Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-10

this front, and that young troops
had takon their place. Something
else apparently was going forward.
otherwise. do not know why the
carly success was not followed up.
or whether they may havo over-esti-
mated the strength Of our position.
Perhaps the enerny's supreme com
mand cherished tho idea that II would
DO more efficient to centraiize the
Dig offensive In tho west. adding the
american army to II, rather than TO
nave the American army operate
around Metz as an isolated unit. Per
sonaliy l preferred the encmy's so
luton Of ;he problem.
On September 2s. fourteen days af-
Ter 81. Mihicl. tho big French Amer
lean offensive from tho Champagne
To tho Mouse began. This offensive
was directed chiefly against the army
group OF the crown prince. Only my
right wing, between the Argonnc and
tho Mcusc. was concerned The
Americans soon stormed this part Of
tho limo.
Had to stop Attach.
Although this wing was only two
divisions broad, the third one being
brought UP later, II played an i'm
portant role rs the pivot OF our line.
Had our line on the Meusc been
crushed. II would have monnt not
only rout OF the army OF Won Elm
man adjoining. but also serious
danger to our communications. pos
sibly forcing tho retirement OF all
our troops on the western line. The
attack mad to DO stopped here at all
costs
The nr" OF the artillery from the
right side of the Mcusc. which i'm
ped"h tn" American advance along
tho river. WAS ~ great assistance. II
was only natural that the fron,alat
tack whs turned 10 the right bank of
The M"use and spread out
NJ the commencement. there were
no troops but Frcnchmcn there with
INC Americans on the farther end
At tn" FIRST attack against my two
divisions west ~ the Mouse. ! had To
meet four American divisions In
tho middle OF October. ten American
divisions were campcd along my line.
which had been broadcned out to-
ward tho ArGonnc. seven divisions
we're west of tho Marnc. one AT the
river two cast Of IT.
We learned Of the distribution Of
the American forces by som" pam
rnlcts OF PershnE. III these he adj
nr"Ssca the American soldiers, lay
lrE stress on tho Importance OF the
- = 'I''iNl' - ana UfEihg tn"m TO
execute It thoroughly. Tho com
mandiuE general % the Third Army
Corps was apuar.utly "xhor,ing tho
FIRST. Third. Fourth. rhIrty-third and
i:Ichtiv'h Divisions. From this we
learned that the First aud Third Di-
isi"ns h"d boon Withdrawn from -,
= hirl. ana that ~. ontir" strength
Hnd been directed against our hfth
"'niy ~ iho Icuse.
Tho AZ Il,,.
'hlt al attacks were necessarily
H"ntWard. NJ opportunity Was
presented FOR any operation upon ,
-'-iEc scale. II MAS q continuous
n''minrring with artillery. machine
--"n- ana alrrlancs and then rrea,
'H.r Tho divisions sent 10 relieve
'ir veg of infantry. our lines were
pose worn out WITH fighting were
i'"Tferred from other point. after
""iy ;"w days for rccupcra,ion
Nests Of Machine Guns.
Wherever ground seemed To bc
iaN"ifbje iog.ttthck. The Americans
:'ivantcd and ',urrounded our in
'"Tlpr forces. ~ consequence our
"u!y means nf defense wcr. nests of
mhclune guns. and big cannon. for
-" LACKED the men to meet the adj
N"rc"S IN battle line The small
remnants held out hcroicalIv. after
morale for tho troops had been
G'eatly weakened by the socialis,tc
ieiucut.
''nr" more was II demonstrated
mat 80 Is more diinc,lt to learn how
' attack ihan now To defend. Again
Nos ~ proven tina. resolution alone
,'rS not guarantee success. In,nauy
rlnrcS the Americans attacked In
"nfu column, even Ia crnup column
ana ivN victims Ia my fire Tho
'tths aided them somewhat. hut they
htd greh; difficulty In cover and on
cough ground The stubbornncss or
our defense was best proven by the
tact that they seldom succeeded In
rushing through. notwithstanding
ihsir superiority in numbers and al
most !nrumcrablc reserves
soon after the FIRST attack n pausr
followed. lasting from September
% TO October 4. This was invalu
able Il. as. The attack on that later
day was there mysclf-was stub
h"rnly resisted by our troops. who
followed it up repeatedly by counter
attack.
When Cornay was retaken on oc-
t"ocr 2. two officers and I64 Amcr,-
cans were made prisoners. The
prisoners agreed that their losses
had been great. hut That they were
wiling To mike the attack, which
was assisted vigorously by bomb at
tacks from the air.
Hiring Down Eight AirpInncs
IN october 10. $50 airplancs passed
through the territory of Danyillers-
lttraye in four directions. We man
aged I" bring down eight OF them
ON october II big battle took
place. TWO new American divisions