The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-12-12
PershinglTe llslin Detail HoD !.
Yanks. Fought Way to Victory

]. Pershing's account OF his stew
ardship as commander of the Amer
lean Expeditionary Forces was given
to the public today by Secretary
Baker. 1t is in the form OF a pre-
liminary report to the Secretary, cov-
ering operations up to November 20,
after the German collapse. 1t closes
with these words from the leader OF
the great army in France, express
ing his feeling for those who served
under him:
81 pay the supreme tribute to
our officers and soldiers of the
line. When l think of their
heroism, their patience under
hardships, their unfiinching spirit
of offensive action. / am filled
with emotion which / am unable
to express. Their deeds are i'm
mortal, 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 Al
lies in forcing Germany to its knees
nineteen months later. It's striking
feature is the section devoted to
combat operations" where is told
the story of fighting by the man who
directed it.
First Real Test Last Spring.
General Pershing- views the en-
counters before March Fl OF the
wear in which American troops par
ticipated as a part of their training
and dismisses them briefly. On that
date, however, the great German Of
fensive was launched and a crucial
situation quickly developed in the Al
lied lines which called for prompt use
of the four American divisions that
were at that time equal to any de-
mands of battle action"
The first crisis of the German drive
had been reached in Picardy.
"The crisis which this offensive de-
yeloped was such," General Pershing
saws, "that our occupation OF an
American sector must be postponed
On March % 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
to be used as he might decide. At
his request the first division was
transferred from the Toul sector to
position in reserve at Chaumont en-
Vexin. AS German superiority In
numbers required prompt action, an
agreement was reached at the Alb
beville conference of the Allied pre-
miers and commanders and myself
on May 2 by which British shipping
was to transport ten American dlV-
sions to the British Army area,
where they were to be trained ant
equipped, and additional British ship
ping was to be provided for as many
divisions as possible for use else
where.
Cantigny Dash Proves Mettle.
"On April 26 the First Division hao
gone into the line in the Montldldlef
salient on the Picardy battle front
Tactics had been suddenly revoiu
tionized to those of open warfare
and our men, confident of the results
of their training, were eager for t!
test. On the morning of May 70 TN
division attacked the commanding
German position in it's front, takln,
with splendid dash the town OF Can
tigny and all other detectives, which
were organized and held steadfastly
against vicious counter attacks ano
calling artillery fire. Although local
ttis brilliant action had an electrical
effect, as it demonstrated our fight
ing qualities under extreme battle
conditions, and also that the enemy,s
troops were not altogether lnvlncl'
BILE"
There followed Immediately the
German thrust across the Aisne to-
ward Paris.
'The Allies" General Pershins
saws, "faced a crisis equally as grave
as that of the Picardy offensive II
March. Again every available maj
was placed at Marshal Foch's dis
posal. and the Third Division, which
had Just come from its preliminar.
training in the trenches, was hurrle'
TO the Marine. It's motorized ma
chine-gun battalion preceded the 9th
er units and unsuccessfully held tn
bridgehead at the Marine, opposlt
Chateau-Thierry. The Second Div
sion. in reserve near Motdidier, wa
sent by motor trucks and other avail
able transport to check the progress
of the enemy toward Paris. The Div
sion attacked and retook the tow
and railroad station at Bouresche
and sturdily held its ground agains
the enemy's est guard divisions.
Battle OF Belleau Wood.
GIN the battle of Belleau Woo
which followed, our men proved thel
superiority and gained strong tat
ficai position, with far greater los
to the enemy than to ourselves. .
July 1, before the Second was relle,
ed, it captured the vii age OF Vau
with most splendid precision.
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