The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-10-01
My Experiences
I'm the World War
By General John j. Pershing
N n a BY America n wNu
81 World including ID
4 Scandinavian Ii o


western half Of Varennes and con.
tinued about a mile farther. The left
brigade, facing the eastern spurs Of
the Argonne. which constituted the
enemy's chief defense of that forest,
was unable 10 overcome the intense
machine-gun fire from the vicinity Of
Champ Mahaut. The Seventy-seventh
division (Alexander) in the difficult
terrain of the Argonne made some
progress.
Advances Continue.
By the evening Of September q the
Fifth corps was abreast of the First
and the Third on it's tanks. The Sew.
enty-ninth division captured Montfau-
con the morning of September q and
on the next day Nantillois and the
Bots de Beuge were passed despite
determined resistance.
In the Third corps the Eightieth d.
vision had taken the Bots de la Cote
Lamont after hard fighting, but at
tack after attack made with logged
determination across the open space
toward Neutrality-suspicious. was rolled
back by the CALLING fire Of the enemy
from the town and its vicinity and by
the artillery firing from east Of the
Mouse.
The Thirty-third division main
tanned it's position September 81 and
q and on September 20 relieved the
Eightieth division by extending it's
left along the northeastern edge of
Bots de la Cote Lamont, where it &C.
cupied difficult ground under the dom
mating heights east of the Meuse.
The Fourth division captured Nam
tillois September q, but was forced
by enemy counter-attacks to retire.
The town was retaken and held on
the following day by troops of the
Fourth and Seventy-ninth divisions.
After three days of almost continuous
fighting the Fourth had taken the Bots
de Brieulles and entered the Bots de
OgOns, but could not hold the latter
against counter-attacks and the dead
ly machine-gun and artillery fire of
the enemy. The fortitude and cour-
age of the Fourth division in these
operations were inspiring.
Meet Strong Resistance.
The Thirty-seventh division on Sep
TENDER q attempted to advance be-
yond the IVORY Montfaucon road, but
each time it reached there was driven
back by heavy Smelling. On Septem-
Der %, however, it pushed forward
to position north of the Cierges-Nan-
tillois road. Cierges was entered, but
not held. The following day the divi-
sion again attacked Cierges, but the
advance was abruptly halted by con-
centrated artillery fire.
The Ninety-first division on Sep
TENDER q encountered strong opposi-
ton at Epinonville, which was reached,
but could not be retained. Eclisfon-
tame was taken, but was evacuated,
as an artillery barrage was to be laid
on the road through the town the
following day.
Epinonyille was finally captured
September IS, and the Bots de Clerges
was occupied after hard fighting. Two
attacks of the division from the Bots
de Cierges on September 90 crumbled
under fierce artillery and enfilading
machine-gun fire, but on the third
attack, despite severe losses, Gesnes
was taken.
The full advantage of this impor-
tant gain was lost, however, through
the inability Of the Thirty-seventh
division TO advance its left. This
placed the right flank on the Ninety
first in a dangerous position, and it
had to be withdrawn. During the aft
ernoon the Thirty-fifth division was
subjected to a heavy counter-attack,
which also involved the left of the
Ninety. first, but made no progress
against it.
Battle Grows More Intensive.
Three new German divisions had
appeared by September 80 on the
front of the First corps, and the bat
tie continued with increased intensity.
The Thirty-fifth division was
stopped by heavy fire soon after it's
attack opened, September q, but later
in the day it captured Charpentry and
advanced to the ridge northeast,