Evening star., 1923-07-15
BY SERGT. MARC G. PHILLIPS,
Late OF the 1i7th Engineers, 42d
United States (Rainbow) Division.

b1 sEhII. MAHC u. FHILLIfS,
| Late OF the Ii7th Engfneers, 42d
United States (Rainbow) Division.
THoSE of the Rainbow Division
who survived the greatest OF
all German offensives during
the world war still recall that
| gruelling battle before Chalons-Sur-
Marne. when the 42d United States
Menoher, stemmed the tide of the
German advance at Champagne. the
second battle of the Marne.
Today marks the anniversary Of
this great conflict. and in it's COM
memoration the veterans Of the Rain
bow Division are holding their fifth
annual convention In Indianapolis.
bringing together onoe more those
who are left Of the old AGA in a grand
reunion. under less stirring condi-
tions. perhaps. but none the less in
spring when one takes note OF those
veterans in attendance, among whom
| may be found the names OF a score or
more Of Americas leading general
officers, in addition to the famous del
egation sent for this occasion from
France. headed by Gen. Gouraud him
| self.
THE battle of the Champagne still
lives in the memory of those who
| were there. those more fortunate
| ones who lived TO see the ultimate
victory. Those who rest in unmarke ed
/ graves along the chalk wastes OF
Somme-Suippes perhaps even now are
looking down upon the dusty poppy
that mods ftfully over what flve
years ago was an outpost or machine
gun nest where they made their last
| gallant stand.
| Published below, probably for the
first time in this country. from the
French publication Illustration, OF
July 81, 1913. appears free transla-
tton, a true story OF that great allied
defense. The writer, NJ. Gustave
Babin, gives a graphic account OF al
that transpired upon that eventfuI
date OF July II. 1918. The American
division to which he makes graceful
allusion was none other than the 42d
United States Division, which bore
the brunt OF the attack directly before
Chalons while serving with the 4tf
French army, under Gen. Gouraud
His account in part is as follows:
| On July 10, just a week ago. the
Germans launched the offensive
which We had been expecting fol
several weeks. 1t was developed
with the usual fury. was meticu.
lously prepared, as always. against
two OF our armies. on a front OF
more than eighty kilometers, be.
tween Chateau Thierry on the ives,
and the famous Main de Massiges or
the east. This time 1t was the grour
OF armies of the imperial crown
prince-the armies of Won Boehm
Won Mudra and Won Einem--whicf
made the attack. It is TO the hsi,
Of the Hohenzollerns that this abrupt
check to the fifth attack of the yea,
must be charged.
At the center. in front of Rheims
the offensive was limited to a dem
onstration. In reality he attempted
to reduce the Montague de Rheim.
and capture the unhappy city. But
to the east, on his left wing, where
the Germans attacked the army OF
Gen. Gouraud. the affair showed fol
US the light Of a magnificent vic
4 torious defensive. one of the mos
characteristic as well as one of tn.
! most successful defensive battles Of
this formidable war. Moreover. &
was there. think. that he intended
to make q powerful effort, TIL,
stake was not less than Chalons- Sur
Marne.
Since the beginning of June. 1918
an offensive on a grand scale wa.
expected on the front OF the army
As time passed many indications an
nounced the imminenoe of the attach
t-indications that were noted. 1t fl
known that the front opposite tn,
eth Army and. no doubt. the who'll,
front. was equipped for a sudde,
attack for several months. Little b,
: little one saw the increase In cir
culation on the railroads, the muni
ton dumps growing. the aviation
fields being prepared. The front
however. remained quiet and artil
lery showed little activity. But on.
| observed aB was the case DefOr6 tn
> offensive Of May 81 and that of jun
10. for example, the fire by higl
bursts. discreet procedure for tn
regulation Of the artillery. Then
suddenly. behind the apparent mo
: bility Of the front, one perceived
more intense movement on the mar
row-gauge railroads; from the Supp
5 toward Epoye, one scented the move
} ment Of troops. The roads nortl
: Of Suippes showed q little more ami
!. nation also; wagons and individual
were on the march from north I
south. The morning Of the lat
wagons in greater number, but NOV
ing singly and not in conveys, wen
back from the zone Of the batteries
1t could be guessed that they ha
: been supplying ammunition durin,
z the night. But the surest informa
! ttpn Was obtained In the almost DAHL
, rsAGs44s which ! have made aliusior