The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-09-10

my uniform now that / have won the
right to wear it."
WELL" l said, "O'Neil. you're just
the man l have been looking for, and
l am going to send you to every port
we use to show them your secret"
CHAPTER LIV
The French government had ex-
pressed desire to bestow their dec
orations on American officers and men,
and asked if would accept an ap-
pointment in the Legion of Honor with
the grade of grand officer.
AS congress had recently granted
permission for members Of our forces
to receive foreign decorations, the
French government was advised &C.
cordingly, and it was to confer this
care paid his brief visit to Chaumont
August 6, 1913
/ met him at the station with mill
tary escort and conducted him to my
headquarters, where the senior officers
Of the staff were presented. After
that Formally we repaired to the
small area of barracks, where the
headquarters troop and band were
drawn up in line for the ceremony.
1 was not insensible to the high per-
sonal honor, but regarded it mainly as
an appreciation on the part of the
French government Of the assistance
America had already given to the
cause.
Pershing Takes Command.
AS the American army was now an
accomplished fact, 1t seemed advisable
to begin preparations Immediately to
carry out the plan of campaign adopt
ed July "a, providing for distinctive
American operation against the St.
Mihiel salient
l motored to Sarcus August 8, and
after discussing with Marshal FOch
the changed situation in the Marine
sector and the practical sterilization
of the front on the Vesle, l suggested
the transfer of the First army head.
quarters to the St. Mihiel region,
where it could begin immediate prepa-
rations for the proposed offensive. We
considered the outline of my plans and
without hesitation Marshal Foch
acquiesced in the transfer.
Returning to Paris the same after
noon / went to Provins to talk the
matter over further with General Pc
tain. We took stock of available d.
visions for the st. Mihiel operation,
! and he said could count on him def
nitely to do everything in his power
to furnish whatever we might require.
Having thus reached a general un-
Outstanding regarding the preliminary
details Of the move, l drove the fol-
lowing morning to La Ferte-sous-
Jouarre to take formal command Of
the First army and to give instructions
to my staff regarding the movement Of
headquarters to Neufchateau.
Bells Division In Action.
The Thirty-third division (BelI was
still with the British when the COM
bined attack of the British Fourth
and the French First armies in the
Montdidier-Albert sector began Au-
gust s. The division was in front line
training with the British Fourth army
| and was attached to the British Third
corps for the operation, the One Hun
dred and Thirty-first regiment of in
fantry being assigned to the British
Fifty-eighth division. This regiment
Joined in the attack August 8 against
the Morlancourt-C hipilly spur north Of
the Somme. 1t reached its detectives
in splendid fashion and occupied line
on the western edge of Gressaire wood,
extending southwark along the river.
August 10, it continued to progress
against decided opposition, gaining the
| eastern edge of the forests of Fosse
and Maroon. During the following
three days, the command having been
shifted, the One Hundred and Thirty
first infantry under the Australian
Fourth division attained a line just
west Of Bray-sur-Somme. The three
other regiments were in reserve during
! the operations. The One Hundred
and Thirty-first infantry was relieved
August 20, having advanced over three
miles and suffered heavy casualties.
1 motored to the British front Sum
day to be present at Thirty-third d.
vision headquarters, near Molliens-
/ aux-Beis, on the occasion of the visit
Of King George, who was then visiting
his armies. General Bliss had pre-
eeded me and we both spent the night
there. That evening General Bell, re-
lating the details of the participation
Of his troops with the British, said
their services had been urgently re-
quested and that they had acquitted
themselves well.
King George Bestows Decorations.
The king arrived August -, to pre-
sent decorations to selected men of the
| Thirty-third division, who had partici-
pated in the recent attacks of the Brit
ish army. Soon after his arrival the
king invited General Bliss and me to
his room, where he presented me with
the Grand Cross of the Order of the
Bath and bestowed the Order of st.
Michael and st. George on General
Bliss. The presentations were in
formal, as the king simply handed the
decorations to us in turn, at the same
time expressing his appreciation Of