Evening star., 1933-01-01

vented from gaining any advantage regardless
of cost and their disappointment over the
American successes produced q feeling of utter
hopelessness.
TT was not that these Americans, as Gen,
perslling said saved Paris but that the sacri-
fetal successes of an unknown quality-the
American soldier-resuscitated the jaded spirit
of the allies and vivif1ed the will to win. AS
result of these victories the soul Of the allies
was revived and that of the Germans chilled
with despair. The effect was double gain
for the allies From then on the Germans
realized that their efforts would be futile The
British no longer fought with their backs to
the WALL and the French, with Paris saved,
and with reborn hope and faith in the Ameri-
cans, met the subsequent German offensives
with a rejuvenated morale. The last two
offensives of the Germans were met by the
allies inspired with a knowledge that they
possessed a new and powerful reserve, and
this knowledge was vital factor in the final
result.
"rThe year 1918 saw the Western front in
France like huge wall of rubber, bend in flve
places to its elastic limit, then snap back and
move northward until it rested in Rhineland.
Get out your map of Europe and note care
fully the towns of Ypres, Armentieres, Arras,
AmenS. Noyon, Montdidier, Soissons Rheims
and Chateau-Thie-ry, for with these located
you will be able to review intelligently the
frantic efforts between March and July, 1918
of the Germans to bring the war to successful
conclusion in their favor.
stopped before Amiens. after a mad rush ir
March of 35 miles across the old Somme
battlefield, the German rested for a breathing
spell; then, with interior communications work
ing smoothly, the pushing weight was shifted
in April to bend the line in demoralizlng
fashion along 25-nile front farther north in
the vicinity of Armentieres, the loss OF Pas
schendaele Ridge gassing morale; next, on
rd nd rn{v hpn TiY1y
of them all and the supreme surprise of the
war. in the Marne salient
THE stands of our allies in holding the first
two pushes OF the Germans near Amens and
Armentieres were grand, and the fourth and
fifth defenses Noyon and Rheims were
superb but it in this third defensive in
the Marne salient in June that the Marines and
the End Division met the Teuton at the flood
and turned the tide"
THESE exciung days, and the Govern
] ments account of the fighting Of the End
Division, including the Marine Brigade, from
June / to July /. 1918 has this to say:
"On June g. 1918, the End Division snatched
the initiative from the Germans and started an
offensive on its front which did not end until
July 1. 1918. The Marine Brigade captured
Hill 142 and Bouresches on June g. 1918, and
in the words of Gen. Pershing. 'sturdily held
its ground against the enemy's best guard
divisions and completely cleared Bois de Bel
leau of the enemy on June 26, 1918, major of
Marines sending in his famous message Woods
now u S. Marine Corps entirely The Ameri-
can commander -in-chief in his first report
calls this fighting the battle of Belleau Wood
and states, Our men proved their superiority
and gained strong tactical position with far
greater loss to the enemy than to ourselves
In his final report he states: The enemy