The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-02-06

ON the 18th the First CORPS with the
Eighty-second division added, launched
strong attack toward COrnay, to
draw attention from the movement
enst of the Mouse and at the same
time outiiank the German position in
the Areonne. The following day the
Seventeenth French corps, Maior Gen
oral Claudel commanding, initiated its
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 fortifi.
cations and stubborn resistance but
by nightfall had realized IN advance
Of six kilometerS 10 line we'll within
the Rois de Consenvoye. and includ-
ing the villages of Beaumont and
Haulnont
Foe Fought Stubbornly
Continuous fighting was maintained
along our entire battle front. with es-
pocial success ON the extreme left.
whore the capture of the greater part
of the Argonne forest was completed
The enemy contested every foot of
ground on our front. in order
to make more rapid retireIuents far
ther west and withdraw his forces
from northern France before the inter
ruption of his railroad communica.
lions through Sedan
We were confronted at this time
by an lnsutliclency 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
if the First army was to continue its
aggressive tactics, our divisions then
with the French must he 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 DC.
tohcr 10 the former expressed his an
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 Pe,an agreed thai
the American divisions with the
French were essential to us If we
were In maintain our battle against
the German pivot. The French were
however straning every nerve to keep
up their attacks. and before those di.
visions with the French had been re.
leased it hocamc necessary for us TO
send the TlIirtN-seventh and Ninety.
first divisions from the First army to
assist the Sixth French army In Elan
ders.
First Army OF 100000.
At this time the First army was
holding a front Of more than 100 kIlo.
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
lor Nilnglc commander aud sfa1
lh"fri"t" ou Octuber /. ihli uulIlu.
81 "nr front eNrcndin. from Fort sui
Ncille east at he Mu>cIlc to Frcslc,
"a N"Nrr. southeast Of Nrrdun W.
mustered Ia HE newly constitute,
second army with Lieut.. Gen |. ,ber.
l.. iiulard IN command under. whom
u began preparations for The cNtrn
'lou "i uprlaliou> 10 the east in lh,
direction ct BrIry aud MlZ On DC
'"h'f 10 th" command of the Fir.
army was transferred ju Lieut. Gen
llluA" Lis@"ft. aud my advance head
quarters NILS established at IIeny.
Rarr"l> irom which The command o
The group Of American armies Wa> ~
orrtsrd
summarizing The mafcrIm result
Which bad been attained hy thn Fir a
army h} tl" end Of October We hn
mel ana ucrraSiu. number IF ,"i.
many : h'>i divisions ri>iu- from ~
IN line aud reserve on September Q
10 - nu October 81: the cucmy'S elah
orntc} prepared Positions mcludire
the li.mionhur- line Ia oar front huG
hecu hrnkcu, 'h" almost tupasSahl
irG"nne forest WIS IN uur baudS: an
advance Of q kilnnlcter> had been e.
terted: 1850 prisoners $40 rruuou
LOCO machine guns and "a mass IF ina
terial captured; and thu great railway
artery through Cdrigndn Ia :, dan WI
now seriously threatened
on The morning az NnNrruhrr
three army t1ritS A,ar, IA Ifua I,.f.t. a,t,
he M"uSe river and the RoiS 4" Row.
s"gne. Preceded hy two hours OF sio