The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-07-18

Chevillon, then advanced to the Sept
Bois southwest of Montmenjon and
passed through it. Here these troops
came under violent artillery and
machine gun fire and were compelled
to retire to the west edge of the
| woods.
The French and American troops
took Priez and LaGrenouilliere Farm
July 10 and Sommeland on the goth.
Petret Farm was taken July 21, and
Bois de Bonnes taken and Bois du
Chatelet entered on the 22nd.
Upon the completion of this first
phase of the battle the Division was
regrouped as reserve for the vi
French Army, from July % to "a, in
the area Marty st. Mard-Bonnes-
Hautevesnes Brumetz, st. Quentin,
Maritz Stegenevieve.
The 47th Infantry was then assign
ed the task of mopping up the Bois-
du Chatelet. Later two battalions of
the 47th were put at the disposal
of the Commonding General, 42nd
Division, and beginning with July 29
they participated in the offensive of
the 42nd Division. crossing the Ourcq
and attacking Sergy Sergy had
changed hands a number of times,
but the two battalions of the 47th
Infantry, acting under the orders of
the Commonding General 42nd Divi-
sion, finally took and held it. The
losses were extremely heavy. On July
81 the battalions were relieved by the
39th Infantry, which operated until
August 2.
For the first time the 4th Division
entered the lines as a unit when it
relieved the 42nd Division in the
Foret de Nesles on the night of Aug.
2-3. The Division had been assigned
to the l Army Corps (American),
which in turn was part Of the vi
French Army. The two Brigades
side by side, the 8th Brigade
on the right and the 7th Brigade on
the left, without opposition. The
enemy had retired across the Veste. |
during the night of August "a and
the day of the 4th the Division ad-
vanced to the south bank of the Veste, |
where it was held up by intense art
illery and machine gun fire. During
the following night and day small |
groups crossed to the north bank of |
the Vesle.
Artillery support was being furnish
ed by the artillery of the 42nd and
26th Divisions. The 4th Field Art
llery Brigade came into action at
his time, however, and entered the
inc on the night of August Sc and
~ by taking up positions with the
lnits of the 67th Field Artillery
42nd Division. The 51st
Field Artillery Brigadee of the 26th
Division had just been relieved.
During the days following the ad-
'ance to the Vesle little ground was
,ained, for the enemy was strongly
on the heights immediate
y north of the river. From these
eminences his artillery
ould bring practically directly fire
o bear on the river. Furthermore
he heights furnished excellent start
ng points for counter-attacks. Hence
he result was that every attempt to
ross the river in force. was met by
.iolent artillery and machine-gun
re and by well organized counter
ttacks. In spite of this however,
be front line was placed definitely |
eyond the river on the right of the
ector before the Division was re- $
eyed. One counter-attack on Aug.
tn, was broken up by machine-gun
arrage fired by the 10th Machine ,
un Battalion from position on the
eights south of the vesle. II
le valley of the Vesle, the 4th Divi- !
on was relieved by the 153rd Bri- =
ade, 77th Division, on the night of 7
ugust 11-12, and retired to the !
oret de Dole and Foret de Nesles. :
he 4th Field Artillery Brigade, after s
aving taken over the entire division
,ctor on relief of the 67th Field =
rtillery Brigade, August 10 and II,
as finally relieved from the line on
le night of Rugust 1916 and 1917.
During this campaign the 4th Divi-
on advanced to a total depth OF
kilometers. No record was kept
prisoners and material captured,
1t the list was large, especially dur !.
g the days when the regiments
ere brigaded with the French. The
tai losses during the operation were ),
q killed, 1912 wounded and $50
issing, total 6154.
Thus the 4th Division had made Z
'od as combat division. Before
9 counter-offensive of July Is, the :
vision had not been under ire and .
. mettle Of its troops was as yet
tried. Yet their conduct met all