Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-07
COMMANDERS OF
THE 103D INFANTRY.
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Continued from Page 81
National Army troops to reach there.
The division at once went into a
long period of intensive training.
French troops working night and day
with the Yankees, imparting all the
information they had received of
modern warfare since 1914 and
amazed at the quickness and thor
oughness with which the Yanks alb
sorbed all such information and i'm
proved in many cases thereon.
This training. came to an end in
February, 1918, when the division was
placed under the tactical direction OF
the general commanding the 18th
French Army Corps for months
actual experience at the front, to
polish off the men and make them
real soldiers. The ease with which
they, American greenies. took told of
trench work again amazed the French
and it was but comparatively short
time when the Yanks were considered
seasoned soldiers.
The enemy thought the Americans
appearing on the famous Chamins des
Danes Sector, north Of scissors,
were British and began paying their
respects at point where comparative
quiet had been the rule. The Amerl-
cans accepted these attentions like
veterans and soon convinced the Huns
that the latter were up against some
of the real material.
Numerous engagements, of greater
or less magnitude, took place in this
sector, the beginning Of long months
Of continuous service. in which the
Maine boys did all and sometimes
more than their share of the hard
work, but every day adding to their
reputation of real fighters, afraid of
nothing and eager for more.
It was about March Is to 81 OF 1918
that the division was relieved and the
outfit, after a short railroad trip to
Brienne Ia Chateau and Bar sur Aube,
began a five-days hike to the Rimau-
court Training area, west of Neuf-
chateau, where the Maine boys were
supposed to have with the rest OF
the division a long period of recuper-
alton. But the fortunes of war said
differently. Within 48 hours after
arrival, the division was ordered back
to service, and, hustled by autos,
trucks and rail, the boys entered the
La Refine or Boucq sector, northwest
of Toul. where the Huns were too
strong for comfort. The 26th there
relieved the LIST Division. a division
Of regulars, between March % and
April 3.
The line taken over here extended
from the vicinity Of Apremont. on the
west, in front of Xivray- Marvoisin.
seicheprey and Bots de Renters. as
far as the Bots de Jury on the right.
where the French line Joined ours.
Division headquarters were at Boucq.
The boys had fighting enough in
this sector. but again gave such ac-
counts of themselves that they again
added to their laurels and were still
more the wonder and admiration Of
the French.
The Maine boys staid in the Boucq
sector until June 24-2S, being re-
lieved by the SGD Division and the 1874
French Division. The 103d with the
rest Of the division went to Toul.
whence it proceeded to the vicinity of
Meaux, with division headquarters at
Nantu;l-les MeauX. On July it was
moved up to support positions near
Montreuil- aux Lions and between
July and s relieved the I'd Division
in the line just to the northwest OF
Chateau Tnierry.
There the Maine boys saw some
real fighting and right we'll did they
do their part and then some. 1t was
give and take day in and day out and
night in and night out. There was
no letup.
The attack of July IS, one Of the
most important acts of the war. was
led by the Sd Battalion of the 103d
Infantry and in handsome manner
advanced the line of the SD Brigade.
The villages of Belleau, Torcy, and
Givry were taken: Hill 1913, behind
Givry, was twice won, but had to be
abandoned. owing to the fact that the
French on our left had not been able
to make rapid progress enough to Sc
cure the position. Heavy opposition
was encountered, especial" al. Bour-
esches railway station and Boures-
ches wood. the Huns employing many
machine guns and well-placed artil-
lery fire.
The Division reached the Chateau
Thierry-Soissons road, where brief
halt was made prior to resuming the
advance toward the Epieds-Trungy po-
sition and the more distant objective,
the Observation-Disclosures road.
The fighting was extremely severe all
the time and lasted until July Is. where
the 2sth was relieved by the 5Sth Bril-
gade.
Throughout the Aisne-Marne fighting
the admiration of the French for the
Yankees was constantly increasing and