MEUSE-ARGONNE BATTLES, THE. Marshal Foch, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied armies in the last days of Sep tember, 1918, continued the offensive against the German forces from Switzer land to the sea. In succession he dealt a heavy blow to the German flank in Flanders, struck at the enemy's center along the Hindenburg line and launched a formidable attack on his other flank in Champagne. It was of first importance that the flank in Champagne should be shattered, as it meant the cutting of the German lines of communication with France and Flanders. The breaking of the Meuse-Argonne line would probably lead to the collapse of the enemy, for it served as a hinge to the German retreat in France and Belgium.
The Germans held naturally strong po sitions which they had strengthened arti ficially in the most painstaking manner. Here they had concentrated a large force of their best troops. The Argonne For est, the bend of the Aisne, and the Meuse river offered every advantage for defen sive operations. The American Army oc cupied the lines between the Argonne Forest and the Meuse. joined with Gen eral Gouraud's French Army which ex tended almost to Rheims. Attacking on Oct. 6, the French Army made an ad vance of four miles and the Americans about six. In the course of two days' fighting the Americans captured Mont faucon, Cuisy, Malencourt, Epenonville, Charpentry, Very, and other towns and villages and 10,000 prisoners. The French won some strong points, includ ing Navarin Farm.
To the east of the Meuse the Ameri cans captured Marcheville and Rieville, gains which straightened the flank of the army west of the river. Gen eral Gouraud in the meantime had ad vanced to within a few miles of Vouziers. The American drive had brought their guns within range of the Kriemhilde line, which ran from Grand Pre to Dam villers, crossing the Meuse river. Smash ing through the German line, the Ameri cans, capturing prisoners and guns, ad vanced several miles up the Aire river valley. General Gouraud attacking on a twelve-mile front drove the Germans before him and by Oct. 11 held the whole
of Suippe river line, capturing in these operations 20,000 prisoners and 600 guns.
The Americans in the meantime had seized the heights dominating the Aire valley. Oct. 14-17 they captured Pre, Champigneulles, and Romagne, and had pushed on beyond the Kriemhilde posi tion. Talma Farm and other strong points were won by surprise attacks. About the same time the French, cross ing the Aisne, made important gains in the direction of Rethel. The principal German defense between the armies of Allies and the Belgian border was the Freya-Stellung line, extending from a point near the Meuse to the Bourgogne Forest. On Oct. 26 a part of the Freya line was won by the Allies and the great trunk railway line running from Metz to Mezieres through Sedan and Mont medy was under bombardment.
General Gouraud's Army, the Ameri can co-operating, on Nov. 1 crossed the Aisne between Rethel and Vouziers, with General Berthelot on his left, and had pushed on to the suburbs of Mezieres, when on Nov. 11 the Armistice ended the fighting. General Pershing's forces in the final drive reached Sedan on Nov. 6, and on the last day of the war had ad vanced east of the Meuse, capturing the Woevre Heights, which brought Metz within easy range of his guns.
The importance of the French and American drive in the Meuse-Argonne country cannot be over-estimated as it led to great results. The movement broke the German line of communica tions and hastened the German collapse which would have been far more com plete if the Armistice had not put an end to hostilities. The French and American victories had not been lightly won, for the nature of the ground fought over offered every advantage for defense and the Germans had ample reasons for believing their positions were impreg nable.
It has been variously estimated that the Germans lost between 100,000 and 150,000 men during the Franco-Ameri can offensive in the Meuse-Argonne re gion. The Americans captured 26,000 troops and 468 guns. The French took over 30,000 prisoners and about 700 guns.