The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1918-12-12
Detailed Report of How u. S. Men
Won Battles.
CRISIS CAME ON MARCH Il
SAYS American Operations Previous 70
That Date Were Only Part OF
Their Training - Pays Su-
preme Tribute to Army.

| dictionary forces was given to the pup
| lie Wednesday by Secretary Baker.
1t is in the form of preliminary re-
port to the secretary, covering opera
tions I'D to November 20. after the
| German collapse. 1t closes with thcse
words from the leader of the great
army In France, expressing his feeling
for those who served under him:
81 pay the supreme tribute 10 our
officers and soldiers Of the line. Wheh
| think of their herOism, their patience
under hardships, their untiinchlnS SPIT
1t of offensive action, l am hlleu Win
emotion which | am unable to express.
Their deeds are immortal and they
have earned the eternal gratitude OF
our country"
The report begins with Generai
Pershing's departure for France 10
pave the way for the army that was 10
smash German resistance on the
Meuse and give vital aid to the allies
in forcing Germany to It's knees ~
months later.
Crisis on March 81.
General Pershng views the encoun-
tiers before March 81 of this year, In
which American troops participated as
part of their training, and dismisses
them briefly. On that date, however,
the great German offensive was
launched and q crucial situation quick
ly 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 % l 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-
sion was transferred from the Toui
sector to a position in reserve at Chau-
mont en- VeXin.
GAS 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
al British shipping was to be provided
for as many divisions as possible for
use elsewhere.
Men Eager for Test.
"On April 20 the First division had
gone into the line in the Montdldier
salient, on the Picardy battle front.
Tactics had been suddenly revolution
lied 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 % this division
attacked the commanding German po-
sition in its front, taking with splendid
dash the town of Cantigny and all
other detectives, which We're organized
and held steadfastly against vicious
counter-attacks and CALLING 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.
man thrust across the Aisne river to-
ward Paris. He continues:
"The Third division, which had just
come from it's preliminary training in
the trenches, was hurried to the
Marine. Its motorized machinegur
battalion preceded the other units an(
successfully held the brldgehead a
the Marine, opposite Chateau Thierry
1.-THE Second division, in reserve
near Montdidler. was sent by motor
trucks and other available transpor
to check the progress of the enemy
toward Paris. The division attacked
and retook the town and railroad sta
ton ut BOuresches and Sturdily helC
its ground against the enemy's bes
guard divisions.
I'm the battle of Belleau wood, which
followed, our men proved their su
! pcriority and gained a strong tactica
position, with far greater loss to the
enemy than to ourselves. On July
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
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
Yosges 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 eull swing ana the older divisions
eou be used freely. The FortS-sec-