The Ordway new era., 1918-12-13

in Irresistible waves on schedule time.
breaking down all defense of an en-
emy demoralIzed by the great volume
of our artillery fire and our sudden
approach out of the fog.
"Our First corps advanced to Thiau-
court, while our Fourth corps curved
back to the southwest through Non
sard. The Second Colonial French
corps made the slight advance re-
quired of II on very difficult ground.
and the Fifth corps took its three
ridges and repulsed counter-attack.
"A rapid march brought reserve reg
iments of a division of the Fifth corps
into Vigneulles in the early morning,
where 1t linked up with patrols OF our
Fourth corps, closing the snlient and
forming a new line west of Thiaucourt
to vigneulles and beyond Fresnes-en-
Woevre.
10000 Prisoners Taken.
"At n cost of only 1000 casualties.
mostly light, we had taken 10000 rris-
Oners and 443 guns, great quantity
of material, released the inhabitants
of many Villages from enemy dom'na-
tion and established our lines In u 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
ly that he had one to reckon with"
The report shows for the first time
officially that with this brilliantly exc
cuted coup. General Pershing's men
had cleared the way for the great ef-
fort OF the allies and American forces
to win conclusive victory. The
American army moved at once toward
its crowning achievement, the battle
of the Meuse.
The general tells dramatic story
of this mighty battle in three distinct
phases, beginning on the night OF
September 81, when Americans quick
ly took the places of the French on
the thinly held line Of this long, quiet
sector. The attack opened on Septeni-
Der 20. and the Americans drove
through entanglements. across No
Mans Land, to take all the enemy's
first-line positions.
Battle Of the Meuse.
Closing the chapter, General Per
shing says:
"On November @ n division of the
First corps reached point on the
Meuse opposite Sedan, 20 miles from
our lines of departure. The strategi-
cal goal which was our highest hope
was gained. We had cut the enemy's
main line of communications, and
nothing could save his army from
complete disaster.
"In all forty enemy divisions had
been used against us in the Meuse-
Argonne battle. Between September
20 and November G we took 2G.053
prisoners and 4GS guns on this front.
"Our divisions engaged were the
First, Second, Third. Fourth, Fifth,
Twenty-sixth, Twenty-eighth, Twenty
ninth, Thirty-second, Thirty-third,
Thirty-fifth, Thirty-seventh, Seventy
eighth, Seventy-nInth, Eightieth,
Eighty-second, Eighty-ninth, Ninetieth
and Ninety-frst.
"Mnny of our divisions remained In
line for n length Of time that re-
quired nerves Of steel, while others
were sent In again after only few
days of rest. The First. Fifth, Twen-
ty-sIxth, Forty-second. Seventy-sev-
enth, EightIeth, Eighty-ninth and
Ninetieth were In the line twice.
Although some Of the divisions
were fighting their first battle. they
soon became equal to the best.
Other Corps Active.
The commander In chief does not
lose sight of the divisions operating
with French or British armies during
this time.
He tells of the work of the Second
corps, comprising the Twenty-seventh
and Thirtietli divisions, in the British
assault on the Hindenburg line where
the st. Quentin canal passes through
tunnel.
OF the total strength of the expedi-
tionary force, General Pershing re.
ports:
There are In Europe altogether, in
Guiding n regiment and some sanitary
units with the Italian army and the
organizations at Murmansk, also In
Guiding these EN- route from the States,
approximately 2,O53347 men, less our
losses"
First v. s. Planes In May.
"The first airplanes received from
home arrived in May, and together
we (-have received 1870. The first
American squadron completely
equipped by American production. In
Guiding airplanes, crossed the German
lines on August Z. 1918.
"As to tanks, we were compelled
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.
at should be fully realized that the
French government has always taken