Page:History of the Sixth Regiment, United States Marines.djvu/47

42 42 History of Sixth Regiment, U. S. Marines. line? of this regiment, thus losing the ground gained in the morning. The officer^ and non-commissioned officers of this regiment did much in or- ganizing the stragelcrs and instructing them to dig mi. A new line was established and the strong points in the woods on the right front, former enemv machine gun nests, were organized into this line The positions were heavily shelled all day and night, and at 5 A.M.. October 9th, a heavy enemy barrage was placed on the front line positions, but there cessful in reorganizing and taking up the line in front of this regiment. Orders were is:ued about noon of October 9th for the relief of this regiment, and during the night it marched to the Suippes area, where it arrived about 8 A.M., having halted on the march for breakfast. During (he entire operation in the Champagne sector the front echelon of this regiment was annoyed and suffered some losses through the artillery fire of the enemy directed from positions on both flanks. At times it was reported to the Headquarters of this regiment that American artillery fire was liring short. Inquiry developed the fact that friendly artillery was not iinng in that particular «ubsector. and it is more than probable that the enemy fire from the flank in the nature of enfilade and falling just in (ronl o: in rear of the line, gave the impression to those upon whom the lire was directed that it was friendly artillery. The ten davs spent in the Champagne sector were in many respects the most exhausting to which the troops of this .egiment had been sub- jected. The men had left their packs at the 'jumping off" place and the nights and mornings were cold; and in addition they were continually hara-. -ed by enemy artillery ot every caliber. The losses of the 6th Regiment uer? thirty-three oiheers killed and wounded, eight hundred and fort-mne men killed and wounded; the total loss of the regiment. including killed, wounded and missing, officers and men, being nine hundred and forty. Regimental Headquarters wa: located in Suippe- on October I Oth and the battalions were stationed around Suippes. While in this area the troop* On October I4ih Regimental Headquarters moved to Bouy ancT~the battalions were billeted in surrounding camps and towns. Th- regiment received replace- ment, drills w re resumed, and new clothing was issued. Good food md -ulfiuent test revived the spirit: of the men wonderfully . A certain percentage of the officers and men were grunted liberty each day to Chalcne-sur-Marne. Admiral Mayo of the Navy and Major General Lejeune, commanding the second Division, reviewed the regiment while in this area. On October 19th the Marine Brigade was placed pro- visionallv ai ihe disposal ot the IX Army Corps, French, to hold the ectcr of the 73rd Division, French, in the region Att.gny — Voneq — Ai*nc River. I he order: provided lor a march o! the Brigade on October 20th to the area Suippes — Nantivet Somnv-Suippes and adjacent
 * a> no attack. The 1 42nd Regiment, 36th Division, was partially suc-
 * vere ^iven bat h? ap d_their clothing ddou-ecT.