The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-10-08

word of those who have hitherto been
the masters Of German policy" and
that "the government of the United
States cannot deal with any but verit-
able representatives of the German
people, who have been assured of a
| genuine constitutional standing as the
real rulers of Germany.
eff 1t must deal with the military
masters and the monarchial autocrats
Of Germany now, or If 1t is likely to
have to deal with them later in regard
to the international obligations of the
German empire, 1t must demand, not
peace negotiations, but surrender"
Meanwhile, with these peace nego-
tiations in progress, and with our own
and allied offensive continuing to pro-
duce favorable results, it became more
and more evident that the time soon
must come when we should have to
consider terms and conditions under
which hostilities might cease. The
discussion of armistice terms in a gen.
eral way by the allies had in fact be-
gun.
The enemy's most important defen-
sive position on the Romagne heights
was in our firm possession, and his
time. He had fought desperately to
hold his ground, but had been com.
PEELED to give way steadily before our
effective blows. We could have gone
forward without special preparation
and succeeded in driving the enemy
from the field, but the situation led
to the conclusion that his defeat could
best be accomplished by one powerful
stroke by we'll organized offensive.
The difficult and continuous often
sive from September &c had been very
trying on our troops and had resulted
in a certain loss Of cohesion. 1t was,
therefore, deemed advisable to take
few days for the replacement Of
tired troops, the renewal of supplies,
and the improvement Of communica-
lions.
French Delay Attack.
October % was tentatively desig-
mated for the beginning of the next
general advance, the fourth phase Of
the Meuse-Argonne offensive, but the
French army, which was to support
our attack on the left, could not get
ready in time, so the attack Of both
armies was fixed for November 1.
In accordance with my instructions
on October 16, two important prelim-
mary operations were carried out dur
! ing this period. ~ operations against
the bois des Loges and Bots de Bour-
gogne to clear the woods east Of the
Aisne and north of the Aire and thus
flank that part of the hostile line on
the Asine, and (2) local operations to
secure a suitable line Of departure
for the general attack.
During the Meuse-Argonne battle
my personal quarters were on my
train, which lay partially hidden in
| the woods on spur near Souilly.
While there spent portion of each
day at official headquarters giving di.
rections regarding operations and de-
Gliding other important questions.
usually occupied the rest of the day
at the front in close touch with corps
and divisions. Although I had now re-
linquished the immediate command of
the First army, it's activities and those
Of the Second army, carried out under
my direction, required close super
vision.
Farther west our Second corps
(Read), with the British Fourth army.
was engaged October II south Of LIE
Cateau in the Battle of the Selle. This
corps, with the Thirtieth Newis) and
Twenty-seventh (O'Ryan) division in
line from right to left, crossed the
Selle river and advanced four miles
in the face of strong resistance, cap
turing 1000 prisoners and IL guns.
The main objective Of our initial at.
tack September 26 had been reached.
Failing to capture it in our first at
tempt we had deliberately, systemat-
ically and doggedly stuck to the task
in the face of many difficulties and
discouragements.