Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-11

torized Machine Gun Battalion, had
taken successful part in the Battle
of Chateau Thierry.
Hence. it was reserved for the I'd
Division dncluding the brigade of Ma
rines) to answer the all-important
question: How will American troops
behave in pitched battle?'
Therein lay the true significance.
of the battles for the possession OF
Belleau Wood"
The whole German high command
was anxiously waiting. OF course, they
had their intelligence reports to guide
them, but they felt, as do all good
soldiers. that fighting is more matter
of deeds than typewriter reports.
For the war-weary French, the sud-
den appearance of American regiments,
the sight of fresh uniforms and the
Tilt of Yankee speech set them agog.
Col. Otto writes: 1.-THE contrast
between French and Americans was
striking. Here the Gauls, in torn uni
forms, hollow-eyed, emaciated and
and here the fighting blood of America,
backed by the mighty symbolism of the
New World"
New life had come to bring Surging
vigor to the war-bled body of France.
Thus, in those critical days when the
enemy stood for second time on the
banks of the Marine, thinking the poiluS
disheartened, then ineffable confidence
filed the hearts of GaulS.
x x i;
Gen. PETAIN understood what
significance the appearance of
American regiments had on his own
troops. He voiced the word Americans"
with the satisfaction of a builder OF
imperishable monuments who perceiveS
a source of inexhaustible labor on the
threat of a general strike" AND LIE
Marechal Foch prepared to include the
Americans in his scheme for the COM
ing offensive. .,.
"The drama of the moment" writes
Col. otto. lis enhanced in light OF the
fact that American Intervention came
when the Supreme War Council at
Versailles, the premiers OF France, Eng
land and Italy, issued the 1oiioWng
pronunciamento to PresioenG Wnsoa.
sThere is grave danger that the war
will be lost unless the speedy arrival
of additional American troops serves 10
restore the weakened allied reserves.
That is the only way we can avert oe-
feat Our reserves will be exhausted
long before those of the Germans.
The German wedge was driven INTO
the depleted French ranks on May ~
A line of fire extended between SCISSORS
and Rheims. Germans Stormed the
Chenin- des-DameS Hill range and weak
ened nearby positions of both French
and English. The Teuton torrent gush-
ed forward, annihilating and crushing
The strained allied positions snapped
bent and rebounded like rubber wall.
A French officer admitted tnat ms
country's divisions had evaporaVeo IKE
rain drops on white-hot iron. BY the
last day of May the massed German
corps were strewn out along the blood.
River Marine.
While the French organized make
shift resistance Teuton divisions marcb
ed I'D from the rear. The German mgr
reinforced the 7th Army
with troops grouped on the right wan:
of the 4th. Reserve Corps, commanded
by Gen. Won. Conta, who had JUST
reached the Marine.
In a fan-shaped advance westward
the Teutons hoped to reach Compeigne,
and with counter attack at Noyon
planned to seal pocket holding the |
enemy.
Col. Otto believes there was no in
UeILlOk OI1 LIE paw VA bAAO OO1AAA0AA AAA6At |
command to make a direct thrust al
Paris. Even if the attack were success
full, it would outline German positions
in the shape of spearhead. which
unsafe tactically. Hence their imme-
date mission was limited to protectir'
tanks of corps advancing to the west.
Chateau Thierry was captured by tt
Germans on June 1. But the timely
arrival of American troops prevented
them from establishing bridgeheat
to the railroad on the southern bank OF
the Marne as they had been ordered
to do. When the German iron hee,
crushed the Gaurs line near Gandelu
American troops surged In to fill the
gap.
On June the Teutons were still
hammering with mighty force at the
enemy lines. They were successful III
some places and repulsed in others. A
Bots de Veuilly they were repealed b.
intense machine-gun fire. Under cover
of night the Germans stabbed once
more at this salient, and contrary tc
all expectations were repulSed.
This successive repulsion was all the