Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-07
THE 103D INFANTRY
IN TOUL SECTOR
(Continued from Page 81

gathering, not waiting for the real
,, attack to begin. And when the
| enemy did finally come forward.
under their own barrage, the scat
, tered groups of Yanks wen~right at
them, countered from the very be-
ginning, and smashed things up
| beautifully.
One German lieutenant, captured,
sputtered that the Americans didn't
/. play the game right.
They shouldn't have been where
| they WERE" he said. "They were
coming right through our own bar
| rage and might have been wiped
out"
The 103d men captured three Boche
machine guns, several flame throw
ers, 10 prisoners and enough equip
ment TO stock a full company. The
! Germans got back to their lines
with nothing better than a sound
drubbing. General Pershing compli-
mentei the 10Sd Regiment for it's
work i Xivray. Gen. Gerard also
expressed his admiration for the
fine soldierly qualities" of officers
and men.
And when the time came for with
drawal from that front drew near.
the gallant Passage, who had Won
immortal fame by his defence of
Verdun, babe farewell sorrowfully
to those New England boys who had
fought with his corps, the sd, so
brave1y.
Il salute it's colors," he wrote Of
the division, and thank it for the
splendid services it has rendered
here to the common cause. Under
the distinguished command of their
chief, Gen. Edwards, the high
spirited soldiers of the Yankee Di-
vision have taught the enemy some
bitter lessons at Bois Brule. at
Seicheprey, at Nivray- Marvoisin;
they Lave taught him to realize the
staunch v;gor of the sons of the
great republic. fighting for the
worlds freedom"
1t was June % when the 9Th Di-
vision finally got away from the
Toul front. Paris-Gay Paree-of
which these boys had dreamed so
SO the story ran. And to Paris, true
enough, the division went; straight
to the outer fringe Of the city. Then
orders were changed. The I'd Ameri-
can Division, which held the Ger
mans in check on the Paris road at
Chateau-Thicrry, was to be re-
lieved-that was the disheartening
order.
Command was taken over July 9.
with headquarters at Chamigny: and
the regiments were out in front. on
ground made memorable by the fight
Of the Marines. Here the 101st held
Vaux, the most advanced point, right
on the Paris road, the line extend
ing to the north.
On the 9th. the fighting on this new
firle began. The Boche, In the early
morning, swept down into Vaux and
established machine gun posts.
you've got to drive those (cen-
sored) out of there or we'll be the
laughing stock Of the division. was
the word sent by Col. Logan. And
so the driving began.
= That fight for Vaux will long be
with groups of men rushing here and
there, cleaning up snipers and ma
chine gunners, rushing hostile posi-
tons: overhead the roar Of the
American barrage, below the hum of
countless machine guns. The clean
up was thorough.
Three days later Foch's famous
counter offensive began-on July -
at 4.25 in the morning.
The night before at 10 o'clock. a
terrific thunderstorm had broken
lightning flashed and rain fell in
sheets. But in the morning there |
came a clearing and when the fated !
hour approached there was a rosy
flush on the morning sky. Com
manders wore an anxious look. A |
surprise had been planned and a
clear day vas not to their liking.
But just before the time set, heavy
mist began to descend. All wa3 wen. |
A gun spoke: then the roar from a
hundred, a thousand iron-throated /
messengers of death. The creeping |
.barrage had opened. The infantry |
was to attack simultaneously.
uC l aims AuOscu OAWuAu On TIC
left. pivoting upon their own right, |
held by the 101st, in front of Vaux. |
The 1929 came next; but it was the
boys Of the 1899 and 104th. on the
left. that did the early fighting.
1--WE are in Torcy' was the first
message sent back. Then came a |
delay. A hitch had taken place; Tut