Page:History of the Sixth Regiment, United States Marines.djvu/38

Rh History of Sixth Regiment, U. S. Marines. 33 Alpine Chausseurs, were aiding in this offensive. At the beginning of the offensive Suippes and Somme-Suippes, two fairly large French towns, were under shell fire. These towns had been evacuated of civilians since early in the war. The Germans who had occupied Suippes earlier in the war had mined practically all the houses of the town by discharging explosives in the cellars, blowing up the interiors, and while the town had the appearance of being in fairly good condition, the houses were mere shells. However, the town was used for billeting troops. During the afternoon of October 2nd the Stokes mortar and one- pounder sections were sent to aid the 96th Company on the left of the 2nd Battalion, to assist against the enemy's strong point at the junction of Boy-des-Hohenzoilem and principal parallels, from which their machine gun fire menaced the left flank. In substance, the following order was sent to all company commanders of the 2nd Battalion in the front line at 4-20 P.M .: "At 6:30 P.M. you will occupy, by infiltration, the trenches Du Pache. de 1'Elbe and D'Essen. Two platoons will be used initially, followed by the other two as sucrcssive trenches are reached. Consolidate and hold with two platoons in front trenches and two in rear." In addition the limits of each company's occupancy were clearly defined. This movement was executed as scheduled and the following message, written at 8 P.M ., from Lieut. Cates, commanding the 96th Company, and who had ihe difficult flank, explains the situation : "Attack a success. Few losses. Consolidated. Liaison with 78th on right and French on left. Everything in good shape. It Sad been planned to attack on October 2nd, but plans were changed, and 5 :30 A.M. October 3rd was set for the assault. The 2nd Battalion had greatly improved its position from which to attack when it connected up its lines in the changes in the afternoon of October 2nd. The regiment was to advance in three echelons to the north and west against the positions held by the enemy in the immediate front in trenches Pache and D'Essen, then a little west of north to include Blanc Mont. The 2nd Battalion was to lead with two frcnt companies in its front line and two in local support, followed by the 1st and 3rd Battalions respectively, at about 1000 meters, similarly disposed. Careful instruc- tions were given to guard the left flank for the entire advance to Blanc Mont and to maintain liaison with the infantry on the right. The 3rd Brigade, consisting of the 9th and 23rd Infantry Regiments, was to attack on the right of the Marine Brigade. The 5th Regiment, Marines, was to support this regiment. Packs were ordered to be left at the "jumping- off" place. The regimental commander gave the following instructions in a field order, regarding the use of rifles : "Impress all men with the fact that musketry is still KING and they have but to sit tight and shoot straight, insuring superiority of fire and guaranteeing success." There was to be a five-minutes' artillery preparation before the infantry attack, and a rolling barrage was to precede the infantry ai ttie