Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-01-29

favored TIE IduuClIlHS VI tuC SouhCCA-
attack already planned. There were
now over 100000 American troops in
France, which provided considerable
force Of reserves. Every American di-
vision with any sort of training was
made available for use in counter
offensive.
General Petain's initial plan for the
counter-attacks involved the entire
western face of the Marine salient.
The First and Second American divi-
sions. with the First French Moroccan
division between them, were employed
as the spearhead of the main attack,
driving directly eastward, through the
most sensitive portion of the German
lines. to the heights south of scissors.
The advance began on July Is, without
the usual brief warning Of prelim-
mary bombardment, and these three di-
visions at a single bound broke through
the enemy's defenseS and Overran
his artillery, cutting or interrupting
the German communications lead
ing into the salient. A general
withdrawal from the Marine was imme-
diately began by the enemy, who still
fought stubbornly to prevent disaster.
Took Berzy-le-Sec.
The First division, throughout four
DAYS of constant fighting, advanced II
kilometers, capturing Berzy-le-Sec
and the heights about scissors and
taking some $500 prisoners and SO
field guns from the seven German d.
visions employed against it. 1t was
relieved by a British division. The
Second division advanced eight kilo-
meters in the first 26 hours, and by
the end of the second day was facing
Tigny, having captured 5000 prison
ers and &c field guns. 1t was relieved
the night of the 10Th by a French divi-
sion. The result Of this counter-Of-
fensive was Of decisive Importance.
Due to the magnificent dash and power
displayed on the field Of scissors by
our First and Second divisions, the
tide Of war was definitely turned in
favor of the allies.
Other American divisions partici-
pated in the Marine counter-offensive.
A little to the south the Second divi-
sion the Fourth was in line with the
French, and was engaged until July
%. The first American corps, Maj.
Gen. Hunter Liggett commanding,
with the Twenty-sixth division and a
French division, acted as pivot of
the movement toward Scissors, cap
turing Torcy on the 18th and reaching
the u-Thierry-Soissons road on
the 21st. At the same time the Sec
ond division crossed the Marine and
took the heights of Mount st. Pere
and the villages of Charteves and
JaulgOnne.
In the First corps the Forty-second
division relieved the Twenty-sixth on
July % and extended it's front, on the
Goth relieving the French division.
From this time until August it
fought it's way through the Forest de
Fere and across the Ourcq, advancing
toward the Vesle until relieved by the
Fourth division on August 8. Early
in this period elements Of the Twenty
eighth division participated in the ad-
vance forced Enemy Back. 4
Further to the east the Third divi-
sion forced the enemy back to Ron
cheres wood, where it was relieved
on July 80 by the Thirty-second divi-
sion from the Vosges front. The Thirty
second, after relieving the Third and
some elements Of the Twenty-eighth
on the line of the Ourcq river, advanced
abreast of the Forty-second toward
the Vesle. On Aug. 3 it passed under
control of our Third corps, Major Gen.
Robert L. Billiard commanding, which
made it's first appearance in battle at
this time, while the Fourth division
took up the task of the Forty-second
division and advanced with the Thirty
second to the Vesle river, where, on
Aug. 6, the operation for the reduc-
ton of the Marine salient terminated.
In the hard fighting from July Is to
Aug. 6 the Germans were not only
halted In their advance, but were
driven back from the Marine to the
Vesle and committed wholly to the
defensive. The force of American
arms had been brought to bear in time
to enable the last offensive Of the en-
envy to be crushed.
The First and Third corps now held
a continuous front of II kilometers
along the Vesle. On Aug. II the Seven
ty-seventh division relieved the Fourth
division on the First corps front, and
the following day the Twenty-eighth
relieved the Thirty division in
the Third corps, while from Aug. 6 to
Aug. 10 the Sixth infantry brigade of
the Third division held sector on the
river line. The transfer of the First
corps to the Woevre was ordered at
this time, and the control of this front
was turned over to the Third corps.
On August Is Gen. petain began an
offensive between Rheims and the
Disc. Our Third corps participated in
this operation, crossing the Vesle on
Sept. with the Twenty-eighth and
Seventy-seventh divisions and over
~ u l.