Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1919-05-02

against the advanced elements of the
30th infantry and 7th infantry. Such
of these elements as were not en-
tirely destroyed were finally forced
to retire, to the woods on the slopes
north Of Crezancy and in the vicinity
of Fossoy. This in turn exposed the
left flank Of the 38th infantry, which
still held its ground.
AT this time the 7th infantry
started 4 movement to regain the lost
terrain and was successful after. IL
hours of effort, during which num-
Der of patrols and small bodies Of
troops penetrated into the woods
east of Tossoy and on to the Plain
of Mezy.
1.-THE limits of the 30th infantry
in the woods north of Crezancy main
tanned their position and delivered
deadly machine gun and rifle fire
upon the advancing German troops.
with the result that NO Germans
reached ours positions in these woods
and remained alive or uncaptured.
THE advanced elements of the
3sth infantry we're Withdrawn dur.
ing the evening of the 18th and that
regiment was directed to prepare for
resistance along the western crest OF
the Surmelin valley, in the event Of
"a heavy German attack delivered
from the east"
The article then tells of plans for
Ia counter attack but, says. after per-
mission was finally obtained, ut was
then too. late. as the German troops
had already commenced their cross
ing Of. the river. The division i'm
mediately moved forward to keep
contAct with the retreating enemy
and crossed the river. the 4th in
fantry. by means of the Chateau
Thierry bridge on July Fl. and late
the same evening the 7th infantry
near Fossoy by boat.
From this date until the division
was relieved in the line, the fighting
assumed a more or less open charac-
ter and consisted almost entirely of
machine gun fire and flanking move
ments directed by our small units
upon the positions assumed by the
rear guard of the enemy.
1.-THE casualties Of the division have
been heavy, amounting in all to APP
proximately 1900 men and EOS
Officers. No attempt was
made to compute the number Of Ger
mans killed. Approx
mately 700 prisoners were taken and
a great number of machine guns
with their equipment and ammdni.
tion, several one-pounder guns and
three IT'S, field pieces.
Throughout the battle south of
the Marine and the advance toward
the north. hostile aircraft flew over
our troops with impunity, observing
for the enemy artillery, bombing and
firing upon all concentrations with
machine guns. In spite of
all the efforts made by the division
staff and repeated requests of the
division commander, our planes in
Ivariably put in their appearance only
very tardily and never for any extern
sive period of time.
Telephones were completely de-
Istroyed within 10 minutes after the
bombardment commenced, after
which the only communication was
by runner, although in a few cases
the radio sets rendered excellent
service until themselves destroyed
Machine guns were supplied with
between 1900. and $500 rounds of
ammunition. This supply was mad
lequate and, in several cases gun
crews were forced by lack of ammu-
milton to destroy their guns and make
their escape.
This one American division not
only effectually stopped the two Ger
man divisions opposed to it and
thereby rendered possible the stop
ping of the German advance, but also
that the advance made toward the