Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-10

tinctive American operation against
the st. Mihiel Salient
motored to SarcuS August 8, and
after discussing with Marshal Foch
the changed situation in the Marine
sector and the practical sterilization
of the front on the Vesle, I suggested
the transfer of the LIST Army head
quarters to the St. Mihiel region, where
1t could begin immediate preparations
for the proposed offensive. We con-
sidered the outline of my plans, and
without hesitation Marshal Foch
acQuieSced in the transfer.
Returning to Paris the same after
noon went to ProvinS to talk the
matter over further with Gen. Petain.
We took stock of available divisions
for the St. Mihiel operation, and he
said I could count on him definitely to
do everything in his power to furnish
whatever we might require.
Having thus reached a general under
standing regarding the preliminary de-
tails of the move, and after spending
the night at the quarters of Maj. Clark,
chief of our mission, I drove the fol-
lowing morning to La Ferte-sous-
Jouarre to take formal command Of the
1st Army and to give instructions to
my staff regarding the movement of
headquarters to Neufchateau.
King George Decorates Pershing.
My days, from the time of my ar
rival in France, had always been too
short, but it now seemed that several
days of arduous work had to be crowded
into one. The sphere of our activities
had become extended and many i'm
portant matters required my personal
attention almost at the same time,
necessitating great deal of strenuous
travel. After the hurried trip to the
principal installations of the Services
of Supply it was necessary to spend
day or SO here or there-at Paris,
Chaumont, on the Marine or In the st.
Mihiel accommodating frequent per-
sonal conferences with Foch, Petain,
Haig and others.
My diary notes the following:
"Chaumont, Tuesday, August IS,
1918. Came through Paris Sunday and
telephoned chief of staff to announce
formation of LIST Army Went to 33d
Division, which was still engaged in
British offensive.
King George visited the division
headquarters Monday and decorated
Gen. Bliss and me and several men of
the SD. Went to see Field Marshal
Haig TO arrange release of three of
our divisions Returned to Paris and
saw Winston Churchill, Lord Weir
and Stettinius about artillery and avia-
ton. British can provide US with ad-
ditional artillery.
Told Clemenceau this morning of
my talk with Sir Douglas, and asked
Mott to advise Marshal Foch. Have
asked for Hugh S. Gibson, now in Paris,
to supervise propaganda in enemy
countries. Returned to Ctaumont in
afternoon"
Gibson Request Rejected.
The request for Mr.. Gibson's serv-
ices was disapproved, as the depart
ment did not think 1t wise that Mr..
Gibson, who was in the diplomatic
service, should be associated with that
work, as the State Department had
been disaSSociated from it and the re-
sponsibility for propaganda had been
placed upon the Committee on Public
Information.
The $50 Division (BelD was still
with the British when the combined
attack Of the British 4th and the
French 1St Armies in the Montdidier-
Albert sector began August 8. The di-
vision was in front line training with
the British 4th Army and was at
tached to the British Sd Corps for
the operation, the 131st Regiment of
Infantry being assigned to the British
5Sth Division. This regiment joined
in the attack August against the Nor
lancourt- Chipilly spur north of the
Somme 1t reached its detectives in
splendid fashion and occupied a line
on the western edge of Gressaire Wood,
extending southwark along the river.
August 10 1t continued to progress
against decided opposition, gaining the
eastern edge of the forests of Fosse
and Maroon. During the following
three days, the command having been
shifted, the 131st Infantry, under the
Australian 4th Division, attained a
line just west of Bray-sur-S omme. The
three other regiments were in reserve
during the operations. The 131st In
fantry was relieved August 20, having
advanced over three miles and suffered
heavy casualties.
I motored to the British front Sun