Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-07

Under date of June Is, 1918. General
Passage. commanding the 32d Army
Corps. French Army. issued the fol-
lowing general order:
"Translation, 26th Division, June Is,
1918.
II. O.. June Is, 1918.
With. Army. 80 Corps,
Staff-3d Bureau,
No 1904.
GENERAL ORDERS NO. 1871.
On June Is, strong detachment,
consisting of 600 picked German
troops, reinforced by Storm Battal-
ion elements. attacked at daybreak
the front line Of the 26th American
Division at XIVRAY and between
XIVRAY and SEICHPRAY. The
enemy was everywhere repulsed by
immediate counter-attackS and left
numerous bodies on the terrain, and
10 prisoners including one officer.
This brilliant action does the great
est honor to the 9th American Di-
vision, and in particular, to the 1O3d
Regiment, Colonel HUME.
1t demonstrates the unquestionable
superiority of the American soldier
over the German soldier. It indi-
Gates clearly what can be expected
from these magnificent troops when,
in it's turn, the Entente assumes the
offensive.
GENERAL PASSAGA,
Commanding the 32d Army Corps.
PASSAGA"
The he fiypn ho
American regiment had been so cited,
mentioning an officer by name.
The regiment remained in the Toul
sector during April. May and June
AS they were leaving this sector, I'M
der date of June =. Gen. Passage,
commanding the 32d army corps,
French army, issued another general
order. in which he said:
Under the distinguished COM
mand of their chief, Gen. Ed
wards, the high-spirited soldiers #
the Yankee Division have taught the
enemy some bitter lessons, at Bots
Brule, at Se;cheprey, at Nivray-
Marvoism; they have taught him to
realize the staunch vigor of the sons
Of the great republic fighting for the
worlds freedom"
The first of July the regiment
started as they supposed for Paris
and rest. They expected to take
part in the great Fourth of July cele-
bration in that city. They arrived
in sight of Eiffel Tower and were
then turned northerly and sent to the
Chateau-Thierry front. a most i'm
portant sector.
About month previous, on June
I'd. the French in this sector, beng
hard pressed. had been relieved by
the Marines Of the 5th and 9Th Regi-
ments, and by the 9th and 23d Regi-
ments of American regulars. In the
latter regiment Edward Allen Whit
ney of Augusta was serving with dis
tinction as first lieutenant. On
June 4th. the Germans again attack
ing. the French retired through the
Marines and Regulars, and the lat
ter received, and stopped the German
attack. The next day. the Americans
concentrated and hurled the Ger
mans back. From the 9Th to the 18th
Of June. this I'd Division of Marines
and Regulars made six attacks and
received nine counter-attacks, being
opposed at all times by not less than
two. and sometimes. three, German
Divisions. Among these troops the
crack German regiment. the 2sth and
the 5th Prussian Guards.
Belleau Wood was taken and held
and has now been chrstened "Bois de
Ia Brigade de Marines" 1t is the fight
for these woods which George Patullo
so wildly described in the Saturday
Evening Post of August 31st in his
article entitled FLEETWOOD
During this struggle for Belleau
Wood. two battalions of the Sd Ameri-
can Division were sent in to support
the I'd Division. 1t was their first
time in line. but they held the posi-
ton through Belleau Wood and until
the Marines had taken a much need
ed rest. The Marines then went back
into position. and held until relieved
by the Yankee Division. This was
accomplished on July 9th. when our
New England boys of the 18th Di-
VISION took over the line held bv the
Marines, and occupied a sector ex
tending about five and a half miles
from To-cy on the north to Chateau
ThlerrE on the south. The French
were operating in articulation on the
right and left tanks.
On July 18th, as they took I'D their
position in the Chateau-Thierry limo
General Edwards, as commander Of
the 18th Division, issued the follow
ing order to his troops:
HEADQUARTERS Goth DIVISION
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONAR
FORCE. France. July II, 1918.
GENERAL ORDERS
NO. Co.
j. AT the moment that the 2eth Di-
vision takes up it's position on it's
thlrd sector in three months it is fit
ting and proper that the division COM
mander should take this opportunity
TO thank and congratulate the officers
and men Of the Yankee Division on
the record that they have achieved
since the Division actively took it's
place in the fighting lines of the AL
lies Tor the common cause
2. You have been taken from a Soc
tor where in three battles you have
SHOWN that the blood of New Eng
lana has not attenuated and that the
same spirit and traditions which YOUR
forefathers made glorious at Lex
ington and at Bunker Hill still SIR.
vive in the generation which at Bots
IL