The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-08-06

duced upon the allies.
Under cover of heavy bombardment
a series Of cOunterattacks were made
by the enemy. but our young infan-
trymen stood their ground and broke up
every attempt to dislodge them. The
regiment sustained severe casualties
from the large caliber shells poured
down upon it and had to be reinforced
by a battalion each from the Eight
zenith and Twenty-sixth regiments.
It was matter of pride to the whole
A. E. T. that the troops of this divi-
unusually trying situation that fol-
lowed, displayed the fortitude and
courage of veterans, held their gains
and denied the enemy the slightest ad-
vantage.
U. S. Troops at Chateau Thierry.
The alarming situation had caused
General Petain to call on me on the
Both for American troops to be sent
to the region of Chateau Thierry. The
Third division (Dickman), then in
training near Chaumont, being the
only division within reach, besides the
Second, was ordered to move north i'm
mediately. Dickman started his mo-
torized machine-gun battalion over the
road on the afternoon of May 30. The
infantry and engineers entrained the
MI hn uic
trains marched overland.
The first element to reach Chateau
Thierry was the machine-gun battalion,
which arrived the afternoon of May 81
and Immediately went into action
against the enemy, who then held the
half of the town north of the Marine.
By daylight on June 1 all available
guns had been provided with cover and
were in their positions, one company
with eight guns, and another with nine
guns about 500 yards to the east,
guarding the approaches to the rail-
road bridge. From these positions they
repulsed all attempts by the Germans
to cross the Marine.
Meanwhile, as the infantry of the
division came up on June l its bat
talions were put into line to reinforce
the French from Chateau Thierry east
to Dormans. The conduct Of the ma
chine-gun battalion in this operation
was highly praised by General Petain
in a citation issued later.
Stopped German Drive on Paris.
The Second division (Bundy) May 80
was near Chaumont-en-ViXen and was
preparing to move northward the next
day for concentration near Beauvais
to relieve the First division at Can
tigny. But it's orders were changed
late that night, and the division. NOV
ing by motor trucks, was rushed to-
ward Maux, twenty miles northeast of
Paris. Reaching there, the leading ele-
ments were hurried forward in the d.
rection of Chateau Thierry. The roads
were crowded with French troops and
refugees. There was great confusion
among the rapidly retreating French
troops. many of them saying to our
men that all was lost.
The initial deployment of the Sec
ond division was made by the Ninth
infantry and the Sixth regiment of ma
rines June l, across the Paris highway
at Lucy-le-Bocage, in front of Mont
reuil-aux-Lions, supposedly in support
of two French divisions; but the
French had orders to fall back through
the American lines. In the early morn
ing of June 2 the Twenty-third lnfan-
try, then on the left, was replaced by
the French One Hundred Sixty-seventh
division, and when reinforced by one
battalion of the Fifth marines, the
Fifth machine gun battalion and some
engineers, it was deployed to the right
between the Sixth marines and the
Ninth infantry, to fill gap in the
French line, and by June 5 the entire
division became engaged.
Considering that this was its first
experience in battle, this division made
a splendid defense, repulsed all Ger
man attacks, and by its timely arrival
effectively stopped the German ad-
vance on Paris.
Bring Relief to French Poilu.
The sudden appearance and drama
tic entrance of the Second and Third
divisions into the shattered and broken
fighting lines and their dash and cour-
age in battle produced favorable ef-
feet upon the French poilu. 1t must
have been with a decided feeling of
relief that the worn and tired French
army, retreating before vastly superior
numbers, caught sight of Americans
arriving in trucks at Meaux and march
ing thence on foot, hats off, hurrying
eagerly forward to battle. And the
Germans, who had been filed with
propaganda deprecating the American
effort and the quality Of their train
ing, must have been surprised and
doubtless rather disconnected by meet
ing strong resistance by Americans on
different portions of this active battle
front, especially when our troops ad-
vanced at once to meet the attack in
open combat.
This defeat of the French furnished
the second striking confirmation of the
wisdom of training troops for open
warfare.