The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-08-21
CHAPTER XIV


The Second division assumed the Of
fensive June 6, 1918, and began Sc
rieS of attacks which eliminated some
three weeks later in the capture of the
last German positions in the Bots de
Belleau by its marine brigade and of
Faux by its regular brigade.
The fighting during most of this Pc
Rod was of peculiar intensity. The
German lines were favorably located
on commanding ground and were made
more formidable by the extensive use
of machine guns, especially in Belleau
wood
In the initial advance Harbord's ma
rine brigade captured Bouresches, and
Lewis regular brigade took Triangle
farm and Bots de la Barette. During
the next few days our troops pro-
crossed piecemeal. June 10 the Sew
enth infantry. Third division, arrived
TO reinforce the marine brigade en-
gagged in the wood. This regiment re-
Ieved the brigade on that date and
the marines were rested for a week.
when they again entered the line.
Against stubborn resistance, they
drove the enemy from the wood June
%.
Regulars Capture Vaux.
Meanwhile the regular brigade con-
tinued it's attacks internationally, and
July l, with great dash, captured Vaux
and the Bots de la Roche. The opera
tions Of the division in this vicinity
nrapticallu of xr,hon 70
new lines were stabilized on the high
ground captured from the enemy.
The casualties in the division were
about $500. More than 1000 prisoners
were captured from the enemy.
The gains by the Second division
were won with little aid on either
flank by the French units, which were
still in poor shape, and were made
against an enemy determined to crush
this early American effort. The sue
cess of this division and of the First
at Cantigny and the Third on the
Marine, following as they did the crisis
of May 81, were loudly acclaimed by
the French, and for the time being had
a very stimulating effect upon French
morale.
With the transfer Of activities to
the French front northeast Of Paris,
our plan to build up an American
corps near AmienS had become imprac-
ticable, and as l had offered General
Petain the services of our divisions
wherever they might be needed it now
appeared possible to form at least
corps and possibly an army somewhere
along the Marine salient
U. S. Divisions Relieve French.
/ had suggested that we should
bring other divisions to join the Sec
ond and Third for that purpose, and
accordingly the Twenty-Sixth and
FOrty-second were relieved from the
inactive VOsges front, and five Ameri-
can divisions from the British area
were designated to be sent to tina:
quiet sector to relieve French divi-
sions. The assembly of four Ameri-
can divisions in aid of the French on
that front would more than offset
their recent losses.
General Petain, in his letter accept
ing my offer, said in part:
must CApiCSo Iiy uCCp
for the prompt and very important
aid you are bringing in the present
crisis. The American troops already
engaged in the battle are the unani-
nous admiration Of the whole French
army. The power Of the effort which
your country is at present showing,
as we'll as the resolute and generous
wi with which ba
struggle, is for the allies-and above
all for France-a comfort in the
grave times through which we are
passing, and pledge Of hope for the
future"
What II Paris Should Fall?
Leaving the suggestion with General
Petain, without further discussion,
returned to Paris, arriving June s.
The next morning called on Premier
Clemenceau, and on that morning the
fourth phase of the great German Of
fensive started between Montdidier
and the Disc. Reports indicated that
it was meeting considerable success.
Mentioning this to Nj. Clemenceau.
/ asked him what he thought would
be the result If Paris should fall.
NJ. Clemenceau replied that he and
Mr.. Lloyd George had considered that
possibility, and had reached the con-
clusion they would do everything in
their power to save Paris, but if 1t
should be lost they would go on fight
ting.
above Paris is France" he added,
'and above France is civilization"
As / was leaving he came to the
door with me, and | said: 1T may
not look encouraging just now, but we
are certain to win in the end" He
chung to my hand and in a tone that
showed the utmost solicitude be re-
piled: do you really think that?
am glad to hear you say it."
This was the first and only time
that l ever sensed any misgiving in
the mind of this resoute man. Not
withstanding our occasional rather
heated discussions on the use to be
made of American troops, / admired
him greatly. 1t always seemed to me
he represented the true spirit Of con-