Top: Bridge at St. Souplet Built under Heavy Fire by 102nd Engineers. Bottom: More German Prisoners Being Brought In.

mand of these battalions automatically reverted to the infantry brigade commanders.

When the attack opened, the barrage fell as planned, on the Abre Guernon-Le Cateau Road from a point immediately north of Advantage Farm to a point near the northern divisional boundary. The 107th Infantry on the left and on this front swept forward closely behind the barrage and with little loss overcame the enemy groups occupying the roadway. The 107th Infantry got forward in most satisfactory fashion until the line of Jonc de Mer Farm-La Roux Farm was met. These farms occupied the easterly side of the plateau shown on the map. This line was well held by enemy machine gun parties and supporting infantry groups. Their strength and the intensity of their fire were sufficient to stop the attack in front of this line. La Roux Farm, with the machine gun positions in the hedges about it, was assaulted and captured. Within two hours after the attacking line had been stopped, the position was mopped up and prisoners evacuated. Shortly after this success, Jonc de Mer Farm, which was on the inter-brigade boundary, was attacked from both flanks by detachments of the 107th Infantry on the left and the 105th Infantry on the right, with the result that it also fell into our hands.

By this time the 50th British Division, on the left of the 27th Division, had moved its line forward so that its right flank was in touch with the 107th Infantry at La Roux Farm. The left part of the line of the 50th British Division, however, was held up, and this seemed to slow down their progress.

In the area of the 53d Brigade the 105th Infantry went forward at zero hour and almost immediately met with heavy enemy machine gun fire from the many hedges on their immediate front. Heavy enfilade fire was also received from the 30th Division area on the right. The advance of the 105th Infantry was therefore delayed by the fighting which resulted and lost the barrage. Progress, however, was slowly but steadily made by the determination and skilful action of combat patrols which enveloped enemy machine gun positions one after the other, killing or capturing the defenders. When their line had been advanced to the vicinity of Jonc de Mer Farm, it was held up as already explained until the farm was captured.

In the area of the 30th Division, it seems that their attack was embarrassed by the fact that the IX British Corps on their right had received an order not to begin its attack until 11 o'clock in the morning. In order that the right of the 30th Division might not lose contact with the left of the 6th British Division on its right, it was necessary for the right brigade of the 30th Division to refuse its right flank as the brigade advanced. This resulted in the 30th Division being delayed. Accordingly, when the line of the 105th Infantry had reached Jonc de Mer Ridge and had been unable to connect up with the right of the 30th Division, patrols were sent out to establish communication. These patrols came under heavy enemy fire from the direction of Mazingheim, in the area of the 30th Division. Accordingly the right flank of the 105th Infantry was refused toward the hedges immediately east of Abre Guernon. This extension of the line of the 105th Infantry was promptly reported over the wire from Abre Guernon and at 3:00 P. M. Company F of the 102d Engineers, in strength almost equal to one of the infantry battalions, was sent forward in support of the 105th and 106th Infantry Regiments, which by that time had become merged. Company F of the engineer regiment was sent to Advantage Farm, where it was about 2,000 yards behind the front line.

When the 105th Infantry went forward on the morning of October 18th the leading waves on the left half of the battalion sector constituted not more than forty men under command of Lieutenants Alexander Granat and Marvin L. Atkins. It was these detachments which with the right elements of the 107th Infantry cleaned up Jonc de Mer Farm. The greatest resistance was met from the line of the sunken road leading southeast from Jonc de Mer Farm to Mazingheim. After some stiff fighting on the front of the 3d Battalion of the 105th Infantry, about 150 of the enemy were driven off down the road toward Mazingheim. A very considerable number of their dead were left behind. Patrols occupied Jonc de Mer Ridge, which was found to be very well organized with dugouts and shelters. Two trench mortars, six light machine guns, five heavy machine guns and three antitank rifles and a large quantity of German hand grenades and small arms ammunition were captured along this road by this small detachment of the 3d Battalion of the 105th Infantry. A

number of prisoners were taken from the deep dugouts. The Battalion Commander, in his report of the activities at this time, paid special tribute to the valor, determination and skill of the small group that constituted his battalion.

It appeared from all reports received that the enemy defense had been considerably demoralized. Their resistance was dependent upon machine gun groups, supported by infantry detachments, the whole in turn supported by enemy artillery fire from the heights of Catillon.

A defense of the character mentioned could have been quickly overcome by an aggressive advance by troops possessing requisite numbers and free from overfatigue. The troops of the 27th Division, however, at this time, had been in the line since the night of October 11th-12th-in other words, for seven days and seven nights of practically continuous fighting. During this time they had been actively engaged against the enemy and their strength had been depleted until companies of the infantry regiments had a rifle strength of twenty or thirty men each. The enemy machine gunners were skilful and courageous. In most cases they fired their guns to the last. Their supporting infantry detachments, however, were lacking in morale and frequently sought an opportunity to surrender. Under these conditions the Division Commander directed that the 53d Brigade on the right and the 107th Infantry on the left would make an effort to push forward the line by a night attack during the night of October 18th-19th.

Very early on the morning of the 19th, therefore, the leading elements of the division went forward in attack. The advance was successful. The line was advanced across Jonc de Mer Valley to the ridge lying between Jonc de Mer Valley and the St. Maurice Valley. This line included La Jonquiere Farm and North Chinmey. Patrols were sent forward to the St. Maurice stream. Accordingly by daylight the 27th Division line was in process of consolidation on the ridge mentioned, with the 108th Infantry in support of the 107th and Company F, of the 102d Engineers, in support of the merged regiments of the 53d Brigade on the right half of the divisional sector.

It was on the morning of the 19th that the Division Commander received information that the 118th Infantry on the left