United States troops, mostly inexperienced in actual warfare, on June
1 played a brilliant part in the defense of Château-Thierry. By their
prompt and resolute support to the French they assisted in driving the
Germans from the south bank of the Marne at that vital point, and were
largely responsible for blocking the enemy's determined advance across
the river toward Paris, thus preventing the development of a most
serious situation for the Allies. The French official report of the
incident was as follows:
American troops checked German advanced forces which were seeking
to penetrate Neuilly Wood, and by a magnificent counterattack
hurled back the Germans north of this wood.
Further south the Germans were not able to make any gains. On the
Marne front an enemy battalion which had crept across to the left
bank of the river above Jaulgonne was counterattacked by French
and American troops and hurled back to the other bank, after
having suffered heavy losses. A footbridge which the enemy used
was destroyed and 100 prisoners remained in our hands.