Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-04

date Moreover the public did not I'M
derstand the composition of units and
as result letters were in a vast num-
Der of cases misdirected.
In May the postal service was taken
from civil control and placed under the
adjutant general, A. E. F., and by July
full control had passed to the Army.
An officer Of extended postal experience
was sent to the States, with full I'M
derstanding of conditions, to arrange
for giving publicity to instructions re-
garding the address of mail and to SUI
pervise shipment from points of en-
barkation. A military postal organiza-
ton was established at each port Of de-
barkation where 1t was expected to re-
ceive mail, and a railway mail service
organized along our lines of communi-
cation.
A central post oflce in connection
with the central records office Of the
Adjutant Generals Department, A. E.
F., was established, corps and divisions
were directed to organize postal depart
ments, and 1t was arranged to forward
mail units at the front through the
regulating station with supplies.
This is a matter that should have
been simplihed by previous joint con-
sideration by the General Staff and the
Post once Department, with regula-
lions laid down beforehand for the
guidance OF all concerned. AS a result
of our efforts there was considerable
improvement, but the mail service never
became entirely satisfactory.
Another German Attack.
Referring again to my diary:
"Chaumont, Wednesday, July II, 1918.
Another German attack broke Monday.
Our AID, part of the 28th and the Sd
became engaged. The latter counter
attacked and captured 900 prisoners.
Advised Foch that the 32d and Goth
Divisions are available at once.
Five other divisions have been placed
at his disposal. Situation yesterday
more favorable for allies. Gen. Billiard
assigned to Sd Corps and Gen. Wright
to 5th.''
The battle lines In the Marne salient
had stood without material change since
early in June. 1t was evident that the
question of interior transportation and
supply for the enemy forces was trou-
blesome and could not be regarded by
the enemy as satisfactory. His effort Of
June to improve his exposed position
near scissors, make further approach
and possibly open the route to the
French capital had met little success.
No further offensives of consequence
against the British in Flanders having
been Immediately undertaken, interest
was conferred on the Champagne front
as the most probable place TO expect
the next blow. The American and
French divisions that had been quietly
concentrated in reserve west of the
Marine salient for use with either the
French or British, as circumstances
might require, most Of them carefully
hidden in the forest Of Villers- Cotterets
and vicinity, were now about to get into
the picture.
The intelligence services of all the
Allied armies had been exerting every
endeavor to discover the enemy's plans,
with the result that for some days 1t
appeared almost certain that his next
move would be directed toward the
Southeast, on the right and left Of
Rheims. On the evening Of July IA
French raiding party from Gen. Gou-
raud's Fourth Army, then holding that
part of the line including Rheims, luck
lily captured prisoners who confirmed
this belief, and who gave the exact hour
fixed for the attack, which they said
Germans Meet Surprise.
Our Sd Division, still In line south
of the Marine, faced the enemy between
Jaulgonne and Chateau Thierry, and
the goth, which, as we have seen, had
relieved the I'd, held sector between
Torcy and Vaux. Infantry elements Of
the 28th were south of the Marine, serv-
ing with the two French divisions on
either side Of the Sd; the entire 42d oc-
cupied a support position behind
Gouraud's front; the LIST Division was
north of Meaux ana the I'd and 9Th
were in reserve near Chateau Thierry.
The German offensive was launched
on the early morning of July IS, as ex-
pected, but 1t was met with a surprise
barrage put down by Gen. Gouraud's
artillery half an hour before the start.
The Germans attack formations were