Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-03-12
pershing's Story
continued from last week.

a.n o. the First division re
w .wo French divisions on the
lle'sO ,eor Montdidier and on May y
nom "a - the important observation
cap.u IN the heights of Cantigny
a ,.n splendid dash. French artillery
WIN nn tanks and fame throwers
sVlasV - the attack. but most of this
.lue arh assistance was withdrawn be-
TIL the completion of the operation
iole s.ser to meet the enemy's new Of
% v'u VIZ launched May q to Chateau
ieu" The enemy reaction against
lu'' .roops at Cantigny was extremely
Ou and apparently he was deter
VIVA. at all costs to counterfeit the
p'p.' excellent effect the American
n" .osss had produced. For three days
s, ~. INNS of all calibers were concen-
nls aa On our position and counter
ua' succeeded counter-attack. The
.ua rote efforts of the Germans gave
ue'p, sohting at Cantigny a seeming
ue .,.el importance entirely out of
" to the numbers involved.
PM M third German offensive, on May
~ against the French on the Aisne
~ 81 developed a desperate situation
wv .ho allies. The Second division
~, hastily diverted to the vicinity OF
wssux on May 81. and early on the
-.rr,ne of June l was deployed
.0ss the -Thierry-Paris roao
Lions In a gap In
A. French line, where it stopped the
c..man advance on Paris. AT the
'.ro time the partially trained Third
sr,e,on was placed at French dis
$50, 10 hold the crossings Of the
M.rne and its motorized machine-gun
s.rollon succeeded in reaching Cha
.o.u Thierry in time to assist In sue
.ossfully defending that river cross
hs -. A.
Tho enemy having been halted, the
sscond division commenced a series
\ vigorous attacks on June 4 which
,avr,ted In the capture of Belleau
roods after very severe fighting. The
village of Bouresches was taken soon
s4er and on July l Vaux was cap
hred In these operations the Sec
and division met with most desperate
resistance by Germany's best troops.
0ur Second corps, under Maj. Gen.
George W. Read. had been organized
for the command of the ten divisions
with the British. which were held
hack In training areas or assigned to
second-line defenses. After consulta
Hon with Field Marshal Haig on June
2 FIVE American divisions were re-
lIeyed from the British area to sup.
port the French.
The Marne salient was inherently
weak and offered an opportunity for
A counter-offensive that was obvious
II successful such an operation would
afford immediate relief to the allied
defense, would remove the threat
against Paris and free the Paris
nancy railroad But. more important
n hsn all else. II would restore the mo-
ME of the allies and remove the pro-
81 found depression and fear then exist
Ing.
H Up to this time our units had been
put In here and there at critical points
as emergency troops to stop the ter,
rife German advance. In every trial,
whether on the defensive or offensive,
they had proved themselves equal to
any troops In Europe. As early as
June %, and again on July 10 at Bonn
bon ! had very strongly urged that
our best divisions he concentrated,
under American command. If possible,
M use as a striking force against
DE Marine salient. Although the pre-.
mlllng view among the allies was
'na' American units were suitable