Gunnison news-champion., 1920-01-23

offensive between Rheims and the
Oise. Our Third corps participated In
this operation. crossing the vesle on
Sept. with the Twenty-eIshth and
Seventy-seven,h divisions and over
coming stubborn opposition on. the pla-
teau south Of the Aishe. which was
reached by the Seventy seventh op
Sept. Z. Two days ,nier the Third
corps was transferred to the region
of verdun. the Seyenty-sevcnth diyi.
sion remaining in iine on the Aisne riv
er until Sept. II.
The Thirty second division. upon Its
relief from the battle on the vesle.
Joined French corps north of Sois-
sons and attacked from Aug - to
81. capturing Jnigny after some
particularly desperate fighting and
reaching the Chauny -SoIssons road.
On the British front two regiments
Of the Thirty-thiri division partici.
pnted In an attack on HaJnei. July 4.
and again on Aug . as an Incident of
the allied offensive against the Amiens
salient. One of these regiments took
GressaIre. wood and ChipiIly ridge.
capturing 700. prisoners and consider.
able material.
Emergency Had Passed.
The counter ofTensives against the
Marne salient In July and against the
Amiens salient In August had gained
such an advantage that II was mp
parent thar the emergency. which JUS
tificd the dispersion Of our divisions.
had passed. The moment WIS propi-
tious for assembling our divisions The
formation of the army In the Chateau.
Thierry region and Its early transfer
10 the sector OF the woevre. which
was to extend from Noineny. enst Of
the Moselle. to north Of 81. Mihiei. was
therefore decided upon by Marshal
f'och and myself on Aug p. and the de-
tails were arranged with Cen PetuIn
later on the same dav.
AT r3omovn. on july -. mere was
conference of all commanders In chief
for the purpose Of considering allied
operations. Each presented proposals
for the employment Of the armies un
der his command and these formed
the basis OF future cooperation OF
the allies. II was emphaticaIiy deter
mined that the allied attitude should
be TO maintain the offensive As the
first operation Of the American army
the reduction Of the salient Of ST
Mihiel was to be undertaken as soon
rs the necessary troops and INA eriai
could be made available.
On Aug. 10. a further discussion With
a. a 4
quarters mt Llgny- -Barruis. At ihi-
meeting Il WAS proposed by Marshal
Foch that the general operations "a
far as the American army was con
cerned should lie carried out In dcinii
by:
(a) An attack between the Meuse
and the Argonne by the Second French
army. reinforced ny from four to six
American divisions.
(b) A French American attack. ex.
tending from the Argonne west TO III.
SOuain roud TO be executed on the
right by an American army. astridr
the Aisne and on the left BY the
Fourth French army.
To carry out these attacks the ten
TO eleven American divisions suggested
for tle St. Mihiel operation and the
four TO SIX for the Second French arm,
would leave eight to ten divisions foi
an American army on the Aisne- II
was proposed that the 81. Mihiei op
eration should be Initiated on Sept. ~
and the other Two on Sept 10 and ~
respectively.
The plan suggested for the Amer.
icnn participation in these operations
was not acceptable TO me. because IL
would require the Immediate separn
tion Of the recently formed first Amer.
lean army into several groups. main
ly to assist French armies. This was
directly contrary to the principle Of
forming distinct American army. for
which my contention hnd been insist
ent. An enormous amount Of prepara-
fion had already been made in con.
etruction Of roads. railroads reguIat-
ing stations and other installations
looking 20 the use and supply Of our
armies On . particular front. The In
herent disinciination Of our troops to
serve under allied commanders would
have grown and American moraIe
would hsve suffered. NJ position vn.
ssated quite Clearly. that the strst~
deal employment Of the nrxt army M
unit would ne undertaken where de-
sired. but IT. disruption to cnrry on
these proposals would NOT be enter
H. .-<.<1