Page:History of the Sixth Regiment, United States Marines.djvu/22

Rh History of Sixth Regiment, U. S. Marines. 17 June a reconnaissance was made of the front line positions and battalion commanders made readjustments of certain of the unijs so as to afford better prelection against the enemy who held strong positions in the woods just to the northeast. The 60th Company, under Captain Coffenburg, which had a position astride the Lucy Bouresches road was ordered into a support position in the southwestern corner of the Bois de Belleau. No sleep had been possible the previous night and the men had had no hot food for eight days. The enemy also held dangerous and harassing positions well on the left flank. The day, June 7th, passed rather quietly, except in the afternoon when a lively artillery bombardment of the woods was made by the enemy. At I I
 * 30 P.M. the enemy at-

tacked the positions held by this regiment and put down heavy artillery and machine gun f:re. The losses of this regiment were comparatively slight, mostly from artillery fire. The enemy, however, it was after- wards learned from prisoners and from observation of dead bodies, suftaed heavy losses. Companies of the regiment on the eastern edge of the wood did very effective work with automatic rifles and raptured enemy machine guns against a large body of Germans who attacked Bouresches from the north. The assaults of the enemy broke down before they reached the lines held by this regiment. Plans were made for an attack on the morning of June 8th by the 3rd Battalion. I he companies were in position by 6 A.M. of that date. I he 82nd Company was on the right with its right resting on the south- east corner of the Woods. The 83rd Company was on the left of the S2nd Company. Both of these companies were in four waves. Two platoons of the 80th Company were in support and instructed to prolect the left flank. A detail of the 2nd Engineers was ordered to protect the right flank and to advance in rear of the right of the 82nd Company along the eastern edge of the woods, other Engineers and two platoon* of the 80th Company being held in reserve. The 83rd Company was withdrawn into the Woods from its advanced position in time to get in line. The attack was preceded by a short bombardment by Stokes mortars belonging to the Stokes mortar platoon of the Headquarters Com- pany, having been brought up and placed in position during the night ITiis bombardment did not prove to be very effective on account of the density of the forest and the consequent difficulty in observing the fire The attack began as scheduled. The machine gun ne^ts were soon encountered and it was found that they were well fortified in the rocks and held an exceedingly strong position. The fire from these machine guns was terrific. The enemy was also well supplied with hand grenades This fire cost the regiment heavy casualties, but it captured four enemy machine guns and killed many of the enemy who were garrisoned in these nests. Much damage was done to the enemy by automatic rifles. Bombs were scarce. Rifles played the most important role and many of the enemy were also killed by the bayonet. Hand-to hand fighting con- tinued until about 8:30 A.M. when it was found that the enemy had