The Washington herald., 1919-09-17

ly every position held by the First
was in turn subjected to shattering
storms of artillery fire. Then came
the storming Of Cantigny. the posses
sion OF which had given the enemy
such an advantage. On May 2s, at
daybreak. after prolonged artillery
preparation and a rolling barrage, the
Twenty-eighth was sent forward
French tanks accompanied the men.
The movement was along a front OF
200 meters and the Twenty eighth
went in, penetrating to 1900 meters.
The movement which amounted
to a charge, was completely sue
cessful. the members of the garrl-
son of the town being driven from
the fortifcations and then killed or
captured. Scores OF Germans were
captured. The streets of Cantigny
were strewn with German dead.
In July the division, after inces-
SAINT campaigning. was sent to
Beauvais. but scarcely had it ar
rived there when the enemy
launched an attack in force in the
Marne salient The troops were
moved toward the sector to the
south of Scissors. On July 10
there was a post affair" near Coe-
uvres and the next day the division
was disposed of in order of attack.
On July IS the order for the at
tack was issued. The direction was
toward the south of scissors.
Marching over shell-torn roads, the
First, with only a few minutes Of
artillery preparation, advanced upon
the enemy. French tanks again ac-
companied the infantry. The Ger
mans were caught by the rapid for
ward movement Our infantry
pressed upon the plain to the south
of scissors and made heavy gains.
The First Infantry Brigade and the
Second Infantry Brigade took one
vantage point after another.
In Bitter Fighting.
The fighting was severe for many
hours, but the First Division con-
tinued on, taking prisoners and guns
from the Germans. The fighting was
resumed on the 18th. On the 10Th the
enemy made great exertions to re-
take the lost ground, bringing hun
dreds of guns to bear. The First.
with great cost, gained new positions.
The fighting continued through to
July %, when the First was relieved.
The First had remained longer in the
fighting line than any other division
of the corps, and it had effected many
valuable things, particularly in cut
ting the railroad and highway run
ming south from scissors. Casualties
there were by the thousand, but the
First had established a great record
for its captures of guns and men from
the enemy.
After consolidation the division was
attached to the Fourth Army Corps.
An attack around the eastern side of
the st. Mihiel salient had been plan
ned. The First Division was again
brought into action, winning new hon
ors. During this service the division
on one occasion advanced fourteen
kilometers in an air line in nineteen
hours, and during the operation cap
tured five German officers and l.19O
German soldiers, as well as much wa r
material.
Immediately after this series Of en-
gagements the division was hurried
toward Verdun and was assembled
in the area of Benoit de Vaux. where
ii was held in reserve for attacks
between the Meuse and Argonne. On
SEPTEMBER 30. having been attached
to the First American Army Corps, it
was sent forward to relieve the right
OF that corps. This duty was accom-
plished. Its position was then ex-
tended from the Aire River to Eclis-
1ontaine. There the men were SUBJ
jected to heavy shell fire.