CANTIGNY, a small village in north-east France, west of Montdidier and 18m. south of Amiens, was the scene of the first United States offensive in the World War. Af ter the great Ger man advance in March 1918, the I st Div. of the American Expe ditionary Force, under Gen. Bullard, relieved two French divi sions in the Picardy section of the Allied front. The German line ran west of Montdidier and formed a small salient, of which Can tigny was the nucleus, immediately facing the American front. It was decided to reduce the salient, and for this task the 28th Regt. with 15o men of the 1st Engineers were detailed, supported by French tanks. On May 28, at 6.45 A.M., after an hour's artillery preparation, the United States infantry advanced on a front of 2,2ooyd., and in 45min. they had overcome the German defences, capturing 25o prisoners. The Germans made fierce counter-at tacks, extending over three days, but failed to retake the posi tion. The total casualties sustained by the American forces in this operation were 45 officers and 1,022 men. (See ST. QUENTIN,