Oise-Aisne Offensive and Subsequent Service

WHILE THE 369TH, 371ST AND 372D INFANTRY REGIMENTS were serving in the Meuse-Argonne (Champagne) Offensive with the French Fourth Army, the 370th Infantry was participating in the Oise-Aisne Offensive with the French Tenth Army. This offensive, which had been launched on August 18, was to continue as a secondary operation to be undertaken between the great converging offensives. [1, 6, 128]

As a result of the success of the British-French attack between the Oise and Scarpe Rivers, the Germans had made a general withdrawal between the Vesle and Scarpe Rivers during the period September 3-7. [6]

The French were in contact with the new German position astride the Ailette River on September 8. On September 14 the French Tenth Army attacked the line, Vailly-sur-Aisne—Fort de la Malmaison—Chavignon, with the object of forcing the evacuation of the line of the Aisne River. The attack met with only slight success, and the troops were ordered to organize for defense, and be prepared to follow up any German withdrawal. [6]

The following paragraphs, in italic, are a synopsis of the service of the 93d Division in the Oise-Aisne Offensive. This synopsis is designed to make the principal facts concerning this service available to the reader in compact form.

The 370th Infantry, after serving in quiet sectors for training, was assigned to the French 59th Division, French Tenth Army, with which it participated in the Oise-Aisne Offensive. The division entered the line on September 17, as a part of the French XXX Corps and on September 22-23 placed the 370th Infantry in line between Vauxaillon and Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne. The regiment participated in the attacks of September 28-30, following the German evacuation of the positions south of the canal. On October 6 the division was assigned to the French XVI Corps. Again following a German withdrawal, the regiment advanced on the morning of October 12 and entered Bois de Mortier. It then passed to division reserve. The French 59th Division was relieved from the front line on October 13 and passed to the reserve of the French Tenth Army.

The French Tenth Army was relieved by the French Third Army on October 27 and the 59th Division was assigned to the French XVIII Corps for the relief of the French 127th Division in line northeast of Laon. (See Map No. 2.) The relief was completed on October 30. 

Early in November, as a result of the Allied attacks on the Western Front, the Germans were forced to withdraw to their previously prepared Antwerp—Meuse line. Opposite the 59th Division the movement commenced during the night of November 4-5. The 59th Division took up the pursuit on November 5 which continued until the Armistice. In this pursuit the 370th Infantry had no separate front-line command, but its battalions were attached to French regiments and at various times took part in the operations as front-line troops. 

The 1st Battalion, 370th Infantry, was in the front line near St. Pierremont on November 5 and east of Nampcelles-la-Cour on November 6. On November 8 the 3d Battalion reached Lagny les Aubenton, while the 2d Battalion participated in the fighting east of Beaume. On November 9 the 3d Battalion occupied Pont d'Any, and on November 11 was at Le Gue d'Hossus when the Armistice became effective.

Sept. 15-24

On September 14 the 370th Infantry, as part of the French 59th Division, left the vicinity of La Ferté-Milon and moved toward the front of the French Tenth Army. On the following day it moved into the Vauxaillon area. During the night of September 16-17 the French 59th Division, French XXX Corps, relieved the French 66th Division east of Vauxaillon, and the next night extended north to Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne, relieving the French 17th Division. Taking over the missions of the divisions it had relieved, the 59th Division endeavored to capture the woods east of Moisy Ferme and Mont des Singes and advance in a northeasterly direction to Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne. Very stiff fighting resulted in practically no change in the lines, and on September 20 the division issued orders to organize for defense. [74, 75, 76, 77, 78]

Companies F, G, I and L, 370th Infantry, were attached to front-line regiments, and while not originally in the assault echelon, participated in the fighting near Moisy Ferme and Mont des Singes. The remainder of the regiment was held in division reserve in the vicinity of Antioche Ferme. [21, 78] 

During the night of September 22-23 the 1st Battalion, 370th Infantry, relieved French troops in the front line along the road between Champ Vailly and Ecluse. The 2d Battalion was placed in support in the vicinity of Les Tueries, about 1,700 meters west of Vauxaillon, and the 3d Battalion in reserve near Tincelle Ferme, about 1,400 meters southwest of Antioche Ferme. The 370th Infantry took command of the left subsector of the French 59th Division on September 24. [21, 79, 80] 

The right boundary of the subsector was a line, Champ Vailly—point 300 meters west of the crossing of the road from Pinon to Brancourt and Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne. The left boundary followed the canal from the bend west of Courson to Ecluse. The French 325th Infantry, French 59th Division, was to the right and the French 31st Division, French XVI Corps, to the left. [80, 81, 82] 

Sept. 25-28 

There was local fighting in the right of the zone of action of the 59th Division during the period from September 25 to 27. The 370th Infantry engaged in minor actions to clear the enemy from the triangle formed by the road, the canal and the railroad. [80, 83] 

The Army Group of the German Crown Prince approved the withdrawal of the German Seventh Army to Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne and Bois de Mortier during the night of September 27-28. This was made necessary because of the reinforcements needed in the Champagne and Meuse-Argonne areas where the American First Army and the French Fourth Army had launched their general attacks on September 26, and to avoid the losses entailed in holding the Laffaux salient, about 4 kilometers southwest of Pinon. [84] 

Information of the German withdrawal was obtained by the French about 1 a. m., September 28, and all front-line battalions were at once ordered to attack at daybreak in order to gain contact with the enemy. [85]

The advance began about 8 a. m., and Hill 158, southwest of Pinon, was occupied by noon. Resistance from Mont des Singes, Ferme de la Rivière and Bois de Mortier held up the center and the left. [85]

The 370th Infantry received the attack order while in the midst of the relief of its front-line battalion by the 2d Battalion. The relief was completed, however, and the attack launched at daybreak. The right of the 370th Infantry was unable to advance, but the left succeeded in occupying the woods west of Ferme de la Rivière by noon. A position was held facing east toward the farm, and north along the canal. [21, 80, 86, 87]

Army, corps and division issued orders for the pursuit to be made in a northeasterly direction and assigned boundaries accordingly. The French 59th Division, with three regiments in line, was to make a turning movement, pivoting on the 370th Infantry. The first objective was the line, Pinon—Ouvrage Pierre—Ouvrage Jacques—the canal from the bend east of Ferme de la Rivière to Ecluse. The second objective was the line, Lizy—Anizy-le-Château—Bois de Mortier. The 370th Infantry was charged with protecting the left flank of the division from attacks coming from the wooded area northwest of Anizy-le-Château. [88, 89, 90, 91]

During the remainder of the day, Pinon, Ouvrage Pierre, Ouvrage Jacques and Mont des Singes were taken. [85]

At 5:20 p. m. the French 59th Division issued orders for a continuation of the attack during the night. The south bank of the canal was to be reached not later than daybreak, September 29. This accomplished, the north bank was to be reconnoitered and the attack pushed to the objectives already set. The line of the canal was divided into three regimental sectors, that of the 370th Infantry extending from the Pinon—Brancourt road crossing to Ecluse. [92]

Sept. 29-Oct. 11

The Germans resisted stubbornly on the 29th. Although the fighting was continuous throughout the day, only small gains were made. Patrols of the 370th Infantry which crossed the canal and entered Bois de Mortier were driven back by machine-gun fire. [80, 87]

The attack was continued without change in mission on September 30. The French captured the line of bastions in Forêt de Pinon and the sawmill (Scierie) west of the Anizy railroad station. [21, 93]

In the 370th Infantry, the 3d Battalion moved into a position along the railroad northeast of Vauxaillon, relieving the 2d Battalion, except Company F, which remained along the canal and in the woods west of Ferme de la Rivière. The 3d Battalion, plus Company F, attacked at 3 p. m., captured the farm and established a position along the canal from the Pinon—Brancourt road bridge to the divisional boundary. [21, 80, 94, 95]

On October 1 the French captured the Anizy railroad station, on October 2 the sugar factory (Sucrerie) south of Anizy and on October 3 conducted mopping-up operations south of the canal. While these attacks were in progress, the 370th Infantry was engaged in mopping up south of the canal. [80, 96]

On October 3, in compliance with instructions from higher authority, the French 59th Division organized its sector for defense and made preparations to cross the canal and capture Anizy-le Château. [96]

The period October 4-11 was marked by active patrolling and by preparations to cross the canal and the Ailette River.

Attempts to bridge the canal were unsuccessful, although many indications of an impending German withdrawal were observed. [98]

The 3d Battalion, 370th Infantry, reconnoitered the western part of Bois de Mortier on October 4. Company C relieved Company F along the canal west of Ferme de la Rivière during the night of October 7-8. The 1st Battalion relieved the 3d Battalion in the front line during the night of October 8-9. [99, 100, 101]

On October 6 the French XVI Corps took command of the French 59th Division, while the French XVIII Corps took command of the French 36th Division. [102]

Continued attacks by the French and Americans in the Champagne and between the Meuse River and the Argonne Forest caused the Army Group of the German Crown Prince to execute a general withdrawal along its front between October 10 and 13. Opposite the 59th Division, the Germans moved back to a position near Cessières, about 2 kilometers northeast of Suzy, during the night of October 11-12. [103, 104]

Upon taking command of the 59th Division, the French XVI Corps prescribed new boundaries for the zone of advance to the north in case of a German withdrawal. The plans of the 59th Division for a resumption of the attack provided for an advance to the vicinity of Laon in three phases. The first, which involved crossing the canal and the Ailette River and freeing Bois de Mortier, was to be accomplished by a general advance of all three regiments. The 370th Infantry was to pass to the support as soon as Bois de Mortier was captured, while the two French regiments continued the movement. [105, 106]

Bois de Mortier was to be attacked from the south by the 370th Infantry and from the west by the French 31st Division. [106]

Oct. 12

German artillery activity decreased during the night of October 11-12 and at 3 a. m., October 12, ceased altogether. Patrols continued to meet resistance and the first attempts to cross the canal were unsuccessful. At 6:30 a. m. the bridges south of Anizy and on the Pinon—Brancourt road were captured and the crossing commenced. [107]

During the morning the right regiment established a position along the road between Ancien Moulin Barthel and the cemetery of Anizy-le Château. The center regiment advanced west of Anizy-le Château and occupied Tranchée des Deboires. [107]

The 1st Battalion, 370th Infantry, aided by the advance of the French 31st Division to its left, crossed the canal and river and advanced about 500 meters into Bois de Mortier, without opposition. This completed the first phase of the pursuit by the 58th Division, and the 370th Infantry passed to support. The regiment continued in reserve or support during the rest of the operation. [2l, 80, 107, 108]

The two French regiments continued the advance, and by night had reached a line north of Lizy and Wissignicourt. [109]

Oct. 13-Nov. 4

Late in the afternoon of October 13 the French 31st Division passed through the French 59th Division near Cessières and the 59th Division became a part of the reserve of the French Tenth Army. [109]

From October 13 to 27 the 370th Infantry remained in the vicinity of Cessières, where it was reorganized and employed in road construction. During the night of October 27-28, the regiment moved toward the front northeast of Laon. (See Map No. 2.) The 1st and 2d Battalions went into support positions near Grandlup-et Fay, and the 3d Battalion to positions in reserve near Chambry. On October 27 the French Third Army took over the front of the French Tenth Army and assigned the 59th Division to the French XVIII Corps for the relief of the French 127th Division in line northeast of Laon. [80, 110, 111]

The relief of the 127th Division was completed as ordered and command of the sector passed to the 59th Division at 10 a. m., October 30. The mission of the division was to join in the attacks designed to capture the line of La Serre Rivière and to be ready to pursue vigorously any German withdrawal. [113, 114]

The 59th Division organized its sector with the two French regiments abreast, the 325th Infantry on the right and the 232d Infantry on the left. The 370th Infantry was divided, battalions being assigned both to the support and reserve echelons. [115]

In case of a German withdrawal, the front-line battalions were directed to pursue at once. By utilizing the support battalions for a passage of lines, the line of the Serre was to be gained and organized for defense. [116]

In the meantime the great converging offensives of the Allied and American armies had continued. By the end of October the American First Army and the French Fourth Army had accomplished the first part of the plan for the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and were in a position to turn the hostile positions north of the Aisne, cut the Carignan—Sedan—Mézières railroad and drive the enemy beyond the Meuse. The British-French attack between the Oise and Scarpe Rivers and the combined Allied attack east of Ypres had reached the line, Oise River—Sambre River—Escaut River. These offensives forced the Germans to withdraw to the Antwerp—Meuse line of defense. [3, 6, 104]

Nov. 5-6

Opposite the French 59th Division the German withdrawal to the Antwerp—Meuse line commenced during the night of November 4-5. The movement was discovered early in the morning of November 5 and the pursuit was promptly begun. [117]

The German resistance consisted of isolated delaying actions fought with machine guns and artillery. Against this form of defense the 59th Division followed the roads, moving forward in advance-guard formation. The advancing troops did not fully occupy the divisional zone. During halts protection was furnished by march outposts. [117]

The advance met slight resistance and progress was rapid. By nightfall the division held the south bank of the Serre. In the course of the day the 1st Battalion, 370th Infantry, which was attached to the right French regiment, entered the line and held a position for the night on the hills overlooking St. Pierremont. [21, 117]

The division continued the pursuit on November 6 with the railroad through Jeantes la Ville as the day's objective. Machine-gun resistance was encountered throughout the day.

The division established a line along La Brune Riviere for the night. [118]

Nov. 7-11

The 1st Battalion, 370th Infantry, advanced through Bois du Val St. Pierre, where Company C captured a German battery. The battalion spent the night in the front line on the right of the division, east of Nampcelles-la-Cour. [21, 118]

The advance was continued at 6 a. m., November 7, with the line, plateau of La Hayette Ferme—Bas Val-la Caure, as the objective. Strong resistance was encountered along the line of the Aubenton—Hirson railroad. The position held by the division at night was south and north of Hurtebise and east of Beaume. The 1st Battalion, 370th Infantry, halted for the night at Monplaisir, but was not in the front line. [21, 119, 120]

The advance was resumed on November 8 with the Maubert-Fontaine—Hirson railroad as its objective. The 3d Battalion, 370th Infantry, relieved the 1st Battalion in the right regiment, while the 2d Battalion entered the line along the railroad east of Beaume, in the left regiment. [121]

The Germans resisted stubbornly and little progress was made. The French held a line facing Aubenton. A detachment from the 3d Battalion, 370th Infantry, occupied Logny les Aubenton after dark. The remainder of the battalion was near Hurtebise, charged with protecting the right flank of the division. [21, 121]

The attack was ordered resumed on November 9 with objectives unchanged, but before the hour of attack it was learned that the Germans had evacuated their positions. The pursuit was renewed and at 3 p. m. the division reached its objective, the Maubert-Fontaine—Hirson railroad. The front of the right regiment was at Pont d'Any, which was held by the 3d Battalion, 370th Infantry. The head of the left regiment was at Goncelin. [21, 122]

On November 10 the 59th Division was assigned to the French XVI Corps and ordered to continue the pursuit to the line, Taillette—le Cul des Sarts. Still moving in advance-guard formation, the division reached a line along the eastern and northern edges of Bois des Hingues. The 3d Battalion, 370th Infantry, was north of Eteignieres, but not in the front line. [21, 123]

The advance was continued on the morning of November 11 with objectives unchanged. Encountering only slight resistance, the 59th Division held the Rocroi—Régniowez road at 11 a. m., when the Armistice became effective. The 3d Battalion, 370th Infantry, halted at Le Gue d'Hossus. The division cavalry occupied Taillette with outposts in La Verte Place. [2l, 124] 

Nov. 12, 1918-Feb. 1919 

Following the Armistice the 370th Infantry was concentrated in the vicinity of Aubenton, moving from there to the area north of Laon. On December 10 the regiment moved by stages to the area north of Reims, where it was relieved from duty with the French 59th Division on December 13 and moved to Soissons. On December 23 the regiment moved to the American Embarkation Center, Le Mans, for return to the United States. It sailed from Brest on February 2, 1919, and arrived in New York on February 9. [1]

1. Upper figures indicate number per brigade. Figures in parentheses indicate number per division.

2. Upper figures indicate number per regiment. Figures in parentheses indicate number per division.

3. Upper figures indicate number per battalion. Figures in parentheses indicate number per division.

1. Present with the units of the division; does not include absentees.

The following is a list of the sources on which the statements made in the preceding narrative are based. The numbers refer to the corresponding numbers in brackets at the ends of paragraphs.