In order to appreciate understandingly the importance of the early operations participated in by the Marine Brigade as a unit of the Second Division it is necessary to remember that in 1918, prior to the middle of July, the offensive was in the hands of the Imperial German Staff, and that between March 21, 1918, and July 15, 1918, the Germans directed no less than five major offensives against the Allied lines in efforts to bring the war to a successful conclusion for the Central Powers. American troops assisted in breaking up every one of these drives, but the Second Division, including the Marines, opposed only one, that in the Chateau-Thierry sector. It should also be noted that on March 28, 1918, the American commander in chief placed all of the American forces at the disposal of Marshal Foch, who had been agreed upon as commander in chief of the Allied Armies, to be used as he might decide.
The first offensive (Somme) of the Germans was stopped within a few miles of Amiens, and the second (Lys) overran Armentieres. In this second German offensive, which lasted from April 9 to 27, 1918, and which has been designated by the Americans as a major operation, there were approximately 500 American troops engaged.
Then late in May, 1918, with startling success, which brought a corresponding depression to the morale of the Allies, the Germans launched their third offensive, west of Rheims, crossed the Chemin-des-Dames, captured Soissons, and the last day of May found them marching in the direction of Paris down the Marne Valley. Again the American commander in chief placed every available man at the disposal of Marshal Foch. It was at this critical time, when the Allies were facing a grave crisis, that the Second Division, including the Marine Brigade, together with elements of the Third and Twenty-eighth Divisions, were thrown into the line and, in blocking the German advance in the Chateau-Thierry sector, rendered great assistance in stopping the most dangerous of the German drives.
The first report of the American commander in chief states that “the Third Division, which had just come from its preliminary training area, was hurried to the Marne. Its motorized machine gun battalion preceded the other units and successfully held the bridgehead at the Marne opposite Chateau-Thierry. The Second Division, in reserve near Montdidier, was sent by motor trucks and other available transport to check the progress of the enemy toward Paris.”
The final report of the American commander in chief with reference to this third German offensive stated in part:
On reaching the Marne that river was used as a defensive flank and the German advance was directed toward Paris. During the first days of June something akin to a panic seized the city and it was estimated that 1,000,000 people left during the spring of 1918. * * *
The Second Division, then in reserve northwest of Paris and preparing to relieve the First Division, was hastily diverted to the vicinity of Meaux on May 31, and, early on the morning of June 1, was deployed across the Chateau-Thierry-Paris road near Montreuil-aux-Lions in a gap in the French line, where it stopped the German advance on Paris.
Without minimizing in any way the splendid actions of the Twenty-sixth Division at Seicheprey and Xivray in April 1918, or the brilliant exploit of the First Division at Cantigny on May 28, 1918, the fact remains that the Second Division, including the Marine Brigade, was the first American division to get a chance to play an important part on the western front, and how well it repelled this dangerous thrust of the Germans along the Paris-Metz highway is too well known to be dwelt upon at length in this brief history.
The fighting of the Second Division in the Chateau-Thierry sector was divided into two parts, one a magnificently stubborn defensive lasting a week and the other a vicious offensive. The defensive fighting of the Second Division between May 31 and June 5, 1918, was part of the major operation called by the Americans the Aisne defensive. Without discussing at this time the tactical or strategical significance of the work of the Second Division in the Aisne defensive, suffice to say that its psychological effect upon the morale of the Allies was tremendous and has been recognized in practically every writing worthy of consideration up to the present date.
The close of the Aisne defensive on June 5, 1918, found the line of the Second Division well established at that point of the Marne salient nearest Paris, but not including Hill 142, Bois de Belleau, Bouresches, or Vaux, and the Germans were in possession of Chateau-Thierry on the right of the Second Division, and continued to hold that town until about July 17, 1918.
On June 6, 1918, the Second Division snatched the initiative from the Germans and started an offensive on its front which did not end until July 1, 1918. The Marine Brigade captured Hill 142 and Bouresches on June 6, 1918, and in the words of Gen. Pershing, “sturdily held its ground against the enemy’s best guard divisions,” and completely cleared Bois de Belleau of the enemy on June 26, 1918, a major of Marines sending in his famous message: “Woods now U. S. Marine Corps’ entirely.” The American commander in chief in his first report calls this fighting “the battle of Belleau Wood” and states, “our men proved their superiority, and gained a strong tactical position with far greater loss to the enemy than to ourselves.” In his final report he states: “The enemy having been halted, the Second Division commenced a series of vigorous attacks on June 4, which resulted in the capture of Belleau Woods [on June 26] after very severe fighting. The village of Bouresches was taken soon after [on June 6] and on July 1 Vaux was captured. In these operations the Second Division met with most desperate resistance by Germany’s best troops.” On July 1, 1918, the Third Brigade captured Vaux. The Artillery, Engineers, and the other elements of the Second Division assisted materially in these successes, while the Seventh regiment of the Third Division was in Belleau Wood for a few days about the middle of June.
During these 31 days of constant fighting, the last 26 of which has been defined by general headquarters of the American Expeditionary Forces as a “local engagement,” the Second Division suffered 1,811 battle deaths (of which approximately 1,062 were Marines) and suffered additional casualties amounting to 7,252 (of which approximately 3,615 were Marines). It was that fighting and those 9,063 casualties that first made the name Chateau-Thierry famous.
The achievements of the Fourth Brigade of Marines in the Chateau-Thierry sector was twice recognized by the French. The first, which changed the name of the Bois de Belleau, was a beautiful tribute spontaneously made to the successes and to the losses of the Fourth Brigade of Marines, and shows the deep effect that the retaking of Belleau Wood and other near-by positions from the Germans had on the feelings of the French and the morale of the Allies. Official maps were immediately modified to conform with the provisions of the order, the plan directeur used in later operations bearing the name “Bois de la Brigade de Marine.” The French also used this new name in their orders, as illustrated by an ordre général dated August 9, 1918, signed by the commanding general of the Sixth French Army, reading in part as follows:
Avant la grande offensive du 18 Juillet, les troupes américaines faisant partie de la VIe Armée française se sont distinguées en enlevant à l’ennemi le Bois de la Brigade De Marine et le village de Vaux, en arretant son offensive sur la Marine et à Fossoy.
The order changing the name of Bois de Belleau reads as follows:
VIº Armée, Etat-Major,
au Q. G. A., le 30 Juin, 1918.
6930/2.]
ORDRE.
En raison de la brillante conduite de la 4éme Brigade de la 2éme D. U. S. qui a enlevé de haute lutte Bouresches et le point d’appui important du Bois de Belleau, défendu avec acharnement par un adversaire nombreux, le général commandant la VIº Armée décide que dorénavant, dans toutes les piéces officielles, le Bois de Belleau portera le nom de “Bois de la Brigade de Marine.”
Le Général de Division Degoutte,
Commandant la VIº Armée.
(Signed) Degoutte
A. M. le Général Cdt. la 4me Brigade de Marine.
s/c. de M. le Général Cdt. la 2me D. U. S.
The second recognition by the French of the Marines’ work in the Chateau-Thierry sector were citations of the Fourth Brigade, Fifth and Sixth Regiments, and the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion of Marines, in French army orders, that of the brigade, the others being identical, reading as follows:
Après approbation du général commandant en chef les forces expéditionnaires américaines en France, le général commandant en chef les armées françaises du nord et du nord-est, cite à l’Ordre de l’Armée:
“4º Brigade Americaine sous les ordres du Général de Brigade James G. Harbord, comprenant: Le 5e Regiment de Marine, sous les ordres du Colonel Wendell C. Neville, le 6e régiment de Marine, sous les ordres du Colonel Albertus W. Catlin, le 6e Bataillion de mitrailleuses, sous les ordres du Commandant Edward B. Cole:
“A été jetée en pleine bataille, sur un front violemment attaqué par l’ennemi. S’est affirmée aussitôt comme une unité de tout premier order. Dés son entrée en ligne, a brisé, en liaison avec les troupes françaises, une violente attaque ennemie sur un point important de la position et entrepris ensuite à son compte une série d’opérations offensives. Au cours de ces opérations, grace au courage brillant, à la vigueur, à l’allant, à la ténacité de ses hommes qui ne se sont laissés rebuter ni par les fatigues, ni par les pertes; grace à l’activité et à énergie de ses officiers; grace enfin à l’action personnelle de son chef, le Général J. Harbord, la 4e brigade a vu ses efforts couronnés de succés. En intime liaison l’un avec l’autre, ses deux régiments et son bataillon de mitrailleuses ont réalisé, après douze jours de lutte incessante (du 2 au 13 Juin 1918) dans un terrain trés difficile, une progression variant entre 1,500 à 2,000 métres, sur un front de 4 kilométres, capturant un nombreux matériel, faisant plus de 500 prisonniers, infligeant à l’ennemi des pertes considérables et lui enlevant deux points d’appui de premiére importance—le village de Bouresches et le bois organisé de Belleau.”
Au Grand Quartier Général, le 22 octobre, 1918.
Le Général Commandant en Chef.
Signé: Petain
(Ordre No. 10.805 “D.”)
In addition to the above-described instances, French civilian sentiment expressed itself in the following letter from the mayor of Meaux and Resolution from the assembled mayors of the Meaux District (Arrondissement). This letter and the resolutions were published on July 10, 1918, in General Orders No. 43, of the Second Division “as indicating the appreciation of the efforts of the Second Division by the French inhabitants for our share in stemming the recent German advance in this sector.”
Meaux, June 26, 1918.
General: On behalf of all the Mayors of the Meaux District (Arrondissement), assembled yesterday in congress at the city hall, I have the honor to send you herewith a copy of the resolution they have taken in order to pay homage to the gallantry displayed by the troops under your command and to the effectiveness of the help they rendered us.
The civilian population of this part of the country will never forget that the beginning of this month of June, when their homes were threatened by the invader, the Second American Division victoriously stepped forth and succeeded in saving them from impending danger.
I am personally happy to be able to convey to you this modest token of their thankfulness and I am, General,
Yours, respectfully,
(Signed) G. Lugol,
Mayor of Meaux, Député de Seine et Marne.
Voted in a Congress of the Mayors of Meaux District on the 25th of June, 1918.
The mayors of the Meaux district, who were eye-witnesses to the generous and efficacious deeds of the American Army in stopping the enemy advance, send to this Army the heart-felt expression of their admiration and gratefulness.
(Signed) G. Lugol,
President of the Committee.
Meaux, June 25, 1918.
During the first attack on Belleau Wood on June 6, 1918, Col. Albertus W. Catlin was severely wounded and was relieved in command of the Sixth Regiment by Lieut. Col. Harry Lee, who continued in command until the regiment was demobilized in August, 1919.
When Maj. Edward B. Cole was mortally wounded on June 10, 1918, he was relieved in command of the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion of Marines by Capt. Harlan E. Major. On June 11, 1918, Captain Major was relieved by Capt. George H. Osterhout, who retained command until relieved by Maj. Littleton W. T. Waller, jr., on June 21, 1918.
During the fighting in the Chateau-Thierry sector the headquarters of the Fourth Brigade was successively at Montreuil-aux-Lions, (in an automobile for one-half hour on the way to the front lines), Issonge farmhouse, and La Loge farmhouse. After being relieved by elements of the Twenty-sixth Division during the night of July 5-6, 1918, the brigade moved to an area in rear of the lines and occupied what was known as the Line of Defense or Army Line, with headquarters at Nanteuil-sur-Marne. The brigade remained there until July 16, 1918.
During the time the above-described fighting was going on the Germans were frustrated in their fourth 1918 drive (Noyon-Montdidier defensive) between June 9 and 15, 1918, and of course being busy in the vicinity of Bois de Belleau, the Marines had no opportunity of engaging in it.
Having been blocked in the Marne salient, the Germans attacked for the fifth time in 1918 on July 15, and as events turned out it was the last, for from the time of its failure they were on the defensive. The Allied troops including many Americans held this attack, called by the Americans the Champagne-Marne defensive, which was on a large scale, and the grand initiative passed from the Germans to the Allies on July 18, 1918, when Marshal Foch launched his initial major offensive, termed by the Americans the Aisne-Marne. In this magnificent and gigantic operation the Marine Brigade and other elements of the Second Division played leading parts in the vicinity of Soissons.
General headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces, on May 28, 1919, credited the Second Division units with participation in the major operation of Champagne-Marne defensive, but on June 2, 1919, rescinded this credit.