The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-10-16
CHAPTER LXlli

Returning TO Paris from the con-
ference of allied commanders-in-chief
at Senlis, October %, 1918, l cabled
a report of the proceedings to Wash
ington, including my proposals in de-
tail as enumerated in the previous
chapter
Marshal Foch did not definitely ex-
press his views at the conference, as
may be recalled, but the following
day he submitted his report to Prime
Minister Clemenceau. Marshal Foch's
recommendations embraced the main
points proposed by the communicating
chief, and were accepted by the SUI
preme war council with practically
no change.
In the light of later events we know
Germany was more nearly beaten than
the allied leaders realized at that time,
and was, in fact, in no position to
resume the fighting even had her gov
eminent remained intact Her last di
vision was in line, her supply system
was demoralized, and the congestion
behind her lines made it practically
impossible for her to move her armies
in the face of the aggressive allies.
Instead of requiring the German
forces to retire at once, leaving mate
rial. arms and equipment behind, the
armistice terms permitted them TO
colors flying and bands playing, pos
ing as the victims of political condi-
tons.
If unconditional surrender had been
demanded, the Germans would, without
doubt, have been compelled to yield,
and their troops would have returned
to Germany without arms, virtually as
paroled prisoners of war. The sur
render of the German armies would
have been an advantage to the allies
In the discussion of peace terms and
would lave greatly facilitated their
execution.
In conversation with NJ. Poincare
some time after the war, he told me
that, as president of the republic, he
was in favor of demanding the sur
M. Clemenceau, his prime minister, in
sisted upon granting them an armi-
stice.
The last phase of the Meuse- Argonne
operations was to begin November 1.
The American army was now able for
the first time TO prepare for an Of
fensive with some elaboration, under
reasonably normal conditions and more
nearly on an equal footing with the
other armies.
We had learned from reports and
from photographs taken by our avi-
ators that the enemy had greatly
strengthened the most prominent
points back of his lines, while cap
tured documents indicated his inten-
ton of organizing position along the
west slopes of the Barricourt ridge.
The eastern spurs of this ridge COM
and formed a connecting link with the
high ground east of the river about
Cote Saint German.
The infantry advanced to the as
sault at $50 the morning of Novem-
Der 1, following an accurate barrage of
artillery and machine-gun fire, which
beat down German resistance over
zone of 100 yards in depth. Squad
rons of swift-fying combat planes
drove the enemy planes from the air
and fired on the hostile infantry, while
the bombing sQuadrons harassed i'm.
portant points behind the enemy's
lines. The attack went forward with
precision, gaining momentum with ev-
cry mile.
Enemy Badly Beaten Everywhere.
For the first time the enemy's lines
were completely broken through. AL
though he had been badly beaten ON
all parts of the front he had hitherto
been able TO avoid this disaster. By
the magnificent dash of our First
army, however, the enemy now found
himself in the same situation that had
confronted the allies earlier in the
war.
The Fifth corps in the center drove
a wedge into the German defenses,
swept through the zone of their artil-