the enemy were hurled against our lines. Yet,
says the division's official Summary of Events of July 15, 1918, "In
spite of the most vigorous attempt of the enemy, he was able to set foot
on the intermediate position only at one point. A counter-attack by two
companies of French infantry and two companies of the 167th Infantry
drove him from this position in a bloody hand-to-hand combat." Five
successive attacks that morning were one after another thrown back with
heavy losses.

Not only in our immediate front, but all the way along the line from
Chateau Thierry to the Argonne, the Allied line had held. The program by
which the enemy expected to reach Suippes at noon July 15, and Chalons
at 4 p. m. July 16, was irretrievably defeated. The Second Battle of the
Marne, involving greater numbers of men than any previous battle in
history, and more cannon than were engaged in our entire Civil War, was
a decisive triumph for the Allies and a fatal crisis for the enemy.

Late in the afternoon, the enemy undertook a second great effort, and
our firing, which had slowed down during the afternoon, recommenced at
its rapid rate. Again there was a lull, and again the attack
recommenced. All night long we fired, but since the rate was slower,
three men could handle the work. Half the crew slept half the night, and
then relieved the others. So tired they were that the frequent report of
the gun ten feet away disturbed their slumbers not the slightest.

Next day the firing continued, but slowly, as during the night. During
the 15th the battery fired nearly one thousand rounds per gun. On the
16th about half that number of rounds were fired.

The reserve ammunition stored in the trench had been expended, and the
caissons were bringing up more. This necessitated hard, long and
dangerous trips by the drivers. On the night before the attack they had
packed up, harnessed and hitched, and stood till morning waiting for
possible orders to pull out the guns. In the four big offensives before
this one, in 1918, the Germans had swept through the lines the first
day; so preparations had been made for any contingencies. In the
morning, caissons were sent out for more ammunition. One dump was blown
up while they were alongside. This and other difficulties compelled them
to search about the countryside for available stores of shells. It was
midnight before they brought them up, along shelled roads, to the
position. Those who had not gone out in