The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1920-02-12

Colonial division and the fourth d.
vision in line, from Mouilly west to
Les Eparges and north to Wahtron-
Vile. Of these three divisions the
twenty-sixth alone was to make
deep advance directed southwark to-
ward Vigneultes. The French division
was to make short progression to
the edge of the heights In order to
cover the left Of the twenty-sixth.
The fourth division was not to ad-
vance.
In the center between our fourth
and fifth army corps, was the second
French Colonial corps. Maj. Gen. q. J.
Blondlat commanding, covering front
Of 40 kilometers with three small
French divisions. These troops were
to follow up the retirement Of the en-
envy from the tip Of the salient.
At dawn on Sept. IL, after four hours
Of violent artillery fire of preparation,
and accompanied by small tanks, the
infantry of the first and fourth corps
advanced. The infantry of the fifth
corps commenced it's advance at 8 a..
m. The operation was carried out with
entire precision. Just after daylight
on Sept. - elements Of the first and
twenty-siXth divisions made a junction
near Hattonchatel and Vigneulles.
eighteen kilometers northeast of st.
Mihiel. The rapidity with which our
divisions advanced overwhelmed the
enemy and all detectives were reached
by the afternoon of Sept. IL. We cap.
tured nearly 10000 prisoners. 443 guns
and large stores of material and sup
plies. The energy and swiftness with
which the operation was carried out
enabled US to smother opposition to
such an extent that we suffered less
than 1000 casualties during the actual
period of the advance.
The material results of the victory
achieved were very important. An
American army was an accomplished
fact. and the enemy had felt its power.
No form Of propaganda could over
come the depressing effect on the
morale of the enemy. of this demon
stration of our ability to organize
large American force and drive II S,c-
cessfully through his defenses. 1t gave
our troops implicit confidence in their
superiority and raised their morale to
the highest pitch. For the first time
wire rntunglement> ceased I" be re.
gardled as impossible barriers and
open -warfare training. which had been
50 urgently insisted upon, proved to be
the correct doctrine. Our divisions
concluded the attack with such small
losses and in such high spirits that
without the usual rest they were i'm
mediately available for employment in
heavy fighting in new theater Of op-
erations. The strength Of the first
army in this battle totaled approx.
mately 100000 men. Of whom about
10000 were French.
tmmovabIe Since 1914.
The Meuse-Argonne front had been
practically stabilized in September.
1914, and except for minor fluctuations
during the German attacks on verdun
in 1915 and the French counter often
sive In August. 1917, remained un-
changed until the American advance In
1918. The net result Of the four years
struggle on this ground was German
defensive system of unusual depth and
strength and wide zone Of utter dew
astation, itself serious obstacle to
offensive operations.
The strategical Importance of this
portion of the line was second to
none on the western front. All sup
plies and excavations Of the German
armies In northern France were de-
pendent upon two great railway sys'
tens--one in the north. passing through
l.iege, while the other in the South.
with lines coming from Luxemburg'
Thionville and Metz. had as its vital
section the line Carignan-Sedan-Me
ieres. No other important lines were
available to the enemy, as the noun
famous masses of the Ardennes MADE
the construction Of east and west lines
through that region impracticable.
BEGIN Victorious Advance.
On the night of September 25 the
nine divisions to lead In the attack
we're deployed between the Meuse
river and the western edge Of the Ar
gOnne forest. On the right was the
Third corps. Major General BuI'ard
commanding. with the Thirty-third
Eightieth and Fourth divisions In line !:
next came the Fifth corps. Major Cen
eral Cameron commanding. with the
Seventy-ninth. Thirty-seventh anu
Ninety-first divisions: on the left was
the First corps. Major General Liggett
commanding. with--the Thtrty.n1tn.
Twenty-eighth and Seventy-seventh a.
vision Each corps had one division IN
reserve and the army held three d'vi'
sions as a general reserve. Aoo"t
200 guns. 1874 small tanks, l4z
manned by Americans. and vi arr
planes, Coz manned by Americans
were concentrated to support the at
tack of the infantry. We thus had
superiority in guns and aviation. and
| the enemy had no tanks.
| Following three hours OF violent ar