Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-05

+ lt bSt. D.
The report Of General John ]. Perish
ing, giving account Of his steward
ship as commander OF the American
( expeditlonary forces in France. was
made public by Secretary Of War Baker
last night. It covers operations up t.
November 20, after the signing Of the
armistice. In the report he refers tc
those who served under him in these
tyords
when think OF their heroisin, their
patience under hardsnips, their unfInch-
ing spirit OF offensive action. am filled
with emotion which I am unable to eS-
press. Their deeds are immortal and
they have earned the eternal gratitude
Of their country
General Pershing made special mem
ton Of the American aviators as hav-
ing few equals in skill and prowess,
with record Of courageous deeds that
will adorn q brilliant page in the an
mails Of the war. He also mentioned the
tank corps as having responded gal
lantly on every occasion with cour-
age OF the highest order.
General Pershing reviews tie early
encounters this year In which American
troops participated, as & part Of their
training. and dismisses them briefly. on
March 81 the great German offensive
vas launched and crucial situation
developed in the Allied lines calling for
the prompt Use Of four American G.vf-
sions.
Ccmbats in Training Period
During our periods Of training ii the
trenches some of our divisions had en-
gagged the enemy in local Combats, the
most important Of which was Seiche-
prey by the Twenty sixth on April 90,
in the Toul sector, but none had par
ticipated n action as a unit The First
Division, which had passed through the
preliminary stages of training, had gone
to the trenches for its first period of
instruction at the end of October and by
March 21 when the German offensive in
Picardy began, we had four divisions
With experience in the trenches. all of
which we're equal to any demands OF
battle action. The crisis whiCh this Of
fensive developed was such that our
occupation OF an American sector must
be postponed.
"On March rs l placed at the disposal
Of Marshal Foch. who had been agreed
upon as Commander-in-Chief OF the AL
lied 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 q position in reserve at
Chaumont- en-Vexin. AS German super
iority In numbers required prompt ac-
tion. an agreement was reached at the
Abbeville conference of the Allied
Premlers and commanders and myself
on May by which British shipping was
to transport ten American divisions to
the British army area, where they were
10 be trained and equipped, an addi-
tional British shipping was to be pro-
cided for as many divisions as possible
for use elsewhere.
"on April 2b the First Division had
gone into the line in the Montdidier sali-
ent on the Picardy battle front. Tactics
had been suddenly revolutionized to
those Of open warfare. and our men,
confident OF the results of their train
ing, were eager for the test. on the
morning OF May % this division attacked
the commanding German position on its
front, taking with splendid dash the
town Of Cantigny and all other object
ives. which were organized and held
steadfastly against Vicious couutcrat
attacks and CALLING artillery fire. Al
though local. this brilliant action had
an electrical effect, as it demonstrated
our fighting qualities under extreme bat
tie conditions, and also that the epenly's
troops were not altogether inyinclbIe.
The Germans Aisne offensive, which
began on May q, had advanced rapidly
toward the River Marne and Paris, and
the Allies faced crisis equally as grave
as that OF the Picardy offensive in
March. Again every available man was
placed at Marshal Foch's disposal, and
the Third Division. which had just come
from its preliminary training in tho
trenches, was hurried to the Marnc. Its
motorized Inachlne-gun battalion pre-
ceded the other units and successfully
held the bridgehead at the Marine, op-
poslte Chateau -Thierry. The Second Di-
vision. in reserve near Montdidier, was
sent by motortrucks and other available
transport to check the progress of the
enemy toward Paris. The division at
tackled and retook the town and rail-
road station at Bouresches and sturdily
held its ground against the enemys best
guard divisions In the battle of Belleau
Wood, which followed, our men proved
their superiority and gained a strong
tactical position, with far greater loss
TO the enemy than to ourselves. On July
l. before the Second was relieved, it. cap
tured the village Of NauX with most
splendid precision.
Meanwhile our Second Corps, under
Major Geperal George W. Read, had
been organized for the command of our
divisions with the British. which were
held back in training areas or assigned
10 second-line defenses. Five Of the ten
divisions were withdrawn from the Brit
ish area in June, three TO relieve d.
visions In Lorraine and the Vosges and
two to the Paris area to join the group
Of American divisions which stood be-
tween the city and any farther advance
Of the enemy IN that direction.
'aThe great June-July troop movement
from the States was well under way.
and. although these troops were to be
.sfiven some preliminary training before
being put into action. their very pres.
ence warranted the use OF all the older
divisions in the confidence that We did
not lack reserves Elements OF the
Fcrty-second Division were in the line
east of Rheims against the German Of
fensive OF July IS, and held their ground
unainchingly. On the right flank of
this offensive four companies OF the
Twenty-eighth Division were in position
in face OF the advancing waves of the
German infantry. The Third Division
was holding the bank of the Marne from
the bend east of the mouth Of the Sur
,nelin to the west of Mezy opposite
Chateau-Thierry, where a large force of
German infantry sought to force a pas
sage under support of powerful artil-
lery concentrations and under cover of