The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-03-04

ported them on railroads already over
burdened In times Of peace. We built
the ships. recently visited the ship
yard where the Tuckahoe was launched
thirty days after her keel was laid, the
yard where Ave thousand men worked
day and night on this single boat. We
invented In a few months agents Of de-
struction more terrible than our enemies
had perfected In decades. We met each
new menace with successful counter
device. We raised armies of men and
transformed citizens into fighting
troops capable Of meeting and defeating
veterans trained from boyhood. We
miles of railroad and great cities in
Europe-three thousand miles away.
We moblized, transported. equipped,
maintained two million men overseas.
We hurled the thunderbolt against the
impregnable Hindenburg line. We
smashed it; pierced 1t; and that thru
the impenetrable forest Of the Argonne.
Impetuously, relentlessly ,-our, boys car
ried on thru the Kriemhilde line. Can
tigny, Belleau Wood. Argonne, Chau-
teau Thierry. are world symbols for
American prowess.
More wonderful than the material
accomplishment were the achievements
of the nation in the realm of mind and
ideals An individualistic nation, impa-
tient Of restraint, subordinated itself to
autocratic rule in order to achieve eff
ficiency in a common cause. We allow
ed inspectors to say what we should
eat, where we should go, how ana when
we should work. We pledged our money
for years to come. We forgot our pref
udices and lived by our reason for the
the sake of common cause. We enter
ed the war 'polyglot boarding house"
group Of immigrants. We emerged, q
nation.
Nowhere did the spirit Of work,
of self-restraint, of self -effscement for
common good show more plainly than in
the proclamation of General Pershing
March 20, 1919, at the time of the Pic
ardy onslaught
General Pershing to Marshall Foch
II have come to tell you that the AM
erican people would consider it great
honor for our troops to be engaged in
the present battle; I ask you for this in
their name and my own,
"1nfantry. artillery. aviation, all that
I'VE have, is yours; use it as you wish
quirements.
II have come especially to tell you
that the American people will be proud
to take part In the greatest and finest
battle of history
He set an example before the world
1t was an object lesson to all nations.
Americas willingness to fight under
Foch. to forget self in altruism forced
the issue of united command. The
united armies brought victory.
DakOta's boys We're scattered thruout
the American army and navy. Some
volunteered early, joining the allies
They were in all branches of service
Each did his part according to his abil-
ity and opportunity. Many were in the
Asst Division, which upon it's arrival was
used as a replacement division. most of
the men being transferred to the LIST
Division. The battle record of the LIST
Division is indeed enviable.
On the Montdidier salient in the Pic
ardy battle front at Cantigny, the First
Division, according to General Per-
shing's report, Attacked the German
commanding position in it's front, TAX
ing, with splendid dash. the town of
Cantigny and all other detectives which
had been organized. and held them
steadfastly against vicious counter-at-
tacks and a CALLING artillery fire. AL
though local, this brilliant action had an
electrical effect. it demonstrated our
fighting qualities under extreme battle
conditions. and also that the enemy's
troops were not altogether invincible."
Again in the attack on the Marine sal
lent. what is known as the second bat
tie of the Marine. General Pershing re-
ports the First Division in action, 1.-The
place of honor in the thrust towards
scissors on July 18th was given to our
LIST and End Divisions, in company with
chosen French divisions. Without the
usual brief warning of a preliminary
bombardment, the massed French and
American artillery. firing by the map
laid down it's rolling barrage at dawn
while the infantry began it's charge
The tactical handling of our troops I'M
der these trying conditions was excel
lent thruout the action. The enemy
brought up large numbers of reserves
and made a stubborn defense, both with
machine guns and artillery. but thru
five days fighting the LIST Division con-
tinued to advance until it had gained
the heights above scissors and captur-
ed the village of Berzy-le-Sec. The End
Division took Beau Repaire farm and
vierzy in a very rapid advance and
reached a position in front of Tigny at
the end of it's second day. These two
divisions captured 1000 prisoners and
over 100 pieces of artillery"
Again in the battle of st. Mihiel the
first distinctive American offensive en-
gagged about 100000 Americans. They
reduced a dangerous salient, captured
10000 prisoners and 443 guns. Marshal
Foch says of this. ITO begin by ST. Mi
,hiel. You have seen how vigorously and
successfully the operation was conduct
ed by the Americans. This is where, for
the first time, they showed their worth;
this is where we were able to judge of
these admirable soldiers, strong in body
and valiant in soul. In one swoop they
reduced the famous salient which dur
ing so long we did not know how to APP
prOach."
The Meuse-Argonne offensive was the
greatest battle ever fought by Ameri-
can troops. 1t lasted forty-seven days
and engaged 100000 Americans 1t
broke the Hindenburg line and, as Cen
eral Pershng said, drew the best Ger
man Divisions to our front and consum-
ed them. The advance Of the American
troops was relentless and steady.
We have indeed reason to be proud Of
the actual combat accomplishments Of
our American citizen soldiery. Europe
will never forget it, but we must not
lose sight of the fact that every man in
uniform, wherever he was placed. did
his duty and Shares in the glory. More,
every patriot at home shares in the
honor.
4 America Is credited with being mater
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