The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1918-12-12
ing new line west of Thiaucourt to
Vigneulles, and beyond Fresnes-en-

ing new line west of Thiaucourt to
Vigneulles, and beyond Fresnes-en-
| Woevre. -
"At the cost OF only 1000 casual
ties, mostly light, we had taken TO-
600 prisoners and a., guns, a great
quantity of material, released the in
habitants OF many villages from en-
emy domination and established our
lines in a position to threaten Metz.
This signal success of the Ameri-
can First Army in its first offensive
lies found they had formidable
army to aid them, and the enemy
learned finally that he had one to
reckon with"
This brilliantly executed coup by
| Pershing's men. the report shows Of
ficially, cleared the way for the great
effort of the Allies and American
forces to win conclusive victory.
The American Army moved at once
toward it's crowning achievement, the
battle OF the Meuse.
The general tells dramatic story
of this mighty battle in three dis
tinct phrases, beginning on the night
OF September 27, when Americans
quickly took the place of the French
on the thinly held line of this long.
quiet sector The attack opened on
September 26. and the Americans
drove through entanglements, across
No Mans Land to take all the en-
emy's first-line positions. Closing
the chapter, Pershing says:
"On November division of the
First Corps reached point on the
Meuse opposite Sedan, twenty-five
mites from our line of departure.
The strategical goal which was our
highest hope, was gained. We had
cut the enemy's main line of COM
munications, and nothing but sur-
render or an armistice could save
his army from complete disaster.
an all forty enemy divisions had
been used against us in the Meuse-
Argonne battle. Between September
26 and November we took 26,oso
prisoners and 468 guns on this front.
Our divisions engaged were the Ist.
ed, sd, 4th, sth, 26th, 2Sth, 2oth,
32d, 33d, 3sth. 37th, 42d, 77th. 78th,
7oth, 8oth, S2d, Soth, Doth and oIst.
Many of our divisions remained in
line for length of time that re-
quired nerves of steel. while others
were sent in again after only few
days of rest. The Ist, 5th. Goth,
42d, 18th, 8oth, Both and goth were
in the line twice Although some
of the divisions were fighting their
first battle, they soon became equal
to the best"
: He tells OF the wosk Of. the ed
Corps, comprising the 27th and goth
divisions in the British assault on
the Hindenburg line, where the St.
Quentin Canal passes through tun-
mel; of how the end and Goth divis-
ions got their chance in October by
being assigned to aid the French in
the drive from Rheims and of the
splendid fighting of the 37th and
o1st divisions sent to join the French
Army in Belgium.
OF the total strength Of the kx-
Force, pershing reports:
There are in Europe altogether,
including q regiment and some sani-
tary units with the Italian Army and
the organizations at Murmansk. also
including these en-, route from the
States, Approximately 2,os3,3A7 men.
less our losses. OF this total there
are in France I,338,I6o combatant
troops. Forty divisions have ar
rived, OF which the infantry person.
mel of ten have been used as replace
ments. leaving thirty divisions now
in France organized into three
armies of three cofps each.
OF their equipment he says:
"Our entry into the war found us
with few of the auxiliaries neces-
sary for its conduct in the modern
sense. Among our most important
deficiencies in material were artil-
Iery, aviation and tanks. In order
to meet our requirements as rapidly
as possible we accepted the offer of
the French Government to provide
us with the necessary artillery
equipment. The wisdom of this
course is fully demonstrated by the
fact that, although we soon began
the manufacture of these classes OF
guns at home, there were no guns of
the calibres mentioned manufactured
in America on our front at the date
The armistice was signed.
"Jn aviation we were in the same
and here again the French
came to our aid. We
from the French a total OF
1870 pursuit, observation and bomb
ng planes. The first airplanes re-
:eived from home arrived in May and
altogether we have received 1879.
As to tanks, we were also compelled
o rely upon the French.
sour dependence upon France for
lrtillery, aviation and tanks was, of
course, due to the fact that our in
lustries had not been exclusively
devoted to military production"