Page:History of the Sixth Regiment, United States Marines.djvu/36

Rh History of Sixth Regiment, U. S. Marines. 31 The enemy's losses were considerable in ihese three assault;, this regiment sustaining heavier losses in this operation than in any other since the offensive began. In the four days' offensive, Captain W. D. Black, 05th Company, and Lieutenants Simmonds, Kilduff and Stockwell, ot the 2nd Battalion, were killed, and thirteen officers wounded. In this offensive the regiment lost approximately four hundred and twenty-one men and officers killed and wounded. Information regarding the strength of the enemy's strongholds in this sector, received before the grand offensive began, proved not to have been exaggerated. Only the terrific four-hour preparation of the morning of September 12th made the first stages of the operation possible without serious opposition. The area of this regiment had included several woods, which were well fortified. Evidence of the completeness with which the artillery had been informed regarding enemy pill boxes, strongholds and defenses, was borne out by the havoc wrought upon them. The enemy had been driven into dugouts and trenches by the bombardment and those who did not retreat as the barrage advance were taken prisoners. The town of Thiaucourt, in which regimental Headquarters was establish- ed the first afternoon, was some nine kilometers within the German lines. The people of this town had been prisoners of the Germans since the early days of the Great War. Their sudden and unexpected release from captivity gave them cause for jubilation. Thiaucourt was shelled quite heavily by the enemy after they had been driven out. In the town the enemy had warehouses, which were captured, with quantities of clothing and ordnance intact. The enemy was undoubtedly engaged in further strengthening his positions when the offensive be^an. Spacious dugouts of concrete, reinforced with steel, a narrow gauge railway, rolling stock, cement mixers and large quantities of sand and gravel were captured. Big gun pits were in the course of construction. Many horses and some wagons were captured. This regiment was relieved during the night of September 1 5th- 1 6th by the 310th Regiment of the 78th Division and proceeded by march to Minorville and vicinity, where a number of officers reported from schools. On September 18th Lieut. Colonel Sibley was evacuated to hospital with eye trouble. Captain George K. Shuler assumed command of the 3rd Battalion. The regiment proceeded by march on the night of September 20th and arrived at Foug during the night, where Regimental Headquarters was established. The battalions were billeted in towns around Foug. Drill schedules were put into effect. One-day liberties were granted to the officers and men to TouL The regiment entrained on September 27th for a new area, arriving at Chalon-sur-Marne late in the afternoon. It detrained arid proceeded to Chopy, where Regimental Headquarters was established. The bat- talions were billeted in nearby towns. On the night of September 29th the regiment proceeded by camions to Somme-Suippes, where it detrained in a heavy rain. The regiment was now in the Champagne sector, which