guns stationed about three miles from the town gave a demonstration that they had the range of every American position by opening a deadly fire upon our men. Fortunately our artillery was in position and opened a withering fire upon the German artillery positions. In the meantime, American troops advancing over the Vesle to the eastward of Fismes smashed machine-gun nests and infantry resistance. That doomed Fismes and the territory around it. The capture of this terrain was attended with heavy losses on both sides. Some of these casualties were due to German land mines of fiendish ingenuity. These were placed in dugouts, in ammunition dumps, and in open roads. They were set off by electrical discharge from a safe distance. In the Château des Fère near Fère-en-Tardenois, more than three tons of high explosive were placed, connected with wires so skillfully laid that the cutting of any filament would set off the entire battery of bombs. The French official report upon this brilliant action is a tribute to the soldierly qualities of the Americans: 'Compelled to make a general retreat as a result of our counter offensive on July 18th, the Germans attempted to take positions on the Ourcq, and fought stubbornly on the heights dominating the river. They were compelled, however, to give way under the repeated blows of the Allies, and then, from July 30th on, the enemy commenced a new retreat in the direction of the Vesle. Definitely dislodged from the heights of Seringes and Hill 220, northeast of Sergy, he had met a strong advance on the part of the American units, who were fresh and energetic and who were prepared to descend the slope of Roncheres, while on their right the French were advancing through Meuniere Woods. It was the movement of the American division, which advanced from Roncheres to Fismes, progressing nearly parallel to the route which runs through Colougnes, Cohans, Longueville Farm and Saint Gilles, that we will follow beginning July 30th, the date of this division's entry into the sector, until August 5th, when it entered Fismes. "An interesting point is that this division was made up of a great many men of German origin, who, thus shedding Members of the 132d Infantry, 33d Division in a front line trench expecting an attack at any moment. From this trench can be seen the valley of the Meuse where it is estimated that 70,000 men are buried. France. Companies M and K, 326th Infantry, 82d Division, advancing on enemy positions under cover of smoke and throwing hand grenades. their blood for the United States, gloriously showed their loyalty. "On July 30th, the Americans attacked Grimpeos Woods after a short artillery preparation and reached the southeastern corner of the wood, but the German resistance at this point was very strong. They counter-attacked and threw back the advance troops of the division. The fighting was extremely severe, and there were many hand-to-hand combats. "On the next day, July 31st, the entire woods fell into the hands of the Americans. Machine-gun nests, which held up their advance on Cierges, had been crushed or captured, and the way was clear. Intrenched now in Jomblets Woods, the enemy, by a strong fire, attempted holding up the American advance. Cierges is situated in a hollow, so that the Germans, after having evacuated the village under the American pressure, bombarded it heavily with gas. The Americans did not stop in Cierges itself. They went around it in a magnificent dash and stormed the northern slopes. Then, after a short rest, they captured part of the Jomblets Woods. During this time the French had advanced on the right and debouched from Meuniere Wood, which had been cleared out thoroughly. "On August 1st, the Americans had a new series of obstacles ahead of them, the most important being Reddy Farm and Hill 230. During the previous day's fighting they already had shown a keen sense for infantry maneuvering, employing tactically the gains which were most sure of accomplishing their purpose, and giving evidence of fine qualities of initiative and imagination. In addition, they showed excellent knowledge of the use of the machine gun, automatic rifles and light mortars. They were able again to reduce the German positions. Hill 230 was taken in a superb manner, and seventy prisoners were counted. "From that moment, the enemy fled, and only weak rear-guards were left to oppose the advance of the Americans who swept these obstacles before them on their route and took without much difficulty Chamery, Moncel and Villome. At Cohans the Germans hung on several hours, but had to give it up, and at the end of the day United States troops had attained the heights north of Dravegny. Consequently progress of six or seven kilometers was made on the day of August 2d. For seventy-two hours straight the infantry had fought, despite the difficulty of procuring food, caused by the fact that only a narrow road afforded the convoys an opportunity of coming up, and the hard rains had soaked the road. "In spite of fatigue and privations, the advanced unit's pursuit was taken up again at dawn on August 3d. The line which runs by Les Bourleaux was reached easily enough, but then the enemy turned and faced the Americans with many sections of machine guns and a strong artillery fire which rained down on the villages of the valley, on the crossroads and the ravines. "It became necessary to retire methodically and maneuver on the strong points of the adversary. This permitted the United States troops to reach the slopes north of Mont St. Martin and St. Gilles. The division had thus added to its gains seven kilometers. One last One last supreme effort would permit it to attain Fismes and the Vesle. "On August 4th, the infantry combats were localized with terrible fury. The outskirts of Fismes were solidly held by the Germans, where their advanced groups were difficult to take. The Americans stormed them and reduced them with light mortars and 37's. They succeeded, though not without loss, and at the end of the day, thanks to this slow but sure tenacity, they were within one kilometer of Fismes and masters of Villes Savoye and Chezelle Farm. All night long, rains hindered their movements and rendered their following day's task more arduous. On their right the French by similar stages had conquered a series of woods and swamps of Meuniere Woods, to the east of St. Gilles, and were on the Plateau of Bonne Maison Farm. To the left, another American unit had been able to advance upon the Vesle to the east of St. Thibaut. "On August 5th the artillery prepared for the attack on Fismes by a bombardment, well regulated, and the final assault was launched. The Americans penetrated into the village and then began the task of clearing the last point of |
