The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-19
Battle of Cantigny Showed
Indication of the Turn
ing of the Tide.
BRITAIN GIVES US CREDIT
Correspondent Writes Story of
the Notable Victories of the
U. s. Divisions.
By HERBERT BAILEY.

spondent.
Copyright 1919. by Public Ledger Co.
/.
1t was at the taking of Cantigny by
the Twenty-eighth Infantry Regiment of
the First Division on May 2S, 1918, that
the Germans, looking out across the
verdant open country then smothered
with the smoke OF a creeping barrage
fire. first saw from the heights of the
village the sturdy American men in
full battle formation and array. over
a year had passed since America de-
clared war. 1t had been a year well
spent in raising a gigantic army from
the youth OF America, OF Transporting
1t fully equipped overseas to France.
and Of instructing and training 1t in
quiet and appropriate sectors on the
western front. There had been a bitter
local fight at Selcheprey. beneath the
frowning blaclSness OF Mont Sec, in the
Toul area. There had been raids and
gas attacks north of Luneville in the
Baccarat zone. Around Verdun and on
the British front the Germans had ex-
perienced to their cost that impetuosity,
that anxiety to prove their mettle in
combat which always marked the ef-
forts of the Americans.
Chasing the enemy out of mo Mans
Land" converting the most sombre of
sectors into the noisiest of furies, ever
alert and ever quick to learn the great
game OF war, the Americans astonished
all by their reckless audacity, their in
quiring assurance and the much more
valuable military asset OF accurate long
distance rifle fire. The French, in con-
sternation at the daring willingness to
take a chance with death which the
Americans showed in all sectors. posted
up many warnings quantity worded In
the front line villages III you want
TO be killed. walk down this street."
Fritz in his balloon can see you, so
keep your head down" These and many
more admonitions were addressed to the
curious, but they had little effect. The
Americans had come to Europe to fight
and to see all that could be seen; the
war to them possessed much OF the at
forgiveness of a great adventure and
a great tour. and they chafed at any
restraints Young, enthusiastic, willing
to take any risks, they talked war,
lived war and dreamed war. They were
soon to be immersed in the sterner side
OF battle.
Great Docks Built.
Meanwhile the organizing genius of
America, transplanted back to Europe,
had constructed complete service or
supplies replete with docks, warehouses
ana railways from the ports of Bor-
deaux, St Nazaire and Brest, which,
had the Channel ports ever fallen to
the enemy. would have served as the
allied armies main line OF communica-
ton from the sea. OF all the accom-
plishments Of the Americans in France
this was one of the greatest a revela-
ton in point Of speed, thoroughness and
conception.
Then came Cantigny. the first blow
The First Division, fresh from the Toul
training sector, had relieved the Forty
NTH French African Division from north
of Mesnil st. Georges to just north Of
Cantigny in that sector, facing Mont
didier and south OF Amiens, where the
undulating country. broken here and
there with sparse woods, afforded the
opportunity for a fierce defence after
the open vastness OF the Somme valley
They had. after the Amiens drive settled
down into the game OF exchanging
shells across the green, stood up to
daily bombardment of every kind of
cannon.
Al last the chance. welcome after
much sitting In trenches Cantigny,
y.
overlooking with a mouth OF nre the
whole countryside, was to be taken.
Never did men rise so eagerly out
OF trenches to go forward than those
Americans. Through gas through a
cloud OF machine gun bullets. following
close behind their barrage they steadily
assembled the slopes of the village and
sheltered themselves In the cemetery
when the village was theirs. Cantigny
was small isolated action with little
immediate Significance. But the village
was the nrst ever captured by Ameri-
can troops In Europe, and the lesson that
the Germans learned was the first they
had received from the youth OF America.
Turned to the Marine.
few days later and the Americana
ecentlng battle with all the, eagerness of
untried and expectant troops, from Gen.
Pershing himself down to tin soldiers
Of the line, We're turning their faces
toward the Maine. They had heard how
the Germans in q sudden drive, for
which the Allies were totally unpre-
pared, had driven some resting British
and French divisions from the shell
strewn heights OF the Chemin des Danes
to the green GOODNESS of the valley of
the Marine. The opposition to the Ger
mans had faded away in face OF the
tremepdous impetus which their drive
had gained, and they had moved more
with the assurance OF a procession than
with the fiuctuating fortunes OF troops
In action.
The morale of the troops opposing
them was naturally very low when tho
Americans of the Second Division, COM
posed of one brigade OF marines, the
Fifth and Sixth regiments, and another
brigade of infantry. the Ninth and
Twenty-third regiments. appeared on the
scene They had arrived at Meaux on
the last day Of May. A city choked
with refugees and the wounded. with all
the confusing transport OF war, greeted
them The next evening only thin line
OF French infantry. still holding out with
all the valor OF their race, stood between
them and the Germans. The enemy with
diminishing speed and evaporating en-
thuslasm were seeking to push their
way along the Paris-Metz highway
where It leaves Chateau Thierry for the
capital.
At Chateau Thierry.
Meanwhile the machine gunners OF
the Seventh Regiment OF the Third Dlvi-
sion had gone Into the streets of Chateau
Thierry itself. The Germans had once
before been surprised at this spot by
meeting a new foe. Then the British
drove up fronap Coulommiers to thu