The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1920-02-12
Forced Enemy Back.

Forced Enemy Back.
Further to the east the Third divi-
sion forced the enemy back to Ron
cheres wood, where 1t was relieved
on July 30 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 its 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 Veslc river. where. on
Aug. 6, the operation for the re'itIr-
ton of the Marne salient terminated.
In the hard lighting from July ~ to-
Aug. 6 the Germans were not only
halted in their -a4lyance. but were
driven back from, the Marne to the
Vesle and committed wholly to, the
defensive. The force OF American
arms had been brough, to bear in time
to enable the last offensive Of the en-.
envy to be crushed.
The First and Third corps now held
q continuous front of II kflometers
along the Vesle. On Aug. u the Seven.
ty.seventh division relieved the Fourth
division on the First corps front. and
the following day the Twenty.eighth
relieved the .Thirty-second division IN
the Third corps. while from Aug. 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
Oise Our Third corps participated in
this operation crossingethe Eesle on
Sept. with the Twenty eighth and
Seventy seventh divisions and over
coming stubborn opposition on the pla'
.teau south of the Aisne. which was
reached by the Seventy-seventh on
Sept. T. Two days later the Third
corps was transferred to the region
of Verdun the Seventy.seventh divi'
sion remaining IN line on the Aisne riv''
yer until Sept. II.
The Thrty-second division, upon its
relief from the battle on the Vesle.
Joined q French corps north of SOls'
sons and attacked from Aug. ~ to
81. capturing Juvigny after some
particularly desperate fighting and
reaching the Chauny- So!ssons road.
On the British front tw" regiments
of the Thirty-thrl division particl'
mated In an attack on Flannel. july 4.
and again on Aug. 8 as an incident OF
the allied offensive against the Amiens
salient. One Of these regiments took
Gressaire wood and Chipilly ridge
capturing 700 prisoners and consider
able material.
u. Emergency Had Passed.
The counter offensives against the
Marne salient In July and against the
Amiens salient in August had gained
such an advantage that 1t was ap-
uarent that the emergency. which Jus
tif,ed the dispersion Of our divisions.
had passed. The moment was prOpt-
tious for assembling our divisions. The
formation of the army In the Chateau
Thierry region and its early transfer
tn the sector of the WOevre. which
was to extend from N0meny. east OF
the Moselle. to north Of st. Mihiel. was
therefore decided upon by Marshal
'roch and myself on Aug. 8. and the de'
tails were arranged With Gen. Petain
later on the same day. e..
AT Bombon. on July "a. there was o
conference Of all commanders 10 chie1
for the purpose Of considering a'hed
operations. Each presented proposals
for the employment of the armies uh
der his command and these formed
the basis Of future cooperation OF
the allies, II was esnphatically deter
named that the allied attitude should
maintain the offensive As the
1irsf oOeratfOn Of the Ar,crienfs- Fsss!y
,he reduction OF the salient OF st.
Mihiel. was to be undertaken as soon
as the necessary troops and material
could be made available.
On Aug. 2Q,-a-fufther discussion WIN
Marshal roch was held nj my mead
Quarters at Iigny-en-Barrois. A, this
meeting 1t was proposed by Marshal
Foch that the general operations as
S.r .s the American army was con.
c.rned should be carried out to detai'