Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-06
Il Pay Supreme Tribute
To Our Officers and Men,"
Says General Persh5ng
American Commander Gives
an Account of His Stew
ardship to the War Depart
ment-ThriIIing Story

WASHINGTON. Dec. 5.-Genera
John j. Pershing's account Of ms
stewardship as commander OF tht
American expeditiOnaTy forces was
given TO the public to-day by SecrS'
tary Baker. II is in the form OF 3
preliminary report TO the secretary
covering operations up to NOvembel
20 after the German collapse II
closes with these words from the
leader of the great army In france
expressing his feeling for those VINO
served under him:
II pay the supreme tribute TO our
officers and soldiers or the line Nheu
/ think of their heroiSm, their pa
thence under hardships, their un-
afnching spirit OF offensive action,
am filled with emotion which / am
unable 10 express. Their DEEDS are
immortal. and they have earned the
eternal gratitude OF our country.
The report begins with General
Pershing's departure for France "a
. pave the way for the army that was
to smash German resistance on the
Meuse and give vital aid TO the allies
in forcing Germany 10 its knees nine
teen months later Its stTihing Iea-
ture IS the section devoted TO com
bat operations" where il told the
story OF lighting BY the man who
directed Il.
General Pershing views the en-
counters before March II OF this year
in which American troops particlP'ae-
ed as a part OF their training and DIS
misses them briefly On That Date,
however, the great German offensive
was launched ard a crucial Sltuatlon
quickly developed In the allied lines
four American divisions that were
at that time equal TO any demands
OF battle action 49,
The first crisis Of the German drive
had been reached in Picardy.
The crisis which this offensive de-
veloped was such" General Fetshihs
SAYS. that our occupation OF an
American sector must be postponed.
On March IS ] placed ct the disposal
OF Marshal Foch, who had been
agreed upon as cOmmander-ln-chleL OF
the allied armies. all Of our forces 20
be used as he might decide. At MS
request the First division was trans
ferred from the Toul sector 10 q po-
sition in reserve at Chaumont en-
Vexin. As German superiority IN
numbers required prompt action, an
agreement was reached at the Aboe-
vile conference or the aliled pIS-
mierS and commanders and Uyse!T
on May . by which British shipping
was TO transport ten American oiVl-
Sions to the British army area where
they were TO be trained and EQUIPPED
and additional British shipping was
as possible for use elsewhere
"On April 20 the First division
had gone into the line in the Mont
didier salient on the PicarCy pattle
'front.'. Tactics had been suddenly
fevolUtioaized to those OF open var
fare. and our men, confident OF the
results of their training were eager
for the test On the morning Of May
IS this division attacked the COM
handing German position IN us
'front.'. taking with splendid dash the
own OF Catigny and all other OBJ
iectfves, which were organized and
held Steadfastly against vicious
counter attacks and CALLING artillery
IRE. Although local. this brilliant
action had an electrical erect. as u
demonstrated our fighting qualities
under extreme battle conditions, and
also that the enemy's troops we're
not altogether invtncfbie-
Huns Thrust Across Aisne
There followed Immediately the
German thrust across the Aisne to-
THE allies" General Pershing
said. faced crisis equally as grave
as that OF the Picardy offensive in
March. Again every available man
was placed at Marshal FOch's dis
poSai. and the Third division. which
had Just come from its preliminary
training in the trenches, was hur-
ried 10 the Marine. Its motorized
machine gun battalion preceded the
other units and successfully held the
bridgehead at the Marine. opposite
Chateau-Thierry. The Second Civi-
sion, in reserve near Montdidier. was
sent by motor trucks and other avail
able transport to check the progress
OF the enemy toward Paris. The d.
vision attacked and Tetook the town
and railroad station at BOuresChes
and sturdy held its ground against
the enemy's best guard divisions.
I'm the battle OF Belie2u wood,
which followed. our men proved their
superiority and gained n strong tao
20 the enemy than 20 ourselves On
July I. before the Second vas re-
lieved. IL captured the village OF
Vaux with most splendid precision.
Meanwhile our second corps. IN
der Major General 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 secon1-line de-
lenses Five OF the ten divisions
were withdrawn from the British
area in June. three to relieve div!-
sions in LORRAINE and the VOsges
and two 10 the Paris area 10 join
the group OF American divisions
which stood between the city and
any farther advance OF the enemy
IN that direction
BY that time the great tide of
American troop movements to France
was in full swing and the older IL
visions could be used freely. The
FOrty-second. in line. east OF Rheims.
faced the German assault Of July IL
and held their ground unfllncning-
Iy::" on the right flank four COM
paries OF the Twenty-eighth division
faced advancing waves OF German
infantry and the Third division held
the Narne line opposite Chateau
ThieTry against powerful artillery
and infantry attack a single reg
ineut OF the Third wrote one OF the
most brilliant pages in our military
annals on this OCCASION" General
Pershing says 1T prevented the
crossing at certain points on its
front while. on either flank. the Ger
mans who had gained footing
pressed forward Our men. firing in
three directions. met the German at
taCks with counter attacks at criti-
cal points and succeeded in throwing
two German divisions into complete
confusion. capturing 500 prisoners"
Thus was the stage set for the
counter offensive which beginning
with the smashing OF the eneyny's
Marine salient brought overwhelming
victory TO the allies and the United
States in the eventful months that
have followed. The iHtimation IS
strong that General Pershiug's ad
vice helped Marshal FOch to reach
his decision 10 strike. General Perish
Ing continues:
HThe great force Of the German
Chateau-Thierry offensive establish
Cd the deep Marine salient. but IN
enemy was taking chances. and the
vulnerability CT this pocket 10 at
tack might be turned 10 his disad
VANTAGE. Seizin- this opportunity "a
support my conviction. every divi
sion with auv sort OF training was
made available for use in a counts'
offensive The place OF honor in the
thrust toward scissors on July 1S
was given to our First and Second
divisions in company with chosen
French divisions
'sWithout the usual brief warning
OF a preliminary bOmbardmeut. the
massed French and American artil
leTy. firing by the map. laid down IS
rolling barraEe at dawn. while ths
infantry hogan its charge. Tire tacti
cal handling OF our troops Unda-