The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-07-16

cheney. The weather was clear, but
still rather sharp. The countryside
was radiant with its green meadows
and early flowers, and one could not
help thinking how different would be
those other fields on which this unit
would soon be engaged.
Lack of Regular Officers.
1t is comparatively simple matter
to absorb partly trained recruits in
veteran organizations, but it is an
enormous and difficult. task to create
organizations entirely of new mate
rial. There was serious lack of reg
ular officers in our organization in
both staff and line. The l corps
had only per cent of officers from
the regular army Less than l per
cent of all captains of the line in the
A. E. f. at that time had been in the
service a year, and the thought of
possible immediate activity with such.
inexperienced leaders was not reas-
surfing. .
It was a source of real regret to me
not to command the First division In
person, and this, coupled with the
fact that its entry into the battle
was of considerable moment, led me
to speak word of confidence and
encouragement. When the officers,
about 900 in all, were assembled in
the grounds of the chateau occupied
as division headquarters they formed
a rare group.
These splendid-looking men, hard
ened by the strenuous work of the
fall and by two months in winter
trenches, fairly radiated the spirit of
courage and gave promise that Amer
ica's effort would prove her sons the
equals of their forefathers.
The First division saw its first
major offensive some six weeks later,
a brilliant counterattack at Cantigny,
in the Amiens sector.
Wanted the A. e. +. United.
That afternoon | motored to Sarcus
to see General Foch and sound him
out regarding the prospects of unit
ing our divisions in a sector of our
own. told him that the secretary of
war when in France had expressed an
earnest desire to hasten the formation
Of an American army and that this
was also the wish of the President.
1t was my. opinion, said, that early
action would be of great Importance
in stimulating the morale of our
troops and of our people Now that
the First division was to go into line
the people at home would expect
soon to hear that an American army
was engaged on its own front. / sug-
gested the possibility that the corps
might be assembled near the First d.
vision as a beginning.
General FOch agreed in principle to
the suggestion, but was uncertain
when the other divisions could be
spared, which l, Of course, fully ap-
preciated. lie pointed out that the
enemy was very aggressive and re-
ferred to the severe attack against
the British on the Lys between Lens
and Ypres, which began on the 9th
and was still in progress. But look.
ing beyond, insisted that the Twen-
ty-sixth and Forty-second divisions
might be withdrawn at any time from
quiet sectors, to be followed by the
Second and the Thirty-second and also
the Third a few days later.
pointed out that this force of six
divisions, including the First, would
equal twelve French divisions, and
gave it as my opinion that it would
be better to use this American group
for active operations than to detain
the units in quiet sectors and send
French divisions to the battle front.
My understanding after this discus
sion was very definite that the plan
would soon be carried out, leaving the
exact time and place to be determined.
1t was immaterial' to me just where
1t should occur, the point being to get
| 1t done.
Hard Fighting on the Lys.
The German offensive on the Lys
was another formidable effort to
break the British line. The attack
was made to the north and south OF
| Armentieres on front of "a miles by
q German divisions. The exhausted
British, though they fought with most
commendable courage and skill, were
forced again to yield with heavy losses
to themselves and the Portuguese,
consisting of two divisions, who were
with them.
Several French divisions were hur-
ried to the Lys front, but it was a
week after the attack began before
they were put into the line. ~They
then relieved British divisions at the
famous KENNEL hill, only to be sur
prised and defeated themselves April
%, much to their chagrin. The battle
was practically ended by the last OF
the month, with gain by the Ger
mans of ten or eleven miles and the
capture of important territory from
the British, but with failure to take
Hazebrouck.
Ito be Continued in Next Issue)
|