The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1920-01-17


time outflank the German position n
the ArEonne. The following day tho
Seventeenth French corps. Major Gen
cral Claudel commanding. initiated it,
attack east Of the Meuse against The
exact point on which the German
armies must pivot in order to with
draw from northern France. The
troops encountered elaborate FORTH
cations and stubborn resistance. but
by nightfall had realized an advance
OF six kilometers to a line well within
the Bols de Consenvoye. and includ-
ing the villages Of Beaumont and
Haumont-
Foe Fought stubbornIy.
Continuous fighting was maintained
along our entire battle front. with e.
pecial success on the extreme left.
where the capture OF the greater part
of the Argonne forest was completed.
The enemy contested every foot OF
ground on our front. I'm order
to make more rapid retirements far
Their west and Withdraw his forces
from northern France before the inter-
ruption OF his railroad communion
lions through Sedan.
We were confronted at this time
by an insuffciency of replacement to
build up exhausted divisions. We still
had two divisions with the British and
two with the French. A review OF the
situation. American and allied. espe-
cially as TO our own resources In men
for the next two months. convinced
me that the attack OF the First army
and the allied armies farther west
should be pushed TO the limit. But
II the First army was TO continue Its
aggressive tactics. our divisions then
with the French must be recalled and
replacements must be obtained by
breaking up newly arrived divisions.
In discussing the Withdrawal OF our
divisions from the French with Mar
shall Foch and General Petain on Oc-
tober 10 the former expressed his ap-
probation OF the fact that the First
army was striking the pivot OF the
German withdrawal. and also held the
view that the allied attack should
continue. General Petnin agreed that
the American divisions with the
French were essential 10 us X we
were to maintain opr battle against
the German pivot. The French were.
however. strsining every nerve to keep
up their attacks. and before those d.
visions with the French had been re-
leased II became necessary for us to
send the Thirty-seventh and Ninety
FIRST divisions from the First army Ia
assist the Sixth French army In Elan
ders.
First Army Of 1000 900.
At this time the First army was
holding front of more than 40 kiio-
meters; its strength exceeded 1000.
600 men; II was engaged In the most
desperate battle of our history. and
the burden Of command was too heavy
for a single commander and stnfr.
Therefore on October IL that portion
OF our front extending from Port-sur-
Seille. east of the Moselle. 20 Fresnes-
en-Woevre. southeast OF verdun, was
transferred TO the newly constituted
Second army with Lieut.. Gen. Robert
l.. Billiard In command. under whom
II began preparations for the extern
sion OF operations TO the east in the
direction OF Briey and Metz. On Oc-
tober 10 the command OF the First
army was transferred 10 Lieut. Gen.
Hunter Liggett, and my advance head
quarters was established at LIgny-en-
Barrels. from which the command OF
the group OF American armies was ex-
ercised.
Summarizing the material results
which had been attained by the First
army by the end OF October, we had
met an increasing number OF Ger
many's best divisions. rising from 20
In line and reserve on September d
TO 81 on October 81; the enemys eiab-
orately prepared positions. including
the Hindenburg line. In our front had
been broken; the almost impossible
Argonne forest was In our hands; an
advance OF Fl kilometers had been ef-
fected; $4,000 prisoners. $40 cannon.
1000 machine guns and mass OF ma
terial captured; and the great railway
artery through Carignan 60 Sedan was
now seriously threatened.
Oh the morning or November
three army corps were In line between
the Meuse river and the Bots de Bour-
gogne. Preceded by two hours OF vio-
lent artillery preparation the infantry
advanced. closely followed by accom-
panyIng guns"
by nightfall the Fifth corps. in the
center. had realized an advance OF al
most nine kilometers. 10 the Bots de,
In FolIe. and had completed the cap
ture OF the heights of Barricourt.
while the Third corps. on the right.
had captured AIncrevilIe and Ande-
vanne. Our troops had broken through
the enemy's last defense. captured his
artillery positions and had precipi-
tated a retreat OF the German forces
about TO be isolated In the forest
north OF Grandpre,
The following day the advance con-