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

perfect cloak of concealment for the
concentration of troops and artillery. IL
was through the forest of Villers Cot
terets that the American First and Sec
and divisions had to pass to reach their
positions of attack for the morning OF
July IS. The First had moved up from
near Beauvais, where they had been re-
ceiving some instruction. later to be
completed under machine gun fire In the
tactics of open warfare following their
intrenchment in the Montdidier area.
The Second Division came from the re-
gion of the Marine. 1t was a terrible
night that preceded the dawn of attack.
The forest roads, always moist became
almost impossible under the torrent of
rain. While the thunder helped the
tanks to reach the lines without detec-
ton by the enemy, the darkness and in
secure foothold were obstacles in the
way OF the movement of troops, artillery
and supplies that nothing but the great
est of endurance and the enlivening
prospect of advance could overcome
Happily, the two American divisions,
with the Moroccans, reached their as
signed positions just before the hour of
attack.
First Division cIxs.
On the heights that rise from out OF
the Villers Cotterets forest, running
from just in front of Laversine to just
south of Sossons the First Division
vines toward the plain that extends
south of Scissors, the First Division
moved forward at 1880 in the morning.
preceded by six minute curtain bar
rage.
The beet root and wheat fields
through which the men had to pass, in
the trail of light tanks. were clustered
with machine guns that took a great toll
of American lives. But the Germans
were surprised by the suddenness and
energy of the attack and staggered UNI
der the startling sight of Americans
swarming over into their lines with
recklessness that was little to their lik-
ing or comfort.
The First Division had taken 1000
prisoners, a number Of guns and thor
oughly alarmed the Germans. The spirit
of the men in spite of severe losses was
wonderful.
On the right of the First Division the
Moroccan troops too had made an ex-
cellent days progress, while further to
the right, in the sector from the Mont
COLBERT woods to north of Iongpont, the
Second Division had, in spite of exposed
TANKS that cost them hundreds OF men,
pushed far into the German lines The
division had encountered the greatest of
difficulties In reaching the line.
Run to Enter Fight.
When the French commander inquired.
FIVE minutes before the time of attack,
whether the Americans were ready he
was told that only the Ninth Infantry
Regiment had arrived in line: that the
Twenty-thlrd Regiment was running
along the road for more than a mile to
get to its positions; that they were with
out machine guns, Stokes mortars, one
pound cannon or grenades: that their
only arms were the rifle and bayonet.
but that they would attack on time. The
Americans kept their word Under the
clearest of skies and the brightest OF
sunlight, wet to their skins, nearly ex-
hausted from the hardships of the last
thirty-six hours, they waited for the
few brief minutes before the attack
to pass by. Silent were the German
lines. unsuspectingly silent There was
no preliminary fire the cannon were
still. A nightingale singing in the air
alone distracted the men from the scenes
around. Suddenly the artillery opened,
rising to a crescendo.
The men went over with its fire, two
battalions of marines changing from col
umn marching formation into attacking
order, without even so much as a halt.
The speed and dash of the Americans
on that morning were as unforgettable
as amazing. So eager We're the men that
they chased and passed under their own
barrage. The stupefled Germans could
only throw up their arms and surrender,
20 surprised were they. At Beaurepaire
farm, strongly organized and strongly
held position, however. the Germans Of
fered n determined resistance with ma
chine guns and artillery. but the Third
Brigade charged the position with the
bayonet, passing through their own bar
rage fire to get at the enemy.
Although enf1laded by machine gun
fire from the front of the Moroccan di-
vision at MaisQn Neuve farm, the Ameri-
cans. swinging slightly TO the southeast,
took VauXcastile in their stride. in spite
Of the Germans resistance, and at in
the evening had captured Vierzy, the
most desperately defended town in the
whole sector. Eight kilometers had the
Americans passed, and they had driven
a menacing salient into the German
lines that affected the whole Scissors
Chateau Thierry positions. Two thou
sand nine hundred and sixty-five prison.
ers, hundreds Of machine guns, seventy
Ave guns and nearly all the artillery OF
two German divisions were the spoils of
the Second Division for the first day.