Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-12-26
Pershing Tells How Yanks Forced
Germans To Ask Allies For
An ArmistiCe.
Continued from page 81


being trained for open warfare. there was
every reason why we could not allow them
to be scattered among our allies, even by
divisions, much less as requirements, ex-
cept by pressure of sheer necessity. Any
sort of permanent amalgamation would IT.
revocably< commit Americas fortunes to
the hands of the Allies. Moreover. it was
obvious that the lack of homogeneity would
render these mixed divisions difficult to
maneuver and almost certain to break up
under stress of defeat, with the conse-
quent mutual recrimination. Again. there
was no doubt that the realization by the
German people that independent Amer
lean divisions, corps or armies were in the
field with determined purpose would be
severe blow to German morale and pres
tige."
REFUSES To ABANDON PLAN.
General Pershing had refused utterly to
drop his plan for single American army,
acting under its own flag, but consented,
because of the existing emergency. to lend
the combat divisions at hand to help stem
the German offensive of 1918. which, the
Allied War Council foresaw. may very
quickly place the Allied armies in serious
situation"
The German rush developed as expected,
the report shows. but the enemy's success
was far greater than had been feared. At
Amiens the British were driven in on
40-kilometer front; between the Disc
and Berry au-Bac the French lost so kilo-
meters on a 35-kilometer front in four
days. And Immediately the Germans util-
lied the Marine "as defensive flank and
the advance was directed toward Paris"
THE gravity of the situation" the re-
port says. lied to the famous orders for
holding up all supply and troop shipments
except infantry and machine-gun units"
General Foch, who was now made general
issimo, estimated that 100 American d.
visions would be necessary for Allied vic
tory.
TELLS Or MARINE ATTACK.
General Pershing at this time was recon-
mending that his troops be used to smash
the Marine pocket into which the Germans
had thrust themselves. He says:
THE Marine salient was inherently weak
and offered an opportunity for counter
offensive that was obvious. II successful,
such an operation would afford immediate
relief to the Allied defense would remove
the threat against Paris and free the
Paris-Nancy Railroad. But more impor-
tant than all else, il would restore the
morale of the Allies and remove the pro-
found depression and fear then existing
Up to this time our units had been put in
here and there at critical points as emer-
gency troops to stop the terrific German
advance. In every trial, whether on the
defensive or offensive, they had proved
themselves equal to any troops in Europe.
As early as June 23 and again on July
10. at BOmbon. had very strongly urged
that our best divisions be concentrated
under American command if possible, for
use as striking force against the Marine
salient. Although the prevailing view
among the Allies was that American units
we're suitable only for the defensive. and
that at all events they could be used to
better advantage under Allied command.
the suggestion was accepted in principle,
and my estimate of their offensive fighting
qualities was soon put to the test"
Although his suggestion was not accept
ed, American forces found glory in the
action which was undertaken. At Cha
teau-Thierry, when the Germans first ad-
vanced, the Third Division commander re-
ported:
although the rush of the German troops
overwhelmed some of the front-line posi-
tons. causing the infantry and machine
gun companies to suffer, in some cases
so per cent. loss. no German soldier
crossed the road from Fossoy to Crezancy,
except as a prisoner of war, and by noon
of the following day July l6) there were
no Germans in the foreground of the Third
Division sector. except the dead.
ION this OCCASION General Pershing
added, "a single regiment of the Third Di-
vision wrote one of the most brilliant
pages in our military annals. Ii prevented
the crossing at certain points on its front,
while on either flank the Germans who
had gained a footing pressed forward.
Our men. firing in three directions, met
the German attacks with counter attacks
at critical points and succeeded in throw
ing two German divisions into complete
confusion, capturing 900 prisoners.
TIDE TURNED BY YANKs.
due to the magnificent dash and power
displayed here and on the field of Scissors
by our First and Second Divisions the tide
of war was definitely turned in favor Of
the Allies.
"The force of American arms had been
brought to bear in time to enable the last
offensive of the enemy to be crushed"
Organization Of the first American army
and preparations for its maiden effort
the elimination of the St. MihieI salient
was now taken up. Again it was pro-
posed that American troops reinforce the
French for the operation. but Pershine
again objected. He explains
1.-THE plan suggested for the American
participation in these operations was not
acceptable to me because it would require
the immediate separation of the recently
formed First American Army into several
groups. mainly to assist French armies.
This was directly contrary to the principle
of forming distinct American Army, for
which my contention had been insistent.
An enormous amount Of preparation had
already been made in construction Of roads,
railroads, regulating stations and other in
stallations looking to the use and supply