The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-17

/ Re1mS and near scissors, with Whlci
he made fruitless counter attacks
which subsequently extended as far al
Chateau Thierry. cit was in these op
erations that the Americans stopped
the advance on Paris and beat bacl
the German tide).
Early in June we stopped our ad
| vance. General headquarters did no
| intend to attack further except be
| tween the Aisne and the forest of Viii
! lers-Cotterets, southwest of Scissors
We wanted to gain more ground tP the
| westward, on account of the railway
which lead from the Aisne valley cas-
of Scissors into that of the Vesle, ant
affords tactical support to the attach
| of the Eighteenth army on the line o,
Noyon.
SUPERIOR" TO OUR TROOPS
In spite of a few unavoidable tenn
porary crises, our troops remained mas
| tiers of the situation both in attack ant
defense. They proved themselves SUI
perior to both the English and the
| French, even when their opponents
were assisted by tanks. At Chateau
| Thierry, Americans who had been q
long time in France had bravely Mt.
tackled our thinIy-held fronts; but they
were unskillfulIy led, attacked I'm dense
masses, and failed. Here, too, our mel
felt themselves superior. (Six German
divisions of strength of about .00(
each faced the portions of two Ameri-
can divisions which fought at Chateau
] Thierry at this time. An American
division including auxiliaries numbered
about $4,000 men).
Our tactics had proved sound in ev-
cry way, our losses. compared with
those of the enemy, and the large num-
Der of prisoners, though in themselves
distressing had been very slight
Again the cessation of the attack did
not take place early enough at al
points. Here and there it was con-
tinued where defense was already in
dictated. With few eceptions the
troops had everywhere displayed good
conduct and endurance.
On the whole the impression had
been very favorable. The group OF
the German crown prince had gained
a great tactical victory in the offensive
The enemy had been forced to put
in more of his reserves than the troops
we had expended. Paris once more re-
ceived the impression of defeat, an6
many Inhabitants left the city.
TIGER" DISAPPOINTS HUN
In the session of the Chamber early
in June, which I awaited, with inter
est, there appeared. indeed, no access
l,of weakness. Clemenceau's words were
full of pride and exemplary strength
I'VE are now giving ground, but we
shall never surrender" I'VE shall be
victorious, If the public authorities are
equal to their task" 81 fight before
Paris, shall fight in Paris. I shall
fight behind Paris" Remember the
fate of Theirs and Gambetta: do not
long for the difficult and thankless
task of THEIRS"
Even after this second great defeat
in one year the entente was not YET
ready for peace
1t was strategical disadvantage to
us that we had been unable to take
Reims nd push our armies further for
ward in this area into the mountain
country. The supply of the center OF
the Seventh army was thereby re-
stricted to the broad gauge railway
which leads from the valley of the
Aisne. east of Scissors, into that Of
the vesle.
In order to render the traffic with.
out accidents the construction of Sec
ond curve to connect the two valleys
further to the eastward was ordered Il
was now possible to put in other broad
gauge sections south of the Aisne, as
the country was so difficult
From Laon a broad-gauge line rar
direct to Scissors via Anizy. The tun-
mel north of the town, between the
Aisne and Ailette. had been blown W
and had to be replaced. One metre
gauge line and sundry light railway.
, led towards the left wing of the Sew
enth army and the right wing of The
first, and they afforded great relief
but they had first to be extended across
the two trench systems before they
could be connected up to those already
in our possession.
The, unfavorable railway communi-
cation threw a great strain on our me-
chanical transport, which again made
the fuel situation serious.
HAD TO PUT OFF ATTACK
On June /, as intended, our attack
had already been extended to the west
as far as the junction of the Ailette
and the Aisne. The transfer of the nee
essary artillery had been carried out
smoothly The fighting took up for
ward in the trench system which we
had abandoned in March, 1917.
1t was intended that the Eighteenth
army should attack on June 7, be-
tween Montdidier and Noyon, the Sew
enth to attack at the same time south
west of scissors At a conference early
in June at Eighteenth army head
quarters, became convinced that It's
preliminary artillery work would not
be done in time The arrival of the re-
inforcing artillery from the Seventh
army had been delayed.
The attack was, therefore. postponed
to June 8. This was . drawback, since
1t thus lost much Of its tactical connec-
tion with the great action between the
Aisne and the Marine, for which q To-
cal operation southwest Of SOissOns
could form mo complete substitute
The enemy would find the transfer OF
his reserves facilitated. In spite of
these objections, / decided for the later
date because thorough preparation was
essential to success and to keep down
casualties.
The attack of the Eighteenth army
began on the ninth, and was directed on
the right towards Merry, on the left
against very strong position on the
high ground just west of the Disc. This
time the enemy was prepared, but our
infantry got through his whole trench
system and beyond it in some places
as far as the Aronde.
FRENCH SMASH HIS PLANS
On the 18th the enemy directed very
heavy counter attacks, particularly
against our right on Merry, which
gained some ground. They continued
throughout the 18th and 18th without
result In consequence of the great
accumulation of enemy troops grand
headquarters directed the Eighteenth
army to stop the attack on the 18th.
in order to avoid casualties. (Counter
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