Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-20

eastern spurs Of the Argonne. which
constituted the enemys chief defense of
that forest, was unable. to overcome the
intense machine gun fire from the
vicinity of Champ Mahaut. The T7th
Division (Alexander), in the difficult
terrain of the Argonne, made some
progress.
Germans Used Advantages.
The advance on the first day was
rapid, as the forward elements of the
German defensive zone were generally
not strongly held and had not yet been
reinforced in any numbers. BY the sec
ond day, however, his nearby reserves
had arrived, and the enemy took full
advantage of the stand at Montfaucon
on the first day to strengthen his de-
lenses.
The Germans made every use Of the
favorable terrain to oppose our advance
by cross ana enfilading artillery fire. es-
pecially from the bluffs on the eastern
edge of the Argonne Forest and the
! heights east Of the Msuse His light
! guns and the extensive use of machine
| guns along his lines of defense, in the
hands of well trained troops, were seri-
Gus obstacles and the advance after the
second day was more difficult.
BY the evening of the 9th the 5th
/ Corps was abreast of the 1st and the
| Sd on its TANKS. The 10th Division
captured Montfaucon the morning of
! the 9th and on the 28th Nantillois and
the Bots de Beuge were passed despite
determined resistance. Twice on the
28th elements of the division penetrated
/ thn Enfu dee OUn1r b11f p0tlld mt hold
on. Again, on the 29th, 1t advanced
against the wood, severe casualties once
more compelling retirement to the ridge
north of Nantillois. Troops of the divi-
sion advanced more than a mile be-
yond the Bots des Beuge, but were
| forced to fall back.
In the Sd Corps the 80th Division had
! taken the Bots de Ia Cote Lemont after
hard fighting, but attack after attack,
made with logged determination across
the open space toward Brieulles-sur Muir,
was rolled back by the CALLING fire of
the enemy from the town and its vicin-
| ity and by the artillery firing from east
of the MeuSe.
The 33d Division maintained its posi-
! ton the 9th and 28th and on the 29th
relieved the Both Division by extending
its left along the northeastern edge of
Bots de la Cote Lemont, where it occu-
pied difficult ground under the domi-
mating heights east of the Mouse.
Foe Counter Attacks.
The 4th Division captured Nantillois
on the 27th, but was forced by enemy
counter attacks to retire. The town
was retaken and held on the following
day by troops of the 4th and 10Th Divi-
sions. After three days of almost con-
tinuous lighting the 4th had taken the
Bots de Brieulles and entered the Bois
des Ogons, but could not hold the latter
| against counter attacks and the deadly
machine gun and artillery fire of the
enemy. The fortitude and courage Of
| the 4th Division in these operations
were inspiring
/ The 37th Division on the 27th at
| tempted to advance beyond the IVORY
! Montfaucon road, but each time it
reached there was driven back by heavy
Smelling. On the 18th, however, it
! pushed forward to a position north of
/ the Cierges-Nsntillois road. Cierges
was entered, but not held. The follow
ing day the division again attacked
Cierges, but the advance was abruptly
halted by concentrated artillery fire
The 91st Division on the 9th en-
| countered strong opposition at Epinon-
1 vile, which was reached, but could not
/ be retained. Eclisfontaine was taken
but was evacuated, as an artillery bar
rage was to be laid on the road through
! the town the following day.
Epinonville was finally captured the
/ 18th, and the Bots de Cierges was occu-
pied after hard fighting. Two attacks
1 Of the division from Bots de CiergeS on
1 the 29th crumbled under fi7rce artillery
and enfilading machine gun fire, but on
| the third attack, despite severe losses,
! Gesnes was taken.
The full advantage of this important
gain was lost, however, through the in
ability of the 37th Division to advance
its left. This placed the right flank Of
the e1st in a dangerous position. and II
4 had to be withdrawn During the aft
ernoon the 35th Division was subjected
/ to heavy counter attack, which also