This is how the attack was executed: The troops selected to make it
entered the trenches in two shifts, the first on Sunday night and the
second on Monday night, May 27. Special trenches had been constructed
to accommodate a larger number of men than usual. Two hours before
zero--that is to say, at 4:45 o'clock this morning--the men withdrew
to supporting trenches, whence they went to the front line at zero, or
6:45.
[Illustration: CANTIGNY, THE FIRST TOWN CAPTURED IN FRANCE BY AMERICAN
TROOPS]
They were divided into three waves for the main attack, with separate
detachments to whom had been allotted the task of mopping up the
Cantigny cellars. On the right and centre the advance was made to the
furthest objectives, while on the left, according to the plan, after
mopping up the German trenches, our troops withdrew slightly to a
better position, connecting with our old front line.
The troops went forward in extended order, preceded by the powerful
tanks, all of which entered Cantigny and went some distance beyond.
With the infantry went a detachment of flame throwers who were used
against the cellars when the boche refused to come out when ordered to
do so. They were also accompanied by a strong detachment of engineers,
signal corps men, and carrier pigeons, but the wires have remained
intact.
The artillery fire was tremendous. The German batteries at the rear
were also drenched by gas. A rolling barrage behind which the infantry
advanced was laid by the field guns. The infantry went forward first
at the rate of fifty yards per minute and then at twenty-five yards
per minute. The moving barrage of fire stalked ahead of our men into
Cantigny, keeping the boche down until the infantry was upon him.
The timetable was adhered to perfectly. At 4:45 o'clock the artillery
began a heavy concentrated fire, swelling to a drum fire at 6:45,
"zero," continuing thence onward to 7:20, when the infantry reached
their final objectives. At 7:30 the infantry outlined their position
with flares so as to enable the airplanes to signal back. Thus it will
be seen that Cantigny was taken in less than thirty-five minutes, for
the final objectives were beyond the village.