The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-07

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September / and marched to the Foret
de la Refine, in the rear area of the
| Ansauville sector, where the infantry
was Joined by the artillery brigade.
which had previously been relieved
from the Saixerais sector. Here,
preparations were made for the attack
ON the St Mihiel salient.
ENEMY IS CUT OFF.
The division was attached to the
Fourth American Army corps. which
was to attack along the eastern side
OF tie Salient, in a northerly and
westerly direction. The Fifth Ameri-
can corps was to attack from the
western side Of the Salient, In an
easterly direction. The junction Of
the two corps was to cut Off the st.
Mihiel salient The First division
wa placed on the left of the Fourth
corps. 1t was required to attack on
front OF three ki1ometers, extend
ing from Seicheprey to xivray. and to
protect its own left flank. The Sec
ond French Colonial division, On its
left, was to follow the movement,
and the 42nd American division, on
its right, was to advance in llaison
I with the First division. The 1Stn
infantry was assigned the mission of
covering the left flank and the 16ta
infantry, the 2sth infantry and the
26th infantry. in the order named.
from left to right, were to drive for
the detectives. The artillery of the
division was increased to include
12o-75 m/m guns. 40-155 m/m howit-
GERS and s-s" howftzers The infantry
entered the trenches during the night
of September HIP. The artillery
or"paration consisted Of four hours
OF slow fire. from ! O'clock to
q ciok. At o'clock, September IL.
the infantry, preceded by heavy
rolling barrage and a smoke screen
and accompanied by tanks and engi-
.neer troops with passerelles. heavy
wire cutters and bangalore tubes, ad-
vanced against the position which
they had faced during their first
months in the Ansauville sector. The
terrain was completely dominated by
Mont Sec Heavy rains had made
the marshy ground difficult to cross.
The first part of the zone traversed
was cut up by trenches and wire,
constructed during the previous four
years. Two streams, the Rupt de
Madt and the Nadine river, were seri-
Gus obstacles. The thick woods of
the Quart de Reserve and the Bots de
Nigneulles were defended and it was
necessary for the troops to march by
compass bearing when passing
through them. The will to advance
carried the men along close to their
barrage and the objectives of the day
were taken according to schedule.
During the night, the troops pushed
on through the Bots de Vigneulles and
by 70 o'clock, clements of the 2Sth
infantry had reached the Vigneuiles-
St Benoit road. At $40. on Septem-
Der Is, scout platoon OF the 2sth
infantry entered Nationwide and at
where 1t gained contact with Alements
or the 26th division of the 5th corps.
In the meantime, elements of the a6th
division had reached yigneulies al
S;l5 o'clock. Thus. the enemy's es-
cape from, the salient was completely
cut off during the night Of Septem Der
1913.
The First division had advanced ID
knometers, in an air line, in 10 hours.
and small elements Of the division ad-
vaHced - kilometers in 80 hours The
division captured officers, 1870 men.
Sc-&F7 MN and $50 mfm guns, one
ant1-tank gun. SO machine guns 100
rifles and large quantities of ammuni-
! tion and stores, The enemy had been
forced to burn valuable stores that
ne was unable to remove, because of
the rapid advance. The losses in the
division were II officers 5sl men
killed. wounded and missing.
On the afternoon OF Septem Der 10.
the division was relieved from the
, line by the Second French Colonial
corps and was assembled In the vici-
nifty or Nonsard. Here the troops
were rested and re-equipped
on September 90, the infantry pro-
ceeded by trucks and the artillery
ana the trains by marching, in the
direction of Verdun. All movements
were made at night. in order to screen
them from the enemy. The troops
| We're assembled in the woods in the
area of Benoit de Vaux. where the
division was attached to the Third
American corps and held reserve
! for the atack between the Meuse and
the Argonne on September &c. It
was anticipated. that the division
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