The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-10-31

from Caldwell and tributary territory,
several Of whom lost their lives. 1t is
the first account of the battle and the
causes leading to it to be published
Editor. iN
(By Alexander Woollcott)
When, in the early summer of 1913,
the Second and Third Divisions of the
United States army scrambled across
France and jumped breathless into the
fighting near teau-Thierry, there
sprang into the minds Of the folks at
home the notion that with the help
of God and few Marines" the A. E..
F. had then and there halted once
and for all the German drive ON Paris
that just as the forces of the I'm
perial Germany army, at the height of
its power, were advancing on the
French capital, they were met on the
Paris-Metz road by handful of
Thermopylae-minded young Ameri-i
cans who, with devastating effect, pro-
claimed They shall not pass" and so
barred the road to civilization. Now
this was delusion, one of the most
ex traordinary and, in its final effect,
one of the most helpful decisions in
history. 4 81
Just how it arose, and just what
fraction Of fact it had to substantiate
it, are worth our present study, not
only in the interests of abstract TRUTH
but because it was largely due to the
delusion itself that the whole-hearted
and fearless fighting out troops did in
the Marine Valley year ago last June
not only raised the dropping spirits
of an overtried people but, for the
first time, put the will to fight into
the A. E. F.
Now, when il is all over and, in the
perspective Of year, it is possible for
all the world to see how tremendous
stimulus the Second and Third Di-
visions gave to the morale of the
Allied forces. it is interesting to recall
what was never said openly at the
time, that, in the minds of many. ex-
pert French observers, the price paid
in American blood for what then
seemed, and indeed was, very slight
tactical advantage, was exorbitantiy
high. 1t is interesting, to know that
they were inclined to set down the
American adventure in the Chateau
Thierry area as victory for the Ger
mans. Certainly they regarded it as
nothing for which Allied hearts could
thank God and take courage.
Their considerable surprise at the
way in which the Americans glorified
Chauteau-T hierry was politely con
cealed. however, until long after the
signing Of the armistice, when, in the
strain and stress of the peace negotia-
tons. their old irritation found vent
in such quibs and cartoons as the jest
which appeared on cover of the
French facetious weekly. lie Rire, last
spring. The drawing showed two
disconsolate Yanks dropping oyer a
bar "Cheer up" said one, you'll
soon be going home and be hailed as
a conqueror' "Hell," replied the
other, or words to that effect. Il never
did any fighting" Ca ne fait rein.
An American doesn't need to have
fought to be hailed as a conqueror."
Any of the hundreds Of thousands
of Americans who wallowed into the
muck and misery of the Argonne-
Meuse drive last fall will tell you. on
sober reflection. that no two divisions
mot even sub an assortment of shock
troops as made Up the Second and
Third-ever really stopped mans
sic German drive. What actually hap
pened was that when the Germans
smashed through ~ the Chen,in .des
Danes on Nav III a defensive fine was
formed well to the south--made M az
4 large number OF French and com
probably small number OF American
troops instructed and competent to
resist anv further advance. No seri-
Gus attempt at a further advance was
made in that area until the enemy had
had good six weeks in which TO
catch his breath. For what the de-
fensive line was braced to meet was a
German army ALREADY exhausted by
an Incredibly successful drive. one
which had brought II across the Aisne.
the Tardenois and the Orurco and
down TO the Marine. a German army
which had already outrun all its own
expectations and was inchoate. tired.
out OF hand. unsupported.
TIE American solder who me-, :,
s,;d - h;,nssis. aTh.~e co,nas The
Who'll da,nnsd ce,n,an .r,nv TIVE We
49, e.ers -. ~ 49,.