The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-03-06

Va "a VIC COhIIlucu
to press forward and throw back the
enemy's violent counterattacks with
great loss to him, a regrouping of our
forces was under way for the final as
sauIt. Evidences of loss of morale by
the enemy gave our men more conf
dence in attack and more fortitude i n
enduring the fatigue of incessant Ell
fort and the hardships of very inclem-
ent weather.
With comparatively well rested di-
visions, the final advance in the
Meuse-Argonne front was begun on
Nov. /. Our increased artillery force
acquitted itself magnificently in sup
port OF the advance, and the enemy
broke before the determined infantry
which, by its persistent fighting of the
past weeks and the dash of this at
tack, had overcome his will to resist.
The Third Corps took A~increville,
Doulon, and ~Andevanne, and the Fifth
Corps took Landres ct st. Georges and
pressed through successive lines Of
resistance to Bayonville and Chennery.
On the End, the First Corps joined in
the movement which now became an
impetuous onslaught that could not
be stayed.
On the 3rd, advance troops were
hurried forward in pursuit, some by
motor trucks, while the artillery
pressed along the country roads close
behind. The First Corps reached
Authe and Chattillon-sur-Bar the Fifth
Corps, Fosse and Nouart, and the
Third Corps Halles, penetrating the
enemy's line to a depth of II miles.
Our large caliber guns had advanced
and were skilfully brought into posi-
ton to fire upon the important rail
road lines at Montmedy, Longuyon
and Contains. Our Third Corps cross
ed the Mouse on the 5th, and the 9th
er corps, in the full confidence that
the day was theirs, eagerly cleared
the way of machine guns as they
swept northwadr, maintaining COM
plete coordination throughout. On
the 9Th a division of the First Corps
reached a point on the Mouse oppo-
site Sedan, rs miles from our line Of
departure. The strategical goal which
was our highest hope was gained. We
had cut the enemy's main line of
communications and nothing but sur
render or an armistice could save his
N pn,x frn,, nnn,nlatn Iicnctnr
In all A enemy divisions had been
used against us in the Meuse-Argonne
battle. Between Sept. &c and Nov. Q
we took 16,059 prisoners and 468 guns
on this front. Our divisions engaged
were the LIST, End, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 26th,
2Sth, Goth, 32nd, 33rd, 35th, 9th, 42nd,
nth, 18th, 10th, SOth, S2nd, seth, Goth,
g. 1t. Many of our divisions remained
in line for a length of time that re-
quired nerves of steel, while other
were e n in again after only a few
days of rest. The list, End, 9Th, Goth,
And, nth, 10th, sOth, seth and Goth
were in the line twice. Although some
of tic divisions were fighting their
first battle. they soon became equal
to the best.
On the three days preceding Nov.
10th, the Third Corps and the Second
Colonial and Seventeenth French
Corps fought a difficult struggle
through the Meuse hills south of
Stenay and forced the enemy into the
plain. Meanwhile, my plans for iur.
Their use of the American forces con-
templated an advance between the
Mouse and the Moselle in the direc-
ton of Longwy by the First army,
while at the same time the Second
Army should assume the offensive to-
ward the rich iron fields of Briey.
These operations were to be followed
by an offensive toward Chateau-Salins,
east of the Mosells, thus isolating
Metz. Accordingly, attacks on the
American front had been ordered, and
that of the Second Army was in pro-
gress o. the morning of Nov. IL, when
instructions were received that hos
tilities should cease at II o'clock a. m.