We made steady headway in the almost
impenetrable and strongly held Argonne Forest, for, despite this
reinforcement, it was our army that was doing the driving. Our aircraft
was increasing in skill and numbers and forcing the issue, and our
infantry and artillery were improving rapidly with each new experience.
The replacements fresh from home were put into exhausted divisions with
little time for training, but they had the advantage of serving beside
men who knew their business and who had almost become veterans over
night. The enemy had taken every advantage of the terrain, which
especially favored the defense, by a prodigal use of machine guns manned
by highly-trained veterans and by using his artillery at short ranges.
In the face of such strong frontal positions we should have been unable
to accomplish any progress according to previously accepted standards,
but I had every confidence in our aggressive tactics and the courage of
our troops.
On October 4th the attack was renewed all along our front. The Third
Corps tilting to the left followed the Brieulles-Cunel road; our Fifth
Corps took Gesnes while the First Corps advanced for over two miles
along the irregular valley of the Aire River and in the wooded hills of
the Argonne that bordered the river, used by the enemy with all his art
and weapons of defense.
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