As this volume deals only with the battle of the Argonne the French
attack will be dealt with separately in “The Battles of Champagne.” Here
we shall confine our attention to the attack made by the American First
Army on the front between the Aisne and the Meuse.
[Illustration: THE ALLIED AND ENEMY FORCES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
ATTACK OF SEPTEMBER 26, 1918]
[Illustration: GUN EMPLACEMENT WRECKED BY HEAVY GERMAN SHELL]
The displacement of the American forces was completed by the evening of
the 22nd. On the 25th all the units were in position for attack, and
were distributed from east to west as follows:
Between the Meuse and Malancourt: the 3rd American Corps (Bullard),
comprising three divisions (33rd, 80th, 4th) in line, and one division
(3rd) in reserve.
Between Malancourt and Vauquois: the 5th American Corps (Cameron),
comprising three divisions (79th, 37th, and 91st) in line, and one
division (32nd), in reserve.
[Illustration: ENORMOUS SHELL CRATER FILLED WITH WATER]
Between Vauquois and La Harazée: the 1st American Corps (Liggett),
comprising three divisions (35th, 28th, and 77th) in line, and one
division (92nd) in reserve.
In addition, there was the army reserve, consisting of three divisions
(1st, 29th, and 82nd).
On the left, the liaison of the American Army with the French Fourth
Army (Gouraud) on the outskirts of the Argonne, between the Aisne and
the forest, was maintained by two infantry regiments.
On the right, the French 17th Corps was stationed as look-out on the
right bank of the Meuse.
Facing the three corps of the American Army, the Germans had in line
eleven divisions belonging to the army of Von Gallwitz. Seven divisions
were in thee army reserve, whilst four additional divisions were being
reorganized in the Metz sector.