The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-09-03
Continued from last issue)
CHAPTER LII

American participation in the Sec
ond Marie offensive, which began July
Is, 1918, and turned the tide of war
in favor Of the allies, was not limited
to the operations Of the First and Sec
ond divisions While this bitter con-
test was being waged for the posses
sion of the crucial point near scissors
the troops around the rim Of the sal
lent had been steadily driving ahead.
The Fourth division (Cameron), less
its artillery. fought at first with the
French. The Seventh brigade was at
tackled to the Second corps, French
Sixth army, the Forty-seventh infan-
try in reserve, and the Thirty-ninth
assigned to the French Thirty-third
division.
In the attack of July IS this regi-
ment cleaned up the wood In its front,
captured Noroy, and extended the line
to the south. On the 18th the regi-
ment went forward about two and one
half miles on front 1000 yards north
of the OurcQ. 1t was relieved the
morning of the Goth and went to the
reserve.
The Eighth brigade was assigned to
the French One Hundred Sixty-fourth
division, the Fifty-ninth regiment In
reserve. In the attack of the 18th, the
Fifty-eighth regiment assisted in the
capture of Hautevesnes and Cour-
champs, took Chevillon and made fur
Their substantial gains. The Fifty
ninth regiment was put in the front
line during the night Of July 1919.
relieving the Fifty-eighth, and on the
10Th, advancing with the division.
gained two miles. On the Goth. with
two battalions of the Fifty-ninth In
line, the advance was carried well to
the east of Sommelans. The brigade
was relieved from the front line July
21.
Twenty-sixth Division Participates.
Coincident with these advances on
the 18th, the First corps Uiggett),
serving with the French sixth army d.
vision and composed of our Twenty
sixth division and the French One Hun
dred Sixty-seventh division, also be-
came a part of the movement. The
Twenty-sixth division occupied the line
It had taken over from the Second d.
vision July 10. The plan for the July IL
offensive contemplated deep penetra-
ton south of scissors by the French
Tenth army, supported on the right by
the French Sixth army, extending the
attack as far south as Bouresches.
The Fifty-second brigade, Twenty
sixth division, captured the villages
Of Torcy and Belleau, and one bat
talon reached the base of the domi-
mating Hill 1913. Elements of the bri-
gade reached the railroad, but severe
flank fire drove them to the starting
point.
On the 10th the advance of the
Twenty-sixth was contingent upon the
success Of the French One Hundred
S!xty-seventh division on its left, but
that division failed to take its Objec-
tives and the Twenty-sixth did not at
tack. On the Goth the One Hundred
Sixty-seventh was held up again, ex-
posing the left of the division to heavy
flank fire and preventing more than
slight gain. Farther to the right the
Twenty-sixth succeeded in taking
Gonetrie farm, and got fOothold on
Hill 100.
Reach New German Line.
When the attack began on the 21st
it was found that the Germans had
withdrawn the night before, and the
Twenty-sixth moved forward with
little or no opposition until it reached
the new German lines at Hermitage
Epieds- Mont st. Pere, east of the Sois-
sons Chateau hierry highway. On the
22nd it captured Trugny and got a
foothold in Epieds, but was forced by
a strong German counterattack to re-
tire to Bretuil wood. The Fifty-second
brigade was also driven back to its
starting point.
The attack renewed on the 23rd was
successful, one regiment reaching the
Epieds-Mont st. Pere road, but in the
afternoon it was forced to retire. That
night the Fifty-second brigade was re-
placed by the Fifty-sixth brigade,
Tweny-eighth division. When the lat
ter launched its attack the morning of
the oath, it was found that the enemy
had withdrawn and he was not again
encountered until the pursuers, includ-
ing part Of the Fifty-frst brigade,
Twenty-sixth division, reached Croix
Rouge farm.
During its offensive action beginning
with the 18th, the Twenty-sixth divi-
sion had progressed nearly eleven
miles and had captured 250 prisoners
and four pieces of artillery. Since its
occupation of the sector July 10 it had
suffered about 5000 casualties. The
division was relieved, together with
the Fifty-sixth brigade, Twenty-eighth
division, by the Eightyfourth brigade,
Forty-second division, which took over
the sector on the 25th. The Eighty
fourth brigade, Forty-second division,
replaced two French divisions, which
were pinched out by the shortening Of
the line. On the 9th, the Forty-sec-
ond division occupied the entire front
of the First corps, about two miles in