The moral
effect of its reduction was also notable as it was one more sign of the
weakening of the Germans.
[Illustration: Map: Verdun in the Northwest corner, St. Mihiel in
Southwest, Metz in the Northeast]
HOW THE ST. MIHIEL SALIENT LOOKED SHORTLY AFTER THE ASSAULT BEGAN
The map indicates the beginning of the great American drive, assisted
by the French, in 1918, which resulted in the wiping out of the huge
salient. The Americans attacked on the south, the French in the north;
dotted lines indicate the advance in the first five hours.
History usually concerns itself with the deeds of humanity in the mass
and with the leaders of these masses. It is eminently fitting, however,
that this history should record the impressions made upon the mind of an
American soldier by a modern battle. The United States Government
singled out of all the letters received from the front, that written by
Major Robert L. Denig, of Philadelphia, to his wife. The letter is now
part of the archives of the War Department, and occupies the highest
place of literary honor in the records of the Marines. It describes the
operation against the Germans on the Marne on July 18th, 1918. This was
the counter-attack led by the Marines which broke the back of the German
invasion. Major Denig wrote:
The day before we left for this big push we had a most interesting fight
between a fleet of German planes and a French observation balloon, right
over our heads.
Pages:
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768