The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-19

cans the new nope or the Allles anu Tic
new menace for Germany. Through the
streets of the pretty Marine town tho
Americans fought with desperation
that surprised the Germans.
Half an hour before the Americans
had stood on height. viewing for the
first time in their lives the sight of ex-
ploding shells. Now they were cut on
in the streets of the town. mined
bridge their direct avenue of retreat
having been blown up with Germans ana
French fighting hand to hand in Its CEN
tire. 1t was the testing time for young
troops. But coolly and sagaciously they
retreated along the valley of the river
fighting when they could and hndlng
protection wherever It offered, until they
reached the next bridge and safely
crossed. To the east of Chateau Thierry
the Germans were endeavoring to en-
yelop the Paris road by southwark
sweep and 1t fell to the Americans to
reestablsh liaison between two French
corps In the Veuilly, Fremont and Cou-
lombs line and then, the next day, June
3, to crush a German attack at Neuilly.
shock stops Germans.
The night OF the Sd and 4th the re-
naming scattered French units, VINO
had fought without food or rest for six
days in retreat, passed through the
Americans lines, who now held twelve
kilometer front. The German offensive,
dragging to a close, came to standstill
with a shock. 1t shivered under the
Americans fire and enthusiasm, and
when on the eth the Americans counter
attacked on the Bots de Belleau the
Germans once more learned what the
coming of the Americans meant.
From the 9th to the 25th the Marine
Brigade battled daily through the Bots
de Belleau. Through the crags and
thiclxnesses where German ingenuity In
machine gun fighting had every oppor-
tunity OF displaying itself against the
Americans still in the school Of war, the
marines. with their splendid rife fire
and with their yet more splendid deter
mination and endurance. stalked German
machine guns. Slowly the woods were
cleared. Bouresches was captured by
an officer and twenty-four men and the
name of the Bvis de Belleau was changed
to that of Bots de la Brigade Marine,
happy though unenduring change, by the
appreciative French. On the right Vaux
had been captured by the Third Brigade,
but II afforded more an opportunity
for the Americans to reveal their
proYess in artillery fire than in actual In
fantry fighting. The village was reduced
u u
by Hill 204, which the French were at
lacking, the Germans could we'll afford
to lose 1t without any real anxiety.
Bright Page In History.
This they did with the loss OF 200
prisoners cut off In the village by the
tremendous American artillery fire. The
whole action of the Second Division is
a bright page in American history. No
one subscribed more in generous en-
thusasm to their deeds than Gen. De-
goutte, the commander of the Sixth
French Army. who. when left with
virtually no infantry, saw the Americans
come to his relief as a mass OF strength.
1t has been questioned whether the
Americans. however, should have
troubled to fight through Belleau Wood,
but this much Is certain, that the ex-
perience which the Americans gained
there, the tricks of war that they had
learned-tricks only to be learned in the
fire of battle-were invaluable in the
later fighting OF the Second Division.
In the ravines of Scissors, the plains OF
Champagne and the thickness OF the
Argonne. the experience OF Belleau
Wood was always reflected in the tactics
and initiative OF the division.
Nor did the Germans forget their
experience WIN the on the
Marine. To the right of Chateau Thierry
the Third Division had gone into line
after the drive. In that quiet, restful
country Haunting all the beauties of ma
ture the nights were nights of wonder
as American Taiding parties. some IN
small boats, some swimming, crossed the
river, raided village like Blesmes or
Gland, brought back few helpless but
protesting prisoners. The keenness OF
troops to participate in these raids gave
the stan more trouble than the raids
themselves. The Americans were pass
ing along the road which was to bring
them to decisive battle and enduring
glory.
The New Marine Drive.
A new drama, however, was about to
open 1t was known that the Germans
were preparing for another Marine drive.
The Forty-second Division was brought
from the Baccarat sector to Suippes, to
the east Of Rheims in the rolling plains
OF the Champagne. Tho TWenty-sIxth
National Guard Division from New Eng
land. moving from the Toul zone, re-
lieved the Second Division to the west
Of Chateau Thierry. Others were held
in reserve for the coming offensive,
which. with Its menace TO Paris itself,
..
on July IA the Americans had been
celebrating Bastille Day in the French
capital The men OF Belleau Wood and
the Marine had marched through the city
TO the accompaniment OF the anxious
cheers of the populace. That night peo-
pie arose from their beds to hear the
dull and threatening roar that came
from the direction of the Marine.
They knew what was happening. The
German drive was being heralded WITH
an avalanche OF shells At o'clock the
next morning, 18th, Big Bertha open
ed fire on Paris and large siege
gun mounted on turntable in a forest
near Brecv shelled Meaux. Coulombiers
and La Farte sous Jarre with 3s0-centi-
meter shells. For ten hours the bonn
bardment preceded the attack across the
river and In Champagne, which was
made early on the morning of the
18th. Happily Gen. Gouraud, COM
handing the French Fourth Army. was
we'll prepared for the drive on his front
east of Rheims, and a daring raid on
the night before the attack provided him
with such valuable information that he
was enabled almost to paralyze the drive
before II started
German Losses Heavy.
It was a time OF great anxiety for
Gen. Gouraud. but the artillery was
quickly informed, and half an hour be-
fore the German barrage onened the
French anticipated II with a concern
trated fire on the front and rear areas
that took the heaviest tolls of German
life and brought the greatest of con-
fusion to the German army. Men and
horses were plunged into death beneath
tA1 ho-