.

, ..'

'''" 'rr /l-'lTHE INFANTRYINFIMF JTRYTRY SCHOOLSCHOOL-

FORTSCH-

OOLSCHOOL-

FORTSCH-

OOLSCHOOL-

FORTSCH-

OOLFORT BANNINGNNIRGBENNINGNIGELB , GEORGIAORGIACORGIGEORGIA-

ADVANCED

GEO-

RGIA

GGEORGIA-

ADVANCED

GEO-

RGIA

ORGIA-

ADVANCEDADVANCED COURSECOURSOURS1932-1933193219331932193-

3MILITARY

19321933-

I

1932193-

3MILITARY

-

MILITARYI LIT A R Y HISTORYHISTORYOPE-

RATIONS

HISHISTORYOPE-

RATIONS

TORTHOR YY-

OPRATIOr

O-

peratorOPERATIONSOPRATIOrOperator! s OF CO/PANYCOPANYCOPANYANYCPACO /}y"PAI\TYy"PAIyPAITYpaid" \ MMI 33d23d INFANTRYINFANTR-Y(2dDIVISION

INFANTR-Y2dDIVISION

INFANTR-Y(2d.DIVISION

INFANTR-Y2dDIVISION

INFANTR-Y(2d

INFANTR-Y2d(2d-DIVISION(2d2dDIVISION(2d.DIVISION2d.DIVISION2dDIVISION(2d2d( .DIVISIONDIVISION-. )

IN THE ATTACK ON VAUXAUX , JULYJULY2\-22\] -,.22. 2 , 19181918-li

1918-ww*: lif<l-

iPersonali-

mpersonalf-

PersonalP-

ersonal*

( Personal experience of a Platoon Leader )

CaptainOaptain Harry W.W. OayjcillOayOkay ill , InfantryInfantry-

t

Infantr-

y,t' iiiaiiiiiflffif' 'IIJIIIIJIIIII' >I'I'

..JJ. nitt . x.x... . ._ _ _ , ,"- ._ _ . ." . . . . .JL-.JL. , .L.L. -.... , . . ._..... :'... __ L.-.... .jiJjai .

-,u,4_-' <, feiufeud* Ui"'L'UiLIL* "' . ' ,. . _ ._ _ . _ . . , . ,-_....... _. . . _ _ , . , ,' .._ . _ _ . . . . * . 4(

TABLE OF OOKT3KTSCONTEKTSCONTENTS

PA3ZPAGEPA3Z-

Cover

PAG-

ECover

Pas-sover

PAG-

ECover

Pas-sover

:

Cover pagepage.. . . . ( UnpagedUnpa.edUnpa.UnpaUnpack. ed )

Table of contents . ii-

Bibliography

B-

ibliographyi-

Bibliography.

i-

Marginal

M-

arginalBibliographyBibliography.. . . iiii-

Marginal

im-

aginableii-

iiMarginal abbreviations used . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiiiS-

ITUATION

in-

sinuation

iiS-

ITUATION

in-

sinuation

iiS-

ITUATION

in-

sinuationSITUATION OF 8th CO.JCOJCOco.coCO.YANYCOYANYCYAN._ ,.

> ANY J, 402d GEFUANG.4-LANG.4LANG.4G4LANENFANTGEHEH. - , : AN I11FANTRYFAIJTRYIIFAIJTRYINN'FANZTF.YINNFANZTFYFAITINITIATORYI11FANTR-YREGIiOTT

II-IIINN'FANZTF.-YRE

INNFANZTFY-

RE-' FAIJTRY-

RE.

REGIiOTTReijiRE GGII I'B.NIBNLFNISBNFN'.: T ON JULYJ UL Y 1 , 19189181 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-

Morale

1-

.orale

1-

oraleMoraleorale.orale1. of German troopstroops.. . 22-

Condition

2-

ConditionCondition of 8th Company'sCompanysCompany' defensesdefenses.defenses.-

8thdefenses-

8th. . . . . . . . 22-

8th

2-

8th8th Company on passive defense . . . . . . . . . . 33-

Available

3-

AvailableAvailable information concerning enemyeneRene ny . . . . . 44-

JulyJuly 1 - the 8th Company'sCompanysCompany' day of doom . . . . . , 66-

SITUATIONSITUATIONSITUATIOrJ OF COJPANYOO.liPANYOOliPANYCO.PANYCOPANYCOMPANYHooliganCPA.%

'_ M 23d U.S.USU.U. S.S. INFANTRY PPIORPIORPICOPRIORPPIOR-TO

PIOR-TO

APPORTI-

ONPORT-

OF? IORIGORIOR-

TOOR-

TTO ATTACK ON 80ISQOISQUOINS_OISOTIS D2DE LA COTE 192192.. . . . . . . . . . 77-

Character

7-

Character

7-

CharacterCharacter of replacementsrep acements.acementscements. . . . . . . . . . . . . 88-

Receipt

8-

Receipt

8-

ReceiptReceipt of untrained replacementsreplacements.replacements.-

Reconnaissancereplac-

ements. . . . . . . . . . 88-

Reconnaissance

8-

ReconnaissanceReconnaissance of Bois de la Cote 192192.. . . . . . . 99-

Orders

9-

OrdersOrders for the attack of July 11.11-

.Informa.tion

1-

Information

. . . . . . . . . . 99-

Information

9-

InformationInformationInforma.tion. concerning the enemyenemy-

The

ene-my

. . . . . . . . 1111-

The

11-

TheThe company attack order . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1212-

Situation

12-

SituationSituation as to suppliessupplies.supplies.-

he

suppli-es

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1313-

The

13-

TheThe!he hour preceding the attackattack.. . . . . . . . . . . 1313-

THE

13-

THETHE ATTACKATTACK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1414-

The

14-

Orders

14-

TheThe objective reachedreached.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1515-

CONSOLIDATION

15-

CONSOLIDATION

15-

CONSOLIDATIONCONSOLIDATION OF CAPTURED POSITIONSPOSITIONS-

Use

Positio-ns

. . . . 1717-

UseUse of captured weaponsweapons.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1818-

Reinforcements

18-

ReinforcementsReinforcements for the consolidationconsolidation-

The

consolidati-on

. . . . . 1818-

TheThe counterattackcounterattaok.counterattaokcounterattack.counterattack-.Casualties

counter-attack

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1919-

CasualtiesCasualtiesC 8sual, tie s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1919-

LESSONSLESSONSLESSONS.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302030-

No.

30-

No

'\ II!8!8-

No.

8-

No, \

No.No. 1 - SectorSeotor of 2dd DivisionDlvls1Divisi-onDivision- n . . . . . . . . . . . . 342434-No.

34-

No24-

No.24-

No24-

No.24-

NoNo.No. 82 - BoleBolsBoisBolls de la1a Cote 193192 - InformationInformat1on MadeMad-eAvailable

Mad-e1vallable

Mad-eAvailableAvailable1vallable to Platoon CommanderOommander Prior toto-Attack

st-omata

to-Attaok

st-omata

to-Attack

st-omataAttackAttaok of July 11.1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01.' 352535-

No.

35-

No25-

No.

25-

No25-

No.

25-

NoNo.No. 3 - BoisBols'BolsBole'BoleBolls' de la OoteCoteBooted 198192 - ConsolidationOonsolidation ofof-Positions

o-ppositions

of-Pos1tions

of-Positions

o-ppositionsPositionsPos1tions after Attainment of Objectives.ObjectivesObjeotObject veB.veBverb. . . 86as2686-

ias-

1-i-i-1-1-i-

TABLE

T-

ABLE

1-

h.

1-

h

-, . _ _ _ _ ' . . . . _ _ . _. _ _ . _ ___ ._ _ _ . . _ h.h. __ _ _ . ..;_ _ _ . . _ _ _

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPH-

YRecords

Bibliogr-aphy

BIELBILEBIBLIOGRAPH-

YRecords

Bibliogr-aphy

IOGRAPHYBIOGRAPHYIOGRAPH-

YRecords

Biogr-

aphyRecords of the Second Division Regular().(Regular ) .Eight volumesvolumes'publishedvolumespublishedvolumes' published from 1924 to19381928 by the Second Division.HistoricalDivisionHistoricalDiversionistDivision.Historical-Section

Division.HiDivisionHiDivision. storicalstoicalstorical-Section stoi-calSection , Army War College , Washington ,D.D. 0.0C.C0-

.These

0-

These

C-

.These

A-

ctresses

C-

.These

A-

ctresses

.

These records comprise war diaries , journals ,a.ndand. other official papers of the organizationsorganizations-which

organizat-ionswhich constituted the 2d Division , AmericanAmerica-nExpeditionary

America-nExpeditionary

America-nExpeditionaryExpeditionary Forces.Forces. The compilation alsoalso-includes

fas-ciculesalso-

includesfas-ciculesalso-

includesfas-ciculesincludes a very valuable collection of fieldfield-

messages fie-lders field-messages fie-lders field-messages fie-ldersmessages , official and semi-officialsemiofficial- reports ,etc.etc. , all of which are uncensored.uncensored. The valuevalue-of

valu-eof these records in the study of the operationsoperations-of

operatio-nsof the 2d Division during

.

the WorldWorlWhorl WarWar isis-obvious.

in-sidious

is-obvious.

in-sidious

i ss-

obvious.o-

bviousobvious.obvious.

Translations : War Diaries OR.ORo . German UnitsUnits-Opposed

Undi-sclosed

Units-Opposed

Undi-sclosed

Units-Opposed

Undi-sclosedOpposed to the Second DivisionDivison[ ( Regular ) .,Still in course of publication by the 2d2d-Division

2d-Division

2d-DivisionDivision Historical Section , Army WarWa-rCollege

Aer-oallergen

Wa-rCollege

Aer-oallergen

Wa-rCollege

Aer-oallergenCollege , Washington , D.D. C.C. Three volumesvolumes-of

volum-esof this series have been publishedpub 1shed to date ;the fourth volume has been compiledco piled , butbut-as

bu-ts

but-as

bu-ts

but-as

bu-tsas yet has not been placed in the handshands-of

hando-ffof the public.publicpublic.-

By

publ-ic

.

By their very nature , these translations ofof-records

co-

rrectorsof-

recordsco-

rrectorsof-

recordsco-

rrectorsrecords of German corps , divisions , brigades ,regiments ,, and battalionsttalionsstallionsb which opposed thethe-2d

the-2d

the-2d2d Division on the Western Front , cannot bebe-dispensed

b-edizened

be-dispensed

b-edizened

be-dispensed

b-edizeneddispensed with by any student of the operationsoperations-of

operatio-nsof that American combat division.divisiondivision.N-

OTE

divisi-

ondivision.N-

OTE

divisi-

ondivision.N-

OTE

divisi-

on.

NOTE-NOTENOTEInNoting: - In the preparation of this monograph there was also usedused-data

sed-ateused-

oontainedsec-

ondhandused-

MEus-eddataME containedoontained in a personal communicationcommunioation , recentlyreoentlyredolently received , fromfrom-

thefroth-

edfrom-

thefroth-

edfrom-

thefroth-

edthe officer who commandedcorcoir handed CompanyOompany M 23d Infantry on July 1 , 19181918.1918-.Likewise

1918-Likewise

1918-.Likewise

1918-Likewise

,.Likewise considerable use was made of papers , maps , airplane photophoto-photo-graphs

photo-graphs

photo-graphs

¬-graphs , etc.etc. , in the personal files of the author.author. Where statementstatement-of

stateme-ntof factfaotfagot is1s not authenticatedauthentioated by marginal reference - thethe.the.casethecae., casecase-frequently

case-frequently

case-frequentlyfrequently throughout this paper - the reader is asked to understandunderstand-that underst-andthat the writerfswriter'swriters' sourcessouroes of information were those mentioned inin-this

lit-chis

in-this

lit-chis

in-this

lit-chisthis note.note.,

MARGINALMARaINALMariana ABBREVIATIONS USEDUSED-

Ger.

Se-der

USED-

Ger.

Se-der

USED-

Ger.

Se-derGer.GerGear. ( precededprecpre deddeed by number ) Translations : War DiariesDiaries of GermanGerma-

nUnitsGerma-

niumGerma-

nUniteGerma-

niumGerma-

nUnitsGerma-

niumUnitsUnite OpposedOp oeedosedoeddosed to the Second DivisionDivision-

Reeds.

Divis-

ionDivision-

Regular Divi-sion Division-Regular. Divi-sion( RegularRegular.RegularRegular.R-

eoda.

Regu-lar

) ..

Reeds.ReedsReoda.ReodaFreda. 2d Div.DivDlv.DlvDl. Recordsaecordsaccords of the Second DivisionDivision-Regular Divi-sion Division-Regular Divi-sion Division-Regular Divi-sion(RegularRegula-

rii

Regul-

ar

) .

-ii-ii-1i-1i- ii-

BIEL

li-

bel

1il-

'

1i-

l

-

,l'l'L.L.

:W"W.

"1_,' ' h . . . .

SITUATION OF 8th8tb COMPANYCOMP.COMP. Y 4Q2d402d GERMANGERMA-NINFANTRY

GERMA-NINFANTRY

GERMA-NINFANTRYINFANTRY REGIMENT ON JULY 1.1l1 ., 19181918-

The

1918-

The

, 99-

r

9-

TheThe BoisEoisEloise de la Cote 192 - a small woodswoods-

Map

woods-

man

woods-

Map

woods-

manMap No.No. 11-

Map

1200 meters west of the village of VauxAux , which in turnturn-

layturn-

key

turn-

layturn-

key

turn-

layturn-

keylay on the Paris-MetzParisMetzMet- highway somewhat over three kilokilo-kilo-

meters

kilo-

meters

kilo-

meters

¬-meters west of Chateau ThierryTheory - was held , on thethe-

morning

thr-

ongingthe-

morning

thr-

ongingthe-

morning

thr-

ongingmorning of July 1 , 1918 , by the 8th Company of thethe-

402d

the-

402d.

402d402 d German Infantry.InfantryInfantry.-

The

Infant-ry

In fan tr y .

The 8th Company , a unit of the 2d BattalionEattalion ,

was the right flank company of the 201st20lst InfantryInfantry-

Map

Infantry-

man

Infantry-

Division.Infa-ntryMap No.No. 22-

Map

Division.Division. At the cross roads 250 meters north of thethe-

woods

She-

rwood

the-

woods

She-

rwood

the-

woods

She-

rwoodwoods were elements of the 6th Company of the samesam-

ebattalionan-

tenatalsam-

ebattalionan-

tenatalsam-

ebattalionan-

tenatalbattalion , with two machine guns , acting as a contactcontact-

groupcont-

actcontact-

groupcont-

actcontact-

groupcont-

actgroup between the 402d Infantry and the neighboringneighboring-

Map

neighbori-ng

neighboring-

regimentneighb-

oringMap No.No. 1 regiment on its right.right. To the east , in the Bois de lala-

Roche

la-

rches

la-

Roche

la-

rches

la-

Roche

la-

rchesRocheBroche , other units of the 2dad Battalion were in position.positionposition.-

Vaux

positi-on

.

VauxAux and the western slope of Hill 204 , which dominateddominated-

thedominat-

edthe Paris-MetzParisMetzPar1s-MetzPar1sMet- highway , were held by the 402d Infantry'sInfantrysInfantryInfantry's-

1stInfantrys-

1stInfantry's-

lstInfantrys-

lstInfant-

ry'

1stlstlast Battalion.Battalion. The divisionsdivision's!' sector extended as farfar-

to

far-

ofar-

to

far-

ofar-

to

far-

oto the east as the cityity of Chateau ThierryTheory , inclusive.inclusiveinclue.ive.inclueiveinclusive.-

The

inclue.ive.-

The

inclusi-ve

..

The 8th Company maintained contactoontact withwith-

battalionwith-

battal10n

with-

battalionbattalionbattal10n headquarters and withwi th unitsuniZuni te to the rear andand-

flanks

san-

dbanks

and-

flanks

san-

dbanks

and-

flanks

san-

dbanksflanks by means of runners and a signalsipalsepal lamp.lamplamp-

.For

la-mp

lamp-

.For

la-mp

lamp-

.For

la-mp

.

For defensive purposes there were in thethe-

woods

She-

rwood

the-

woods

She-

rwood

the-

woods

She-

rwoodwoods two small mine throwers and three machine guns.gunsguns.-

Enemy

unse-

emlyguns.-

Enemy

unse-

emly.

Enemy attacks on the Bois dede1ala/1a1a'la/' Cote 192 during JuneJune-

had

Und-

ead

June-

had

Und-

ead

June-

had

Und-

eadhad oomecomeNome from the west ; the machinemaohine guns on July 11-

were

1-

were(1)1( ) 10th10tb Ger.Gertier.tierGeartier-.Inf

tiri-ng . were emplaoedemplacedemployedemplaces on the western edge of the woods.woods. (1)1(1)-Inf.

1I-nf

(1)-

The

1T-

he(1)-

The

1T-

he( )

,= Inf.InfInfoIn f.f., iv.iviv.-Vol.

IV.-

Vol.v.vv-

.Vol..

Vol.VolViol. \ I11-

Doe ,11,* The 201sta'lltalltalt' Division had taken over the Vaux-VauxAuxVaux-Doo.

Au-dio

Vau-

xOhateau

Vac-

uolatedVau-

xChateau

-Doo.DooDodoDoe,. 111 , /(JuftfJutJuaJunJuan, 6-76767I-

'

67-

I

8-8- ? i, ChateauOhateau ThierryTheory combatoombat sectorseotor during the period fromfrom-

June

frontr-

unner

from-

June

frontr-

unner

from-

June

frontr-

unnerr June 17l to 19.19. ItI t was not until June 27 , however , thatthat-

the

thatc-

hed

that-

the

thatc-

hed

that-

the

thatc-

hedthe 8th CompanyOompany , asa8 the result of reassignmentrea..ignmentreaignmentrealignment.. ofof-

1

of-

1

I'I1.1I'-1

I-1

'.

/1101/

. -1-1-1-

Map

1-

n.

1-

n

-:

i!. . 'n"n' "

. . . . . . , . . .__ . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... . . . .. . ,- " ' n.n ----- - - - _-. .

- __... .. . . . .. . . .. ....;. _ ... . _ .. .. "'.. . ___ , . . - ----. .c.---.c.-- -. . .. .

_ '4"-4"4"_ - .. ----....--- - . - . . . __. - .. . . . .r.r. . . . .........-*-- * ' ''' '.'' - - .c.-

.r.,

division boundaries , moved into the Bois de la1a Cote

(2)2( ) 301st201st Ger.GerGearGer-.Inf.

Er-in

Ger-.Inf.

Er-in

Ger-.Inf.

Er-in

. ,192.192.192, 192.192. (2)2( 2 )

Inf.InfInfo. Div.DivDiv.-Vol.

Div.-Vol.

. ,,Vol.VolViol. 3 , 1I/I-Doc.

D-

oc Morale of German TroopsTroops-

The

Troo-ps

Troops-

The

Troo-ps

Troops-

The

Troo-psDoc.Doc. 49 ,

June 18 The division commander had no misgivingsmisgivings-

asmisgivin-

gsas to the combat value of his troops.troops. On June 30 hehe-

reportedsh-

eepcotehe-

reportedsh-

eepcotehe-

reportedsh-

eepcotereported ;:

After relief from the sectorseotor near St.St. MihielMihlelMichelMileMihiel-the

Miche-lle

Mihlel-the

Mill-et Mihiel-the

Miche-llethe division during the first half of the monthmonth-was

mouth-wash

month-was

mouth-wash

month-was

mouth-washwas constantly on the go , due to five changes ofof-billets.

g-oblets

of-billets.

g-oblets

of-billets.

g-obletsbillets.billets. This inured the troops to marching andand-to

an-do

and-to

an-do

and-to

an-doto the hardships whichwh ch are part of bivouac life.lifelife.-Beginning

life.-Beginning

life.-Beginning

.

Beginning on June 17 the division took over thethe-combat

th-eocrat

the-combat

th-eocrat

the-combat

th-eocratcombat sector Chateau ThierryTheory from the 261st21lst251st261st-Division.

261st-Division

21lst-Division.

21lst-Division

251st-Division.

251st-DivisionDivision.Division. The relieved division had moved intointo-this

bimon-thlies

into-this

bimon-thlies

into-this

bimon-thliesthis position while attacking and thereforetherefore-practically

thermoe-lectricallytherefore-

practicallythermoe-lectricallytherefore-

practicallythermoe-lectricallypractically no trenches or other defensivedefensiv-

einstallations defen-siveness defensiv-einstallations defen-siveness defensiv-einstallations defen-sivenessinstallations had been constructed.constructed. The last twotwo-weeks

tw-eezes

two-weeks

tw-eezes

two-weeks

tw-eezesweeks were therefore given over to the mostmos-tstrenuous

mos-tstrenuous

mos-tstrenuousstrenuous kind of work.work. The intrenchingentrenching of.of. thethe-position

the-rmosetting

the-position

the-rmosetting

the-position

the-rmosettingposition was made very difficult by the veryvery-active

over-active

very-active

over-active

very-active

over-activeactive enemy and the very lively enemy artilleryartillery-fire artille-ryfire which fell on the constructed trench sectionssections-and

sectio-nsand rear area.area. On the average the dailydaily-casualties

daily-casualties

daily-casualties' casualties amounted to 30 men killed and wounded.woundedwounded-.In

wound-ed

.( In spite of all this the morale of the men andand-their

an-ther

and-their

an-ther

and-their

an-ther(3)3( ) 301st20let201st OerfBoerOerf-

Inf.Ole-

finGerGear : their physical condition..isconditionisconditionscondition.condition. . . . is good.good. (3)3(3)-

Condition

3C-

ondition

((3)-

Condition

3C-

ondition

(3)-

Condition

3C-

ondition

)

Inf.InfInfoIn! . Div.DivDiv.-Vol.

Div.-Vol.

Div.-Vol.

.

Vol.VolViol. 3 I,I-Doc.

D-ocDoc.Doc. 49 , Condition of the 8th Company'sCompanysCompany' DefensesDefenses-

While

Defen-ses

Defenses-

While

Defen-ses

Defenses-

While

Defen-sesJune 3030-

No.

30-

No

30-

Maps

While consolidation of the 8th Company'sCompanysCompanyCompany'-

spositions

Company-

spositions

Company's-

Maps

Companys-

Maps

Comp-any

Company'-

spositions

Company-

spositions

'

Maps No.NoNo.2No2. 2 & 3 positions had been undertaken , the project was by nono-

means

No-

rmans

no-

means

No-

rmansmeans completed when the division commander renderedrendered-

hisrender-

edhis report.report. Trench traces had been dug to a depth ofof-

from

af-

front

of-

from

af-

front

of-

from

af-

frontfrom two to three feet on those edges of the boisbo1sboilbois-

exposed

boi-sterous

bo1s-

exposed

boil-

exposedbo-

lerosexposed to enemy attack.attack. In the fields in front ofof-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

tenthe trenchtrenoh tracestraoes there had been placed a few barbedbarbed-

wire

barb-ed

barbed-

wire

barb-ed

barbed-

wire

barb-edwire entanglements.entanglementsentanentrain lements.lementsClements. Substantial emplacements had beenbeen-

constructedbeen-

constbea-

consbeen-

constructedconstructedconst uotedquoted for the machine guns.gunsiuns.iunsins. These were underunde-

rexcellent

und-ersexed

unde-

rexcellent

und-ersexed

unde-

rexcellent

und-ersexedexcellent coverooverover from aerial observation , andtoandoand to theirtheir-

frontth-

eirtheir-

frontth-

eirtheir-

frontlanesterr-

ibleness;),

front/lanesfrontlanes.front lanes had been cutout through the trees and brushbrush-

so

brush-

es'1/

so80 as to afford frontal and flanking fields of fire.firefire.-

The

frot-

hed

fire.-

The

frot-

hed

fire.-

The

frot-

hed

.

The constructionoonstruotion of substantialBubstantial dugouts had beenbeen-

3

been-

2

been-

w

bee-

n

w

-3-3-2-2.2-.2-. 3-

L

2-

(2)

2-

2

.2-

L

2-

L

-.}

.

.

l.lLL .. . . . . .

started , but as yet shelter fromfro the incessant artilleryartillery-fire

artille-ryfire of the enemy was inadequate.inadequate. The members of thethe-

8th

the-

8th

the-

8th8th Company occupied little more than covered holes inin-

the

in-

terin-

the

in-

terin-

the

in-

terthe ground near their firing positions , except thosethose-

few

tho-se

those-

few

tho-se

those-

few

tho-sefew who were soeo fortunate as to be assigned a halfhalf-

dozen

half-

tonehalf-

dozen

half-

tonehalf-

dozen

half-

tonedozen small splinter proof shelters just in rear ofof-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

tenthe woods.woodswoods-

.Bth

Woo-

ds

woods-

.8th

wood-

s8th

.

Bth8thBeth' Company on PassivePassiPass ve DefenseDefense-

The

Defen-seThe 8th Company was on the passivep ssiveSusie defense.defensedefense.-

On

defen-se

.

On MayLay 27 the German Seventh Army had attacked thethe-

French

th-erein

the-

French

th-erein

the-

French

th-ereinFrench and British positions between SoissonsOrisonsSoiSoil ssonssons andand-

Rheims.

ant-

hemsand-

Rheims.

ant-

hemsand-

Rheims.

ant-

hemsRheims.RheimsReins. Four days later it had blastedbla.sted. its way thirty-thirtythirty-three

thi-rty

thirty-three

thi-rty

thirty-three

thi-rty

-three miles to the northern portion of Chateau Thierry.ThierryTheoryThierry.-

The

Theo-ry

.

The troops of the Seventh Army - in this area underunder-

comnand

under-

manned

underc-

ommand

unde-

rcooked

underc-

ommand

unde-

rcookedcomnandcommand of the IV Reserve Corps ( Corps ContaContac ) - concon-con-

tinued

con-

tinued

con-

tinued

¬-tinuedtined their attacks with depleted numbers.numbers. By June 2 ,

although exhaustedexhauBte by the exertions of their rapidrapid-

advance

rapid-

advance

rapid-

advanceadvance , they had cleared the enemy from all of ChateauChateau-

Map

Chate-au

Chateau-

Map

Chate-au

Chateau-

Map

Chate-auMap No 1 ThierryTheory north of the MarneArne ; by June 4 the Bois dede-

Belleaud-

ebaclede-

Belleaud-

ebaclede-

Belleaud-

ebacle. . BelleauBelle , BoureechesBoureschesOutreaches , VauxAux , and the summitsummit of Hill 204204-yr

204-

were/yr.'

(4)4( ) IV Oer.OerGer.GerBoerGear. Res.ResReesRes-.Corps

Es-corts

. were in their hands.hands. (4)4(4)-Corps

4C-orps

(4)-

Resistance

4R-

esistance(4)-

Corps4C-

orps( )

Corps , Vol.VolViol.1 , Doo.DooDoc.DocDodo. 10 , Resistance to the advance of thethe'the-CorpstheCorps'- Corps ContaContacConta-Items

Cont-raries

Conta-Items

Cont-rariesItems 34-433443- stiffened perceptibly.perceptibly. On the evening of June 4 thethe-

corpshe-

ctors

the-

corpshe-

ctors

the-

corpshe-

ctorscorps commander issued an order which read , in part :

CorpsOorpsOops ContaOontaContacPoona , whichwhioh is charged with the propro-pro-tection

pro-tection

pro-tection

¬-tectionsection of the left flank of the Seventh ArmyArm-yduring

Arm-strong

Arm-yduring

Arm-strong

Arm-yduring

Arm-strongduring the attackattaok of the Seventh Army'sArmysArms' rightright-flank

righ-tful

right-flank

righ-tful

right-flank

righ-tfulflank , is compelledoompelled to temporarily assume thethe-defensive

the-defensive

the-defensivedefensive , after positions most suitable for thisthis-purpose

this-purpose

this-purposepurpose axeare captured.capturedoaptured.oaptured. I insist that all commandersoommanderscommander-sinform

command-eering

oommander-sinform

command-eering

commander-sinform

command-eeringinform their troops , leaving no doubt in theirtheir-minds

ther-mions

their-minds

ther-mions

their-minds

ther-mionsminds , that our attackattaok up to this time had passedpasedpassed-far

pass-ed

pased-far

pass-ed

passed-far

pass-ed

$far beyond the objectives that were firstfirsta-ssigned fi-rsts firsta-ssigned fi-rsts firsta-ssigned fi-rstsassigned , and had achieved far greater successessuooessessuppressessuccesses-than

succes-sessuooesses-

thansuper-

setsuccesses-

thansucces-sesthan had been anticipated.anticipated. The offensive spiritspirit-

mustspi-rit spirit-

mustspi-rit spirit-

mustspi-ritmust be maintained even8veneven though a temporary lulllull-

Inlulli-

nglull-

inlulli-

nglull-

inlulli-

ngIn the attaokattack seems8eems to exist.exist. We are the victorsviotorsvictors-

3

viotors-

3

victorsp.M.-

Ir

victor-

s

.

1.1.,.

-3-33i-

'

3-

i

- -t

' /i'i'i/i'M' M *. . .irir. .." <" ' >. .l-l. -.. '. ._*' _ W .

" ". _. .. . ... ... < ... .--. _ ._ .. .

_. ' . "_ p.M.IrpMIrMIr.. _. "' MY''' '' 4. ' ..._a"a" " ' '' . . ...__. - . ' . .....__ .. _a"a" ' .

_" - _ . . . ' . . ' -"" '- '.- . _. ' -..-. " , .......- . .-

1 .

and will remain on the offensive.offensive. The enemy isis-defeated

m-isdeemed

is-defeated

m-isdeemed

is-defeated

m-isdeemeddefeated and the high command will utilize thisthis-great

hairs-breadth

this-greathairs-

breadth(5)5( ) IVI V Ger.GerGearGer.r. Res.ResReesRes-.Corps

Es-corts

Re s . great victory to the fullest extent.extent. (5)5(5)-

The

5T-

he(5)-

The

5T-

he(5)-

Corps5C-orps ( )

Corps , Vol.VolViolVol.-

IVioli-

n.

1I , Doc.Doc. 10 , The corps commander directed that preparationspreparation-sbe preparations-Item preparati-onsItem 1Jil7:<77IKJil7IqjIKIqjIKM-

ap

Im-

p

1 3 be made for the seizure of Le ThioletHilt and BourbetinDoublethink onon-

theM-

onte

on-

theM-

ontethe Paris-MetzParisMetzMet- Road as positions most suitable for thethe-

temporarythe-

temporarythe-

temporarytemporary defensive.defensivedefensive.-

The

defensi-ve

.,

The Corps ContaOontaContacPoona , however , soon found itselfitself-on

itse-lf

itself-on.an

its-elf

itself-onan

its-elfonon.anonanon-anonanConan.- an enforced defensive.defensive. On June 6 the enemy attackedattacked-the

attack-ed

attacked-Map

attack-edMap No.No. 11-

Map

the Bois de BelleauBelle and Bouresches.BoureschesOutreaches. The village waswa-

slost

wal-

lopswa-

slost

wal-

lopswa-

slost

wal-

lopslost to the Germans , as was the southern portion ofof-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

tenthe woods.woods. ContinuousOontinuous assaults followed on the BoisBois-

de

Boi-se

Bois-

de

Boi-se

Bois-

de

Boi-sede BelleauBelle until , on June 26 , the woods was completelycompletely-

evacuated

comp-letely

completely-

evacuated

comp-letely

completely-

evacuated

comp-letelyevacuated by the German troops.troops. To the east , in thethe-

meantime

he-

matitethe-

meantime

he-

matitethe-

meantime

he-

matitemeantime , the enemyenergy had advanced his lines to thethe-

northerneth-

nographer

the-

northerneth-

nographer

the-

northerneth-

nographernorthern edge of the Bois de la MoretteMaretteCorvetteMarietta and to withinwithin-

a

withi-na few hundred meters of the village of Vaux.VauxAuxVaux.-

On

Au-x

Vaux.-

On

Au-x

Vaux.-

On

Au-x

.

On June 23 , higher headquarters - now thethe-

VIII

the-

VIII

the-

VIIIVIII Army Corps - directed that the combat activitiesactivities-of

activiti-esof the 201st20lst Division be reduced to the minimum , "inin"in-

an

in-an

ina-

ne

"in-

an

in-an

ina-

ne

"in-

an

in-an

ina-

ne

"

an inconspicuous manner , and that aside of completecomplete-

assurancecom-

pletescomplete-

assurancecom-

pletescomplete-

assurancecom-

pletesassurance of readiness for defense , it was to extendextend-

only

extend-

edly(6)6( ) 301st201st Ger.GerGearGer-.Inf.

Er-in. only to watching and observing the enemy.11enemy11enemy.enemy. " (6)6(6)-

Therefore

6T-

herefore(6)-

In6I-n(6)-

Inf.6I-

nf( )

Inf.InfInfoInf.f. Div.DivDiv.-Vol.

DDiv.-Vol.

iv .Vol.VolViol. 3 , Therefore , on July 1 , the 8th Company waswas-

engaged

ass-

emblage

was-Doc.

as-dic

was-Doc.

as-dicDoc.Doc. 50 ,June 23- .". engaged primarily in consolidating its positions forfor-

defense

fo-urteens

for-

defense

fo-urteens. ..tt. <\/ .tJtJ. (x-xxIx-

Uap

u-

napt

-* I - I.I.>1 ,w.JJxw...

: defense and observingobs'erving' the enemy.enemyenem-

y.Available

enem-

y.Available

.. /

Available Information OonoerningOoncerningConcerninConcerning the EnemyEnemy-

In

Ene-my

EneRene mm-

InIn the ravine runningrun'ning' from BourbetinDoublethink towardtoward-

Monneaux

toad-stone

toward-

Konneaux

toad-stone

toward-

tap

towa-rdUapMaptapAp No.No10.10. 1 MonneauxKonneauxOnega , some 350250 meters south of the Paris-MetzParisMetzMetParisMetzh-

ighwayParisMetzh-

igbwayParisMetzh-

ighway

-highwayhigbway , were enemy lines.lines. The Bois des ClerembautsOlerembautsCerebratesClerembauts-

toOlerembauts-

toCerebrat-

esto the west was also occupied by the enemy.enemy. The 8th8th-

Company1s

8th-

Oompany'

8th-

Oompany

8th-

Company's

8th-

CompanysCompany1sOompany'OompanyCompany'sCompanysCompany' _ opponents were AmericansAmerioans of the 2d Division ,., ; 1.1A*A-

soF-

aso

.'> .

so the 201sta018t Division had been informed when it enteredentered-

the

enter-edthe lineslin.linOlin. . around Vaux.VauxAuxVaux.-

4

Vaux-

4

.

-4-444-44-4-

(5)

4-

5

4-

and

-

What mannerr nernear of fighting men were thesethese-

soldiersth-

esesthese-

soldiersth-

esesthese-

soldiersth-

esessoldiers from across the seas ?

,. * fhehehe Americans "stillstill"stlllstlll" of-,x- were novices thethe-

lowesthe-

lloesthe-

lowesthe-

lloesthe-

lowesthe-

lloeslowest grade in the game"game" so far as attack tacticstactics-and

tactici-an

tactics-and

tactici-an

tactics-and

tactici-anand training in open terrain warfare were concerned ,

a regimental commander had reported on June 12.12123.3. HeH-

estated

H-

esitated

H-

estated

H-

esitated

H-

estated

H-

esitatedstated that the tactical training of the men could beb-

eclassifiedd-

eclassifiedb-

eclassifiedd-

eclassifiedb-

eclassifiedd-

eclassifiedclassified as inferior , that leadership by both juniorjunior-and

juni-or .

and higher commanders lacked skill , thattha.t. attacks werewere-

verywhe-

rever

were-

verywhe-

rever

were-

verywhe-

reververy energetic but not coordinatedooordinated , and that commanderscomnanderscomnanders-

didcommander-

sdid

command-ers

{

(7)7( ) 217th817th Ger.GerGearGer-.Inf.

Er-inGer-

.Inf.Er-in

. did not knowknow.knowknow.howknow.how to utilize advantages gainedgained./(7)gained.7gained.(7)7gainedgained.(7)I-

nf.gained7I-

nfgained./(7)gained.7gained.(7)7gainedgained.(7)-

Discussinggained7D-

iscussing.// ( 7)7)

Inf.InfInfo. Div.DivDiv.-Vol.

Div.-Vol.

. , 'Vol.VolViol. 4 , Doc.Doc. Discussing the defense tactics of thethe-

Americans

th-eatricals

the-

Americans

th-eatricals

79 , Items130-131130131- & Americans , however , the German regimental commandercommand-

erreported

comma-ndeered

command-

erreported

comma-ndeered

.. / '175-177175177-",

. . K*. J>

|r Jf reported that their training in rifle marksmanshipmarksmanship-

was

marksmans-hip

-> ., 1/11-

(8)

1-

8

, / *' *, \\/\ ; ", was "remarkableremarkable" , " that once they broke through thethe-

German

ste-

ersman

the-

German

ste-

ersman

the-

German

ste-

ersmanGerman lines they settled down behind rocks and byby-

theirb-

ather

by-

theirb-

ather

by-

theirb-

athertheir rifle fire broke up every counterattack ,untiluntil-

dislodgedunt-

idiestuntil-

dislodgedunt-

idiestuntil-

dislodgedunt-

idiestdislodged by the use of hand grenades.grenades. (7)7(7)-

An

7-An

(7)-

An

7-An

(7)-

An

7-An

( )

An intelligence report of June 3222 likewiselikewise-made

likew-ise

likewise-made

likew-ise

likewise-made

likew-isemade comment upon the effectiveness of the AmericansAmericans-

withAmeric-

ansAmericans-

withAmeric-

ansAmericans-

withAmeric-

answith the rifle.rifle. When occupyingocoupying positions closeolosefoliose to thethe-

German

ste-

ersman

the-

German

ste-

ersman

the-

German

ste-

ersmanGerman lines , snipers and sharpshooters appeared whowho-

were

sho-

wered

who-

were

sho-

wered

who-

were

sho-

weredwere very muchmuohmouth on the alert and fired upon every GermanGerma-

nsoldierGer-

mansGerma-

nsoldierGer-

mansGerma-

nsoldierGer-

manssoldier who showed himself , a method of ooombatombatwombat whichwhiohwhic-

hresultedhit-

cheswhio-

hresulwh-

oreswhic-

hresultedhit-

chesresultedresulresult ted in many losses and had "quitequite"quiqui" te a disturbingdisturbing-

effectdistur-

bingdisturbing-

effeotdistur-

bingdisturbing-

effectdistur-

bingeffecteffeot on our men.men. " In the attackattaok , however , continuedoontinuedcontinued-

theoontinued-

thecontinu-

edthe report , the AmericansAmerioansAmericana were totally inexperiencedinexperienoed ,

made very little useUBe of their fire arms , attackedattaoked inin-

mobs

in-

most

in-

mobs

in-

most(8)8( ) 237th Oer.OerGer.Ger.BoerGearGer-.Inf.

Er-inGer-

.Inf.Er-in . mobmobsa , and did not hold theirthe1r groundgr jndnd when subjectedlubjeotedclubfooted toto-

Inf.T-

obinto-

.evere

st-

opover

to-

severe

ob-

serverInf.Inf.Info. Div.DivDiv.-vol.

Div.-Vol.

Div.-Vol

.vol.volviol.* 4, , severe.evereevereRevere. machine gun and rifle firefire.,. (88(8-

8

8-

8

(8)8( ). Doo.DooDoc.DocDodo. 797976 , rrI-tems

It-emsItems l&kxlkxlx1&+ " Mf185186 X J'r" 1.$".,\Jl'Jl\$

-8-8-8-

(7)

8-

7

8-

What

-

' \

July 1 - TheT e 8thSthSeth Company'sCompanysCompany'CompanyCOlnpanConan ' s _DayDaLQ..fDaLQfAlfofJDoomofJDoom-

The

of.. DDoomDoom-

The

Dorot-

hea

?.!!!

The members of the 8th Company enjoyed aa-

nightn-

ighta-

nightn-

ighta-

nightn-

ightnight of comparative peace on June 30-July30July- 1.1. SoonSoo-

nafterSo-

nataSoo-

nafterSo-

nataSoo-

nafterSo-

nataafter daybreak , however , there fell on the Bois de lala-

Cote

pl-

acate

la-

Cote

pl-

acate

la-

Cote

pl-

acateCote 192 enemy artillery fire of unusual intensity.intensityintensity.-By

intensi-ty

.

By 9009:00;: AM the opponents'opponents' guns were registeringregistering-systematically

regis-teringregistering-

systematicallyregis-teringregistering-

systematicallyregis-teringsystematically on the 8th Company'sCompanysCompany' positions.positions. FromFrom-

theFrot-

hed

From-

theFrot-

hed

From-

theFrot-

hedthe woods it could be seen that the units of the 2d2d-

Battalion2d-

Battalion2d-

BattalionBattalion in the Bois de la RocheBroche were also sufferingsufferingf-

romsufferi-

ngfrom intense shel"1.shel1.shel1shel'shelshelf"' ., fire , that VauxAux was encircled in aa-

cordon

c-

ordona-

cordon

c-

ordon/' '(9)9( ) 201st20lst Oer.OerGer.GerBoerGearGer-

.Iif.Ger.-

IAf.Gr-

ief. cordon of burstingburstiIlg high explosive shells.shells. (9)9(9)-

Ifif.9I-

fif(9)-

The

9T-

he(9)-

The

9T-

he( )

Ifif.IfifIif.IifIAf.IAfZiffIf. Div.DivDiv.-Vol.

Div.-Vol.

Div.-Vol.

.Vol.VolViol. 3 , Doc.Doc. The bombardment continued unabated until50 , JulyJulJuly y 1.11-

.402d

1-

402d

.& IjOO1:00100Jo: PM when the enemy'senemysenemy' artillery activity increasedincreased-

402dincreased-

toincrease-

d402d Ger.GerGearGer-.Inf.

Er-inGer-

.InEr-

inGer-

.Inf.Er-in

.Inf.InfInfoIn! . Regt.RegtRetRegt.-Vol.

Ret-ool

Regt.-Vol

Ret-ool

. to systematic fire for destruction along the wholewhole-Vol.

who-le whol-

efront

shore-

frontwhol-

efront

shore-

frontVol.VolViol., 3 , Doc.DocDoc.-S

Doc-S

.

53S 3 , JulyJulJuly y 1.11-

.let

1-

let. front of the 402d Infantry.Infantry. Harassing fire fell onon-

theM-

onte

on-

theM-

onte&

1stlet , 2dad , 3d3d-Bns.

3d-Bns

3d-Bns.

3d-Bns

the approaches to the Bois de la Cote 192 and isolatedisolatedB-ns. isolated-the

isolat-edBns.BnsBans. , 402d402d-&er.

402-der

402d-Ger.

402d-Ger

402d-Ger.

402d-Ger&er.erGer.GerGear& . Inf.InfInfoInf.-Vol.

Inf.-Vol.

. the company from battalion headquarters.headquarters . The membersmembers-Vol.

memb-ersmembers-

of

membe-

rsVol.VolViol. 3=S ,Doc.Doc. 54 , of the 8thSthSeth Company hugged their inadequate shelters ;

July 1several were killed or wounded by shell fragments.fragments. (9)9(9)-

Just9J-

ust(9)-

Just9J-

ust(9)-

Just9J-

ust( )

Just before 6:00600: PM , drum fire fell on thethe-

ParisXOtBth-

eatricsth-

eParis.taRoadt-

heoristthe-

ParisMetah-

earseParis-XOtBParisXOtBParis-MetaMeta-ObParis-.taRoadParis.taRoadTara-.. Road , throwing poplar trees high into thethe-

air.

th-eir

the-

air.

th-eir

the-

air.

th-eirair.air. A barrage of crunchingcrunohing steel rolled through thethe-

fieldsSh-

effield

the-

fieldsSh-

effield

the-

fieldsSh-

effieldfields towards the Bois de la CoteOoteBooted 192 , creatingoreatingorating aa-

greatg-

reata-

greatg-

reata-

greatg-

reatgreat screensoreenDoreen of dust whichwhioh hid the roadway from sight.sighteight.eightsight.-

Planes

sight.-

Planes

eight.-

Planes

.

Planes with strange newnew.new-markingsnewmarkings.- markings darted overhead.overhead. (9)9(9)-

The

9T-

he(9)-

The

9T-

he(9)-

The

9T-

he( )

The barrage approachedapproaohed the woods , reachedreaohed thethe-

southern

tes-

tosterone

the-

southern

tes-

tosterone

the-

southern

tes-

tosteronesouthern edge.edge. Rifle bullets whizzed erraticallyerratiaallyerraticallyt-hrough

erratic-ally

erratiaallyt-hrough

erratic-ally

erraticallyt-hrough

erratic-allythrough the brush , fired by unseen hands behind thethe-

curtainte-

arstainthe-

curtainte-

arstainthe-

curtainte-

arstaincurtain of smoke and whirling dirt.dirt. The barragebarrage-

thunderedbar-ragebarrage-

thunderedbar-ragebarrage-

thunderedbar-ragethundered its way through to the northern edge of thethe-

bois.

the-

ories

the-

bois.

the-

ories

the-

bola.

T-heobois.boisbola.bola.

-8-8- 8-

(9)

8-

9

8-

(9)

8-

9

-

Noncommissioned officers prodded panicpanic-I

pani-c

panic-

strickenanti-

strikepanic-

strickenanti-

strikeI/stricken soldiers from their shelters to meet thethe-

attackhea-

rtache

the-

attackhea-

rtache

the-

attackhea-

rtacheattack boundb und to come.comecome.Acome. /AA/ gunner rushedrushe to his machinemachine-

gun

machi-ne

machine-

gun

machi-ne

machine-

gun

machi-negun in the southwesternsouthwestern portion of the woodsoodsodds , struggledstruggled-

ystruggle-

dstruggled-

franticallystru-

ggled . " . , - --_. . . ._. . " . - .

" ' , .y.. : " 'tt"' . ." frantically [@so1sod

".JJ.] to'to'tt' o change its positionposition'JaspositionJas''asas' as to cover thethe-

roadway

thr-

owaway

the-

roadway

thr-

owaway<I *f' i v>J"J" "

77J-JJ-* f(''" roadway leading from Cotete__

1757.7.

, fired one short burst.burstburs-t.'itf burs-titf bu-rst burst.-

An

bur-st

.'itfitfif'"/ -."J-"JJI'I'

, ,/'{ '

. An automatic rifle chugged in the brush near the machinemachine-

gun1s

machin-

egun's

machin-

egunsmach-

inemachin-

egun's

machin-

egunsmach-

inegun1sgun'sguns' position.position. The gunner slumped over his gun.gungun-

.Shouting

gu-

mshoeing

gun-

.Shouting

gu-

mshoeing

gun-

.Shouting

gu-

mshoeing

.

Shouting figures , clad in yellow-brownyellowbrown- ,

appeared everywhere in the woods.woods. Several cried inin-

perfectim-

perfectin-

perfectim-

perfectin-

perfectim-

perfectperfect German : ""SurrenderSurrender"SurrendersSurrenders! Surrender I1! II" The company'scompanyscompanycompany'-sacting

companys-

actingcompen-

satingcompany'-

sacting

companys-

actingcompen-

satingcompany'-

sacting

companys-

actingcompen-

sating'

acting officer , wounded , fled to the rear.rear. The feld-feldfelidfeld-

webel

flyw-

heelfeld-

webel

flyw-

heelfeld-

web

fiel-

ded

---webelwheelweb 1 , surrounded by Americans , darted through theirtheir-

linestheo-

ries---1-1011011-

0lines-

lines into the field.field. One rifle shot rang out ; thethe-

feldwebel

the-

feldwebel

the-

feldwebelfeldwebelflywheel dropped in his tracks.tracks. Leaderless soldierssoldiers-

ofsoldie-

rs--

of the 8th Company , seeking to flee to the rear , foundfound-

theirfon-

dlerfound-

theirfon-

dlerfound-

theirfon-

dlertheir avenues of escape closed.x'closedxclosedclosed.x'-By

closedxB-y

close-d

closedclosed'closedclosed'B-y

closedB-y close-d

. '-

By 6306:30:* PM , the 8th Company was one in littlelittlem-

orelitt-

lelittlem-

orelitt-

lelittlem-

orelitt-

lemore than name only.only. Eight of its enlisted personnelpersonnel-

layperson-

nellay dead in the Bois de la Cote 192.192192 .,* several , horriblyhorriblyw-

oundedhorr-

iblyhorriblyw-

oundedhorr-

iblywounded by shell fire , lay moaning in their sheltersshelters.shelters.-

sixtyshelt-

ers*.,

sixty were on their way to BourbetinDoublethink as prisoners ofof-

war.

sof-

tware

of-

war.

sof-

tware

of-

war.

sof-

twarewar.warwar.-

SITUATION

wo-

rkstation

war.-

SITUATION

wo-

rkstation

war.-

SITUATION

wo-

rkstation

.

SITUATION OF OgjpANYLogjamCOMPANY M , 33d23d UU.S.USU.U. 8.8B.B. INFANTRYINFANTRY-jRIOR

Infan-try INFANTRY-PRIOR

INFAN-TRY

INFANTR-

YCompany

Infa-ntry

Mf ;jRIORPRIORjuror TO ATTACK ON BOISSO S DE LA COTE 192-

Company

192lsaElsalsa-

Company

sa-rcomaCompany MK of the 23d U.S.USU.9.U9.U9. . Infantry hadhad-

Map

ad-apt

had-

partioipatedhad-

Map

ad-aptMap NoNo.No,. 1 participatedpartioipated in the attack of June 6 whichwhioh had resultedresulted-

inresulte-

din the'the' lose1088 to the Germans of the village of BoureschesBouresohesOutreachesNourishesBouresches-

and

Bouresohes-

and

Outreac-hes

Bulrush-esand the southernlouthernLutheran edges of the Bois de Belleau.BelleauBelle. In thisthise-

ngagement

thise-

ngagement

thise-

ngagementengagement the companyoomp&n1oompn1& had sufferedsutteredshuttered heavy casualties.casualtiesoasualties.oasualtiescasualties.-

The

oasualties.-

The

casualti-es

.

The followingfollow1ng week it was severely gassedgas8ed with aa-

resultantr-

esultanta-

resultantr-

esultanta-

resultantr-

esultantresultant disastrousd18aatroul losslOll in personnel.personnelperlonnel.perlonnel. By the middlemiddle-

7.. -7-7-7-

"J

7-

J

7-

Noncommissioned

-I

III

L

of June , two weeks after entering the sectorseotor northwestnorthwest-

of

Northwe-stof Chateau ThierryTheory , there remained with the unit onlyonly-

one

nyl-on

only-

one

nyl-on

only-

one

nyl-onone officer and less than two score soldiers of thethe-

organizationter-

rorizationthe-

organizationter-

rorizationthe-

organizationter-

rorization"

organization as constituted on June 1.11-

.Character

1-

Character

1-

.Character

1-

Character

. -

Character of ReplacementsReplacements-

ReplacementsReplac-

ementsReReplacements-

ReplacementsReplac-

ementslacementsplacementslacements-

ReplacementsReplacements were received during thetheperiodcheerioperiod-periodperiod-

Juneperi-

odperiod-

June

peri-od

-eriodperioderiod-

June

per-iodJune 15-171517- for reorganization of the company.company. TheseThese-

wereTh-

eseThese-

wereTh-

eseThese-

wereTh-

esewere noncommissioned officers and soldiers from thethe-sLj'

the-sLj

thr-ees

theV-

ISIthei-

sticthe-

77I,3the-

77I3s-Lj'sLj'Lj,--*-77I,3/77I,377I377I,3a77I3a/VISIVISIVII'/, *,", 3 '/ 01'\/-01'01a//-a0-1'41st

0-141st

a-

41stVV-

41st/'\/--_

41st National Guard - intelligent youths of excellentexcellentp-

hysique.exce-

llentexcellentp-

hysique.exce-

llentexcellentp-

hysique.exce-

llentphysique.physique. All had undergone several months of trainingtraining-in

trainin-gin small arms fire ; the noncommissioned officers , thethe-

most

the-

rmos

the-

most

the-

rmos

the-

most

the-

rmosmost of whom had seen National Guard service on thethe-

Mexican

the-

oretician

the-

Mexican

the-

oretician

the-

Mexican

the-

oreticianMexican border , hadh d received instruction in the firingfiring-of

firin-gof German weapons.weapons. The morale of these replacementsreplacements-

was

replaceme-nts

,was high.high. They required only front line experience toto-

become

to-

baccoto-

become

to-

baccoto-

become

to-

baccobecome excellent combat soldiers.soldierssoldiers.-

For

soldie-rs

soldiers.-

Map

soldie-

rs

.

For eight days , beginning June 18 , thethe-

reorganizedthe-

reorganizedthe-

reorganizedreorganized CompanyOompany M , still at reduced strength , heldheld-

Map

he-ld

held-

a

hel-d

held-

Map

he-ldMap No.No. 1 a support position in the patch of woods immediatelyimmediately-

southimmedia-

telysouth of the Bois de BelleauBelle , overlooking Boureaches.BoureachesBouresches.BoureschesOutreachesBoureaches-

.RelievedOutre-

achesBouresches-

.Relieved

Bouresches-

.Relieved

.

Relieved from this support position on the night ofof-

June

soj-

ourned

of-

June

soj-

ourned

of-

June

soj-

ournedJune 262726-272627*- , the company reverted to the reserve andand-

went

can-

dent

and-

went

can-

dent

and-

went

can-

dentwent into bivouacbivouao in woods to the south of the Paris-ParisParis.Paris-

Metz

Parlia-

ment

Paris-

Metz

Parlia-

ment

Paris.-

MetzPa-

ris-.

MetzMet highway.highwayhighway-

.Receipthigh-way

highway-

.Reoeipthigh-way

highway-

.Receipthigh-way

.

ReceiptReoeipt of Untrained ReplacementsReplaoementsReplacements-

While

Replacem-ents

Replaoements-

While

Replacements-

whileReplacem-

entsWhile in the reserveeservedeserve bivouac , on JuneJUDe 282S28-

there

2S-

there

28-

therethere were receivedreoeived additional replacementsreplaoements to bringbring-

the

brigh-

tenbring-

the

brigh-

tenbring-

the

brigh-

tenthe companyoompany to authorized strength.strength. Half a hundredhundred-

ofhundr-

edof the latest arrivalsarrival.arrival. were drafted enlisted men ,

French-AmericansFrenchAmericans- from LouisianaLoui8iana who had reported toto-

theirto-

othier

to-

theirto-

othier

to-

theirto-

othiertheir training oampscampsamps barely six weeks before they foundfound-

themselves

found-

themselvelfound-

themselvesthemselvesthemselvel members of a companyoompany serving in an activeaotiyeHattieactive-

8

aotiye-

8-8-8- 8-

of

8-

i

-i

4

/.:

.

: . . ,-.. _ .-JJ-J-

of

O-

f

sector on the WesternIlesternLester Front.Front. Few of these LouisianansLouisianans-

had

Louisiana-nshad ever fired aa.. rifle , service or otherwise ; none werewere-

j

wer-e

wer-

esoldiers

aero-

solizes-===== -

j -.r.

," soldiers except in name.name. June 29 was spent in thethe-

reorganizationth-er eth-er the-

reorganization"1 d - ' ! r--

reorganization of the company into the normal fourfour-

platoons.

form-

ulationsfour-

platoonform-

ulationfour-

platoons.

form-

ulationsplatoons.platoonsplatoonplatoons.-

Reconnaissance

platoons.-

Reconnaissances.ss-

.Reconnaissance

.

Reconnaissance of Bois de la Cote 193192193-

In

192-

In

192-

InIn the evening of June 29 , the companycompa.nycompany-

commander

compa-

nionatecompa.ny-

commander

compa-

nionatecompany-

commander

compa-

nionate.

commander of CompanyCon any M received instructions from thethe-

3d

the-

3d

the-

3d3d Battalion'sBattalions' commander to accompany the latter on aa-

reconnaissance

r-

econnaissance

a-

reconnaissa

r-

econnaissance

a-

reconnaissance

r-

econnaissancereconnaissancereconnaissace of the German positions between the BoieBoisBoiseBoie-

de

Bodi-

ed

Bois-

de

Boi-se

Bois-

de

Boi-sede la Cote 192 and Vaux.VauxAux. With'with' the unit commander werewere-

towher-

eto

were-

towher-

eto

were-

towher-

etoto go his four platoon leaders , three of whom werewere-

sergeants.

were-

sergeants.

were-

sergeants.sergeants.sergeants. Proceeding to the Bois de la MoretteCorvette beforebefore-

daybreak

enfor-

ceablebefore-

d

befor-e

before-

daybreak

enfor-

ceabledaybreakd break on June 30 , the reconnaissance party ofof-

Company

H-

offman

of-

Company

H-

offman

of-

Company

H-

offmanCompany M entered the ravine leading east from BourbetinDoublethinkBourbetin-

which

Bourbetin-

which

Bourbetin-

whichwhich was held by a company of the 9th U.S.US. . Infantry.InfantryInfantry.-

HereInfan-

try.

Here the entire day was spent in a detailed reconnaisreconnais-recommitsreconnais-sance

reconnais-

'sancereconnais-

sance¬-

sance'sancestance' of the Bois de la Cote 192 and the Bois de lala-

P.oche

ap-

achela-

Poche

ap-

achela-

oche

cl-

ocheP.ochePocheochePoochesocher?. and the approaches thereto.theretothereto.-

Reporttheret-

oforethereto.-

Reporttheret-

oforethereto.-

Reporttheret-

ofore.

Report had it that on July'July'

4 Company M wouldwoul-

dparticipatewoul-

dparticipatewoul-

dparticipateparticipate in an assault on the Bois de la1a CoteOoteBooted 192.192192.-

On

192-

On

192.-

On

192-

On

192.-

On

192-

On

.

On the return journey to the company'scompanyscompany' bivouacbivouao , thethe-

company

Et-

hiopian

the-

company

Et-

hiopian

the-

company

Et-

hiopiancompany commander formulated plansplane with his onlyonly-

lieutenantonly-

lieutenantonly-

lieutenantlieutenant for suchsuohsough instructioninstruotion for the LouisianaLouisiana-

replacementsLou-

isianaLouisiana-

replacementsLou-

isianaLouisiana-

replacementsLou-

isianareplacements in rifle and automatic rifle marksmanshipmarksmanship-

andmarksmans-

hipand the use of rifle and hand grenades as would bebe-

practicabled-

epreciablebe-

praoticablea-

berrational

be-

practicabled-

epreciablepracticablepraoticable in the short perioAper101period of four days.daysdays-

.Orders

das-yures

days-

.Orders

das-yures

days-

.Orders

das-yures

.

Orders for the AttackAttaok of July 11-

No

1-

NoNo10 sooner had the company'scompanysoompany'soompanyscompany' reconnaissancereoonnaissancereconnaissance-group

reconnaissa-nce

,

group reached the bivouacbivouao than there was placedplaoed in thethe-

hands

thr-

eadsthe-

hands

thr-

eadsthe-

hands

thr-

eadshands of the companyoompany commanderoOlllllanderoonnnander the attackattaok orderorder.. . TheTh-

eassault

He-

adsailTh-

eaS8ault

Th-

eassault

He-

adsailassaultaS8ault would be made at 6:006008:00800: PM the following day.dayday.-

9

day-

9

day.-

t'

day-

t

da-

y

.

If.Ift'If.tIftifft't'

.

tIf.t -9-9-9--9.-

c.

9-

c

9.-

M

9-

M

- ---\\

"

_ . _ _ _ . _ . _ _ . . .c.c. . . . _ _ _ _ _n _ _ "

.

..

_ _. , ._ ........ . .. ' , . ,.-.<_"_..xx..... ..... f-.n-f.nf.-

nsector

... -.'rr' . *- 1W.r1Wr.*....._.* ..,*..*.., *.. _ . ....4W'.4W4W. *' . . " .". ' ..

. ... . .nwlNnwlNnewel.. .. ... ,f.f..,!. .. . ..k. ,. - ," . . ,. M.fMMfMMm.*,.. *

.

',.. rwrw-

J'r9.7.r

rw-

Jr97r

*.'.- '.

_ . .. ,. . '"rraw.scraws' ': '. ''-' s''-'N- sr''' vea.vSveavSeaves-+ r.ASwrASwrAw- ""

. , .' 'rraw.-rraw.raw''. . ' 'iwiw-. . . ...... . . . "rI'rI" , jfBfWSjiff' *-*- '", A.A.11." < h<"*' ''*'M.M'.' rrM_rr** fJrM.JrM_Jorum-rMMMM' ' '.

. '

.. . ' -",.... . . ... ' . . . . . .-. - " ' .&.M-.M--"' --- -

..' : ' ;

J'r9.7.rJr97.rJr97r(

-_:';.' :). . :;

:.. .

:'

... .

:

. .

:.

The companyoompany would move into its position on the lineline-

oflin-

eline-

oflin-

eline-

oflin-

eof departure during the early morning hours of July 1.1.J/JV/J-

(10)J-

10(10)10( ) Reeds.ReedsRecds.RecdsReds. 2d2d-Div.

2d-Div

2d-Div.

2d-Div

2d-Div.

2d-Div

(10)10( )

Div.Div. Vol.VolViol. 3.33-

.Field3-

Field3-

.Field3-

Field3-

.Field3-

Field.

Field OrderOrder-No.

Ord-erFrench troops were to attack Hill 204 ; twotwo-

American

two-

American

two-

AmericanNo.No. 43 , 23d23d-Inf.

23d-Inf

23d-Inf.

23d-Inf

23d-Inf.

23d-InfInf.InfInfo. American battalions , one from each of the 9th and 23d23d-

U.

23d-

U&

Reeds.ReedsRecds.RecdsReds. 2d2d-Div.

2d-Div

2d-Div.

2d-Div

2d-Div.

2d-Div

U.U. S.S. Infantry Regiments , were to assault the GrermanGermanReranGrerma-

nlines

Grena-

dinesGerma-

nlines

Geral-dine

Germa-

nlines

Geral-dine

Div.Div. Vol.VolViol. 5.55-

.Messages5-

Messages5-

.Messa.ges5-

Messages5-

.Messages5-

Messages.

MessagesMessa.gesMessages-23dMessa.ges-23d

. lines from VauxAux to the Bois de lala.. Cote 192 , bothboth-

inclusive.both-

inclusive.both-

inclusive.23d Inf.InfInfoInf.-June

Inf.-JWle

Inf.-June

.JuneJWleWale 30 inclusive.inclusive. Company M , on a frontage of 350 meters ,

would constitute the left flank during the attack , itsits-exposed

int-

erposedits-

exposedint-

erposedits-

exposedint-

erposedexposed flank to be protected by a strong combat patrolpa.trolpatrolf-

rompat-

rolpa.trol-

from

pat-rol

patrolf-

rompat-

rol.

from the battalion'sbattalions' support company.company. The finalfinal-

objectivefinal-

objectivefinal-

objectiveobjective assigned the company was the northern edgeedge-

ofed-

geof the BoisioBoisBOis > la Cote 192.192. (10)10(10)-

he

10-he

(10)-

The

10T-

he( )

- Thehe artilleryar illeryMiller plan for the engagement calledcalled-for

call-ed

called-

forcall-

edcalled-

forcall-

edfor several hours of fire of destructiond.structiondstructionddetruction. on the GermanGerma-

npositions

Germa-

npositions

Germa-

npositionspositions and neutralization by gas >, followed by aa-

raking

b-

arracking

a-

raking

b-

arracking

a-

raking

b-

arrackingraking 0ff the barrage zone from 5:00500: PM to 5:57557: PM ,

with high explosive and shrapnel.shrapnel. Then for threethree-

minutes

hors-

emintthree-

minutes

hors-

emintthree-

minutes

hors-

emintminutes a barrage would be laid down 200 meters inin-

frontin-

fantin-

frontin-

fantin-

frontin-

fantfront of the line of departure.departure. Thereafter it wouldwould-

advance

would-

advance

would-

advanceadvance 100 meters every two minutes until the assaultaesault-aesaultassault-assault-

ing

aesault-

ing

assault-

ing

assault-

ing

¬-.

ingKing troops had entered the southern edges of the woods ,

whereupon it would advanceadvanoe 100 meters every threethree-

minutes.

hors-

emintthree-

minutes.

hors-

emintthree-

minutes.

hors-

emintminutes.minutes. Five hundred metersnetersme tereTerre beyond the objectiveobjeotive thethe-

barragehe-

arablethe-

barragehe-

arablethe-

barragehe-

arablebarrage would remain fixed from'from' 6:32632: PM , graduallygradually-

decreasing.grad-

uallygradually-

decreasing.grad-

uallygradually-

decreasing.grad-

uallydecreasing.decreasing.

The rate of advanceadvanoe for the infantrymen wouldwould-

be

wou-ldbe 100 meters every two minutes from the line ofof-

departure

of-

departure

of-

departuredeparture to the southern edges of the woods , therethere-there-

afterthere-

afterthere-

after¬-

after 100 metersmeter.meter. every threeth ee minutes until the objectiveobjeotiveobjective-

had

objeotive-

hadobjecti-

vehad been attained.attained.

-10-10-10-

e

10.I-

.

10-

I

-'",

"

. . . . . . . . . ,. . . , .. ..... . . . ,..,.... .. . .. . ,

._..... _. .. , . . " . .._ -.. . tKjkfKs-Yw...+*h.FxhFxFAX ; .VV. .11\ AM-!% - .' '. r" 44.w4w"'-"m-m+ - .',MhM.MhM-HmM" * "

.' ;: Mn* Y tf.r.tfr_fartf.r..a** -.a/.a-. .a-

v

/* -

. ., . ., . , .

. . .,. . .. . .. , . ,. . ...._.. _.

.,.. _._. .lk'lka.a', '' '. 1"1" I '. '.jc1A..yjc1A.yjc1Ay\ :; ', '. ' ', aMr.aMrMr

. ." v..-.. -..nn. -. .-... . . . .. . . . . .p.p.e. Mtv_...*..:. .. "1'NIM.W/L1NIM.WL1'NIM.W1NIMWL>#-%*'''&-*.**'/'*'' *"' .MM-.- * >' .h.RVhRVRV-it y''' a.s". .rINrINErin*.4U*. .1M1MIV+ > '. ; >. " .I.INr/*. *r. w.w* .rw.m.rwmwm

.'

. ,. ' . 1&

; :;&t&;\I-I\ I-

V

':

*..;- :. . -. .

-' .

.

Information Concerning the EnemyEnemy-

Company

Enemy-

Company

Enemy-

CompanyCompany M lay in the Bourbetin-MonneauxBourbetinMonneauxBourbetin-Monnea.uxMonnea.uxDoublethinkOnegaBourbetinMonneaux-

ravineBourbetinMonnea.ux-

ravine

- .

ravine throughout the morning andB.ndBndBand. afternoona.fternoon. of July 1 ,

intermingled with a unit of the 9th Infantry whichwhic-hlater

wh-ich

whic-hlater

wh-ich

whic-hlater

wh-ichlater was to move east down the ravine to participateparticipate-in

participa-tein the attack on the village of Vaux.VauxAux. During the coursecourse-

ofcour-

seof the long , wearisome day , the company was visited byby-

Map

b-mp

by-

agentsB-

arentsby-

Map

b-mpMap No.No. 22-

Map

agents of the 9th Infantry'sInfantrysInfantry' combat intelligence group.groupgroup.-

The

gro-up

group.-

The

gro-up

group.-

The

gro-up

.

The Bois de la Cote 192 wasW8.SW8S. held by approximately aa.a-

company

a-

ccompany

a-

.company

a-

ccompany

a-

company

a-

ccompany

.

company of the 201st20lst German InfantryInfa.ntry. Division , so80so-

Company

sy-

cophancy

80-

COLupany

so-

Company

sy-

cophancyCompanyCOLupanyCleanly M1sM'sMsMI' s officers were informed.informed. Three enemy machinemachine-

gunsmach-

inemachine-

gunsmach-

inemachine-

gunsmach-

ineguns were located in the bois , their normal fields ofof-

fireaf-

faire

of-

fireaf-

faire

of-

fireaf-

fairefire being in the direction of the Bois des Clerernbauts.ClerernbautsClerembauts.ClerembautsClererabauts.ClererabautsClearerCerebratesCerebraClerernbauts.-

The

Clerembauts.-

The

Clererabauts.-

The

Cerebrat-es

.

The troops on the other side of no-man's-landnoman'smanslandno-manls-landmanls- ' - werewere-

GermanPoles.

were-

GermanFales.

were-

GermanPoles.German-Poles.GermanPoles.German-Fales.Fales.PolesFables. "AA" outfit " stated- bush-leaguebushleague- , anan-

intelligenceu-

nintelligence

an-

intelligenceu-

nintelligence

an-

intelligenceu-

nintelligenceintelligence sergeant , from which had come severalseveral-

desertersseve-

raltiesseveral-

desertersseve-

raltiesseveral-

desertersseve-

raltiesdeserters into the lines held by the 9th Infantry.InfantryInfantry.-

Map

Infantry-

.To

Infantry-

man

Infant-ry

.

Map No.No. 2 -' To the company officers also were issuedissued-

airplaneiss-

uedissued-

arplaneiss-

uedairplanearplanewarplane..{ photographs of the Bois de la Cote 192 and aa-

largescales-

alvagesa-

largescales-

alvageslarge-scalelargescale- map which disclosed the purportedpurportad normalnorma-

lpositionsnorm-

alizations

norma-

lpositionsnorm-

alizations

norma-

lpositionsnorm-

alizationspositions of the enemy machine gunsgunBgun as being on thethe-

westernte-

eterthe-

westernte-

eterthe-

westernte-

eterwestern edgee'dge' of the woods , barbed wire entanglementsentanglements-

toentanglemen-

tsto the southern front , and individual rifle pits leadingleading-

fromleadi-

ngleading-

fromleadi-

ngleading-

fromleadi-

ngfrom the BoleBois de la1a Cote 192 to the Bois de la1a Roche.RocheBrocheRoche-

.In

Crochet-

ing

.

In the field midway between the two woods were twotwo-

machine

sto-

maching

two-

maohine

sto-

maching

two-

machine

sto-

machingmachinemaohine gun emplacements.emplacementsemplacements.-

To

emplacemen-

ts.

To the untutored eye of the lieutenant , thethe-

airplanehe-

artlandthe-

airplanehe-

artlandthe-

airplanehe-

artlandairplane photographs showed little more than veryvery-

dietinoteru-

ditionvery-

distinoteru-

ditionvery-

distincteru-

ditiondietinotdistinotdistinctdieting paths along the edges'edges' of the Bois de la CoteCote-

leaCo-

te192lea and connectingoonnecting that woods with the BoisBole de la RocheRooheBrocheBrooches ,

and a number of short , indistinctindistinot paths from thethe-

northern

eth-

nographer

the-

northern

eth-

nographer

the-

northern

eth-

nographer. III northern edge of the woodswoodlwool to the roadway leading toto-

11

to-

11-11-11-11-f

11.-u.

11-u

-f/

. .,... . ...... .._ . . . . , .'. . *.. ... _-* --MM"-"*,..,*> *_-**_**.*+ .- ' 'J'-'J'J'J'-

tJ-

t"' .' , '.-

. . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . " *-**-'-- t ** ' "' *. .

. . .. . . . . . . "" ' S, ft'

. . .:. :. ,. .y.y. .*.,. a..taataBata....<. .. *.;-;.;;*.u.u.. "...

-.

- -. ... *.. , " w"' *."""" *-" '."""' '.

.. ., . ., . . . . . . .

. . . . . "" '.*. "-"' ", ' ,. "

. ... , 7 ' . , . ,*.,. : .t.t : :':". .

.

'

..

' . :'ZtiZtiTai' -_ '

. .\ +,

:, .

. . . . . .

.'

"

. . ' .... .

.L/.L:. .LRl..wn4LRlwn4."

/ Rl..wn4Rl.wn4Rlwn4,

,. .

;:-.!

:.t"l1.tl1.tl1:".

....; i&.

:_'6ILfYi-YiY-ii I-i &-

. '

1W.": .

the German rtar.rtarraar.raarrear.reartarradar. The platoon leader'sleaders' surmise waswa.s. thatthat-

the

thatc-

hed

that-

the

thatc-

hed

that-

the

thatc-

hedthe well marked trails were those used by enemy contactconta.ctcontact-

patrolscon-

tactconta.c-

tpatrolscon-

tactcontact-

patrolscon-

tact.

patrols at night ; that the indistinct lanes were shortshort-

cutsshort-

cutsshort-

cutscuts from the woods to the roadway.roadwayroadway.-

The

roadw-ay

.

The timely receipt of this information concon-con-

cerningcon-

cerningcon-

cerning-¬-

cerningcorning the enemy permitted study of the map andand-

airplaneA-

dairand-

airplaneA-

dairand-

airplaneA-

dairairplane photographs by every noncommissioned officerofficer-

ofoffic-

erof the company.companycompany.-

The

compa-ny

.

The Company Attack OrderOrder-

company

Fore-

woman

Order-

The

Cordie-

rite-- fheThehe company attackatta.ck. order was issued verballyverbally-on

verball-yon the line of departure where the company commandercommander-

was

comman-

derwas enabled to point out to his subordinates the objecobjec-objectobjec-

tiveobjec-

tiveobjec-

tive¬-

tivetie and the apDroachesapproaches thereto.thereto. Three platoons werewere-

to

wher-

eto

were-

to

wher-

eto

were-

to

wher-

etoto form the assaultassault wave , the platoon commandedcoacoal nandedbanded by thethe-

only

tho-

rnily

the-

only

tho-

rnily

the-

only

tho-

rnilyonly lieutenant present to be the center and guidingguiding-

unit.guidi-

ngguiding-

unit.guidi-

ngguiding-

unit.guidi-

ngunit.unit. The sergeant platoon leadersleedersbleeders of the right andan-dleft

ca-ndle

an-dleft

ca-ndle

an-dleft

ca-ndleleft assault platoons were to be under the directdirectc-

ommanddir-

ectdirecto-

ommand

disco-mmend

directc-

ommanddir-

ectcommandoommand of the lieutenant.lieutenant. The fourth platoon was toto-

constituteto-

constituteto-

constituteconstitute the support , under directdireot command of thethe-

company

Et-

hiopian

the-

company

Et-

hiopian

the-

company

Et-

hiopiancompany commander.commander. The assault platoons were to attackattack-

withatta-

ckattack-

withatta-

ckattack-

withatta-

ckwith one section in the front wave , followed at fiftyfifty-meters

fit-ment

fifty-meters

fit-ment

fifty-meters

fit-mentmeters by the second section.sectionsection.-

The

secti-on

section.-

The

secti-on

section.-

The

secti-on

.

The companyoompany commanderoommander had given seriousserious-

considerationserious-

oonsiderationserious-

considerationconsiderationoonsideration to the launching of an attack by a unitunit-

whichni-

tricunit-

whichni-

tricunit-

whichni-

tricwhich , with the exceptionexoeption of barely more than a dozendoze-nsoldiers

dow-nslides

doze-nsoldiers

dow-nslides

doze-nsoldiers

dow-nslidessoldiers , had never participatedpartioipated in offensive actionaotionabortion -a companyoompany whichwhioh had in its ranks half a hundredhundre-dtotally

undete-ctably

hundre-dtotally

undete-ctably

hundre-dtotally

undete-ctablytotally untrained men.men. His decisiondeoision , expressed in thethe-

company

Et-

hiopian

the-

company

Et-

hiopian

the-

company

Et-

hiopiancompany attaokattack order , was that in the event of aa-

wavering

w-

averinga-

wavering

w-

averinga-

wavering

w-

averingwavering of the assault lines during the advanceadvanoe ,

marchingmarohing fire - partiallypartiall1 aimed fire from the hip whilewhile-

in

whili-ng: in motion - would be 'employedemployed' at such time as thethe-

lieutenantthe-

lieutenantthe-

lieutenantlieutenant thought advisable.advisableadvlsable.advlsableadvlsable.-

12

advlsable-

12

advisable.-

rll

advisab-le

.

:1. ,1818-12-12,- _-L1 _ _, .... _ _ . _ . _ __ h _ _ _ _ . . '__ _ _ _ __ _ _____.._._ _ __

' 11-

ji . . . , . . ,. ....

.__ _ .-II- ; ' . ... , , .. . . .

. .._.. _ ._. ... ., ,. ... . . , , . ._.._ ,,..... . ' ' . .*.._..*... -a.a.-

. . . "". ...*_ji**</, .....%... . -. "' ".... ,4.f4.f4f,* .I'It'. .I'It'1-

IIIiV.

IIt1I-

IIiV

; ' !!T'T*''.'< * --nr>> .,. . , . tMtt-MM--tMttMMtomtit,mnrmr..- * *--. '" '" "' : . ' Jf...ii, LG11F*&* .rrt.r.. \:. v.r<*<n#,.> yy-

n'4

y-

n4

..'.. * '. * '. ". '': W'W** '*' '' ' - ". ' "

' r'rIf"fI'rrIffIriffr'rIf"fI'a.* *"' - V44'r//coNN.V44rcoNN.V44'rV44rcoNN.Conan*'*_/M/ ' *#- tr ' .11s *, *e** *ma 'U.vUvS4.v..warw.vwarwwar* *. , ,

.

n'4n4*"' ,) , fS.fS, '. ,. " . ". . ". . " '. ,.,. . ,. . . . . . . . .. .1111.NN. < ,. . ,. . .0/.0.4.4.4*.-\:1.1.:1.1.0:1./ . , 111.111.- ; .; .. . , *\ . :. i.i' . ., .,. . . . ". , ,. f'lt.fltfelt',. .' ", , ,. 5.5" "'. ". : ' "H'WNHWNHEWN"' ' ' '' ' ' \ ' ' ' ' '' ''''' ,' ,' ' ' ' ; ' ' ' . ; . "of"of" -"

-1IIIiV.1IIIiV.rllrill- MAP' , .-

,

> < ' ii i ti ; " ,< '

.

'.

" , '.,

'.?;*.

>.

'\, :.sJ.IfJ"oIsJIfJoIsJ.IfJ"oIasJIfJoIa,. ; ", -

. ' !,'i.I'iI,< ,( >' ,; {"ffJ"! { -aa- ' I

theithe

With'KithKith' the danger of accidental discharge fromfro-mrifles

bro-mides

fro-mrifles

bro-mides

fro-mrifles

bro-midesrifles held by men with no training in mind , the companycopa.nycompany-

commander

comp-anionate

co-cocompany-

commander

comp-anionate

- pa.nypanypankypa.ny-

commander

.

commander directed that the commissioned platoon leaderleader-

maintainlead-

smanleader-

maintainlead-

smanleader-

maintainlead-

smanmaintain throughout the company'scompanyscompany' assault wave aa-

straights-

traighta-

straights-

traighta-

straights-

traightstraight linelinejline; that the barrage should be followedfollowed-

closelyfollo-

wedfollowed-

closelyfollo-

wedfollowed-

closelyfollo-

wedclosely - at as nearlynear1 y 200 metersmeterneters: s as possible./possible.possiblepossible-

.Situationpos-

siblepossible.possible. J/J-

Situation

S-

ituationL-LL-

Situation

S-

ituation-_ _._.__ _ .

Situation as to SuppliesSupplies-

For

Suppli-es

S pliesplies-

For

pli-es

lies_For the attack and consolidation of positionspositions-

thereafterposi-

tionspositions-

thereafterposi-

tionspositions-

thereafterposi-

tionsthereafter each soldier had been issued one large tootoo-

a

to-o

tooQtootooQ-

ato-

o

$

a pick or shovel.shovel. In addition each.each. enlisted man carriedcarriedt-

wocarri-

edtwo sandbags , one , of which was employed as a , grenadegrenade-

carrier.

gren-ade

grenade-

carrier.

gren-ade

grenade-

carrier.

gren-adecarrier.carrier. Rifle and hand, grenades had been issued , butbut-

tromblons

bot-

tomlandsbut-

tromblons

bot-

tomlandsbut-

tromblons

bot-

tomlandstromblonstrombones for the rifle grenades had not reached thethe-

company

Et-

hiopian

the-

company

Et-

hiopian

the-

company

Et-

hiopiancompany prior to the hour designated for the attack.attackattack.-

The

atta-ck

attack.-

The

atta-ck

attack.-

The

atta-ck

.

The troops had left their bivouac with cartridge beltsbelts-and

bel-ts

belts-and

bel-ts

belts-and

bel-tsand automaticautomatic rifle clips filled with ammunition.ammunition8.nmuni8nmuni. ! tion.tionion. TheThe-

two

Th-

eftThe-

two

Th-

eftThe-

two

Th-

efttwo additional bandoleers of ball ammunitiona.mmuniammuniammonia. tionion which ,

according to the regiment'sregiments' attack order , were to bebe-

carriedd-

ecriedbe-

carriedd-

ecriedbe-

carriedd-

ecriedcarried by each soldier , failed to arrive at the lineline-

oflin-

eline-

oflin-

eline-

oflin-

eof departure.departuredeparture.-

The

departu-re

de par tureturret .

The Hour PrecedingP ecedlngreceding thehe AttackAttack-

ShortlyAtt-

acksAttack-

ShortlyAtt-

acksAttack-

ShortlyAtt-

acksShortly before 5:00500:; PM , the troops of thethe-

9th

the-

9th

the-

t

thef-

t

9th U.U. 8.8S.S. Infantry , who were to participate in thethe-

attackhea-

rtache

the-

attackhea-

rtache

the-

attackhea-

rtacheattack , began their movement in the Bourbetin-MonneauxBourbetinMonneauxBourbetln-MonneauxBourbetlnDoublethinkOnegaBourneBourbetinMonneaux-

ravine

BourbetlnMonneaux-

ravine

-ravine toward their line of departure in front of Vaux.VauxAuxVaux-

.This

Vacu-

ities

Vaux-

.This

Vacu-

ities

Vaux-

.This

Vacu-

ities

.

This activityaotivity was noted by the watchful observationobservatio-nv'

observatio-nv

observati-on

observation-

postsobserva-

tion.

.... . 'v'v'(11)11(11( ) 201st Oer.OerGer.GerBoerGearGer.-Inf.

Er-in. posts of the 401st German Infantry , on Hill 204.204. (11)11(11)-

Inf.11I-

nf(11)-

Inf.11I-

nf(11)-

At

11-At

( )

Inf.InfInfo. Div.DivDiv.-Vol.

Div.-Vol.

Div.-Vol.

.Vol.VolViol. 3 , At 5:00500: PM , German artillery fire crashed into thethe-Doo.

Th-eo

the-Doc.

Th-eo

the-

ravine.

te-rrain

Doo.DooDoc.DocDodo. 50 ,July 4 ravine.ravine. The left assault platoon of Company M14: waswas-

caught

was-

caught

was-

caughtt caught in a& rain of steel , seven men being killedk111eki11ed andand-

fifteenhan-

dwritten

and-

fifteenhan-

dwritten

and-

fifteenhan-

dwrittenfifteen wounded.wounded. Runners from battalion headquartersheadquarters-

in

headquarteri-ngin BourbetinBourbet1nDoublethink reported to the battalion commanderconnander thatthat-

13

that-

13

that-

13-13-1313-

M

13-

a

- -

a 13"r

' , ' , . ' . '''. -, ., . . " . . .". ,/ ..:; ....V.V,,. . M...frpryalferry. *.. .-*. <_{L.L. -.. , . . .tt. *.. . *4 , 4tM.. !, .. ,-.. ..AA*,. .

.IPM.VIPMVPM<__*._IR*'"_ . t/ "rrn" wNaWA__""'.aiaaria"' ''' ':' -. ,:' , . . t< t.t, ,. ,. . ,. ' ., ..-.-xWWM-rMM.-xWWMrMM..1--.1WWmmr1NKV..N.r1NKVN.r1NKVN. __

.. -. N.N_.-.... - "...' ' . I't.--I't.ItP./l.NA4Mt'Pl.NA4MtP.l.NA4Mt'lNA4Mt..,. */' . .......*-*--' . .

'

A*i87\77i*:': " *- j ) *

.; :

. .

. ,\ ' - ;iAw

L* * *:

<

CompanyColliPanyCoupanyCompliancy, M had been shot to pieces and could not bebe-

located.b-

loatedbe-

located.b-

loatedcX,

(13)13(1212(12)( ) Reeds.ReedsRecds.RecdsReds. 2d2d-Div.

2d-Div

2d-Div.

2d-Div

2d-Div.

2d-Div

located.located. (12)12(12)-

As

12-As

( )

Div.Div. Vol.5.Vol5.Vol5Vol.5.-Messages

Vol5-Messages

Vol.5.-Messages

Vol5-Messages

Vol.5.-Messages

Vol5-Messages

. .

MessagesMessages-23d

As the supporting American artillery beganbegan-

tobega-

n23d Inf.InfInfoInf-.July

Inf-.July

Inf-.July

.July 11l-

.

1-

l

to rake the barrage zone withw1 h high explosive andand-

shrapnelha-

ndshake

and-

shrapnelha-

ndshake

and-

shrapnelha-

ndshakeshrapnel , however ,) the GermanGerillanGuerilla bombardmentbombardment graduallygTaduallygradually-

abated.gradu-

allygTadually-

abated.gradu-

allygradually-

abated.gradu-

allyabated.abated. Sufficient time remained for a hasty reorganireorgani-reorganizereorgani-

zationreorgani-

zationreorgani-

zation¬-

zationaction of the shattered and bewildered left platoon.platoonplatoon.-

At

platoo-n

.

At 5:57557: PwiPsiWiPip ,) the foiling barrage dropped inin-

frontin-

fantin-

frontin-

fantin-

frontin-

fantfront of the line of departure with a deafening roar.roarroar.-

The

ro-ar

roar.-

The

ro-ar

roar.-

The

ro-ar

.

The companycompa.ny. commander rushed up to his lieutenant andand-

handed

man-

handled

and-

handed

man-

handled

and-

handed

man-

handledhanded him a long French rifle , trornblontromblontrombone attached.attached. HeH-

eshouted

B-

esottedH-

eshouted

B-

esottedH-

eshouted

B-

esottedshouted : "JustJustIIJust" got this.thisthithin s.s. AmericanAnerican planes are cooperatcooperat-cooperatecooperati-

ng.cooperat-

ing

¬-ing.ingKing. When they fly over you dropping six white balls ,

fire this.this. They will be asking where you are.are. FlareFlare-

in

Flari-ngin here will answer : 'WeWe' are here.1here1here.here. ' Wait 'tilltill' youyou-

get

youn-

gest

you-

get

youn-

gest

you-

get

youn-

gestget to your objective.objective. Lots of luck.luck. Good bye.bye. "

// TEETHE ATTACKATTAC-

KSix

Attac-ks

ATTAC-

KSix

Attac-ks

ATTAC-

KSix

Attac-ks/Six o'clock.oclocko'clock' . The barrage moved forward andand-

dropped

un-

drapedand-

dropped

un-

drapedand-

dropped

un-

drapeddropped on the Paris-MetzParisMetzMet- highway.highway. The assault waveswaves-

of

wav-es

waves-

of

wav-es

waves-

of

wav-esof CompanyOompany M clamberedolambered from the ravine and marchedmarched-

forward.

mar-ched

marched-

forward.

mar-ched

marched-

forward.

mar-chedforward.forward. The attacking troops were in perfect alignalign-align-

ment

align-

ment

align-

ment

¬-mentmeant when they reached the state highway.highway. AheadAhead-

thunderedHea-

dhunterAhead-

thunderedHea-

dhunterAhead-

thunderedHea-

dhunterthundered the barrage , obscuring the Bois de la Cote

192 by a whirlwind of smoke and flying dirt.dirtdirt.-

The

di-rt

dirt.-

The

di-rt

dirt.-

The

di-rt

.

The lieutenant gazed skyward for the AmericanAmerican-

planes.Amer-

icanAmerican-

planes.Amer-

icanAmerican-

planes.Amer-

icanplanes.planes. He saw none.none. His faith in cooperatingoooperating planes ,

AmericanAmerioan or otherwise , being nil , behe deposited thethe-

cumbersome

the-

cumbersome

the-

cumbersomecumbersome FrenchFrenoh rifle at the foot of one of the fewfew-

poplars

few-

poplars

few-

poplarspoplars still standing on the highway , and continuedoontinuedcontinued-

more

oontinued-

more

contin-uedmore lightheartedly on his way.wayway.-

The

Rayt-

heon

way.-

The

Rayt-

heon

way.-

The

Rayt-

heon

.

The assault&ssaulssaulsaul& t wave crossedcroBsed the ParParis-MetzParisMetzMetis-MetzisMetzMet- RoadRoad-

and

Broad-

band

Road-

and

Broad-

band

Road-

and

Broad-

bandand entered the fields.fieldsf1elds.f1elds. To the east fortortore over a&a-

14

a-

14-14-1414-14W-

M

'- -

l.l.I.I.

. , ,' . . <.-.,.- *-;... ...}:. WM--k.k. >...-- . . "lt*.... '. .*.. .1--.1. )' '_ <-M-M.-. . .

" :.. ; : ...... . . ..

.. " . :

'. ' A'A' *.. /, .,.*..t.e.. . : . .>...".,. ; . . ..V-V.-,..' . .". ". .- . . .. ...- .. - I.I. , , . . .

' ' . . . . .

' ..

.

. : '..

" , !. . ..

.

. ' : : .:.

' ..

...

.

..

. :.. ..

"

.

'*!\.A1.A1\&.. $: &-1111*-:' :-;', I' .

" . ' "

',

' '. : 'J.1J.1J1'?.VSSfcWtWj&VSSfcWtWj""ill"\"ill"ill"ill"-

'J.1 ill-J1 ", ..JII.JIIII.

"'\"

. 'jj.jj', . ....&......*.. . . . .

kilometer stretched the long line of olive drabdrab-

figurestran-

sfigures

drab-

f1sures

drab-

figurestran-

sfiguresfiguresf1sures , bayonets flashing in theth evening sunlight.sunlightsunlight.-

The

sunlig-ht

.

The alignmentali6nment was that of the parade ground.ground. AheadAhea-

dponderously

Hea-dphone

Ahea-

dponderously

Hea-dphone

Ahea-

dponderously

Hea-dphoneponderously rolled the barrage.barrage. So far no reactionreactionf-

romreacti-

onreactionf-

romreacti-

onreactionf-

romreacti-

onfrom the 201staGIstGIst German Infantry Division.DivisionDivision-

.'FourDivisio-

nFourDivi-

sionDivision.-

urDivisio-

nDivision.-

FourDivis-

ion.

-'Four'FourFour-"' Fourur hundred meters from the southern edgesedges-

ofedg-

esof the Bois de la Cote 192.192. Suddenly , even above thethe-

roarter-

rorthe-

roarter-

rorthe-

roarter-

rorroar of the barrage , wasWa.s. heard the deadlydeadldeadly y "put-put-put""putputput""putputput"-of

putputput-of

" - - "

of the German machine gun.gun. . The fire , it appeared , waswas-

being

wea-

seling

was-

being

wea-

seling

was-

being

wea-

selingbeing directed from the Bois de la RocheVBrocheROCheRoche.Broche!. TneTheTine companycompany-

on

companyi-

ngon the right wavered.wavered. One hundred meters further on ,

the right platoon of Company M , a sergeant of which waswas-

wounded

ast-

oundedwas-

wounded

ast-

oundedwas-

wounded

ast-

oundedwounded , slowed down its rate of advance ; its rightright-

flankrigh-

tfulright-

flankrigh-

tfulright-

flankrigh-

tfulflank bent backward.backwardbackward.-

Two

backw-ard

.

Two hundred meters from the Bois de la Cote

192 , the command "MarchingMarching"MarohingMarohing" fire"fire" was given.given. Rifle andand-

automatic

ana-

stigmaticand-

automatic

ana-

stigmaticand-

automatic

ana-

stigmaticautomatic rifle fire broke out.out. Almost instantaneouslyinstantaneously-the

instantaneou-slythe alignment of the three assault platoons was restored.restoredrestored.-

The

restor-ed

.

The rate of advance speeded up , somewhatsomswhat dangerouslydangerouslys-

o.dangerous-

lyso.so. The barrage rolled into the southern portion ofof-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

tenthe woods.woods. It lifted , and almost on its heels , thethe-

assaulthe-

adsailthe-

assaulthe-

adsailthe-

assaulthe-

adsailassault sections poured into the Bois de la CoteOoteBooted 192192-

at192-

at

192-

The

,

at a run/runrun.run/.*

The Objective ReachedReached-

Ten

Reach-edTen yards within the woods , one heavy withwith-

underbrush

with-

underbrush

with-

underbrushunderbrush , the lieutenant lost control of the threethree-

platoons.

trepi-

dationsthree-

platoons.

trepi-

dationsthree-

platoons.

trepi-

dationsplatoons.platoons. The fight within the woods , what little therethere-

was

Hebr-

ews

there-

was

Hebr-

ews

there-

was

Hebr-

ewswas of it , becamebeoame a squad affair.affair. SomeSomeresistanoeSomberness, resistance waswas-

encountered

wa-

senoountered

wa-

sencounteredencounteredenoountered from thosetho'se' members of the 8th CompanyOompany whowho-

had

wh-

oawho-

had

wh-

oawho-

had

wh-

oahad found time to reachreaoh their firing positions in thethe-

southwest

he-

notheistic

the-

'southwelt

the-

southwelt

the-

southwest

he-

notheisticsouthwest'southweltsouthwelt' corneroornerHorner of the boisbole before the AmericansAmericans-

swarmed

Ameri-cans

Americans.-

warmed

Ameri-cans

Americans-

swarmed

Ameri-cansi

, swarmed.warmedwarmed. into the woods.woods. The squads speedily overcameovercame-

15

\III'III'I'

lI'l

I'l. -15-15- -l.l.

, . . . , . . . . , . . .-- - - - - '- -- ---' -- -- - - - - - - - - -

.

- '

. .

-....

-.' -.....

- '.'. ,. , .

'... ._. . , . -.. *'_*. ... .4VW_...-_ I.I",. . iw*... *.. jM.jM'JKJK"' ...... ..*....AFVMM*..4'.44..'._**__ 4MR**#.,_* * Itik.ItikZiti* .-NTM *N,*... -..r. <" "*' , . . ,.* ...- '

. . . . N+. V.VY.Y"' t.'KtK.' '. wI4**. 'ww < .-

"_*_* I" . l 'I'I'I'.r.'*'*". ,4Ma,,,,*, ,,*,,,, _* . * %. _* ."*. . . -_.,> . ,,-.r..r.-. . - ...-.

.

.,

' . : ' _ .

.>.

". : :: : ;

. . . .. ,

: ; .. .

. ..

"' ',

1 'J"LJL' " .7J.N7J.N7JN-!. , .trf.trfturf. ' .

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this opposition by the use of the rifle , automaticautomati.cautomati-crifle

autom-atic

automati-crifle

autom-atic

automati.-crifle

autom-atic

.

rifle , and hand grenade.grenadegrenade.-

For

grena-de

.

For the most part , however , the 8th Company'sCompanysCompanyCompany'-

ssoldiers

Company-

ssoldiersCom-panyCompaCompaqCompany'-

ssoldiers

Company-

ssoldiersCom-pany

y'sysy's-

soldiersys-

soldiers

'

soldiers , still stupifiedstup1fiedstupefied and bewildered from thethe-

effectsthe-

effectsthe-

effectseffects of the rolling barrage which had just passedpassed-

over

pass-

edpassed-

over

pass-

edpassed-

over

pass-

ed,

over them , emerged from their shelters with hands raisedraised-in

raise-din token of submission.submission. Especially was this sos o whenwhen-

German

Hein-

emannwhen-

German

Hein-

emannwhen-

German

Hein-

emannGerman speaking AmericansArJericansArmenians: shouted at the doors ofof-

sheltersr-

osettesof-

shel

M-

oshe

of-

sheltersr-

osettessheltersshelshelf terstears !: "ComeComeCouleCouleeII" out and surrender I! Everything will bebe-

alright.11

be-

alright11

be-

alright.

de-

adlightbe-

alright.

de-

adlightalright.11alright11alright.alrightalright.IIalright.11-

Map

alright11-Map

. II" Vf'f'VT-heT-he

f'M-

apfM-

apM-

apMap No.No. 2 /TheThe/The airplane photographphotogrs.phphotogrsph. and combat intelliintelli-Intelintellig-

enceintellig-

enceintellig-

ence¬-

gencegene map hadlIadtadlAid disclosed to all noncommissioned officersofficers-the

office-rs

.the fact that through the left center.oenteroenterenter. of the woods ranran-

a

an-aa roadway to the north ; that by guiding on this roadwayroadway-

theroadw-

aythe company'scompanyscompany' objective would be reached.reached. Therefore ,

lost squadssgtadsstands soon found themselves on the final objectiveobjective-

line.object-

iveline.line. Here they cut off the escape of those membersmembers-

of

membe-

rsof the 8th8tb Company who sought to escape to the north.northnorth.-

Paths

nort-heast

north.-

Paths

nort-heast

north.-

Paths

nort-heast

.

Paths through the woods , leading to the rearrear-

of

re-ar

rear-

of

re-ar

*

of the 8th Company'sCompanysCompany' position , were liberally markedmarked-

withMere-

dithmarked-

wi

mark-ed

marked-

withMere-

dithwithwi th signs such as : "ToToII" To the Command Post , II" "ToToII" To thethe-

Signal

ten-

sional

the-

Signal

ten-

sional

the-

Signal

ten-

sionalSignal Station.Station. " In mopoingmoppingmooing up the woods , these markersmarkers-

provedmar-

kersmarkers-

provedmar-

kersmarkers-

provedmar-

kersproved of great value to the personnel of CompanyCompany'MCompanyM' M whowho-

had

wh-

oawho-

had

wh-

oawho-

had

wh-

oahad someeomeyeomen knowledge of GermGerm-

Less

Ear-less

German.GermanGerman-

.Less

German-

eness

German-

.Less

German-

eness

.

Less than twenty-fivetwentyfive- minutes after the zerozero-

hour

ze-ro

zero-

hour

ze-ro

zero-

hour

ze-rohour , the commanderoommander of the assault platoons found himhim-him-

selfhim-

selfhim-

self¬-

self on the final objectiveobjeotive at the station of thethe-

signalten-

sional

the-

signalten-

sional

the-

signalten-

sionalsignal lamp.lamp. Ten minutes later. all three assaultassault-platoons

ass-ault

assault-platoons

ass-aultplatoons had reached the northern edge of the woods ,

and the company'scompanyscompanr'scompanrscompanycompares' lieutenant was in oonferenoeconference with thethe-

sergeantst-

eeragethe-

sergeantst-

eeragethe-

sergeantst-

eeragesergeant commandersoommanders of the right and left assaultassault-

platoons.

ass-ault

assault-

platoons.

ass-ault

assault-

platoons.

ass-aultplatoons.platoonsplatoons.-

w

platoon-

s

.

-1616-lala- la-

i

la-

L.

lai-

c

l-a

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i ....

L.L. ii'-

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I .. . .. . .. .. , . . ..._ . '.... .... . . .., ... . .. .. ...,. ........ . . . . ...... _ .. . .. . .. ' . . "MM*."... . ,. . '. . . .tttt. t Mt'M/A'MMA..'.../ ..Y. re.h'DN'YV'rehDNYV-... *./ .'....,w'".' .... ...' .' . . '. . , .wa'lo'l.walolwall. UCUUM.UCUUMCHUMUCUUM.-

j

'.! ' . . .

w... .;,'.*-..*.e. . .<.V4......_. -.-.M.....<.*......+.. . . ', . i\\'I'IICisCPIs' * 4M*<'- M'M*.... ' . . r.LrL*..."" . "'y.1.ary1.ary1ar.,-.** .***, ,...nw... .. R* r... ., n.MnM_*, . M/r.wMr.w_/ _. . *.IM'IM.-.' ter.tertear*. ._ j..wj..wra*- *.... _. - "/rara_/ irr-rr*../ '. -: *** " .aa*.**.*"'*-* oIIoo111.a1t.oIIoo111a1t.oIIoo111a1t44* MtnTn- .+ 6f.Nir6fNir-- r.Aww.rAwwrAw** * MMtfJ4Ywrl> * MtJiMM:l .II..w.4.6.IIw46.IIw46ilU7f.VilU7fV 4! *1+ *.

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'. J.1:1J-1:1J11J:

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-"J.Jlfelife' 1f

.:<':j( .1.1.1.,.. .. . '

.

A contact patrol , sent out from the centercenter-

platoonconte-

mplation

center-

platoonconte-

mplation

center-

Maps

center-

mostMaps No.NoNo.2No2. 2 & 33-

Map

3-

Map

platoon , discovered that the indistinct lanes snownshownsown onon-

the

M-

onte

OO-

the

O-

ther

on-

the

M-

ontethe airplane photograph as running from the north edgeedge-

ofed-

geof the woods to the roadway were not short"lortlortsiiortortidiots " cuts , asas-

had

s-had

as-

had

s-had

as-

had

s-hadhad beenbe en imagined , but the approaches to dugouts.dugouts. InIn-

them

An-

them

In-

them

An-

them

In-

them

An-

themthem were captured additional prisoners , wounded byby-

theb-

yteby-

theb-

yteby-

theb-

ytethe artillery fire of the day.daydaY-

.Overhead

day-

.Overhead

./

Overhead an American plane flew UDup and downdow-

nthe

don-

atedow-

nthe

don-

atedow-

nthe

don-

atethe finalfif ir al objective Linel.ine. , signallingsignaling frantically :;

"WhereWhere" are you ? Where are you 1"1? " The lieutenantlieutenant bethoughtbethoughbethought-

him

bethou-ght

tt-him

t-

hinhim of that French rifle at the foot of the poplar treetree-

on

ture-

enon the Paris-i/ietzParisiietzParis-MetzMetzParis-ivietzivietzRitzMetcivet- / highway , 800 meters to the rear.rear. HisHis-

solutionDis-

solutionHis-

solutionDis-

solutionHis-

solutionDis-

solutionsolution to the problem was to place in the field inin-

frontin-

fantin-

frontin-

fantin-

frontin-

fantfront of his position , at distances of thirty meters ,

three white panels.panels. These constituted his map and hishis-

undershirtis-

landershis-

undershirtis-

landershis-

undershirtis-

landersundershirt ripped into two pieces.pieces. Satisfied , thethe-

American

th-eatric

the-

American

th-eatric

the-

American

th-eatricAmerican plane circled , the pilot waved , and the planeplane-

was

pla-newas off.offoff.-

CONSOLIDATION

off.-

CONSOLIDATION

off.-

CONSOLIDATION

.

CONSOLIDATION OF CAPTURED POSITIONSPOSITIONS-

The

POSITIONS-

Map

Positio-nsMap No.NoNo.3No3. 3 The lieutenant commanding the assaultassault-

platoonsass-

aultassault-

platoonsass-

aultassault-

platoonsass-

aultplatoons , for consolidation of the captured positionspositions-

of

positio-nsof the 8th CompanyOompany , assigned to the right platoon oneon-

ehalfN-

ealon-

ehalfN-

ealon-

ehalfN-

ealhalf of the northern edge of the woods , the centercenter-

platoonconte-

mplation

center-

platoonconte-

mplation

center-

platoonconte-

mplationplatoon the remaining half as far as the roadway , exex-

clusive.

ex-

clusiveex-exex-

clusive.

ex-

clusiveex-

clusive.

ex-

clusive¬-

clusive.clusivecollusive. To the left platoon was assigned the northernnorthern-

partnorth-

ernnorthern-

partnorth-

ernnorthern-

partnorth-

ernpart of the wood'swoods' western edge from the roadway ,

exclusiveexolusive , coveringoovering the ravine leading ffomftomfoamtom the northnorth-north-

west.

north-

west

north-

west.

north-

west

north-

west.

north-

west

¬-west.west. The sectorseotor coveredoovered bjrbrb the right platoon was laterlater-enlarged

alte-rnated

later-enlarged

alte-rnated

later-enlarged

alte-rnatedenlarged somewhat when the.lieutenantthelieutenantthe ., lieutenant withdrew from thethe-

frontthe-

reonthe-

frontthe-

reonthe-

frontthe-

reonfront line one section of the centeroenterenter platoon foefonfondfoe-

counterattackfon-

oounterattaok

fon-

counterattackcounterattackoounterattaok purposes.purposespurposes.-

17

purposes-

17

purposes-

.1

purpose-

s1

.

, -

r;;

t: -17-17-1-1-17-i

17-1

1-

r

1-

VE

?-.

1'

.

.

,,

I

. . . . . . , . .. __ . _, _.. . .. , _. .. ... . . ,..., . ' . ' . ' Nw' 'A'A'A't-

.

A-

t

w ' ** .YsaYsaNyssa...,.$..$ '" " . ' .YY.' .. .tlstiwrtlstiwrlustier. , "'- ..'.r.wrw-. .... . "' *- mW' $ '. '

iVE.cIcI.a $r*.<,;. '. . . '. *...*...iMfeMiMfeMIMF. ** wf411.411A.iAi< . .*..M'-M'MM'.w.<.'-... *M > 4M._ +..N.N,. j'j'. +.tttlit...., ** : .* ,.*.*;fWtWt*_ _+.w.w*. . .'-, ' r,4MF.RMMr4MF.RMMr4MFRMM,*"*"" '*#"! " ' S<'' '.IMIM'. .a .MM.rMMMrMMrmii'miimidi.-' :- v1'If1If\'*''' w.w*- t..wwSdIVwwSdIV*** 'iu./irrlr'iu.iuirrlrgirl.' *,oM"oM*"/" Y*. Y*. prya.ry4w'prya.ry4wpryary4w" ' .NN-M-+ .$ f'.rnHrfrnHrFrench' - "' : . : :

.. y ....

. .

. . :..-.

, -, . ...

.

<,

. /.' .

'.'

.

.

. .', '..

' ?\. . . . " 'rflrflfl'

'of.of'' ... Sot'Sot\t.t... . ', .JJ!. <

, I1

.

,

.. '" ">

,"' *:'',

.

.'

'/".' .

" 7fo.1.7fo1.7fo1.;.. ....-:.

)..

.1.1.1,

'

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, "...

"

-.".

,

Use o fepturedpturedfeaturedpurred WeaponsWeapons-

The

Weapo-

nse

Weapo-

nsThee marching fire , during the assault , had-

been

had-

eanhadhad-

been

had-

eanhad-

been

had-

eanbeen of great moral benefit ; that was indisputable.indisputableindisputable.H-

oweverindispu-

tableindisputable.H-

oweverindispu-

tableindisputable.H-

oweverindispu-

table.

However , it had seriously depleted the supply of availavail-avail-

ableavail-

ableavail-

able

¬-able small arms ammunition.ammunition. A counterattack waswa.s. expectedexpected-

momentarily.

expected-

momentarily.

expected-

momentarily.momentarily.momentarily.

Over sixty German riflesri flesflees hadha.d. been taken.takentaken.-

Ample

tak-en

taken.-

Ample

tak-en

taken.-

Ample

tak-en

.

Ample supply of ammunition for these rifles was availableavailable-

inavailab-

le.

in the ammunition dump of the 8th Company , located withwith-with-

out

with-

out

with-

out

¬-out difficulty by meansmea.ns. of the direction signs systemsystem-syste-matically

syste-matically

syste-matically

¬-aticallylaically nailed to the trees by conscientious Germans.GermansGerlwms.GerlwmsEarldomsGermans-

.Furthermore

Gerlwm-

s.Furthermore

Germans-

.Furthermore

.

Furthermore , the three machine guns which intelligenceintelligence-reports

intellig-ence

intelligence-reports

intellig-ence

intelligence-reports

intellig-encereports had stated to be in the woods , had been captured.capturedcaptured.-

To

capture-

d.

To each platoon was issued twenty German rifles , to thethe-

righthe-

ightthe-

righthe-

ightthe-

righthe-

ightright platoon two German machine guns , and to the left ,

one capturedoaptured gun.gun. Noncommissioned officers , withwith-

experienceinte-

mperancewith-

experienceinte-

mperancewith-

experienceinte-

mperanceexperience in the handling of German machine guns , werewere-

placedwor-

kplace

were-

plaoed

war-

planewere-

plaoed

war-

planeplacedplaoed in charge of the weapons.weapons. Other noncommissionednoncommissione-

dofficersnoncommis-

sionednoncorrnoncomnoncommissione-

dofficersnoncommis-

sionedissionedfissionissioned-

officersofficers gave hasty courses in rifle marksmanship withwith-

German

wi-ther

with-

German

wi-ther

with-

German

wi-therGerman rifles to the , squads.squadssquadsquads.-

The

squa-ds

squad-

The

squ-ad

.

The company commander , on a reconnaissance ofof-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

tenthe front lines , approved of the plans for consolidation ,

and informed hiehishide commissioned assistant that , for propro-pro-

tectionpro-

tectionpro-

tection¬-

tectionsection of the company'scompanysoompany'soompanyscompany' left rear , he would move oneon-

esection

con-

densation

one-

Map

ne-

ap

on-

esection

con-

densationsection of his support platoon into position alonga.long. thethe-

unimproved

the-

unimproved

the-

unimprovedunimproved road along the western edge of the woods.woodswood-

s.Reinforcements

wood-

s.Reinforcements

wood-

s.Reinforcements

.

Reinforcements for the ConsolidationOonsolidationConsolidation-

Map

Oonsolidatio-

nAt

Consolidati-onMap No.NoNo.3No3. 3 At duskduekdue a machine gun section arrived at thethe-

Bois

the-

ories

the-

Bois

the-

ories

the-

Bois

the-

oriesBois de la1a Cote 193.193192.192. Its two guns wereere placed inin-

positionim-

positionin-

pos1tionin-

positionim-

positionpositionpos1tion near the northern edge ofot the woods.woods. By nightnight-night-

fallnight-

fallnight-

fall¬-

fall a detachment of engineers had arrived , and , underunder-

the

uneart-

hed

under-

the

uneart-

hed

under-

the

uneart-

hedt the protectionproteotion ofof'ofof'aofasofa' a patrol of riflemen from Company MM-

18

M-

18

,'"

I'I? '

I'I'III'II'-I

I-

I

'

1I:

-M-M-18-18-M-

nntti

M-

antic

18.lI-

W

18lI-

W

-L

.

",.. .._..... .. AM"-AM"AMAM"r_". .-... .. _ ____..._,__, r' .lIWlIWwYlow. nnttianti* *.._+Mr1..rMr1.rMr1r<' t..,. . .. V.1..1jIt'1.1jIt11jItjnr..m.wjnrmwnorm...>

..WM. .'*.*'.. Aww..wAwww< II >MMIMI... +' _i ._v-vvWMLwm-.___ WMLML.,. _ . ,<, MMrw4BA_....*.... : . '43u9.::;;; ...._) m ..>. . . _M _M.VMV_. o < ' -. <./...*.. _n_..... ... ..>. . _..*_. ,.'... . ...*_ ir-mttirmttmatt"*"".,*v-._,.._..*..*.\... fr,.._*rt.wrtwtrw\ *.** wfr.wfrwafer...,>.. *,. . .*.arar.. .. *., Hitifi.ifiiiMA.II.IMAIII..' itMIUJl\itMIUJlNrSrtrXpitifulInserteritMI-

UJljy

impio-

usly

. ,:'* \ .,. "

. . . . . , I IJ ! . . . . " . . . , .

, . ..

' t.t .,

..

'.

:. .

.

';;

4 ; . ; 1.1. . , .

' ..

.

.., "-jyjy-::;; r ; 2l} g'L.TarrTarry,i.i.,

1

:: .

were erecting barbed wire entanglements 100 meters toto-

the

t-ote

to-

the

t-ote

.the front of the new positionsy/OnpositionsyOnPositions/OnPositions/.//" the company'scompanyscOLlpany'scOLlpanyscompany; ' left-

flankle-ftleftleft-

flankle-ftleft-

flankle-ftflank , a strong combat group from the battalion'sbattalions' sup-supsup-

portsup-

portsup-

port-

'. port unit patrolled the fields.fields. Lacking only teallballtallteall-

ammunition

balla-

mmunition

balla-

mmunitionammunition for their Springfield rifles and tromblons'tromblonstrombonestromblons-

'for

tromblons-

fortrombon-

es'

for the rifle grenadiersgrenRdiergrenadiers , Company Li'sLisM'sMsLisa1:: ' s platoonspla.toons. by 200200A-

M

2200A-

M

;: 0000-

AMAM , were awaitingawaiKawai ting withwi th comparativeco iparatiimpart ve composure thethe-

expectedsh-

eepcotethe-

expectedsh-

eepcotethe-

expectedsh-

eepcoteexpected counterattack.counterattackcounterattack.-The

counteratta-ck

.

The CounterattackCounterattack-

The

Counteratta-ckThe counterattackcounteratta.ck. - a mismanaged affairaffa.ir. forfor-

which

No-

rwich

for-

which

No-

rwich

for-

which

No-

rwichwhich countermanding orders wererererare issued at too latela.te. anan-

hour

an-

chor

an-

hour

an-

chor

an-

hour

an-

chorhour - camecachecaacasa e at 3:153153 :1515: AIvIWaiving , in the dim liphtlight; of the corningYlorningmorningLongingYlorning-

of

morning-

ofLongi-

ngmorni-

ng

!

(13)13i3)i3( ) 201st20lst Ger.GerGearGer-.Inf.

Er-in

Ger-.Inf.

Er-in

. of July 2.2. (13)13( ) The counterattacking troops werewere-Inf.

wher-ein

wer-

erepulsed

war-

ehousedwer-

erepulsed

war-

ehousedInf.InfInfoInf.-Vol.

. Div.DivDiv.-Vol.

Div.-Vol.

.Vol.VolViol. 3 , repulsed and well nigh annihilatedannihila.ted. by AmericanAnerican, ; artilleryartilleryD-

oc.artillerya-

.nd

artillerya-

ndartille-

ryartillerym-

anDoc.Doc. 50 ,July 4 anda.nd. machine gunUD fire.fire. None of the counterattackingtera.ttackingterattackingtraffickingcrouncroon tera.ttacking-

elements

.

.& yy-

402d (402d402 GerrGer.GerGerryGearGerGearGer-.Inf.

Er-in

. elements of the 402d Infantry , which hadbad launched itsitsI-nf.

fiss-ion

its-

atta.ck

its-

attackbit-

stockInf.InfInfo. Regt.RegtRetRegt.-Vol.

Ret-ool

Regt.-Vol.

Ret-ool

Regt.-Vol.

Ret-ool

.

Vol.VolViol. 3 , attackatta.ck. from the Bois des RochetsCrochets to the northeast ofof-Doc.

of-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

tenDoc.Doc. 53 ,July 2 the line now held by the Americans , came within effectiveeffective-

rangeeffect-

iveeffective-r effectiv-e effective-

rangeeffect-

ive' " '\r1"\1"11-

"range1-

rangerange of the Bois de la Cote 192.192. No further reaction ,

other than sporadic and ineffective artillery fire ,

was felt by Company M'sMs' garrisongarrison.garrison.ingarrisoning. in the Bois de la Cote

, 192 prior to the relief of the unit on the afternoonafternoon-

of

afternoo-nof July 3.3.

CasualtiesCasualtiesC-

ompanyCasua-

ltiesCasualCasualtiesC-

ompanyCasua-

ltiestiestiesC-

ompanyines-

capably/CompanyCompany/ Company M'sMsMiSMiss' casualties during the attack ,

exclusive of those suffered in the ravine just priorprior-

topri-

orto the assault , were but three soldiers slightlyslightlyw-

oundedslig-

htlyslightlyw-

oundedslig-

htlyslightlyw-

oundedslig-

htlywounded - a noncommissioned officer of the rightright-

assaultrig-

htsright-

assaultrig-

htsright-

assaultrig-

htsassault platoon , and two privates of the supportsupport-

platoon.

sup-port

support-

platoon.

sup-port

support-

platoon.

sup-portplatoon.platoonplatoon.-

i

platoo-n

.

i Prisoners of the 8th CompanyOompany stated that ofof-

their

o-

therof-

their

o-

ther%-,

i their combatantoombatant personnel not more than a dozen hadhadi-1

had-

18

had-

19

iti1

):

f., -19-19-18-18-19-

'HvM

19-

HvM

18-

.4.

19M-

1rl1.n

19M-

1rl1n

-. ,

.

. ."

,..

- - - - . . _ _ _, . _ _ ....ll. , ... . . .

1

, , " . ''...,.... .....

,>K.K

.._"

_ . _ _. ,

.."..: ,

. ...'

..

, ...... !!II'

. . . -.....'-- --- -- ---- --- --- - - ----- - -- -

.-.... M1rl1.nM1rl1n_. .,. .... 'FF..' , ... . ........ .... *..*. 'HvMHvMHMO'...4.4.4. *...*..*_* 100.100ff.. -> ._- *"" - __ w11/.Vw11.Vw11.V_/' . '..,.ftjtftM.....-% M.M.f.' ,'_W.W'. fcifociS*< MMI ..n.1, JMMMMJ.J4 1MY'1MY..... .' "'_ i.i_.,'. . * ;* ..".

.* <_*_*_<

_"' <_< > "F4PF4P.".1"4.C..1C'/W'.4'-.rrr\m.1f'torrrm.1ftorrrm.1f'tom1fto.1"4.C..1C'W'.4'.J."'!; * _ *,. J4...*.SV\'_( ***. W'W'i_* .LAILAIAI. +'mr/ ' tA..> to.*',, r' .<.ir_. .. *..f,. .JMM-MM >, 4.*..*

_PP ' Mn*MNiOmni, ft,., umniomni Mr . -," .4PIrl4PIrl,. . ., n.nIM.... r..MM.rMMMM_.n.n_.. n . itrAKt/N.f4'KfN.f4KfN.f4'KfNf4KfYrN.f4'KfYrNf4KfcitrateYr>.*. f. <../itrA-

Kti3)

itrA-

Kti3

,.,. .' *...J.J>. . " ' .M,. .,

X: ,: i\i\ii::i ;i ,

,

,. < ;

. .

:, - . . . . . . . I .

;

escaped being killed , wounded , or madelnadelade prisoners.prisoners. In-

the

In-

tecInIn-

the

In-

tec

In-

the

In-

tecthe attack and counterattack , the 402d Infantry lostlost-

thirtybloo-

dthirsty

lost-

thirtybloo-

dthirsty

lost-

thirtybloo-

dthirstythirty per cent of its combatant strength.strength. In fact ,

so badly'oadlyoadlyoddly' had the regiment been treatedtrea.ted. that on July 3 ,

by regimental order , the 1st and 3d2d BattalionsPattalions, werewer-

econsolidated

were-

consolida.ted

wer-

econsolidatedconsolidatedconsolida.ted. intoin to two companies , each withwi th but twotw-

oofficers

to-

ffeestw-

oofficers

to-

ffeestw-

oofficers

to-

ffees ...,...

(14)14( ) 402d Ger.GerGearGer-.Inf.

Er-inGer-

.Inf.Er-inGer-

.Inf.Er-in

. officers and approximatelyapproxima.tely. 130 other ranks.ranks. Q&rQrQ&rL-

ESSONS

QrLE-

SSONS

( &Inf.InfInfo. Regt.RegtRetRegt.-Vol.

Ret-ool

Regt.-Vol.

Ret-ool

Regt-Vol.

Ret-ool

. iiL-

EN-

ileVol.VolViol. 3 , LESSONSLESSONS-

The

Lesso-ns

LE SSONSON SS-

The

T-

heDoc.Doc. 53 ,ItOMB'-Jfcfr'jflItOMB'ItOMBJfcfr'jflJfcfrjflTOMBItOMB'Jfcfr'jfl-gHrtrItOMBJfcfrjfl-gHrtrItem ! '-is-SOisSOisSOf-td.

discomf-ited

-' The foregoing narrative deals with a minormino-

rattack

Min-orca

mino-

ratta.ck

Min-orca

mino-

rattack

Min-orcagHrtrgrater!ftd.ftdtd. rwrtySTwartyrwrtyS-

TRepwHrumuumumu-

RLump-

urRepwHrRephraseRepwHri-

Uj

R . ' attackatta.ck. of a smallsma,11sma11, unit with limited objective.objective. NeverNever-Neve-

rtheless

Neve-

rtheless

Neve-

rtheless

¬-(/

)."; '" , ,

" thelessTelesis , there maym y be drawn from the story some lessonslessons-

whichless-

onslessons-

whichless-

onslessons-

whichless-

ons*iUjICU' '

, ; :/. which , it is believed , are a little out of the ordinaryordinary.ordinary.-

on

ordinar-

y

ordinary.-

Summarizedordi-nary

,.

Summarized these arajajhah-hh-h-

IjX

h-iIjXIX1 uganizationsrganizationsanimationsorganizations on "thethe" defensive must notnot-

base

not-

ecase

not-

base

not-

ecase

not-

base

not-

ecasebase their estimate of probable future enemy operationsoperations-

on

operatio-nson , to use racer ac e tracktr ackJack vernacularvernaculax , "pastpastII" pas t performances.performancesper for mancemace s . "

Prior American attacks on the Bois de la Cote 192 hadhad-

come

hand-

some

had-

come

hand-

some

had-

come

hand-

somecome from the Bois deedes Clerembaute.ClerembauteClerembauts.ClerembautsCerebrateCerebrates. The machine gunsguns-

of

gu-ns

guns-

of

gu-ns

guns-

of

gu-nsof the 8th Company , on July 1 , 1918 , were so emplacedemplacesemplaced-

as

emplac-esas to coverooverover the approaches to the company'scompanysoompany'soompanyscompany' positionspositionsf-

rompositi-

onsfrom the west.west. The American attack cameoamefoamed from the southsouth-

with

out-wit

south-

with

out-wit

south-

with

out-witwith the result that the machinemaohine guns were practicallypracticallyi-mpotent.

practi-cally

practicallyi-mpotent.

practi-cally

practicallyi-mpotent.

practi-callyimpotent.impotent. They were in the hands of the attackingattacking-

forcesattack-

ingattacking-

forcesattack-

ingattacking-

forcesattack-

ingforces before they could be placed in position forfor-

effectivefo-

refeetfor-

effectivefo-

refeetfor-

effectivefo-

refeeteffective fire.fire. Apparently no alternative positionspositions-

had

positio-nshad been selected for these very important auxiliaryauxiliaryw-

eapons.auxil-

iaryauxiliaryw-

eapons.auxil-

iaryauxiliaryw-

eapons.auxil-

iaryweapons.weapons. The carelessnessoarelessness of subordinate commandersoommanderscommanders-

in

oommanders-

in

commandeeri-

ngin this respectrespeot may have been occasionedoooasioned by intelliintel1'i-intel1'iintel1iintelli-Intelintellig-

ence

intel1'i-

genoe

intel1ig-

enoe

intellig-

ence

'

¬-gencegenoegenegenome reports to the effecteffeot that the AmericansAmerioans werewer-

einferior

her-

einafter

wer-

einferior

her-

einafter

wer-

einferior

her-

einafterinferior in attackattaok tacticstaotiosstations , that their attacks were notnot-

coordinated.

no-

torietiesnot-

ooordinated.

not-

coordinated.

no-

torietiescoordinated.coordinatedooordinated.ooordinated. Granting this suppositionsuppo8itio toW be true , thethe-

301st

the-

201st

the-

201st301st201st OermanGermanBerman Infantry Division erred and erred gravely.gravelygravely.-

30

gravely-

30

gravely.-

20

gravely-

20

.

h ;

.-30-30-20-20-30-

(14)

3-

014

- "

. _ _ . . _ :. .:. :' '' ':... .MM. - ''' '

. . ' . .

No attack of the lorldworldQorldlord', War was better coordinated thanthan-

thattha-

tchthan-

thattha-

tchthan-

thattha-

tchthat of JulyJulJuly y>l.l1.1. ---_- .

2.2. Untrained replacements are a greatergreater-

handicapgre-

atergreater-

handicapgre-

atergreater-

handicapgre-

aterhandicap, than no replacements.replacements. By an unkind trick ofof-

fateof-

fsite

of-

fateof-

fsite

of-

fateof-

fsitefate the majority of those soldiers killed and woundedwounded-

inwound-

edin the Bourbetin-MonneauxBourbetinMonneauxDoublethinkOnega- ravine prior to the assaultassault-were

assau-lterl were from the group of replacements received on June 28.2828'28-

.They

28-

They

28-

.They

28-

They

'

.

They had been killed in actionaction"," notbeforeIlQtbefore.interfereIlQt-IlQtnQtGiltQt_ _- before.beforebefore.hvingbefore.havingbefore. havingh-vinghvingvying?-.fired.ti..edtiedfired-

a

fred-a

.ti..ed-

a. .!.

a shot at the enemy positions , but before evene n knowingknowing-

how

knowi-nghow to use the'the' weapon withwi th which theyth.ey. were araed.araedar1ed.ar1edarLed.arLedarrayedmarled; : . TheirTheir-

assignment

Their-

assignment-. - - - - - ' . .

assignmenta.ssignment. to a division engageden aged on an active frontfront-was

front-

alsfront-

was

front-

alsfront-

was

front-

alswas a ghastlygha.stly. administrativeadminiadmin stratistratify ve error.error.

3.3. Training of trooptroops? in the manipulation ofof-

enemy

of-

fence

of-

enemy

of-

fence

of-

enemy

of-

fenceenemy weapons is of considerable advantage.advantagea.dva.ntage.. . . The membersmembers-

of

membe-

rsof Company M were not putbutut to the test of actually firingfiring-the

firi-ngthe weapons captured on July 1.1. The moral effect ,

however , on the riflemen of having with them-themthem'themcapturedhematite-' capturedcaptured-

weapons

capt-ured

captured-

weapons

capt-ured

captured-

weapons

capt-uredweapons for which there was an abundance of ammunition ,

was great.great. EspeciallyEspecia.l1yEspecial1y. was this true of the captured1'captured1captured-capturedcaptured'captured1'-

German

captured1-

German

captured-

German

captu-red

captured'q-

ermancapturedq-

ermancaptu-

red; '-

GermanqermanBerman machine guns.gunss.s.

4/jThe4jTheThe44.4,./ The immense value of the detaileddetailedr-

econnaissancedetailedr-

econnaissancedetailedr-

econnaissancereconnaissance , availability of combat intelligenceintelligence-maps

intellige-ncemaps and airplane photographs , and.and. the receiptreoeipt ofof-

intelligenceof-

intelligenceof-

intelligenceintelligence reports on the positions of the enemy , hishis-

distributionmis-

distributions

his-

distributionmis-

distributions

his-

distributionmis-

distributionsdistribution of weaponsweaponeweapon , and hishiehide morale , is so obviousobvious-

asobvio-

usas to require no discussion./discussion.discussiondiscussion.AtdiScuSSion'diScuSSiondiscus lion .'/ Att no time after 6:00600: PM ,

on July 1 were the assaultassault.;. platoons of CompanyOompany MM-

encompassed

E-

ncompassed

M-

enoompassed

E-

ncompassed

M-

encompassed

E-

ncompassedencompassedenoompassed in the "fogfog" of war.war. " They knew where toto-

go

to-

go

to-

gogo , how to get therethere"," , and what to expect when theythey-

arrived.the-

atricthey-

arrived.the-

atricthey-

arrived.the-

atricarrived.arrived. It isi8 realized , of courseooursebourse , that seldom willw1l1will-

opportunity

w1l-

1opportunity

will-

opportunityopportunity be afforded for the accumulationaocumulation of suchsuohsoughsuch-

detailedsche-

matizedsuch-

detailedsche-

matizedsuo-

hdetailed

squ-

aretaildetailed informationinfo mationnation oonoerningconoerningconcerning the enemy.enemy.

, ..

. - -- ' - ----- -- - . - - - _ '_ _ _ 0 _ ..21-.21*.31-3131-

l

31-

No

.21-

No

21-

No

-!"-

."5.5. Post-attackPostattack- inspection of the airplaneairplane-

photographsairp-

laneairplane-

photographsairp-

laneairplane-

r

airplan-

e

airplane-

photographsairp-

lanephotographs indicated quite clearly the probableprobable-

presenceprob-

ableprobable-

presenceprob-

ableprobable-

presenceprob-

ablepresence of enemy shelters , dumps , or other installainstalla-installinstalla-tions

installa-tions

installa-tions

¬-tionsions at the end of these indistinct pathways discloseddisclosed-by

disclos-edby the photographs.photographs . So farfax as known , however , no membermemoermemoirmembe-

rof

memoe-

rof

memb-er

memo-

irof the assault platoons had received instruction 'inin'in-

the

in-

the

in-

ter'in-

the

in-

the

in-

ter'in-

the

in-

terthe interpretation of aerial pictures.pictures. Fortunately , ,

on July 1 , thisthithinthithin s w is.ss.. a matter of little consequenceconsequenconsequentconsequence-

SyXrhe

consequ-ences

consequen-

The

consequ-ent

consequentconsequent-

greatly

conseq-

uent

SyXrhePsyche6 The penetration of the Bois de lala.. Cote

192 and the rounding up of prisoners was acceleratedaccelerated-greatly

acceler-ated

accelerated-greatly

acceler-ated

accelerated-

on

accelerate-

d

greatly - if actual casualties were not avoided inin-

"cat

in-

cati-

ncainI-

I

iI-

I

in-

"cat

in-

cati-

nca"catcatII" and dog"dog" fightsfighfight ts - by the presencepre senceSpence of soldierssoldiers whowho-

spoke

w-hoso

who-

spoke

w-hoso

who-

spoke

w-hosospoke the German language.language. At this very ti.netinetime. , however ,

in the United States there were being waged fronticfranticfronticc-

ampaignsfr8franticc-

ampaignsfra-

ntictictic-

campaigns

inc-

antationscampaigns for the elimination of instruction in GrermanGermanReranGrerma-

nin

German-

in

Remandi-

ng

Germa-

nicin the schools and colleges.colleges. Instruction in the use ofof-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

tenthe enemy'senemysenemy' language should be encouraged in time ofof-

war

sof-

tware

of-

war

sof-

tware

of-

war

sof-

twarewar , if not in institutionsstitutionssituationsi of learning , certainly inin-

the

in-

terin-

the

in-

terin-

the

in-

terthe military service./service.serviceservice-

.7.Wellservic-

e7Wells rVlcravelrVlc-

7.J'WellrVl-

c7JWellrvice.rvicevice. //7./Well7.Well7.Well7.J'Well7.JWell7JWell7.7./'well marked routes to command posts ,

munitions dumps , and other installations are of unun-

questionedun-unun-

questioned

un-

questioned

¬-

questioned value in maintaining effective communication.communicationcommunication-

.Directioncommuni-

cationcommunication-

.Directioncommuni-

cationcommunication-

.Directioncommuni-

cation.

Direction markers , however , have Frankenstein charactercharacter-characte-ristics

character-

1stlcscharacte-

ristics¬-

istics1stlcssticks when a defensive position is attacked by thethe-

enemy.

He-

nleythe-

enemy.

He-

nleythe-

enemy.

He-

nleyenemy.enemy. It is suggested that code directions mightmigh-

tbettermig-

htiestmigh-

tbettermig-

htiestmigh-

tbettermig-

htiestbetter serve a combat unit which had reason to expectexpec-

tattack

expe-ctant

expec-

tattack

expe-ctant

expec-

tattack

expe-ctantattack or counterattack./counterattack.counterattackcounterattack.-

8.

counterattack-8

counterattack.-S.

counterattack-scounterattack./counterattack.counterattackcounterattack.counterattack.// .

8.8S.S. MarchingMarohing firefsfire'sfiresfiefsfire ' .ss,. effect is mostly on thethe-

sideth-

esisthe-

sideth-

esisthe-

sideth-

esisside of morale , where it is great.great. It disturbs thethe-

"shootee.

the-

shooteethr-

eesomethe-

"shootee.

the-

shooteethr-

eesomethe-

"shootee.

the-

shooteethr-

eesome"shootee.shooteeshooter" . " The "shooter/"shootershooter"shooterpermittedshooterpermittedshooter"shootershooter" /, " permitted to returnIeturn: the firefire-

ffire-

o

fie-f

fir-e

fire-

ot

firep-

ot\ :

f ofoto his opponents , ineffectuallyineffeotually it is1s true , gainsgains-i

gain-s

gains-

confidence

gains-

oonfidenoe

gains-

confidencei

"

\ confidenceoonfidenoe ; he is giving something for what he is calledoalledcoaledcalled-

33

oalled-

22

called-

22

ir

.

-33-33-22-22- 22-

L

-II'-

M"

I-

M

_ - _ _ . . - __ _____ _ . _ ._ L _ _ _ __ __ . - -- - . - ._ .. , ... . . ,, ,, - , . .__. ..,.. . . . ,. .___ __ . .. ..... _ ... . ...rr. .. .. . " .- -,. . ,. . , ., .--...-- . ... , ' . ... _ ._.-.

" -- ".

. .

.

. .

.. . . - . -

, .

. . .

'M"M' "

. . . ... .

-. . ,

" " ' -'---. "

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . " . . . " . . . , " . '. " . . . ' . . . , . . . . , .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . , ' . ;. .

' '' '

.

. . ;. .': -

' ,'Vvr--VvrVrVvr-vJL

:

. *. * - -;

') : .

'r-'rr' - ' : ;.; '"'11./11.11.ii.11ii./ !ii.ii.vJLJCL.:"

'iI:1iI1'iI:1t.tiI1tt'*: ; -t.tt.t-:&rS"rS&::...{"<r"r" II.II"

. . .

upon to take.take. The disadvantage of this type of firefire-

isfir-

esfire-

isfir-

esfire-

isfir-

esis , of course , an overly rapid expenditureexpendiexpend tureturret of ammuamlTIU-amlTIUammu-ammomultiamm-

unition

amlTI-

Uni

multiu-

nit

amm-

unition

¬-

nitionnotionni tionion - a very grave handicap in the attack.attackattack''. AssaultAssaulAssaul-tfire

Assa-ult

Assaul-tfire

Assa-ult

tt-fire

f-

irefire - which has replaced the oartiallypartia.llypartially. aimeda11ed{! , semi-semisem-

irapid

sem-

iaridsem-

irapid

sem-

iaridsem-

irapid

sem-

iarid-

rapid marching fire - demands aimed shots at slow raterate-

ofrat-

erate-

'ofrate-

ofra-

terate-

ofrat-

eof'of' fire.fire. AssaultAssa.ult. fire partially solves the problemsproblem-

sinherentprob-

lemsproblem-

sinherentprob-

lemsproblem-

sinherentprob-

lemsinherent in any methodlnethodLethe of rifle or automatic riflerifle-fire

rifle-bird

rifle-fire

rifle-bird

rifle-fire

rifle-birdfire employed just before the enemy'senemysenemy' lines are reachgdreachedreachgd-

S.

reac-h

reachreach.reachreach.9-.eservation

reach9-eservation

.

S.S9.99.eservation9eservation., reeervationeservation of alignment in woods is oatoutoat-

ofo-

atout-

of

out-

do

out-

of

out-

doof the question.question. Having seenBeen someSOineSine prior combat serviceservice-

in

servici-ngin woods , the assault wave commandercOn1com lB.IlderlBIldersanderbuilder. was seriously atat-

faultca-

tapult

at-

faultca-

tapult

at-

faultca-

tapultfault in failing to make any provision for change ofof-

formation

af-

firmationof-

formation

af-

firmationof-

formation

af-

firmationformation upon the entry of his units into the Bois dede-

laDe-

lla

de-

laDe-

lla

de-

laDe-

llala Cote 192.192. Fortunately for hiuhinhichin: , on this occasionoccasion-

theoccasi-

onoccasionoccasion-

the

occasi-onthe oppositionoppoBitionoppoBltopology tionion waswa.s. demoralized , combatcOLnbatColbert intelligence andand-

reconnaissance

and-

reconnaissance

and-w

an-d

and-

reconnaissancew

reconnaissance had been such that scattered units oouldcouldGouldoould-

hardlyfoolh-

ardilycould-

I

coul-

d

could-

hardlyoutw-

ardlyuldaulduld-

hardly

vu-

lgarlyhardly fail to attain the final objective line.lineline.-

33

line-

33

l1n.J-

.

l1n-

J

line.-

i

line.a-

.

lin-

e

. /l1n/l1n/

.J.J&. .I

-33-33-23-23-23-

upon

-\

,

. . '

. .. ,

I

. . . .. .. . . . . . ,. ._,._. ,....,.. ........ ._.... rrvrv"..-. .. f gmni'gmniomni..... .' w_ fit"fit*" . *;r,. ____

._

.

* '. . . . .. ... ... ., . .. . .. . . . -- # ' A'.M''rAAMrAAMA< .' ' * Ir fv.fv*< *w .IFlrIFlrBifilar irh .', - - - '

. . ":""a.a. wst.NtwstNtstint.,_ ..;{ w glyr.'AVglyrAVgyre_.,.;.. ....,.' 41 +wrr.wrrrr..;.. .: . ...---i.-i.-...- ;;-,.;;; .-. ' .ww-''.':- w e.-w.rwr-+ wbw-ww rN.frNf-rN r.wrw- - .

.. . :

.

:.

..

.. .

.. , . . .

. ; . ..:

.. ..IioJIioJIi.,:/; :; :

..,,;. . : :

.

: ' ..

.

I

.

-.. :;. . \ : 5&fife5fife& It :" j ;

v"' >. ; :..m-OjT.mOjTOTC.

(.mOj-

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mo-

tion

;.- ;ll-

23

;:: '

"

Jelleo.uJelleouJelled"....

.

. . '{

' ",

. Jr-\rr"\r"r-

MAP

r-

ap

r"-

J

r-J

r-

"Lucy

r-

Lucy

L-

ucy

"-\

LucyLucy-Ie

Luci-enIeIe-

BocageR-

ibcageBocageBoscage

,...

, x.x... ...onneaOnega . ...... ...- - - - - - - - -

.

MAP No.No. 11-

SECTOR

1-

pECTOR

1-

SECTORSECTORpECTORpectoral OF SECOND DIVISIONDIVISIONN-ORTHWEST

DIVI-SIONDIVISIONN-

ORTHWESTDIVI-SIONDIVISIONN-

ORTHWESTDIVI-SIONNORTHWEST OF CHATEAU THIERRYTHEORYTHIERRYli-

t

Hairstylis-

t

- American Lines on June 5 , 19181918-American

1918-American

1918-American- American Lines on July 1 , 1919 a.m.ama.m-.American

a.m-.American

am., .,lit ------- American Lines on July 2 , 1918 a.m.ama.ma.m-

.Adjoininga ., m .,

- - - - . .. - - - - - - - Adjoining French lineslines-

N

lineN-

sN 1000 MetersMeters-

Cii

Mete-

rs _

CiiIi,,oi CA/9'iiCA9'ii9iiayqay/ sT'

... . . .. . . . . .. ... ..___. 'J"J' " '" ''''. . .. ... . ., .;.... . ... .. . . "" - -- -- "

. . ,,. . , ., , *- - >; " * ' "" <.+ < ".. . . * *"' *,

-" . .....-.. . . . ", -", - "" , . _ ' ' " .. .* *. -*-> - * -* *-*- "

rnnC1\rnnC1rnnC1-s

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im

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'II'I-III-

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