Gunnison news-champion., 1920-01-16

violeat. and apparently be was deter.
mined at all costs 70 counteract the
most excellent effect the American
success had produced. For three days
his guns Of all csiihers were concen
trated on our position and counter.
attack succeeded counter-attack. The
desperate efforts Of the Germans gave
the lighting NJ Cantigny . seeming
tactical importance entirely out Of
proportion TO the numbers involved
The third German offensive. on May
n. against the French on the Aisne
soon developed n desperate situation
for the allies. The Second division
vas hastily diverted to the Vicinity Of
Meaux on May 81. and early on this
morning Of June was depioyed
acros. the Chateau -Thlerry- Paris road
near Montreuii -aux-Lions In gap 10
the French line where II stopped ths
German advance on Paris. Al the
same time the partially trained Third
division was placed. at French dis
posal TO hold the crossings Of tbs
Marne and It's motorized machine-guu
battalion succeeded In reaching Cha.
teau Thierry In time to assist 10 sue
cessfuliy defending that river cross
ing.
The enemy having been halted. the
Second division commenced Q series
Of vigorous attacks on June which
resulted in the capture Of Belleau
woods after very severe fighting. The
village Of Bouresches was taken soon
after. and on July vaux was cap.
tured. In these operations the Sec
ond division met with most desperate
resistance by Germany's best troops
Our Second corps. under MAI. Gen.
George W. Read. had been organized
for the command Of the ten divisions
swith the British. which were held
back in training areas or assigned tc
second-lin defenses. After consulta
tion with Field Marshal Hnig on June
s 1--WE American divisions were re
iieved from the British area to sup
port the French.
The Marne salient was Inherently
weak and offered an opportunity for
Q counter-oRensive 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
than all else. II would restore the mo
rale of the allies and remove the pro.
found depression and fear then exist.
ing.
Up to this time eur units had beea
put IN here and there at critical points
% emerEency troops to stop the ter.
rifc German advance. In every trial
whether ON the defensive Or offensive
they had proved themselves equal b
any treope IN Europe. A. early q
June y. and again on July 10 n Bnsn.
ben ! had very strongly urged that
eur best dIvisions Be concentrated
under American command. II possible
for use a. striking force againsl
the Marne salient. Although the pre-.
vailinG view among the allies wai
fhnt American units were suitable
oaly for the defensive. and that at an
events they could be used 70 better
advantage uudef allied command. the
sugEestisn was accepted in principle.
and my estimate sf their Offensive
1ghtins qualities Wa soon put - tie
taet.
The enemy had encouraged his soa-
diers to believe that the July 10 At
taek would conclude the war With Q
German peace Although he made eiab-
crate plans for the operation. he failed
to conceal fully bis Intentions, and the
'front.' OF attack was suspected at least
one week ahead. On the Champagne
front the actual hour for the assault
was known and the enemy was checked
with heavy losses. The Forty-second
division entered the line near Somme
Py Immediately. and nve Of its .nfan-
ny batta1i0ns and all Of it, artillery
became engaged. Southwest Of Rheims
and along the Marns to the east q
Chateau-Thiefry the Germans were
af nrst somewhat successful. . pene-
tration of eight kilometess beycod the
river being EFFECTED against The French
immsdiately to The right q our Third
division. The following quotation
ffum tie report of tie eommandins
gsaeraI gives he result q he Ashtins
= his trent:
eooNo creaDo1 ~ pT1oonesA
sA1tAough the fusA p( the German
tesDs overwheinsd spne q the most
ms peslt3oas. easslne ~ infantry an1
neehfne gun ee0panies = s1Bes. =
esne eaeeo - pr ceAt loGsy - g.
~ ouo6oe9D eronooA IT, ~ IT,
fsssg = 0kuasses sasnt = = -