Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-18
ny ALEXANDER r. GEORGE,

HsSotiateh fTeSS StaH writer.
| July Is. 1918, stands out In the clear
| perspective of fun decade as one of
the most momentous dates in the his
tory of the world
AT ABS O'Clock in the half light of
that murky dawn 10 years ago today,
the allied armies, reinforced by fresh
and vigorous divisions of young Ameri-
cans. began the series OF smashing
drives which marked the turning point
of the World War.
Just prior to this big counter-offen-
81 :, known as the Aisne- Marine opera
| tons, the situation of the allies had
been most critical The exhausted,
decimated divisions of France and
Great Britain were trying desperately
to hold the Germans. who sought to
break the back of the allied defense
before American reinforcements, arriv-
in daily in increasing numbers, would
take an effective part in the conflict.
100000 In France.
BY the end of June there were some
100000 soldiers of the United States in
France and a transportation schedule
In force which would bring the number
to 10000 by the middle of July
On the night of July II the allied
troops moved to their positions under
torrents Of rain. AS the zero hour"
approached. dawn struggled with a
soggy drizzle.
terrific bombardment OF the
enemy's lines from the Aisne to the
Argonne prepared the way for the adj
vance. To the French goth Corps.
composed of the American LIST and
I'd Divisions and the Moroccan lst
Division. was assigned the crucial
part of the offensive. They were to
smash the German right flank. clear
the plateau northeast of Hartennes and
hold the ravineS leading from the south
to the Crise River Valley.
Some OF these American boys. two
years before. had been toiling In the
wheat fields of their fathers. Now they
moved forward into the wheat fields of
France. breast high, which were to re-
ceive the red badge of their courage.
Germans Are Surprised.
The Germans. surprised by the attack,
fell back in the morning. but in the
afternoon. receiving reinforcements,
fought furiously for every foot of
ground and took a heavy toll. The
LIST Division was checked at the Missy
Aux-Bois Ravine when French divi-
sion on the left. unable to keep up. ex-
posed the flank of the I'd Brigade
to enfilading fire from the ravine. BY
nightfall. however. contact had been
established. Missy was taken and the
line established half kilometer beyond
ii.
Despite exhausting marches, the I'd
Division advanced steadily. and took
Very in the afternoon The fighting
on the front of goth Corps was most
sanguinary, but the greatest advance of
the day was made there Farther south.
the American 26th and 4tf1 Divisions.
the latter fighting shoulder to shoulder
with the French. drove back the Ger
mans after desperate fighting and
heavy losses.
Attack Resumed Early.
At o'clock on the morning of July
l9 the attack was resumed, the Ger
mans offering stubborn resistance Adj
vancing through wheat fields swept by
machine gun and rife FIRE, the LIST
Division captured many prisoners and
much material and again suffered heavy
losses. The I'd Division lost con-
nection with the Moroccans. but forged
onward, advancing 10 kilometers In
the two days
The gains were made at great sacri-
fee. the casualties of the I'd for
two days numbering 4.6e2. That night
it was relieved. Having suffered $500
casualties. which included most Of the
field officers, the LIST Division was re-
lieved by British division on the night
Of July %.
The counter offensive had taken the