Artillery Scout by James G. Bilder

Author:James G. Bilder
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Casemate Publishers (Ignition)
Published: 2014-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

St. Mihiel: The Americans Enter the War in Earnest

FRENCH GENERAL FERDINAND Foch, the Supreme Commander of Allied forces in France, had proposed in July of 1918 a strategy to drive the Germans out of France, back to the Hindenburg Line along their own border, and into capitulation before year’s end. The addition of American personnel and money now gave him almost limitless resources to conduct war against a foe rapidly fading out of existence. Under Foch’s plan, the Germans would become the anvil forced to absorb relentless blows from the Allied hammer.

Foch believed that the destruction of the German salients at Amiens (Australian, Canadian, British, French—and a small American—sector), the Marne (French & American sector), and St. Mihiel (also French and American sector) would form a solid and easily maneuverable Allied line from which he could then deliver the death blow to what remained of the German Army and win the war for the Allies. The plan has been recorded in history as the “100 Days Campaign,” as well as “The Grand Offensive.”

The strategy obviously was working. The Allied counter-offensive began at the Second Battle of the Marne (Soissons to the Americans) in mid-July and then progressed to the north at Amiens on August 8th. Amiens met with quick success, as 16,000 enemy troops surrendered almost immediately in what German Commander Erich Ludendorff referred to as “the Black Day of the German Army.”

Len and everyone else knew on September 11th that they were on the eve of another “big push.” It could be felt as much as the cold and rain that permeated everything. The men were ordered to check their personal equipment as the gun crews made their final preparations.

Len and the others were given their gas masks. They were not issued the British canister style to which they were accustomed, but rather the French Tissot models. The French masks had the innovative design of air valves under the eyepieces so that the lens would not fog over. Gloves (“oilcloth mitts”) were dispensed as well. It was very frightening; every man knew this was for protection from mustard gas (“yellow cross”) that the Germans now used with great frequency.

Len and his companions had been exposed to tear gas in training, but mustard gas was unknown amongst their experiences and the unknown is always the most frightening. The personal weapons, for Len a trench knife and .45 caliber colt sidearm, were checked. He wouldn’t be taking a rifle or Annabel for this action. For one, poor Annabel would sink in the water-filled mud holes and drown. The mud swallowed men and animals faster than quicksand, and for another, he’d be repositioned in a dugout before the fight began.

Germans wearing American uniforms in order to cause additional chaos and confusion on the battlefield was not a tactic that originated with the Ardennes (Bulge) Offensive of World War II. English speaking Germans had been reported wearing the uniforms of captured American officers and, during the high point of battle, running up and down U.

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