Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-19

In conjunction with our advance,
which would outfiank the enemy's po-
sition south of the Aisne, the French
fourth army by attacking successfully
the positions between the Aisne and
the SuippeS Rivers would be able to
occupy the line Vouziers- Rethel. After
that 1t would operate in the direction
of the plateau east of the Rethel-
Signy-fAbbaye Road.
A liaison detachment under the
French 4th Army was designated to
operate along the western edge Of the
Argonne Forest as a connecting link
between the French and American
armies.
In detail. it was actually planned by
the 1st Army to make,
(a) An advance of 10 miles to force
the enemy to evacuate the Argonne
Forest and insure our junction with the
French 4th Army at Grandpre.
(b) Then a further advance of about
10 miles to the line Stenay-Le Chesne
to outflank the enemy's position along
the Aisne River in front of the French
4th Army and clear the way for our
advance on Mezieres or Sedan
Co An operation to clear the heights
east of the MeuSe River. either by an
attack in an easterly direction or by
an attack northward along the east
bank of the Meuse River between
Beaumont and Sivry-sur- Mouse, to
clear the crest south of Bots de la
Grande Montague, or by a combination
of these two attacks.
Sd Corps Objective.
The 3rd Corps was directed to pene-
trate the enemys position, turn Mont
faucon, protect the right flank of the
attack and organize the line of the
Mouse for defense. It's corps and di-
visional artillery, while supporting the
advance, was to assist in neutralizing
the enemy's fire from the heights east
of the Meuse.
The 5th Corps mission was to reduce
the Bots de Montfaucon and the Bots
de Cheppy by outfanking them from
the east and west, and to cut off the
enemy artillery fire on the Bird and 1st
Corps. Its corps and divisional artil-
lery was directed to assist in neutraliz-
ing hostile observation from Mont
faucon.
The 1st Corps was to reduce the
Argonne Forest by f1anking it from the
east and to assist in suppressing artil-
lery fire from the eastern edge of the
forest. Each corps was directed to
operate in conjunction with the others
in the advance to the army objective:
Consenvoye- Brieulles = Romagne Exer-
mont-Apremont-Bin
Our puIpOSG WAS 10 eIIeCb d LdCIACdA
surprise, If possible, overcome the en-
emy's first and second positions in the
area of Montfaucon and capture the
commanding heights Cote Dame
Marie) of his third position before the
enemy could bring up strong reinforce
ments. 1t was an ambitious plan and
one that would require a rapid advance
of 10 miles through a densely fortified
zone. From an estimate of the enemy'S
reserves and their location it was real
lied that we must capture Montfaucon
and seize Cote Dame Marie by the end
of the second day.
1t was thought reasonable to count
on the vigor and the aggressive spirit of
our troops to make up in a measure for
their inexperience, but at the same time
the fact was not overlooked that lack
of technical skill might considerably
reduce the chances of complete success
against well organized resistance of ex-
perienced defenders.
Gen. Petain had already given it as
his opinion that We should not be able
to get farther than Montfaucon before
Winter.
Foreseeing clearly the difficulty under
the existing conditions of reaching in
one stride an objective 10 miles away,
alternative plans were made to continue
with more elaboration but with every
determination to win in the contest,
which, If not successful in the first
rush, was certain to become extremely
severe
The afternoon of the day before the
attack I visited the headquarters Of
corps and divisions to give a word of
encouragement here and there to the
leaders upon whom our success on the
following days would depend They
were all alert and confident and I re-
turned feeling all would go well.
Tomorrow: Great Meuse- Argonne Of
fensive begins; Americans gain eight
miles in four days
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