Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1919-05-02
OOUCHBOYS STOPPED
GERMANS At Marine
MARINES NOT THERE, SAYS
THIRD DIVISION PAPER, CITING
OFFICIAL REPORT.

OFFICIAL REPORT.
1t was the doughboys, and not the
marines. it appears. who stopped the
Hun at Chateau-Thierry. on his last
and nearest advance toward Paris.
Credit for that feat has heretofore
usually been bestowed on the United
States marines, although they have
never claimed 1t and have plenty Of
glory without 1t. Now comes the
Third division and lays calm to the
honor.
1t is said that In the scrap of Bel
leau Wood the marines we're pretty
we'll used up, and the commander Of
the Third offered to relieve them
so they could reorganize their ranks.
Thus 1t came about that in the fight
at Chateau-Thierry, which probably
will 60 on record as the turning-point
of the war, the marines were in the
rear and 1t was the doughty machine
gunners of the Third who turned
the trick.
The story of the part taken by them
in this engagement Is told in The
Watch on the Rhine, a paper pub
lished by the American army of occu-
patton of Andernach. Germany, a copy
of which was recently received by Mr..
and Mrs. E. j. Roles of Little Rock
from their son John. with the request
that it be published in the Olympia
papers Ito show the people that It
wasn't the marines that held Chateau
Thierry but the Third division alone.
and thank God was one Of them"
From the long article that ap-
peared in the issue of March 81, the
following portions are taken:
Anyone who. after reading the Of
fetal report of the operations of the
Third division, is still incredulous,
may then turn to General Pershing's
report Of November 20. where not a
single mention is made of, marines
fighting in Chateau Thierry; or he
may 60 still farther and refer to the
report of the French commander who
directed the operations of the French
in and near Chateau Thierry. In any
case he will find that the only troops
engaged in this battle Of the Marpe
were those of the. Third division,
Joined on the left at Chateau Thierry
by the 3yth French division and on
az rl~ht uoor uorou - no hy Tho Q h
French division"
The article then prints in full the
Report of Operations, Third Division
u. S.. July II to August /, 1915"
made by Colonel Robert c. .Kelton.
general staff, chief of staff. of which
the following are the chief points:
ION July IA, 1918, the Third divi'
sion. u. S. A., held sector extend
ing along. the south bank of the
Marine river from the eastern edge OF
Chateau Thierry to point on the
river one kilometer due west of Va
rennes. a distance of nine kilometers
on the east and west line and of
almost IL kilometers, measuring
along the river bank.
"The enemy bombardment started
about midnight, July 14-15. and ex-
tended from Chateau Thierry to Dor.
mans and well into the rear areas.
This bombardment gave away short
ly to a barrage. which continued
upon the front lines until about $3.50
a. m, and upon the rear lines until
after 10 a. m.
About $3.50 a. m. July Is, the
enemy commenced his crossing by
means of boats and pontoon bridges.
One regiment of his troops was
caught by our artillery fire at the
exits of Bots de Barbillon and suf-
fered verge severe casualties, accord
ing to statements of prisoners. An
other regiment. after three attempts
had been made, gave up the plan OF
crossing opposite the 38th infantry
due to our heavy artillery and ma
chine gun fire, and moved to the east
where crossing was finally effected
resulting in a mass movement upor
the positions of the 3Sth infantry.
Shortly after the first troops o.
the enemy crossed the river, thu
right of this division gave way, will
the result that at s a. M, July 18th
the 3Sth infantry was devoid of an!
support on it's right flank and wa
forced to present line of resistance
facing the east to resist enemy pres
sure from that direction.
I'm the meantime the enemy hat
crossed ON the Plain of Mezy, and hi
heavy masses Of troops were hurlet