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Chapter 17 Soissons—the Decisive Battle of the War There can be no doubt that during the Battle of Soissons the heroic advance of the First Division, in spite of unprecedented losses and the most determined resistance of elements of eight German divisions, turned the fate of the war.1 The First Moroccan Division on its right had to be relieved after twenty-four hours, while the Second American Division on the Moroccans’ right lasted less than two days. The First fought desperately from July 18 until July 22. It cut the enemy’s road and rail communications, besides killing and capturing large numbers. On the night of July 20, the Germans recrossed the Marne and began the retreat that never ended until the Armistice.2 I visited the lines each evening when the advance stabilized. On the second day, I was informed that General Pershing and the French army commander3 would visit the division headquarters during the afternoon.4 I left early for the lines and told the chief of staff5 to tell them I was compelled to see the troops. One brigade had not reached its objective. On leaving the division command post, I met the lieutenant colonel of a regiment in this brigade.6 He told me that he was taking supplies to the regiment. I told him to come with me. His brigade had not reported taking the objectives. On reaching the brigade command post, I found the brigade commander7 much confused and worn. I told him to get some rest, that the attack would be resumed the next morning, and that he would lead the attack . On reaching a regimental command post, I found the colonel8 exhausted. He was sullen and defiant. I asked him why his regiment had not attacked. He replied: “The order was impossible, and I did not try to obey it.” I could have relieved him, but it was evident that he was overwrought and scarcely responsible. The strain had been too great for him. I told him that I had brought the lieutenant colonel , who would be on duty while he rested. The colonel was killed the second day after this. Soissons—the Decisive Battle of the War 127 I took a young captain to guide me to the lines. On the way, a heavy German artillery fire began, and we took cover in a shell hole. When I asked his name and where he came from, I found that he was the son of one of my teachers at Dr. Porter’s. Despite the shelling, I found that the men were in good spirits. I explained the situation and the necessity of taking the objective of Berzy-le-Sec in the attack next morning. They assured me that they would take it if I would give them our own artillery support because they did not like the French artillery. I told them I would do so. It was here that I first adopted the method of advancing in two or three successive echelons, leading each echelon with a barrage from all of our guns.9 I had reported at the Paris conference10 the number of guns the French and British believed were necessary for attack, to which the GHQ staff took violent exception. Here, I found the truth of my contention and multiplied my guns by diminishing the front covered by their fire. This method was used in all my subsequent attacks by the First Division. The next morning, the advance was successful, but the lieutenant colonel whom I took to the lines was one of the first men killed.11 Years later, I was told that my enemies at GHQ criticized our losses and that General Pershing came to investigate. When he found that I had gone to the lines, nothing further was said. None of them (the GHQ crowd) were ever seen in the lines. On the third afternoon, when I reached a regimental command post, the colonel12 at once said in a most resentful manner: “General, my regiment has lost 60 percent of its officers, nearly all of its old noncommissioned officers, and most of its men, and I don’t think that is the way to treat a regiment.” I could have relieved him for insubordination , but I replied calmly, telling him that the tide of battle had been changed by his troops and those of the division of which his were only a part and that the attack would be resumed...

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