East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-09-18

Indians in the
battle were staggering to them ana
the allied command was quick to take
advantage of this situation. f
The offensive was taken by the
Americans and the 66th brigade artll-
lery was utilized in laying down a fire
that would assist In cutting off all ad-
ditional troops from crossing the Mar
ne with supplies. The infantry, .copn'
ter attacking in the face of what was
nearly a German victory completely
upset the Germans plans. and whs,i
the day was over. all enemy troops
had either been taken prisoners, or
driven back Then and only then did
the members of the 66th f. A. brigade
have an opportunity to relax. Cau-
sualties of all units were reported,
men rested, and the batteries prepared
to take up the second phase of the
battle, that of driving the Hun back
from the Marine line to the Vesle.
First Corps Is Formed
The First Corps of the American
army was formed at this time. and as
First Corps artillery the brigade re-
ported to Major General Hunter Lig-
gett. commanding the First American
Army Corps and on July 18th, began
the advance that opened the Marne-
Aisne offensive, the second battle in
which the brigade took part. Batta-
lions were hurried over the Marne.
positions. being taken amid the ruins
OF the Chateau Thierry battlefield.
All units crossed to the left of Chateau
Thierry forming a part of the gigantic
pinchers that with the French army
on the right. was closing in on the
defeated German army, Scissors on
the left, and Rheims on the right be- |
ing the pivotal points
Moving steadily with the advancing /
army through the salient positions
were occupied in vaux. in the edge of
Belleau woods, Epides, Beauvardes |,
Lhuys, Mareuil en- Dole and Cherry !
Chartreuse. as well as in many other
locations. At the Beauvardes location |
the Germans attempted a stiff counter
attack, and the commanding General |
of the American division opposing /
them at Fere en- Tardenois requested |
counter fire from the brigade. 1t
was delivered within two minutes by T
the entire brigade. and SO successful /
was the giant barrage laid down by i
the heavy guns. that the attack was
broken up after twenty minutes firing /
and the brigade received the personal |
thanks of the divisional commander.
Fighting Is Terrific
As divisions came into the line, |
fought, advanced. We're relieved by |
fresh divisions, who fought and adj
vanced. the brigade moved forward
without a rest, a battalion moving in
each regiment, while two battalions
fired.
Constant bombardments, gas and
she'll were daily and hourly occuren-
ces going into position at night, close
up to the advancing infantry. Firing
with steadiness that worked havoc
in the German lines communication,
and engaging battery after battery of
German artillery, the two regiments
moved up steadily towards the Vesle
AS batteries were moved up. new po-
sit.ons taken, battalion post of COM
mands moved and regimental and
brigade posts moved up, communica-
ton was established, supplied and am
munition brought up in steady
streams every portion of. the regi-
mental organization functioning like
veterans
The last phase of the fighting for
the Vesle was probably as severe as
any portion of the fighting since the
two regiments had entered the line as
the only heavy American G. p. F. ar
tillery to take part until now in the
two historic fights. The enemy offer
ed strong resistance along the Vsle
and his lines of communication, ex-
tending back to and across the Aisne.
made it necessary for the long range
guns to be brought up as close as
possible to the contact line that the
Aisne bridges. and rear points of con-
centration of the German army could
be reached. The mission was carried
out successfully and the missing of
G. p. f. guns in and around Cherry
Chartreuse offered the German artil-
lery a chance for an attempt at sue
cesful counter battery work. The bri-
gade, however, after being bathed in
fire, directed by airplanes over their !
positions, did not lose gun, although |
casualties among the personnel were |
heavy.
End of First Battle
The vesle being taken by the Amer
lean troops the salient of which Cha
teau Thierry was the apex had been |
removed and the German line had |
been thrown back far enough to re- |
move the danger of successful at |
tempt on Paris. The American army |
was withdrawn, the 66th r A bri- |
gade received orders on August II
to leave the salient. The brigade
| rendezvous was established at Mou-
cehton chateau and vicinity, where
the guns, carefully hidden in forests
were overhauled, men rested and pre-
parations made for the entrance into
the st. Mihiel sector, the seat of the
next. successful operations of the
American army, in which the two
| regiments of army artillery played