Gunnison news-champion., 1920-01-16

offensive.
General Petain's initial plan for the
counter.attacks involved the entire
western face Of the Marns salient
The First and Second Americas divi-
sions. with the First French Aoroccae
divisiea between them. were employed
a. the speaFhead of the main attach.
driving directly eastward. through the
most sensitive portion Of the German
lines. to the heights south Of Scassoaa.
The advance began % Juiy IL witAoUe
the usual brief warning Of preli4
inary bombartlment. and these three a.
visions At Q single bound broke through
the enemy's defenses and overraa
his artillery. cutting or interruptins
the German Communications lead
ing into the salient. A general
withdrawal from the Aarne was imms-
dIstely began by the enemy. who SIN
fought stubbornly to prevent dlsastsr.
Tssk oessy-ss-sse. -
The First division. throughout fous
days Of constant lighting. advanced II
kilo'neters. capturing Berzy-le-See
aud the heights about Soissons and
taking some $500 prisoners and -
field guns from the seven German d.
visions employed against IL Il was
relieved BY q British division. The
Second division advanced eight kilo.
meters In the nrst - hours, snd b.:
the end Of the second day was facing
Tigny. having captured 5000 prison
ers and o8 Geld guns II was relieved
the night Of the 10Th By French divi-
Hton. The result Of this counter-oC.
feDsivs was Of decisive Importance.
Due to the magnificent dash and power
displayed on the field OF Solsxons By
our First and Second divisions. the
tide OF war was definitely turned 10
favor Of the allies.
Other American divisions PARTED.
pated In the Marns counter-ofHensive
A little to the south the Second divi-
sion the Fourth was 10 line with thu
French. and was engaged until July
q. The 6rst American corps. MAJ.
Gen. Hunter ;biggett commanding
with the Twenty-sixth division and q
French division. acted N Q pivot Of
the movement toward SoIssons. cap.
turing Torcy ON the 18th and reaching
the Chateau Thierry- Solssons road on
the 2lst. At the same time the Sec
ond division crossed the Marne and
took the heights Of Mount ST. Pere
and the villages Of Chartescs mud
iauigonne.
In the First corps the Forty second
division relieved the rwenty.xixth on
July Is and extended It's front. on the
26th relieving the French division
From this time until August 2 II
tonight lts way through the Forest de
rere and across the Ourcq. advancing
toward the vesie until relieyedyhy the
Fourth division on August s. Early
in This period elements Of the Twenty.
eighth division participated In the ad
vance.
Fesee1 9nesmy 0acis.
Further to the east the Third dIvi.
sion forced the enemy back to Ron.
cheres wood, where II was relieved
On July 80 By The Thlrty-aecond dIvi.
sion from the vosges front. The Thirty.
second. after relieving the Third and
some elements ef the Twenty eighth
on the Tine Of the Ourcq river. advanced
abreast OF the Forfy-second toward
the vesls. On Aug. 8 II passed under
control Of our Third corps. Major Gen
Roherf L. Bullard commanding. which
made it, irst appearance 10 battle At
this time. while the Fourth division
took up the task Of the Forty-second
dlviaion and advanced with the Thirty
second 70 the vesIe river, where. on
Aug. 9. the operation for the reduc-
tion Of the Aarue saIient terminated.
In the hard aghting from July 10 to
Aug. Q the Germans were not only
halted in their advance. but were
driven back from the Marns 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-
emy to be crushed.
The First and Third corps now held
continuous front OF II kilometers
along the vesle. On Aug. II the Seven
fy-seventh division relieved the Fourth
division on the First corps front. and
the following day the Twenty-eigbth
relieved the Thirty-second division in
the Third corps. while from Aug. 8 to
Aug 10 the Sixth infantry brigade Of
the Third division held eector on the
river line. The tranafee ct the Tirst
corps 70 the Woevre WAS ordered ct
this dine. and the control of this front
wes turned ever to the Third eorp&
frswssnsaa Nert Wet,
0seGs gxpeeoseea.
Al great exDes1u1oa, wA1cA . q
supeE1cial susvsy, seems 70 easy .