The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-20
RAW u. S. SOLDIERS
BEAT ENEMY'S BEST
American Victory at Rheims
An,dxes Allied Veterans.

WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES NORTH
OF RHEIMS. Oct 1e tdeiayed) Perhaps
the most glorious page OF American mill
tary history In this war has Just been
concluded in the Champagne battle. in
which two divisions Of United States
troops-the Second and the Thirty sixth
.. have done their inadequately heraided
part Of forcing back the German hordes
facing Rheims ESQ.,
The work OF the Americans was more
notable because one Of the American
divisions-the hirty-sixth-entered the
! terrific battle at an important point. Al
though new to lighting and without ever
having heard shell Are before, the divi-
| sion withstood the most bitter German
| counter attacks without fiinching. The
EFFORTS OF the two units were so note
worthy that they were praised publicly
In an order issued by Gen. Maui. in
command Of the Twenty-hrst French
| Army Corps with which the Americans
were brigaded. The General said
"On October the Second American
Division. having arrived during the night
In the sector Of the Twenty-flrst Army
Corps. attacked the fortified crest Of
Blanc Mont and captured II In O few
hours despite the desperate resistance
OF the enemy. In the following days II
made an extended advance on the slopes
| to the north.
The Thirty-sixth Division, a recent
formation and as yet incompletely or
ganixed. was ordered into the line on the
| night Of October 81 to relieve under
conditions particularly delicate the Sec
ond Division and to dislodge the enemy
from the crests north Of st. Etienne and
| throw him back to tho Aisne. Although
being under fire for the first time tho
~ Qxratk ~ In
In their combative spirit and tenacity the
old and valiant regiments Of Gen. Le-
1uene, accomplished all the tasks set for
! them.
ITO all the General commanding the
| Army Corps is happy to address the
| most cordial expression Of his recogni-
ton and his best Wishes for future ser
vice. but the past is proof OF the future"
Tho history Of the Champagne bat
| tie which freed Rheims shows the sem
sationl part played by the Americans.
While the French were held up by strong
German defensive positions. the Amer
lean Second Division attacked on a two
| mile front west of Somme Ply, broke
| through the enemy positions and rapidly
advanced q distance Of hve and one
half miles, capturing the formidable
| heights of Blanc Mont and Medeah
Farm. This rapid advance turned the
German positions in the mountain region
| east of Rheims and forced them to make
a rapid retreat.
The attack Of the Second Division was
preceded by the preliminary clearing
up OF the German first and second line.
which were protected by wires. This
operation was accomplished in few
hours. A general attack was launched
on the morning OF October 8. The Amer
| leans swept away all resistance and
pushed ahead speedily. They found that
on the left flank the German line known
as the Essen trench was pouring in an
| enfilading IRE from machine guns. Al
though this trench lay in the sector to
the left the Americans sent over detach-
ments and soon conquered It
So rapid was the advance Of the Sec
ond Division that the Americans had
reached the observatory on Blanc Mont
knew what had happened. Tho observer
on duty In the tower saw large number
Of AMERICANS approaching. Knowing that
the GermQns had planned a strong coun-
ter attack for the same morning he
wrote a message to his headquarters
commenting on the progress OF the Ger
man counter attack since large numbers
Of Americans could be seen coming to
the rear. He was captured before he
could send the message.
During the day of October the Amer
leans made two advances of over two
miles each. The first was to Blanc Mont
and Medeah Farm. and the second to
| the bank of the River Arnes in front of
st. Etieme. They advanced SO far
there was great danger Of their being cut
OF and encircled. A French division was
put In to straighten out the line. Its
| attack on the morning Of october was
retarded by enemy gas. But on October s
| the line was advanced to include the st.
Etienne- Orfeuil road.