The Farmington times., 1918-12-13

a crisis equally as grave as that of the
Picardy offensive in March. Again
every available man was placed al
Foch's disposal, and the Bird Division
which had just come from its prelim-
mary training in the trenches, was
hurried to the Marne. It's motorized
machine-gun battalion preceded the
other units and successfully held the
bridgehead at the Marne, opposite
Chateau -Therry. The End Division,
in reserve near Montdidier, was sent
| by motor trucks and other available
transport to check the progress of
the enemy toward Paris. = The divi-
sion attacked and retook the town and
railroad station at Bouresches and
sturdily held its ground against the
enemy's best guard divisions.
I an the battle of Belleau Wood,
which followed, our men proved their
superiority and gained strong tao
tical position, with far greater loss to
the enemy than to ourselves. On
July l, before the Second was re-
lieved, it captured the village of Vaux
with most splendid precision.
Meanwhile our Second Corps, un-
der Maj. Gen. George w. Read, had
been organized for the command of
our divisions with the British, which
were held back in training areas or
assigned to second-line defenses.
Five of the 10 divisions We're with
drawn from the British area in June,
three to relieve divisions in Lorraine
and the Vosges and two to the Paris
area to join the group of American di-
visions which stood between the city
and any farther advance of the enc
my in that direction"
"By that time the great tide of
American troops movements to France
was in full swing and the older divi-
sions could be used freely. The AID,
in line east of T.eims, faced the Ger
man assault of July Is and held their
ground unfiinchingly; on the right
flank four companies of the 28th Di-
vision faced advancing waves of
German infantry" and the 3rd Di-
vision held the Marine line opposite
Chateau Thierry against powerful ar
tillery and infantry attack. A single
regiment of the Third wrote dn of the
most brilliant pages in our military
annals on this occasion, Pershng
says. at prevented the crossing at
certain points on it's front, while on
either flank, the Germans, who had
gained a footing, pressed forward.
Oud men, firing in three directions,
met the German attacks with counter
attacks at critical points and succeed
ed in throwing two German divisions
into complete confusion, capturing
600 prisoners"
Thus was the stage set for the |
counter offensive which, beginning |
with the smashing Of the anemy's |
Marine Salient, brought overwhelming |
victory to the Allies and the United
States in the eventfu months that
have followed. The insinlation is
strong that Pershing's advice helped
Marshal Foch to reach his decision to
strike. Pershing continues:
"The great force of q the German
Chateau Thierry offensive established
the deep Marine SALEM, but the enc
my was taking chances, and the Nul-
nerability of this pocke5 to attack
might be turned to his disadvantage.
Selling this opportunity TO support
my conviction every division with
any sort of training was made avail
able for use in a counter offensive.
The place of honor in the thrust to-
ward Scissors on July Is was given
to our 1st and End Divisions, in COM
pany with chosen French divisions.