Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22

estimate was that the enemy losses at
least equaled our own.
In the meantime the French 4th
Army, on our left, had been held up at
Blanc Mont. AS q consequence Mar
shall Foch appealed to me for assistance
Although was loath to spare any
troops from our front, so serious was
our own replacement situation, sent
in accordance with my promise, the I'd
Division Lejeune), which was followed
later by the seth CIV. r. SMITH.
October 3 the I'd Division, accompa-
MED by French tanks, IN a brilliant
maneuver against heavy machine-gun
resistance, storned and captured the
dominating German positions on the
Medeah Farm-Blanc Mont Ridge and
continued on toward ST. Etienne, which
was taken on October 8, with the aid
Of one brigade of the seth Division
This success carried forward the French
divisions on its right and left and, as
reported by Gen. Gouraud, enabled the
whole 4th Army to advance.
The importance of this aid to the
French 4th Army is indicated by the
following extracts from the French
Resume Of Operations:
THE two brigades were side by side
the 4th Brigade Of Marines on the left
and the Sd Brigade Of Infantry on the
IA5lI G1CA4 VI LtlCSC Two OIiSducS IldN
at its disposition battalion Of light
tanks.
After . short but extremely vio-
lent artillery preparation, the attack
started at $50 am. October 8. Despite
considerable number Of machine guns
and heavy artillery fire, the two bri-
gades with admirable dash attained the
assigned objective, Blanc Mont Medeah
In the course Of its advance the 5th
Regiment Of Marines sent detachment
to the 18th Corps to help 1t clean out
the German trenches. During this time
the division was subjected to violent ar
tillery fire, IS well as machine-gun fire,
upon its left flank.
"At pm. the attack started anew
In the woods, filled with machine guns,
the advance continued, and at $50
pm. the forward movements Of the
American I'd Division reached the line
marked by the Ferfne Scay and the
crossroads at point kiloneter south
Of st. Etienne-a-Arres.
Advance Remarkable.
''The advance realized by the Ameri-
can ID Division during the course OF
the day was remarkable, and reached
depth Of about kilometers. Numerous
prisoners, cannon, machine guns and
materials Of all kinds fell into its
hands.
"The rapid advance Of the 21st Corps
and In particular that Of the American
I'd Division, October 8 brought about
the most favorable results.
1.-THE enemy, placed by this rapid ad-
vance of the center of the 4th Army In
very difficult position upon the Monts
as well as In the Valley Of the Suippe
decided to evacuate the Monts and tc
retreat upon the Arnes and the Suippe
October q new attack took place
upon the whole army front; the 21st
Corps, strengthened by tanks, was d.
rected to advance in the direction OF
Machault The attack started at 5:15
am. The American Cd Division occu-
pied st. Etienne-a-Arnes."
The I'd Division was relieved by the
36th the night Of october clio. Dur
ing the night Of the 10th the enemy
Withdrew and the seth went forward
in pursuit, reaching the Aisne River on
the 18th and establishing its line on the
south bank. The division maintained
its position there until the night Of the