The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1919-01-02
PERSHINC TELLS
STORY OF WAR
Commander in Detailed Report
Relates How the U. S.
Men Won.
SETS MARCH q AS CRISIS
Views American Operations Prior to
That Date az Part Of Their Train
ing - Pays Supreme Tribute
to officers and Men.

~ w " w
Washington, Dec. 5.-Gen. John J.
Pcrshlng's aCCOunt OF his stewardship
as commander of the American eXIe-
dictionary forces was given To the pub.
lie Wednesday by Secretary Baker.
II Is In the form Of II preliminary re.
port to the secretary, covering opera.
lions up to November 20. after the
German collapse. II closes with these
words from the leader Of the great
army In France. expressing his feeling
for those who served under him:
81 pay the supreme tribute to our
officers ana soldiers of the line. When
! think Of their hcroism. their patience
under hardShips, their un%ilinching splr-
II OF offensive action, ! am filled with
emotion which | am unable to express.
Their deeds are immortal and they
have earned the eternal gratitude Of
country"
The report begins with General
~Pershing's departure for France 10
pave the way for the nrmy that was TO
smash German resistance on the
Meuse ani give vitnl aid to the allies
In forcing Germany to It's knees 10
months later.
Crisis on March 81.
General PershIng views the ncou
ters before March 81 OF this year In
which American troops participated as'
N nurt nf THAR truipinu and iiGrnlGgns
them briefly. On that date. however
the great German offensive was
launched and n crucial situation quick.
ly developed In the allied lines which
called for prompt use Of the four
American divisions that were at the
time equal to any demands Of battle
action"
"The crisis which this offensive de-
veloped vas SUCH" General Pershing
says, that on March % I placed at
the disposal Of Marshal Foch. who had
been agreed upon as commander In
chief OF the allied armies, all Of u
forces. At his request the First divi-
sion vas transferred from the Toul
sector to n position In reserve at Chau-
mont en- Vexin.
"As German superiority In numbers
required prompt action, an agreement
was reached at the Abbevillc confer.
ence OF the allied premiers and com
manders and myself on May = by
which British shipping was to trans
port ten American divisions to the
British army area, where they were To
he trained and equipped, and addition.
nj British shipping wns to be provided
for as many divisions rs possible for
use elsewhere.
Men Eager for Test.
"On April &c the First division had
gone into the line In the Montdidier
salient, on the PIcardy battle front,
Tactics had been suddenly revolutions
lied to those Of open warfare, and our
men. confident OF the results OF their
training. were cager for the test. on
the morning Of May 2S this division
attacked the commanding German 20
sition In It's front, taking with splendid
dash the town Of Cantigny and nj
other detectives. which were organized
and held steadfastly against vicious
counter-attncks and CALLING artiller,
FIRE.
"Although local. this brilliant actor
had an electrical effect. ms II demon
strated our fighting qualities under
extreme battle conditions and also thn'
the encmy's troops were not altogethe,
lnvincible."
Hold Foe at Chateau Thierry.
There followed Immediately the Ger
man thrust across the Aisne river to
ward Paris. He continues:
"The Third division. which had jus
come from Its preliminary training II
the trenches. was hurried to tn,
Marine. It's motorized machlne.gul
battalion preceded the other units an,
successfully held the b%ridgehead a
the Marne, opposite Chateau Thierry
"The Second division. In reserv
near Montdldler, was sent by motor
trucks and other available trnnspor
10 check the progress of the enem
toward Paris. The division attacke
md retook the town and railroad stf
ton at Bouresches and sturdily hcl,
Its ground against the enemy's hes
guard divisions.
"In the battle of Belleau wood, whic
followed. our men proved their 81
periority and gained q strong tacticn
position. with far greater loss to III
enemy than TO ourselves. On July
before the Second was relieved. II car
ture9 the village Of Vaux with spler
did precision.
stand Between Paris and Foe.
MNeanwhile our Second cnrns. unde