There was the greatest surprise among American officers at the evident
low morale among members of the 5th Guard Division, thought to be one
of the Kaiser's very best.
The Germans had tried their best to get the Americans out of the wood
and to hold the valuable position. They had sent attack after attack
there, always failing to gain complete free possession, but making
things very unpleasant for our men. It was after four days of this that
the marines got on their hind legs and went after the Germans.
An American General tonight characterized the capture of Belleau
Wood as the most important thing the Americans at the front had yet
accomplished. Its possession straightens our line, taking away from the
German his protected wedge into our positions, and gives an excellent
starting point for further operations.
Two hours after the Americans started through the wood the Germans
launched their heavy attack to regain Bouresches. A dark and cloudy
night had aided their preparations for the rush, but the Americans,
expecting something of the sort, had the northern side of the town
lined with machine guns, and had artillery all trained on the railroad
embankment over which the Germans had to come. The Americans seem to
have excellent tab on the German movements, and when, at 5 o'clock, the
Germans came over, they met a terrific machine gun fire, while a heavy
barrage which was put right behind the attacking party and gradually
lowered on it not only cut off reinforcement for it but killed many
in it. The slaughter of Germans in this attack was the heaviest
the Americans have yet been able to inflict. Our men, in excellent
positions at the edge of the town, suffered almost no losses. In this
operation we took fifty prisoners, including one officer.