Page:History of the Sixth Regiment, United States Marines.djvu/26

Rh History of Sixth Regiment, U. S. Marines. 2 at the brilliant success of the drive and were eager to take their part in the advance. Enemy airplanes flew low and attempted to hara- this regiment *md other troops massed in the woods behind »he line*, with machine gun fire. Battalion commanders were called to Regimental Headquarters and told that the regiment would attack the German lint east of Vierzy on the morning of July 19th. This information was given to the battalion commanders at about 4 ; 30 A.M. ol July 19th. The attack was started at 8.30 A.M. with the 1st Battalion on the right ot the Regimental^ area, the 2nd on the left and the third in support. I h>* attack was supported by tanks. "I he advance to the frcnt line, htth more than a kilometer distant, was across perfect!) optTl wheat field- The pace, because of the necessity of following the tanks, was slow and the advance over the entire distance was throuen a hrrav) harrace put down by the enemy. When the front line" were pa^ed the enenv. machine guns proved most troublesome. A halt »a> made ?fler n gain of about one kilometer for the reason thr»t ihc casualties had e o reduced the regiment thnt further advance was practically impossible What remained ol the regiment look shelter in a lint- of ^cmt-comple'e intrenchments constructed by the German-, wHoi2 from 10:3^ AM until dark the reoiment was suhiected to the enemy'* artillery, onr pounder and machine gun fire, Early in the fightim- it was diF*"**vereri that an uncovered cap had developed between the l K t and 2r»d Bait- alions, and Maior S»h Ie>, cororrpnclinfi the 3rd Rottalon, to uhich had been attached the 15th and 77th Machine Gun Comnanies, one platoon each from the 73rd and 81st Machme Gun Companies also the Stoke* mortar and one-pounder platoons of the Headquarters Co:rpany wi'hout their mortars and one pounders, was ordered to fill this cap. He ordered the 83rd and 84th Companies to advance into this portion of the lin<~ which was uncovered, the remainder of Major Sibley's command follow- ing the lead ng battalions at a distance of one thousand yards. The 77th Company and ihe platoon of 8!st Company were detached fron, the 3rd Battalion later in the day. The following message was seni to all battalion commanders at 3 :45 P.M . "From : CO. 6th Regt. At: P.C. 19 July 1918—3 :4b P.M. No. 10 By runner. To: C.O .'s 1st. 2nd, 3rd Bns., Hqrs. Co., 1st Bn. 2nd Engrs The Division Commander directs us to dig in and hold oui present line at all costs. No further advance will be made lor the present. He congratulates the command on its gallant conduct in the face of severe casualties. Let me have sketch of your position and dispostion. Am- munition at crossroads 112 southeast of Vierzy. Lee".