Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-06


army from complete disaster"
EVER since Sedan was reached many
Americans have entertained the i'm
preston that the drive beyond the
Argonne warranted such an appraise-
ment General Pershing now stamps it
with interchangeable authenticity, for his
comprehensive report on our operations
in France is scupuously sparing of
rhetoric.
1t is not magnitude of language but
of facts which gives this document its
distinction in military history. Grant
and Caesar were terse in victory, but
each had undergone Christening expe-
riences, the American commander at
Cold Harbor, the Roman at the hands
of Vercingetorix. General Pershing's
chronicle is one of uninterrupted tri-
umph. With unprecedented incentives to
exult in a record of glory, he valves
emotional outbursts in favor Of the
readers of his wondrous tale.
His categorical verdict on the major
American offensive becomes, therefore,
packed with meaning even for those of
his compatriots to whom boasting is re-
pugnant. 1t is the simple truth that the
irresistible movement of our army north
of Verdun was one of the prime factors
in ending the war.
For the forty-three days of terrific
fighting in this offensive the colossal
military and industrial energies organ
lied by the United States at home and
abroad through eighteen months served
as preparation. Oddly enough, speed
was gained through adversely as we'll as
through the efficient execution of long
premeditated plans.
When Ludendorff struck op the Somme
on March 81, 1918, the American troops
in France, which General Pershing
placed at Marshal Foch's disposal, num-
bered only 343,000. The crisis neccssi-
tated the unparalleled dispatch of vast
hosts of fighting men overseas with the
greatest possible celerity. Britain reor-
ganized her shipping facilities to such an
extent that fully one-half Of our troops
have crossed the Atlantic under the
Union Jack. The French Government
made up the deficiencies in our ordnance.
General Pershing states this fact in
gratitude, but without invidous refec-
tions on our home production. "All
credit" he declares, "is due to our own
manufacturers for the efforts to meet
our requirements, as at the time the
armistice was signed we were able to
look forward to supply of virtually all
our necessities from our own factories" ."
Acceptance of the French offer unques-
tionably released much valuable cargo
space in a grueling emergency and per-
mitted the employment of equipped
American troops to help stay the ad-
vance on Paris.
At this crisis plans for the movement
| of our army as a unit We're temporarily
| the destruction of the Hun driving
power. The local action at Cantigny
proved a superb index of American dash
and on a greater scale it was again
heroically exemplified at Chateau
Thierry and in the elimination of the
| Marne pocket.
By the end of August the whole aspect
of the war had gloriously changed and
it was possible for the American army
as an entity to take up a campaign of
prime Importance in the execution of the
grand strategic offensive. This was the
drive to the German lines of communica.
tion along the Meuse.
An essential predatory move was the
wiping out of the st. Mihiel salient
This was briskly accomplished or
September IL and 13 in one of the most
elaborately prepared and incisively clean.
cut actions of the war. The American
First Army, under Pershing's personal
command, here appeared for the first
time as an active combatant unit. About
100000 troops were engaged, and Sc
rapidly had the American troops in
creased in numbers that the suprem,
test was at hand.
On September 26 virtually all tn,
trained American forces in France, saw,
those engaged in brilliantly aiding tn,
advance in Flanders and the Artois, be
gan the stupendous battle comparable il
difficulty with the Franco British attacl
on the Hindenburg line. Many of tn,
troops engaged had not completed tn,
originally specified period of training il
quiet sectors, but General Pershnl
points TO no inferiority of their efficiency
or valor.
] The whole army faced problem who's,