The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-07-18
HISTORY OF
4th DIVISION
Organization and Training.

Or0AntxAtton ana framing.
The 4th Division was organized il
December 1917, at Camp Greene
North Carolina, Major General Geo
H. Cameron commanding. 1t is Reg
ular Army Division. The units of the
Division originally had an enlisted
personnel, but were brought up to
strength by the inclusion OF drafted
men. Intensive training of units OF
all arms was carried out during the
winter in the unforgettable mud of
The Division received orders to
embark for Europe in the spring.
Accordingly the = departure for the
Port of Enbarkation began in April
1918. the various units going either
to Camp Mills or to Camp Merritt.
Some units landed directly in France
but many went through England.
With the exception of the artillery,
which trained at Camp de Souge, the
Division was concentrated in the
Samer area for training during the
latter part of May and received In
structions from the British. The Divi-
sion was then in the II Army Corps
(American).
When the German drive from the
Aisne to the Marne threatened Paris
in June. the 4th Division was one
of the American Divisions hurriedly
brought down from the British area
and placed In immediate reserve be-
hind the new French front. The 4th.
Division went first to Meaux
then up the Marne to the vicinity
Of La Ferte-sous-Jouarre. While the
infantry regiments were disposed a.
bout the area and were put under
training with the French, the Engin-
GERS were given the task of construct
ing secondary system of defences
along the hills above Crouttes. Later
the Division was moved up to the
vicinity OF Lizy-sur-O Ourc and the
Engineers took up the construction of
defensive work In the sector. Tho
Artillery during this time was still
in training at Camp de Souge, near
Bordeaux.
Second Battle Of the Marine.
This brings us to the crisis of the
war, the Second Battle of the Marne
Once before at the Marne the Ger
man had been beaten and had lost
their opportunity of winning a short
decisive war. This second Battle of
the Marne was the first big defeat
suffered by the German Army in
many months, and 1t proved to be the
beginning of the end, for it marked the
first of series of retreats that fin
ally developed almost into rout and
from which the Boche could not re-
cover. 1t fell to the lot of the 4th.
Division to play no small part in this
its first battle.
What proved to be the last Ger
man offensive started July 18th.
Threedays later the Allies counter
attacked. The units of the 4th. Divi-
sion were brigaded with French |
troops. the 7th. Brigade with the End |
French Corps and the balance of the |
Division with the 7th French Corps,
both Corps being in the vi French |
Army. During the period in which |
the Division was brigaded with the |
French. no organization larger than
a regiment functioned as tactical
unit and in most cases battalions
we're sent into action with French re-
giments.
The seth Infantry attacked at
A. NJ, July IS, and by 8 p. M, had
taken all detectives as ordered, in
cluding Buisson de Cresenes. There
after Noroy was taken, which ar
cording to plans was to have been
taken by the French. At A. NJ,
July 19, the regiment again advanced
and took all detectives. The troops
were relieved during the night of
July 1920. Two companies Of the 11th
Gun Battalion operated with
The 3Sth Infantry during this period.
A battery great number of minnen-
werfer and machine guns, and over
100 prisoners were captured.
The 47th Infantry was held In re-
serve during this phase OF the battle
by two companies of the
l1th Machine Gun Battalion and two
OF the 4th Engineers.
The 5Sth Infantry, 50 tn Infantry, !
18th Machine Gun Battalion, 10th
Machine Gun Battalion, and the bal [
lnce Of the 4th Engineers operated
With the 7th Corps. the battalions
separately. The French
Ind American troops advanced At I
|:36 A. N. July Is, without artillery K
Iupport and took Hautevesnes and /
Tho Americans I'm = !
'plendid dash" Ito quote the words I
4 General Gaucher, commanding the I