The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-05-24
Where American
Doughboys Won
Eternal Glory

y
Eternal Glory
1t is doubtful whether the popular
imagination of the American people
has ever been more greatly stirred
than it was over the battle of Cha
teau-Thierry and the tremendous
Marne offensive It would be difficult
to find any American who is not to
some degree conversant with this en-
gagement and who has not thrilled
with national pride at the remarkable
exploits of the doughboy here during
his baptism Of real fighting. 1t was
with this same sentiment that we also
went to this front. to see for our
selves what 1t looked like now after
the years, writes Corliss Hoover
Griffis in the Philadelphia Ledger.
1t seemed a little bit strange to us
that we could cross. the Marine river
Just as readily as any other stream
Somehow it was to US sort of sa-
cred thing, river above any other
river in history. The first sight of
it gives an American a memorable
thrill as he pictures the mighty events
which have occurred on its banks.
And his heart beats even faster when
he gazes across at Chateau-Thierry.
Il is hard to conceive, as he stands on
the banks, that here is the exact spot
where America stopped the German
onrush and saved the world
Chateau-Thierry was never so thor
tughly devastated by shellfire as some
Of the other towns in the vicinity, SO
that It is in fairly good shape now.
The streets are crowded with busy
people again and life has returned
so nearly to normal 1t does not seem
possible that the marks of machine
gun bullets on the walls of the houses
could have been made only a few
years ago. But to the American it is
the battle only which remains in his
mind, and his associations are more of
the spirit than of the immensely of
the engagement at this point 1t is
unforgettable to stand by the river
and look upon the very ground from
which an appalled, and almost despair
Ing world received its first message
of hope in those dreadful days of
June, 1918.
Brilliant Feat of Arms.
Here American troops rushed into
the face of the advancing German
with all of the impetuous enthusiasm
Of youth, and wrested an astounding
victory from what seemed certain de-
feat It was not the first engagement
for the Americans, nor was it the best
planned; and Chateau-Thierry certain
~ was not the greatest battle. vet it
can fairly be called the most brilliant
feat of American arms
One part of this battlefield which
has peculiar hold on the American
heart is Belleau wood So far as that
Is concerned, 1t Is famous all over
France as well. AS one advances in
that direction every landmark appears
in some way to be associated with the
American army, especially as part of
the historic battle-ground of the Sec
ond division. On the way to Belleau
we passed through the ruins Of Vaux
and Bourgesches, both villages hav-
ing been captured by this division
during the fighting Of June and July.
It was remarkable, however, to me
the way in which the actual scars of
war are being removed from this sec
ton of the country. The fields for
the most part have been put in such
excellent shape again that one won
ders how this can have been achieved.
The signs of the shellings are beeom-
ing scarce, since the majority of the
innumerable holes have been flied up
and eliminated OF course, the dead
trees and splintered forests are still
to be seen, and the ruins of walls and
houses do not allow you to mistake
the region for anything else but the
battlefield that 1t was Nevertheless.
the whole countryside is not now torn
up in anything like the same degree
that it is around Verdun.
At Belieau Wood.
The battle Of Belleau wood can
never be adequately appreciated until
the place itself has been seen. The
terrain is not only most unusual. it is
extraordinarily difficult; thickly tim
bered and Of rugged, rocky forma-
ton, it differs from any other battle
ground that we have visited In France.