From

sharply to the west, thus passing around a district that still was being shelled heavily by the Germans in an e

n unattached to any regiments-who had been sent to fill up the depleted ranks. The shattered companies were refilled, Companies L and M, of the 109th, and B and

umerous bends. The doughboys were anxious to see Chateau-Thierry, which already, even among these lads who were out of touch with events in other parts of the war area, had loo

the far side of the river, for they kept on

ry, just east of Chateau-Thierry, but on the south bank. One battalion remained there, another crossed the river on pontoon bridges, left behind by the Frenc

th rifles and supplies of ammunition, and the anti-aircraft guns around Chateau-Thierry set up their baying. The 109th's marksmen tried a few shots, but the range was too

e bridges. This time the flyers apparently had crossed the river to the east or the west, for they came

anti-aircraft guns gave tongue, and after ten minutes or so of this explosive outburst the airplanes disappeared. Then the 109th learned something of the difficulties airmen experience

e ordered out on a route to the northeast, which would carry them somewhat east of Fere

until they effected contact with the retreating enemy, and to exert all po

r experience at the Marne the value of the British suggestion to do away in battle with marks distinguishing them as of commissioned rank, stripped their uniforms of insignia and cam

of skirmishers, greatly extending the front covered and reducing the casualties from shell fire. Patrols were out in adva

ft guns were active enough to keep them at a respectful distance. They were unable to harry the Americans with machine gun fire. Occasionally, a bombing flyer, prote

ncentrated artillery fire, against which the forest would have been poor shelter, but the continual roar of the artillery and the occasional shell that came with a rending crash into the woods effectually disposed

expected to stay, but had been driven out sullenly and reluctantly, fighting bitter rear-guard actions the whole w

ere tumbled heaps of masonry, representing what had once been happy little villages, many of the houses centuries old. Trees and grape vines had been hacked off close to the ground,

utely laid in ruins-furniture, tapestries, clothing, all scattered broadcast. Handsome rugs were tramp

came on a machine gun emplacement, with dead Boche lying about in heaps. Close beside one of the guns, almost in a sitting posture, with one arm

hands up to the salute in silent tribute to this fair-haired y

since Germany went mad in 1914. Troop after troop of cavalry, some French, some American, passed them, the gallant horsemen sitting their steeds with conscious pride, their

ew casualties and the officers were just beginning to congratulate themselves on having chosen a fortunate position for their rest when a large high-explosive shell landed on the edge of

en years old, of Monongahela City, Pa., whom the men called "Deac

asked Lieutenant Martin, as he p

than I am. Dress him first, please, sir. I can wait

a steely, silent, implacable wrath that was ten times more terrible and more ominous for the enemy. The farther they penetrated in the wake of the Boche the more deep-seated and lasting became this feel

perate fighting in the vicinity of that town, so that when the Franco-American attack from Soissons to Bussiares, on th

behind and all three soon came in

the enemy. Repeatedly they overran their immediate objectives and several times walked into their own barrage so determinedly that of

eer as a fighting unit beside its fellow regiments of the old National Guard, and word was received that the 53d Field Artill

munition train and the supply train. The division was being reassembled, for the first tim

apparently determined to make a stand at last, only to be blasted out of their holding positions by the Americans and continue their flight

ess to waste life by sending infantry against the formidable German positions without artillery support, our lines w

maps, and hundreds of the men, having only hazy ideas as to the geography of France or the dis

ll that the Germans now were in flight before them. Each man felt that to his particular company belonged the glory of that reversal of conditions. Th

y machine gun fire, bombed from the sky, alternately in pouring rain and burning sun, hungry half the time, their eyes burning from want of sleep, half suffocated from long inte

dier wrote home: "We have had the Boche on the run in open country, and it h