Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-23

Bots de Romagne and the Bois de
Banthevtlle had to be reduced before
further considerable progress could be
made. To the west of Ronagne Heights
we faced the strongly fortified position
which included Cote de Chatillon, Lam
dres-et-St. Georges. st. Juvin, Bois des
Lcges and Grandpre.
Plans for a general attack were pre-
pared based on the following:
(a) The French 18th Corps, under
our Army, was TO continue its offensive
east Of the Meuse River.
Cb) The 3rd and 5th Corps, with
fresh divisions (the 5th and 42d), were
to drive salients through the hostile
positions on both tanks of the Bots de
Fsomagne and of the Bots de Bantheville.
(c) The LIST Corps was to hold the
enemy on its left flank while advancing
its right In conjunction with the left
of the 5th Corps.
now come up on our left and held the
south bank of the Aire and the west
bank Of the Aisne as far as Vouziers,
was ordered by Gen. Petain TO attack
on the same day, so as TO outdank the
enemy opposing our left.
Opposed "a Divisions.
We set October IS as the date for
this offensive, but upon the request OF
the French 4th Army, which intended
to attack on the 14th, our arrangements
were changed to conform with theirs.
The order Of battle in the Meuse-
Argonne was now, from right to left
the French nth Corps east OF the
Mouse, with the French 10th Colonial,
26th, 18th and American Goth CMor-
tom and SD (BelD Divisions; west OF
the Meuse the Sd Corps (HineS) with
the 4th Division (Cameron), Sd (Buckl
and 5th (NIcNfahon); then the 5th
Corps (Summerall) with the 32d Divi-
sion (FIaan) and 42d (Menoher); and
to the left the LIST Corps (Dickman).
with the S2d Division CDuncan) and
the 77th (Alexander). On the front
of our offensive the enemy had the
equivalent of "a divisions actually in
the front line.
Our attacks on the 14th, 18th and
18th in conjunction with Gauraud's
French 4th Army met violent oppoSi-
ton, especially at the beginning, and
although ground was often taken and
retaken several times, our lines were
steadily pushed forward.
East Of the MeuSe, in the French
18th Corps the 65th Brigade Edward
l.. King of the SD Division had made
some progress, and the goth Division
despite the difficult terrain and severe
casualties, had entered woods north
of Molleville Farm.
The Sd Corps was held up by heavy
machine gun and artillery fire from
the Bots de Bantheville and the Bots
des Rappes, in spite of precautions to
neutralize these localities. The 4th
Division remained inactive during this
period. The Sd Division made a small
gain west of the Bois de Foret and
cleaned up the eastern edge of wood
north of Cunel in conjunction with the
5th Division, but could make no head
way noTthward.
Broken at Vital Points.
The 5th Division, in the face Of in
tense fire on it's front and tanks, on
the 14th reached the top of the slopes
northeast Of Roinagne and cleared the
wood north of Cunel Elements of the
division pushed through to the north
ern edge of the Bots deS Rappes, but
were withdrawn.
BY dint Of the superior determination
Of our troops, the enemy's lines were
broken at a vital point by the 5th
Corps.
Unstinted praise must be given the
32d Division, which, Notwithstanding
heavy losses, october IA brilliantly cap
tured Cote Dame Marie, perhaps 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 it's line was
advanced about a mile to the southern
edge of the Bots de Bantheville.
The AID Division fought aggresSively
against the most obstinate defense,
forcing its way through the western
half OF Bots de Romagne, its 84th
Brigade douglas MacArthur) scaling
the precipitous heights Of the Cote de
Chatillon and carrying its line on be-
yond that position. The desperate
resistance on the left of the division,
south of st. George and Landres st.
Georges, however, could not be over
come.
The advance OF the 1st Corps was to