The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-10-01

lean Thirty-third and Twenty-ninth
divisions, attacked east of the Mouse
on the front Beaumont-Br abant-sur-
Mouse, with the object of Selling the
heights there.
(3) October 9. The Fifth corps, re-
enforced by including within its front
the First division, to which was at
tached brigade from the Ninety-first
division, attacked the heights of the
Bots de Romagne.
az October 10-11. A general attack
on the 20-mile front from Beaumont
west to the Aire river.
The French Fourth army had not
been able to keep abreast of the Amer
lean First army, and it was evident
that clearing the Argonne forest
! would materially aid its advance. The
opportunity presented itself just at
this time. Although on October 6 the
enemy continued to hold the heights
Of Cunel and Romagne, nevertheless
SAAANAShS SpoNC Adu DCCA SCCuIGu
the Aire river to warrant an attack to
the west with the object of striking
the rear Of the enemy's positions in
the Argonne forest.
There was another important factor
that entered into the decision to force
the withdrawal Of the enemy from the
Argonne. This was the predicament
of the Lost Battalion" which under
Maj. G. w. Whittlesey had been hold
ing out near Binarville since Octo-
Der 2.
Efforts to relieve the battalion had
so far been unsuccessful, and the men
had consumed their ratiOns and ex-
pended most Of their ammunition, al
though our aviators had tried to drop
small amounts to them. The battalion
was resisting heroically against great
odds, without any thought Of surren-
der.
Pursuant to the plan an attack was
made by the Twenty-eighth and
Eighty-second divisions against the
left and rear Of the enemy's positions
in the region of Chatel- Chehery and
Cornay. After night march of eight
miles the Eighty-second division (Dun-
can) entered the line between the
Twenty-eighth (Muir) and the First
(SummeralD. In a series of daring
movements to the west by the Twen-
ty-eighth and Eighty-second divisions,
Cornay, ChatelC hehery and the DOM
mating hills northwest of Apremont
were captured.
Although the continued operation Of
these two divisions was attended by
severe fighting the results were imme-
date. The enemy was forced to with
draw from that region, the Argonne
forest was cleared, and the Seventy
seventh division was enabled to ad-
vance 10 the relief Of it's "Lost Bat
TALON" 1t then pushed on to the north
in pursuit of the retreating enemy.
East of the Meuse.
General Claudel's French Seven
teenth corps, east Of the Mouse, at
tackled October 8 with the object Of
Selling the heights northwest of Beau
mont. At that time it consisted Of
two French and two American divi-
sions, the Thirty third and Twenty
ninth, making the corps in numerical
strength two-thirds American. Though
opposed by strong German resistance
the assault was successfully directed
by General Claudel, and our lines were
advanced during the next few days to
the commanding ground between Beau
mont and Richene Hill.
In a well-conducted operation the
Thirty-third division (BelD crossed the
Mouse early October 8 by bridges con-
structed during the night, captured
Consenvoye, and progressed up the
neighboring slopes. The following day
further advance was made, but
heavy fire from the Borne de Cornouil-
Ter and the failure of the troops on
the right to keep up forced a retire
ment to the morning line This ground
was retaken despite strong resistance,
and by night of the 10th the division
had established itself on the west
slopes of Richene Hill.
The Fifty-eighth brigade of the
Twenty-ninth division (Morton), under
command of the French Eighteenth
division, against considerable opposi-
ton pushed forward into the woods
corfh nf Riohono Hill IN tho 9Th ond