Bisbee daily review., 1919-08-17
MEUSE- -ARGONNE VICTORY NO "WALK OVER" FOR YAAKS


 conveys of Germans succeeded in holding off our main forces until their troops had crossed the river
 Beaufort was captured Nov. 4th and on Nov. 5th units of the S9th di- vision succeeded in crossing the Mouse ever partially destroyed bridges.
 Remarkable Feat by 2nd.
 The 2nd division, on the left of the S9th, accomplished one of the most remarkable feats of the war. On the night of Nov. 3, after the marine brigade had broken through the enemy's positions, the 9th and 23rd infantry regiments were formed in column on the road leading north to Beaumont. The 9th infantry led the column with the usual advance guard and flank patrols. Beyond this pro- lection there was nothing to prevent the entire brigade from being cut off It marched all night long straight through the enemy lines for dis. tance of about eight kilometers, through the Bois de Belval, the Bois du Four, and the Rois du Fort Ger. ache. The enemy was taken com. pletely by surprise. A few machine guns opened up on the column, but they were soon silencedl by details sent out for this purpose Other ma. chine gunners were found asleep at their guns and captured. Many de tails of emmy troops were captured, and at La Tuilerie Farm the advance guard found the place occupied by German officers sitting around tables with lights burning. They were thrown into dismay by the appear ance of American troops, whom they thought far to the south
 This rapid advance succeeded so we'll that the troops on both Hanks, which had been held up, were able to move forward The line was com pletely broken through and the enemy soon was everywhere in rapid retreat
 On the left the enemy's resistance gave way before the repeated attacks of the 18th and 77th divisions, and he began to fall back so rapidly that his retreat bordered on a rout. Our troops in this sector, in order to keep up with the enemy. were loaded on motor trucks. The enemy was com pelled to abandon completely the Bois de Bourgogne. Out-flanked by the French on the west, the Germans withdrew hastily. French and Amer ican troops joined hands at. Chatil- lon-sur-Bar, and thus the last impor- tant bulwark which guarded the great German 'Voie de rocade" was cleared.
 On the right our men pushed rapidly down the left bank of the Mouse, harassing the enemy's retreat at every step.
 On Nov 4 troops of the 80th divis- ion had reached the heights south of Beaumont, where they encountered the first organized opposition. Thel towns and roads behind the enemy's lines were crowded with retreating troops and transports. The enemy's confusion was great and there were all indications that he was throwing in his last reserves.
 Crossing of the Mouse.
 The 5th division learned on Nov. l 2, that the enemy was withdrawing. | Preparations were at once made for crossing the Mouse. This proved to l be a most difficult task. After work ing around the edge of the horseshoel bluff north of Brieulles and taking
  cross on the night of Nov. 3-4. Tn the face of heavy fire two com panies got across at Brieulles, but the others could not follow. These two companies dug in.
 On Nov another attempt to cross at Clery-le-Petit failed. Meanwhile | the two companies of the 60th in- fantry already crossed at Brieulles succeeded, by surprise attack, in getting over the canal and organizing | a bridgehead. Just below this point the Sd battalion of the 60th crossed the river on rafts, and by swimming, | and established itself in the Bois de Chatillon. The following morning, | Nov. 5, the Rois de Chatillon was cleared of enemy and the left of the 9th division was able to cross. The villages of Dun-sur- Mouse and Milly were captured, so that the net result of the day was the crossing of the river and the capture of the whole line of heights from Milly to Vilosnes. |
 On the extreme left the 1st division on Nov. relieved the S0th, while the 42nd relieved the 18th. These two di- visions reached on this date the banks overlooking the Mouse from west of Remilly through Allicourt to MouZon.
 About 2 p. m., Nov. 6 the command ing general of the 5th Army corps came in person to the headquarters of the 1st division and gave a verbal order for the 1st division to march at once on Sedan. The 1st division in it's advance met part of the 42nd division in Bulson. On Nov. itl encountered the enemy on the front Bulson-C Chehery-Om -Omicourt. He was immediately attacked and driven northward Meanwhile, patrols of the 42nd penetrated to the edge of the village of Wadelincourt across the river from Sedan. In the afternoon of Nov. z the 1st division was with drawn to the line La Besace-Autre- | court It had marched all of two nights and part of third, covering an average distance of 53 kilometers in mud darkness and congestion of |