WAR |S
 TOLD BY PERSH|NC
Detailed Report of How U. s. Men
 Won Battles.
CRISIS CAME ON MARCH 21
Says American Operations Previous to That Date Were Only a Part of Their Training Pays Su-
 preme Tribute to Army.

preme Tribute to Army.
 Washington, Dec. 5.-Gen. John J. Pershing's account of his stewardship as commander of the American eXpe- ditionary forces was given to the pub- lie Wednesday by Secretary Baker.
 It is in the form of preliminary re- port to the secretary, covering opera tions up to November 20, after the German collapse. It closes with these words from the leader of the great army in France, expressing his feeling for those who served under him:
 'I pay the supreme tribute to our officers and soldiers of the line. When I think of their heroism, their patience under hardships, their untlinchins spir- 1t of offensive action l am filled with emotion which I am unable to express. Their deeds are immortal and they have earned the eternal gratitude of our country"
 The report begins with General Pershing's departure for France to pave the way for the army that was to smash German resistance on the Mouse and give vital aid to the allies in forcing Germany to its knees 19 months later.
 Crisis on March 21.
 General Pershing views the encoun- ters before March 21 of this year, in which American troops participated as a part of their training, and dismisses them briefly. On that date, however. the great German offensive was launched and a crucial situation quick Iy developed in the allied lines which called for prompt use of the four American divisions that were at the time "equal to any demands of battle action"
 "The crisis which this offensive de- veloped was such," General Pershing says, that on March 2S I placed at the disposal of Marshal Foch, who had been agreed upon as commander in chief of the allied armies, all of our forces. At his request the First divi- sicn was transferred from the Toul sector to a position in reserve at Chau- mont en VeXin.
  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 al British shipping was to he provided for as many divisions as possible for use elsewhere.
 Men Eager for Test.
 "On April 26 the First division had gone into the line in the MOntdidier salient, on the Picardy battle front. Tactics had been suddenly revolution ized to those of open warfare. and our men. confident of the results of their training, were eager for the test. On the morning of May 2S this division attacked the commanding German po- sition 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 galling artillery fire.
 Although local, this brilliant action had an electrical effect, as it demon strated our fighting qualities under extreme battle conditions and also that the enemy's troops were not altogether invincible"
 Hold Foe at Chateau Thierry.
 There Followed immediately the Ger xl. lA ie,,A ri tn- ward Paris. He continues:
 "The Third division, which had just come from it's preliminary training in the trenches, was hurried to the Marne Its motorized machine gun battalion preceded the other units and successfully held the bridgehead at the Marne. opposite Chateau Thierry.
 "The Second division, in reserve near Montdidier, was sent by motor trucks and other available transport to check the progress of the enemy toward Paris. The division attacked and retook the town and railroad sta ton at Bouresches and sturdily held it's ground against the enemy's best guard divisions.
 "In the battle of Belleau wood, which followed, our men proved their su- periority and gained a strong tactical position, with far greater loss to the enemy than to ourselves. On July 1, before the Second was relieved, 1t cap tured the village of Taux with splen- did precision.
 Stand Between Paris and Foe.
 Meanwhile our Second corps, under Maj. Gen. George w. Read, had been organized for the command of our divisions with the British, which were held back in training areas or as signed to second-line defenses. Five of the ten divisions were withdrawn from the British area In June, three to re- lieve divisions In Lorraine and the Vosges and two were sent to the Paris area to join the group of American divisions which stood between the city and any further advance of the enemy in that direction"
 By that time the great tide of Amer ican troop movements to France was in full swing and the older divisions could be used freely. The Forty-sec-