El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-03
The Marines Did It

GONE doubt has been expressed here ana tnee Whether
. the Americans really did play such vital part IN
stopping the second German thrust at Paris; whether
after all It exaggerahon to say that the ma
nes themselves checked the Huns at the Marne and threw
them back lust small band Of Americans IN there,
is said Probably the French present IN vastly greater
numbers, did It. The doubt seems reasonable.
II would seem reasonable, except for patriotic pride
and the natural desire Of Americans to believe their men
CAPABLE Of superhuman effort not for very author
tative testimony that the little force Of Americans really
did stop the vastly superior forces OF veteran Germans
How was the enemy halted? with the help Of God and
Ia few marines" That is simple and truthful explana-
ton and it happens also to be the title Of book the
subject written by Brig Gen Catn, who commanded the
sixth regiment Of marines at Chateau Iherry It is the
first publication the Mane battle by officer Of such
high rank. He was there and ought to know.
Without exaggeratng the part played BY the Ameri-
cans Gen Catn shows that it decisive in that the
German rush was checked times and places vital the
defence of and in that the Americans sustained the
French when the latter were longer able to stand
against the enemy
There is no gain in mncing matters" he says. "The
French were thoroughly demoraIized."
He goes to tell how the Germans gaining six
miles day in their dash to the Marne at the time
Catlins troops moved forward, orders of Maj
Gen James G. HarboTd, to ChateauTheTry Nay 81.
The French were struggling back all the time.
1T a tragedy, a heart-breaking, world-shakiug
tragedy he writes @h defeat and decentralization Of the
heroic French troops who had fought brilliantly for
three years Pity sweled hearts watched them
agger back to the rear bruised and broken remnant
with utter despair written their weary faces To
them the lost and life held hope
The marines lay in line that night There still
French in 'front.' trying hold the line The marines
up early next morning, ready for the attack they
knew to be coming It came after the French advance
guards had been brushed aside unmasng the American
positions And then came the Germans the afternoon
Of fine, clear day.
The American commanders description IS so simple but
graphic that it deserves place in every history. He
says:
"The Germans swept down an open slope in platoon
waves, wide wheat field bright with peoples that
cleaned like spashes Of blood the afternoon The
French met the attack and then fell steadily back First
the French coming back through the wheat fighting
they Then the Germans IN two columns steady
machines. To military it a beautiful
sight could not but admire the precision and stsadi
Of those Of gray with the ginting the
helmets On they came, never waverng, never falteng
apparently irresistible.
slashing bauage Shrapne machine gun and rifle fire
poured into those advancing lines It terrible in
its effectiveness The French told that they had never
such craftsmanship pTacteed in the heat of battle
metal curtain that marines rang down on the scene
so.
"The German lines did not break; they were broken
The BOehes fell BY there among the wheat the
@They hestated, they halted, they withdrew space
Then they came On again; they were brave men,
Three times they tried reform and break through that
barrage, but they had to stop at last"
The war is over for everybody but the fellows who
married to escape the draft.
One Of the ksses sons is reported to have gone to
work in automobile garage It's important, If true,
ing the first useful labor HOheuzOllsrn
TO do.
E. PasO employers are according all reports spen
ders and sailors their former Jobs As result there is
such critical situation here many another city
Furthermore, nearly al Of them keeping the subs
tutes they engaged when their old employees went to