The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-10-08
Continued from last issue)
Third Phase Of the Battle.

- Third Phase Of the Battle.
The third phase Of the Meuse-Ar-
come operations began October IA.
During the previous phase, important
gains had been made along the whole
front against increasing intensity OF
resistance. The retirement of the en-
envy in front of the allies to the west,
which was being accelerated by our
persistent gains in the east, indicated
clearly that he was trying to save HIM
self from complete disaster, which 1t
was urgent that we should strive all
the more vigorously to hasten.
The enemy's strong defenses in the
Bots de Romagne and the Bots de
Bantheville had to be reduced before
further considerable progress could be
made. To the west of Romagne
heights we faced the strongly fortified
position which included Cote de Chat
illon-Landres-St. Georges-St. Juvin-
Bots DIES Loges and Grandpre.
Our attacks on the 18th, 18th and
18th in conjunction with Gouraud's
French Fourth army met violent oppo-
sition, especially at the beginning, and
although ground was often taken and
retaken several times, our lines were
steadily pushed forward.
East of the Mouse, in the French
Seventeenth corps the Sixty-fifth brig
ade edward L. King) Of the Thirty
third division had made some prog
ress, and the Twenty-ninth division,
despite the difficult terrain and severe
casualties, had entered woods north Of
Molleville. farm.
The Fifth division, in the face of
intense fire on its front and TANKS,
on the 18th reached the top Of the
slopes northeast of Romagne and
cleared the wood north Of Cunel. Ele-
ments of the division pushed through
to the northern edge of the Bots des
Rappes, but were withdrawn.
By dint of the superior determine
ton of our troops, the enemy's lines
were broken at vital point by the
Fifth corps.
Cote Dame Marie Taken.
Unstinted praise must be given the
Thirty-second division, which, notwith-
standing heavy losses, October IA bril-
liantly captured Cote Dame Marie, per-
haps the most important strong point
Of the Hindenburg line on the western
front. The town Of Romagne and the
eastern half of Bots de Romagne were
also taken by this division on that
day, while on the following day its
line was advanced about mile to the
southern edge of the Bots de Banthe-
vile.
The Forty-second division fought ag-
gressively against the most obstinate
defense, forcing its way through the
western half of Bots de Romagne, its
Eighty-fourth brigade douglas Mae
Arthur scaling the precipitous heights
of the Cote de Chatillon and carrying
its line on beyond that position. The
desperate resistance on the left Of the
division, south of st. George and Lam
dres-et-St. Georges, however, could not
be overcome.
The Importance Of these operations
can hardly be overestimated. Inc
capture of the Romagne heights, espe-
cially it's dominating feature, Cote
Dame Marie, was decisive blow. We
now occupied the enemy's strongest
fortified position on that front and
flanked his line on the Aisne and the
heights of the Mouse. Unless he could
recapture the positions we held, our
successes would compel the enemy to
retreat from his lines to the north, as
we were within heavy artillery range
Of his railroad lines.