Page:History of the Sixth Regiment, United States Marines.djvu/41

36 36 History of Sixth Reciment, U. S. Marines. 1st and 2nd Bns. on front line with no support. In need of a support line. Can you help us out? Barker." Enemy machine guns, one-pounders and mortars on the left open flank proved very troublesome. Realizing that the advance was at an end, enemy artillery again took position to the front and their pieces of 88 caliber proved troublesome. Tanks assisted some in repelling a counter- attack on the left. The machine gunners of this regiment proved equal to the counter-blow, which was repulsed, enemy losses being heavy. A summary of the various phases of this advance shows that the following situation had developed. The advance of this regiment had been un- interrupted to the objective on the Blanc Mont ridge and when the French oji the left had failed to advance, leaving an exposed flank, the leading, battalions of this regiment, in order to keep in touch with the Brigade on the right, had veered slightly to the right, and the dense woods on and approaching Blanc Mont had not been cleared of enemy machine guns. It was to protect this flank that the line of the 3rd Bat- talion was swung in a partial semicircle as support to the left as indicated »n the preceding messages. During the afternoon the 22nd Division, French, crossed the rear of this regiment from the right and began cleaning up the woods on the left flank, from which a great deal of machine gun fire had continued to enfilade the left positions of this regiment. Elements 107th Division, French, also came up in support. The following order was issued from the Headquarters of the 6th Regiment at 3 :45 P.M. "Information has been received that the French division on our left has advanced. Our division will move forward at about 4 :00 P.M . and occupy the ridge to the eastward and southeastward of St. Et .enne. The 5th Regiment will pass through the 6th Regiment in its present position and will advance to the new objective. When the 5th Regi- ment has passed through the Bns. of this regiment will immediately reform and be prepared to follow the 5th at a distance of about I kilo- meter should their advance make that necessary. This reg ment will advance in column of Bns,. in the order — Barker (1st), Williams (2nd), Shuler (3), and will assure the pr6tection of the left flank of the 5th Regiment. Should the rear Bn. of the 5th Regiment not advance more than one kilometer from the present position, this regiment will remain in place and assure the protection of the left flank. Lee." The advance of the 5th Regiment as described in this order did not, however, take place on this date. It was effected on the morning of October 4th. The advance met with determined resistance and the elements of the 6th Regiment on the ridge east of Blanc Mont and the 5th Regt. advancing to the north of this ridge were subjected to terrific machine gun fire from Blanc Mont woods. The left flank was protected . during the night of October 3rd-4th by liaison patrols which connected