Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-06

80 pFisonsxa and ~ 90nA great
quantity of material, ralaaaod thA ia
hAhitants Of many Villages fro0 en-
envy domination, and estAhliahed our
lines IN a position to threaten Metz
This signal success Of tAs Ameri-
can first army in il first o1snaivs
found they had q formidable army 10
aid them. and the enemy harmed
finally that 10 had one - Seekon
with"
The report shows for the arst time
ofaciaiiy. that with this brilliantly
executed coup, General PssshiAx's
man had cleared the way eas the
great effort az Tie alhes and Amssi-
can forcea to win . conducive vic
tory. The American army moved at
once toward its crowhing achieve.
meat, the battle Of the MeusA
The cro~nins Achievement
The General tells q dramatic story
of this mighty battle in three dis
tinct phrases, beginning on the night
Of Sept p. when Americans quick
~ took The places OF the French on
the ,hinly held line of this lang
quiet sector. TIE attack opened on
Sept. es and the Americans drove
through sntar clements. across No
Man's-Land TO take all the enemys
first line positions Closing the
chapter. Genera. Pershing says;
't,n November division Of the
first corps reached a point on the
Meuse opposite Sedan. IS miles from
our lire OF departure. The strategy
cal goal which was our highest hope
was gained. We had cnt the en-
emys main line OF communications,
and nothing but surrender or an
armist!ce could save his army from
complete disaster.
In all ~ enemy divisions bad ,Aftn
usro against US ia the Aeusa ~
g. nlc battle. Between Sept. : and
Nov. We took 36.oss prisoners and
ass guns on this front. Our divisions
engaged were the First, Second.
Third. Fourth, Fifth, Goth. 18th, 2stn,
r2nd, 3Srd, s5th. SE'h. 42aS 18th. 18th.
18Th. s91'. send. seth. soth and slst.
Many of our divisions remained in
;jas for & length Of time that required
nerves u steel. while others were
sent in again after only a few days
If rest. The First, Fifth. 2sth 4end.
18th. Seth. ssth and Sa,h were IN rhs
inc twice, Although some of tha
divisions were fighting their hrst
hattie, they soon became equal 20
Inc best
Divisions with the Allies
The Communicating chief does not
lose sight OF the divisions operating
with French u. British armies dur
.pg THIS time. He tells OF the work
Of the Second Corps comprising the
2Tta and 50th divisions in the Brit
Isl, ASA ult on the Hindenburg line
whore the St. Quentin canal passes
through q tunnel; Il how the Second
and ss1h divisions got their chance
IA October by being assigned 10 aid
the French in the drive from Rheims
and Of The splendid hGhting OF the
3.,h and sIst divisions sent TO Join
the French army in Belgium
~ the total strength of the Exped!-
,.cnary Force, General Pershing re-
lorts:
There are IN Europe altogether. in
ciaGins l. regiment and some SAM
tary units with the Italian army and
7he orga nizations at Murmansk, else
including these en- route from the
states. approximately o,53.3i7 men.
less ui:. losses. OF this total there are
in France 1885. Iss comeatant troops.
Forty divisions have arrived, II
which the infantry PERSONAL Of 10
have been used IS replacements,
leaving 81 divisions now in France
organized into three armies of three
corps each"
Of their equipment be says;
our eatry into tne wax found Is with
few CT the aaxl.iaE.es Leeessary Tor as
conduct ia lhe modern sense. Among
our most important deficiencies IN ma
ter!zi we.e artillery. aviation AMI
TANKS. Ia Grlier 10 Heei Our require
ufen,s As rapidly IS possible We accept
e The offer OF the French government
10 pro.ite Us with the necessary srtii-
,eTy equipment Of seseniy-hyes. one
afil FIVE Iniilimeter hewiizer, and one
hlly-ive q. p. T guns from their own
factories for 50 divisions Tae wisdom
oil this course g fully demonstrated D.
the TACT that, although ae soon began
;Ee manufacture of these classes OF
guns 81 home. there Hese 70 guns Of The
ca,.5ers mentioned manufactured 10
America on Iur front at the date the
arulsi4ce as signed. The only suns
.: these ilpts produced at home thAs
"a. received in France ale Is seventy
Eve mili!reter CUES.
In aviation we were IT. the 81 me sit
uatiou. ard here again the French gov
er.naent came 10 our aid until cur own
AVIATION program SHOULD lie under IA.
We obtained from The French the neces-
.a.y planes fer training our personnel,
and they Rave provided rs with total
* a5.s pursuit. observation and bomb
ng planes. The first aiTpianes received
from home arrived II MAY, and alto
le;as. We have recei ed 1872 The fret
American squadron completely equipped
hv American p-o14ction. Including air
planes crossed the German lines on
Aug :. 1915 As 10 ;2nhs. We we're also
compelled 70 rely Upon the French.
Here however we were less fortunate.
far toe ieason ,hst the Freach produc-
iien could barely I.ess the requirements
OF their cwa armies
1t couli be fanny realized tina: the
Trcasa gogernnlenf has always taken
. most liberal attitude and has been
most anxious 20 g;vs As every poSs.bie
assistance in meeting CUR deacieaces IN
these as we'll az IN other respects. Oar
dependence upon France for artillery.
aviation and .zaks VAS. Of course. due
10 the f. 81 that orr industries had not