Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-14

= MONDAY. OCTOBER H.
niAosat troops whsn. in it, turn. the
Entente assumes the offensive.
GENERAL PAsSAGA.
cemmandiag the IA AFmp Corps.
PASS IA @ A"
This was the first time that an AMers.
can regiment had been SO cited, men.
tioning an oflesR BY name.
The regiment remained in the Toul
sector during April. May and Juae. ~
they were leaving this sector. under
date Of June a. Gen. Passsga. com.
manding the 31d army corps. French ar
my, Issued another general order. In
which he said:
Under the distinguished command
of their chief. Gen. Edwards. the
high-spirited soldiers OF the Yankee
division have taught the enemy some
bitter lessons. at Bots Bfule. at ssiche-
prey. at xivrAy- Marvoisin: they have
taught him to realize the staunch visor
of the sons of tho great republic nght-
ing for the worlds freedom"
The first of July the regiment started
a. they supposed for Paris and rest.
They expected to take part in the great
Fourth Of July Celebration in that city.
They arrived in sight of Ethel Tower
and were then turned northerly and
sent to the Chateau-Thierry front.
most important sector.
About a month previous. on June ID.
49, -
pressed. had been relieved BY the Ma
rines Of the sth and 9Th Regiments. and
by the eth and I'D Regiments Of Ameri.
can regulars. In the latter regiment
Edward Alien whitney of Augusta was
serving with distinction ~ hrst lieu
tenant. On June lth. the Germans again
attacking, the French retired through
the Marines md Regulars. and the lat
ter received, ana stopped the German at
tack. The next day. the Americans
eounter-attaeked ane hurled the Ger
mans back. From the sth to the 18th Of
June, this I'd Division OF Marines and
Regulars made six attacks and received
nine counter-attacks. being opposed at
all times by not less than two. and
sometimes, three, German Divisions.
Among these troops the crack German
regiment, the 18th and the 9Th Prussian
Guards.
Belleau Wood was taken and held and
has now been christened "Bois de la
Brigade de Marines" 1t Is the fight
for these woods which George Patullo
so wildly described in the Saturday
Evening Post Of August 3lst in his ar
ticle entitled fleetwood"
During this struggle for Belleau Wood.
two battalions of the Sd American Divi-
sion were sent in to support the I'd Divi-
sion 1t was their first time in line, but
they held the position through Belleau
Wood and until the Marines had taken
a much needed rest. The Marines then
went back into position, and held until
relieved by the Yankee Division. THIS
was accomplished on July 9Th. when our
New England boys of the 2eth Division
took over the line held by the Marines,
and occupied a sector extending about
five and half miles. from Torcy on the
North to Chateau Thierry on the south.
The French were operating in articula-
ton on the right and left TANKS.
On July 18th. as they took up their po-
sition in. the Chateau-Thierry line. Gen
eral Edwards, as commander of the 26tn
Division, issued the following order to
his troops:
HEADQUARTERS 2sth DIVISION
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY
FORCE. France. July II, 1918.
GENERAL ORDERS
NO. 60.
/. At the moment that the 2sth Divi-
sion takes up it's position on its third
sector in three months it is fitting and
proper that the division commander
should take this opportunity to thank
and congratulate the officers and men
Of the Yankee Division on the record
that they have achieved since the Divi-
sion actively took its place in the fight
ing lines of the Allies for the common
cause.
2. You have been taken from a sector
where in three battles you have shown
that the blood of New England has not
attenuated and that the same spirit and
traditions which your forefathers made
glorious at Lexington and at Bunker
Hill still survive in the generation,
which at Bots Brule, Seicheprey, Hum
bert Plantation and Xivray have met
and defeated the picked troops Of the
enemy. His four years of experience in
activ, warfare and the ferocity Of his
methods have not daunted you, and on
every occasion where you have been
called upo, to face him you have dis
tingu' shed yourself with notable valor
and brought credit upon your division
and upon the people Of New England
from which you have come to engage In
this righteous conflict.
3. A great honor has been conferred
upon the whole division in that the
French and American High Command
has at this time picked your division to
come into this critical sector. That you
have been so hurried to this sector is
the evidence to you all of the opinion
of the High Command Of the mettle of
which this division is constituted.
4. The past months in battle have
brought men and officers into that close
union of confidence and affection which
have resulted in the growing morale OF
this division Looking back on the pas.
four rnonths with its spotless record and
known achievements which have been
recognized by both France and America.
it is with unqualified faith in the -uture
and pride Of the past that / see the
18th Division go i-,to a neW-sector, GER
tain in my conviction that the men Of