South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-18

ist in the forest, except for a few
transval passes running east and
west The soil is such that the least
rain converts 1t into a slippery. mlry
mess. In other words. the physical
condition is such that the line OF at
tack for an advancing army is limit
ed to valleys chief among which is
that of the Aire river.
German Life Artery"
From the edge Of the forest, where
the resistance was viciously strong.
the enemy possessed innumera BILE
thanking positions. But beyond this
difficult region lay the Montmedy-
Sedan line, which was recently cap
tured. A German order described it
as our life artery" 1t represented
one-half Of the German rail supply
on the western front Il meant
death if cut
The high command told Pershing
10 cut it. The American first army
was put in motion from St. Mihiel.
In nine days il was on the ArConne
line ready for an attempt, the failure
Of which might mean disaster and
the success Of which would give IN
told results. This quick movement
OF an enormous body of men. the
establishment of a new line of sap
ply and the complicated military
preparations was regarded with
pride by the American commanders.
The Americans knew what con-
fronted them. They realized that
this was no second St. Mihiel, but
an enterprise at which other armies
had baked for four years. They
knew that here was TO be fought a
fight to rank with the first battle of
the Marine. with Verdun, with the
Somme and the Chemin des Danes:
and they knew that on them de-
pended the fate of the great attack
on the rest OF the front If forced
. back here the enemy must give way
10 the west If he held he could
hold elsewhere.
Attacked ut Daybreak.
II was at daybreak Of Sept. &c
when the Americans went in. Using
nine divisions for the preliminary
attack, @and under vigorous artillery
support. they advanced five kilome-
tiers the first day. But the enemy
was not taken wholly by surprise.
| The second day he threw into the
line five counter attack divisions ne
| had held I'm close reserve. They were
his best troops. but they failed not
only TO push the Americans back.
| but they failed to check the gradual
! advance Of the Americans over the
difficult terrain.
The first phase of the action end
\ ed oct. 81, during which the Amer
| lean gains were not large, but they
| compelled the enemy TO use n large
number of divisions which became
/ slowly exhausted and thus were un-
able TO parry the hammering he was
receiving from the French and BRIT
ish on the west.
tt was bitter fighting in the woods
/ brush and ravines. 1t was over
region perfectly registered and
plotted by the enemy where his
guns, big and little, could be used
/ with the greatest efficiency. The
/ original nine American divisions in
/ some cases were kept in the line over
/ three consecutive weeks. The Amer
/ lean reserves then were thrown in
until every division not engaged on
another part Of the line had been
put into action.
First Action of Many.
tt is a fact commented on with
pride by the American commanders
and complmented by the allies. that
seven OF these divisions that dove
tehir way through this hard action
never before had been in an active
sector. while green troops. fresh
I from home. were poured in as re-
] placements.
The Associated Press dispatches
+ from day 10 day told what these men
/ did. how the enemy was slowly
pushed back from his strongest and
most vital positions through one de
/ Tense system after another. using
/ his finest selected troops. which had
been withdrawn in many instances
I from other portions of the line. in
/ an effort 20 hold an enemy which he
derisively said last spring could not
/ be brought 10 Europe. and If so
would not fight. and even if ne tried
/ 20 fight would not know how 10 do
so.
The attack delivered on the morn
/ ing of Nov. Il. which began the
/ second phase Of the Argonne battle.
/ was the death blow 10 the German
army Between Sept. &c and oct
\ q enemy divisions 10 the number OF
f IS were identified as being opposed
10 the Americans I'm this sector Be
tween Nov. and Nov. 5 the enemy
threw IN Il fresh divisions. but all
in vain.
Fought Foot ny Foot
Fighting every foot OF the way.
the American advance averaged FIVE
+ kilometers daily over terrain con-
stantly growing more difficult with
the lines OF communications and
supply daily lengthening and at-en-
uati1g. while road-makers for the
transport and other supply organ
izations worked day and night at
their tasks