The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-04-04
forest farm HELD
STRONGLY BY HUNS
FOR SEVERAL YEARS

Through his helmet AZ he swan across.
On the night Of the 18th our front
was extended 500 meters TO the west
Thi, slde-slip wa, accomplished with.
out loss About this time, the French
on the right Of the l4lN Infantry,
which was on our light, launched an
attack on q front known as Forest
Farm. This attack was prepared and
supported by intense artillery prepara.
tion, but was no, successful.
On the night of the 2lnd and 2jrd.
the regiment Jumped over the l4lN
Infantry and relieved the French be-
fore Forest Farm The Third bat
TALON under Captain Greer. reinforced
by Stokes and " nm guns and as
sisted by A and B Companie, Of the
lJlN Machine Gun battalion, occupied
the front lines. which ran cast and
west through Roche. Major Morris
sey with the Second battalion went
vnto position as regmental support at
Chuhilly and Chardeny with head
quarters a, the former town. Resi-
inental p. C. was established in Char
deny. The First battalion and rcgi.
mental machine gun company went
Into brigade reserve at Ieiilncour,
where brigade T. {, was placed Enc
my shell fire was rather heavy during
th, reliei and ten casualties were SUI.
fcred.
Forest Farm Terrain.
Before going further 1t !, necessary
In view OF the following operations to
describe the enemy positions al what,
Is called Forest Farm. Leading up
20 the farm from the south is a gentle
slope downward toward the river
Aisne about three kilometer, from
high hills in front OF Chardeny. This
flat is practically an open country,
dotted with the villages Of Chuffilly,
Merry and Roche. Had the river main.
tanned . straight course, IT would run
TO the south OF Forest Farm. How
ever the ground rises slightly and the
river makes an abrupt bend n the
north, swinging around the higher
ground and then back TO the normal
course, forming a decided L. On the
north side OF the river the ground
rises into 4 series OF hills. and Just
10 the east, OF the neck OF land III
The U is a high hlll on which the town
of Noncq is situated This L Is about
two kilome,ers wide a, the mouth and
about the same dimensions in depth.
The Germans while withdrawing their
.ssSeneral line north Of the Aisnc, re-
tanned this position possibly as a
bridge head in case they should attack
or as a debouching poin, for raids.
They strongly fortified the mouth OF
the neck, covering 1t with wire en-
tanglemen,s IN some place, as much
s three bands deep Forest Farm it,
self occupies only about nc-third OF
the from, and was to the front OF the
14lS Infantry. Our west boundary
skirted the farm to the east. taking in
the other two-,hirds OF the line.
Directly TO our front was the
enen,ys principal strong point. con
structcd IN a system OF old practice
trenches, Back OF this, cscheloned to
the east was a smaller strong point or
combat group A captured map showed
the north side of the river literally
covered with emplacements for ma.
chine guns and artillery.
German Position Stronl.
II appeared that the enemy was pre-
pared 10 make a formidable defense
and We did not wonder SO much tina,
the French had failed to drive the
Germans out. and there was yet an
other side TO this position Supposing
it wa, taken could it be held unless
. general advance was made along the
entire line The WONG Hill linked the
neck completely, as did also the GROUND
TO the west 1t was apparent tha, the
enemy could concentrate terrific fire
on the U from three sides, Frankly
il didn't look desirable; neither wa
II pleasant 10 have the Germans only
= few hundred meters away in posi-
: jion to be meddlcsomc That was the
way we looked at it little later when
Il began TO appear that we were slated
TO make an attack, But am getting
ahead OF the story.
On the night OF the 2Sth Our bat
ferries shelled the Germans with gas
They returned the compliment the
next day, paying particular attention
10 Chuffilly and the position Of G aud
men were burned with the liquid. The