The Lamar register., 1919-12-31
Mon. crossed but prisoners.


although the rush Of the German
troops overwhelmed some of the front
line positions. causing the infantry and
machine gun companies to suffer. In
some cases Il so per cent loss. no Ger
man soldiers crossed the road from
Fossoy TO CreZancy except as pris-
oner of war. and by noon the following
day tJuly l6) there were no Germans
in the foreground Of the Third division
sector except the dead"
On this occasion single regiment
of the Third division wrote one Of the
most brilliant pages in our military
annals. II prevented the crossing at
certain points on its front. while on
either flank the Germans who had
gained a footing pressed forward. Our
men, firing In three sections. met the
German attacks with counter attacks
at critical points and succeeded In
throwing two German divisions into
complete confusion, capturing 800
prisoners.
The selection by the Germans of
the Champagne sector and the east
ern and southern faces of the Marns
pocket On WHICH 70 tuhhe thci ohch-
sive was fortunate for the allies, as 1t
favored the launching of the counter
attack already planned. There were
now over 100000 American troops In
France. which provided considerable
force OF reserves. Every American di.
vision with any sort OF training was
made available for use In a counter
offensive.
General Petain's initial plan for the
counter-attacks involved the entire
western face Of the Marne salient.
The First and Second American divi-
sions, with the First French Moroccan
division between them. were employed
as the spearhead OF the main attack,
driving directly eastward. through the
most sensitive portion of the German
lines, TO the heights south of Soissons.
The advance began on July Is. without
the usual brief warning of a prelim-
mary bombn rdment, and these three d.
visions at single bound broke through
the enemy's defenses and overran
his artillery. cutting or interrupting
the German communications lead
ing into the salient. general
withdrawal from the Marne was imme-
diately began by the enemy. who still
fought stubbornly to prevent disaster.
Took eerxy-le-see.
The First division. throughout four
days OF constant fighting. advanced IL
kilometers, capturing Berzy-Ie-Sec
and the heights about Scissors and
taking some $3.50 prisoners and SO
field guns from the seven German di-
visions employed against Il. II was
relieved by British division. The
Second division advanced eight kilo-
meters in the first 20 hours. and by
the end of the second day was facing
Tigny. having captured 5000 prison
ers and 66 field guns. II was relieved
the night OF the 18th by q French divi-
sion. The result of this counter-of-
fensive was Of decisive Importance.
Due to the magnificent dash and power
displayed on the field Of Soissons by
our First and Second divisions. the
tide of war was definitely turned in
favor of the allies.
Other American divisions partici-
pated iu the Marne counter-ofYensive
A little to the south the Second divi.
sion the Fourth was in line with the
French, and was engaged until July
%. The nrst American corps. Mai
Gen. Hunter Liggett commanding.
with the Twenty-slxth division and q
French division. acted as a pivot Of
the movement toward Soissons. cap
turing Torcy on the 18th and reaching
the Chateau-Thierry-S -Soissons road on
the 21st. Az the same time the Sec
ond division crossed the Marne and
took the heights OF Mount St Pere
and the villages OF Charteves and
Isulgonne
In the First corps the Forty-second
division relieved the Twenty-sixth on
July 25 and extended its front. on the
26th relieving the French division.
From this time until August 2 II
fought Its way through the Forest de
Fere and across the Ourcq. advancing
toward the vesle until relieved by the
Fourth division on August 3. Early
In this period elements OF the Twenty.
eighth division participated In the sd.
vance
Forced Enemy Back.
Further to the east the Third dIyi.
sion forced the enemy back to Ron
cheres wood, where IL was relieved
on July 30 by the Thirty-second dIvi-