Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-07

by Q o'clock Bouresches, Belleau and
Givry were in the hands of the Yam
| KEGS.
The first objectives taken, prepa-l-
tons were at once made for a fur1h-
er advance. But the French. to the
| north, had been held up. On the
18th there was no forward movement
until in the afternoon. Hill 1913,
above Givry where the French were
held up, was passed on the flank,
| causing the Germans to fall back.
Etrepilly and Etrepilly Woods were
reached, taken and passed. So toe,
Genetrie Farm and the woods close
| by La Halmadiere.
In the night of the 18th there was
another halt. Then forward again
at daybreak, with the 101st and l02d
! getting into action late this oay and
sweeping forward, through eaux and
the woods close to Bouresches,
crossed the Scissors Chateau-Thie.-
ry road and by the 2cd found them
selves in front of Epieds and Trugny.
| 1t was here that the severest
| fighting of the drive took place. In
Epieds the Germans planted ma
chine guns every seven yards. In
Trugny and in the woods tina. lie
on the hillsides to the east OF botn
towns they had done likewise.
The 101st tackled the Trugny
proposition. Col. Logans men were
in and out of the town twice. But
the German artillery had the range
just right and whenever the Yam.
KEGS went in, flooded the place witt,
mustard gas. On the 23d of July Col.
i Logan borrowed a little ground on
his right from the French, encir-
cled Trugny on the south and started
up behind it., through Trugny woods.
1t was terrible fight, bat that night
the 1O1st broke through the German
defences and forced a retreat.
Meantime, the other three infantry
regiments were making constan.
i frontal attacks. The 102d got into
Trugny and captured the gun now on
Boston Common.
fantry Regiments were relieved ind
on the 25th the 101st and 102d were
relieved. But the artiller brigade
kept on, supporting three other
American divisions. until the Vesl.
! river was reached on Aug. 5. 1t was
in this drive particularly that Sher-
burne's outfit earned the nam. of
the best field artillery in France A
regular army officer watching the
guns in action said: Il have been in
! the army 80 years and never have
seen field artillery until this day"
BY Aug. the whole division, in
Guiding the artillery. was back in
/ villages along the Marine, between
! Chateau Thierry and Paris.
The people Of the countryside
hailed the men of the o6th as the
savior of Paris" Those who went
into the French capital were greeted
with enthusiasm. Men and women
embraced them and kissed them.
Gen. Degoutte, famed commander
Of the French 9Th Army. with which
The Americans fought, wrote to Gen.
Edwards:
THE operations carried out
! by the Goth American Division
from July IS to July "a demon
strated their fine soldierly qualities
! of this unit and the worth of its
+ fine leader. Gen. Edwards. The o6t.l
fought brilliantly advancing more
than Is kilometers in depth in spite
: OF the desperate resistance Of the
/ eromy. take pleasure in commun;-
eating to Gen. Edwards and his val
, liant division this expression of my
| esteem. together with my heartiest
. congratulations on the manner in
which they have served the common
. cause.