The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1920-01-17

Our Second corps. under Mai. Gen.
George W. Read. had been organized
for the command OF the ten divisions
back In training areas or assigned 10
second-Iine defenses. After consulta-
ton with Field Marshal Haig on June
3 Ave American divisions were re-
lieved from the British area 10 sup
port the French.
The Marine salient was inherently
weak and offered an opportunity for
q counter-offensive that was obvious.
II successful such an operation would
afford immediate relief 10 the allied
defense, would remove the threat
against Paris and free the Paris
Nancy railroad. But. more important
than all else. II would restore the mo-
rale OF the allies and remove the pro-
found depression and fear then exist
Ing.
Up TO this time our units had been
put in here and there at critical points
as emergency troops TO stop the ter
rife German advance. In every trial.
whether on the defensive or offensive.
they had proved themselves equal to
any troops In Europe. As early as
June %. and again on July 10 at Bonn
bon had very strongly urged that
our best divisions be concentrated.
under American command II possible.
for use as striking force against
the Marine salient. Although the pre-
vailing view among the allies was
that American units were suitable
only for the defensive, and that at all
events they could be used 70 better
advantage under allied command. the
suggestion was accepted In principle.
and my estimate OF their offensive
fighting qualities was soon put to the
test.
The enemy had encouraged his sol
dlers TO believe that the July 10 at
tack would conclude the war with a
German peace. Although he made elab-
crate plans for the operation. he failed
10 conceal fully his intentions. and the
front OF attack was suspected at least
one week ahead. On the Champagne
was known and the enemy was checked
with heavy losses. The Forty-second
division entered the line near Somme
Ply Immediately, aud five OF its infan'
try battalions and all OF its artillery
became engaged. Southwest OF Rheims
and along the Marine TO the east of
Chateau-Thierry the Germans were
at first somewhat successful. pene-
tration OF eight kilometers beyond the
river being effected against the French
Immediately TO the right OF our Third
division. The following quotation
from the report OF the commanding
general gives the result Of the fighting
on his front:
None Crossed but Prisoners.
although the rush OF the German
troops overwhelmed some Of the front
line positions. causing the infantry and
machine gun companies 10 suffer. in
some cases a 80 per cent loss, no Ger
man soldiers crossed the road from
Fossoy TO Crezancy except as pris-
oner OF war, and by noon the following
day tJuly 16) there were no Germans
In the foreground OF the Third division
sector except the dead"
On this occasion n single regiment
OF the Third division wrote one OF the
most brilliant pages In our military
annals. II prevented the crossing at
certain points on It's front, while on
either flank the Germans who had
gained a footing pressed forward. Our
men. firing In three sections. met the
German attacks with counter attacks
at critical points and succeeded In
throwing two German divisions into
complete confusion, capturing 600
prisoners.
The selection by the Germans OF
the Champagne sector and the east
ern and southern faces OF the Marine
pocket on which to make their Often
sIve was fortunate for the allies. as IL
favored the launching OF the counter
attack already planned. There were
now over 100000 American troops In
France. which provided a considerable
force OF reserves. Every American d.
vislorp 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 dlvi-
slons. 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. 10 the heights south OF Scissors.
THE advance began on July IS. without