Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-18
Anniversary OF
CHATEAU-TH TH|ERRY
Americans Turned the Tide
in the World War Three
Years Ago Today.

it} Nt NC1tS dSo toQoN aisN toN''N
that marked the beginning of the
end for the German autocraey, and
the success of the Allied arms under
the able leadership of Marshal Foch,
began. At $50 a. M. the three pick
I'd divisions, the First and Second
American and the First Moroccan.
tthe latter containing the famous
foreign Legion of the French ARMY,
started their attack on the northwest
crn end of the salient that the Ger
mans had driven to the Marine, at
Chateau-Thierry, and when the day
was finished the Allied divisions mad
driven a wedge into the German
lines that was approximately seven
kilometers deep.
From the first day of the attack,
which was one of the real surprises OF
the war, the Germans had nttie
chance of stopping the onward rush
of the French Colonials and the
Americans. 1t has been stated that,
at the time of the battle, no American
troops had ever approached the hSht-
ing ability of the two divisions, the
First and Second. Losses and fatigue
could not stop the divisions as they
pushed on, defeating those troops that
the enemy could muster against them,
and winning for American arms one OF
the most brilliant and glorious OF VIC
tories.
The enemy had much artillery and
some of his good infantry troops locat-
ed at the point selected by Marshal
Foch for his attempt. Two roads, the
Paris scissors and the Soissons-
Chateau-Thierry highways, were being
used for the main arteries by the
enemy, and to cut these, toSethef
with the railway leading from Cha-
teau-Thierry to scissors, would mean
the evacuation of the salient by the
Germans, and their second defeat on
the Marne. If this attack succeeded
the commander-in-chi of all the Al
lied Forces would know that never
again would the Germans be able TO
take the offensive, for he would drive,
and drive until they were whipped into
submission.
The First Division went into the
attack after a night of horror, with
men thoroughly exhausted after the
struggle through the rain and mud
and dark, through miles of artillery,
tanks and transport. Some OF the
troops reached the jumpom line Just
as the artillery. opened fire for the
first barrage, and they had no time to
re>e-when they received the word TO
so.
The Second Division had de-trucked
the morning of July IL behind Morte-
fontaine. north of the Compiegnc
Forest. and the men had stayed along
the road all day, without taking off
their heavy packs. When night came.
the tired troops, which included two
regiments of Marines, started for the
front lines, and marched all night
through much the same conditions
as the First Division had met. Of
ficers of the First Division. who knew
about the march of the Second, char
acterized that march as one of the
truly difficult feats of the American
campaign.
Fought Five Days
For five days the First Division
fought, gaining the ground assigned
for them. foot by foot, and at times
leaving the ground strewn with dead.
both of their own and of the enemy.
When the morning of July p arrived,
Major Paul DAILY, 18th Infantry, First
Division of New York City, whose bat
TALON was reduced to 30 men and one
officer, was surrounded by the Ger
mans, and there We're no troops TO go
to his aid for the time being. When
most officers would have been resigned
to their fate. and when most men
would have been satisfied to have
their officers surrender, small group
of his men, together with three
Frenchmen who had become detached
from their command on Days right.
made a quick assault on the Chateau
of BSuzcancy, which was a stronghold
OF he Germans. and demanded its sur
render. After short parley, during
which several Germans, including one
officer. met death, the German lieu
tenant colonel gave up the struggle
and marched out of his cellar with
hands in the air, at the head of more
than 200 of his command
The capture of the stronghold and
the sight of so many Germans going
20 the rear heartened the America ms
and gave the Germans who were be-
tween DAILY and the rest of the 18th
Regiment. of which he waS~a part, a
feeling that they could not win. and
they slowly withdrew. And thus the
little herd of ':lost" battalion of the
First Division fought its way ont