The delay occasioned by the French-American resistance at
Château-Thierry gave time for the organization of the defensive
strategy which culminated in the battle of Belleau Wood. It is
interesting to know in connection with Château-Thierry that the
Americans entered under the direction of the French. General Catlin
says apropos of the Belleau Wood preparation:
“I think the French hesitated to trust us too far in this crisis. We
were without tanks, gas shells, or flame projectors. We were untried in
open warfare. But General Harbord begged to be allowed to tackle the
job.
“‘Let us fight in our own way,’ said he, ‘and we’ll stop them.’
“The situation was acute; there seemed to be no alternative. General
Harbord was given free rein, and in that moment we passed out from our
French tutelage and acted as an American army fighting side by side
with our hard-pressed Allies. The battle of Belleau Wood was fought by
American troops, under American officers, supported by American guns,
in a typically American manner. And the battle was won.”
The details of this battle in the wood are not to be given here. One
or two of the facts that stand out must serve as illustrative of the
whole splendid performance. The advance began with the 5th Battalion
under Major Berry and the 6th Battalion under Major Holcomb holding
the center, the French on the left and the 23d Infantry on the right,
Sibley’s battalion supporting.