terranean, under one supreme command, the man chosen for the
position being General Foch of the French. On March 29, General
Pershing placed all the American forces at the disposal of General Foch.

The Germans began a new offensive against the British front April 8 and
won a number of victories in the La Basse canal region and elsewhere.
The battle of Seicheprey, April 20, was the Americans' first serious
engagement with the Germans. The Germans captured the place but the
Americans by a counter attack recovered it.

Another great offensive was started by the Germans, May 27, resulting in
the taking of the Chemin des Dames from the French and crossing the
river Aisne. On the following day they crossed the Vesle river at
Fismes. Here the Americans won their first notable victory by capturing
the village of Cantigny and taking 200 prisoners. They held this
position against many subsequent counter-attacks. By the 31st the
Germans had reached Chateau Thierry and other points on the Marne, where
they were halted by the French. They made a few gains during the first
days of June. On June 6, American marines made a gallant attack, gaining
two miles on a front two and one-half miles long near Veuilly la
Poterie. On the following day they assisted the French in important
victories. In the second battle northwest of Chateau Thierry, the
Americans advanced nearly two and one-half miles on a six mile front,
taking 300 prisoners. It was in these engagements that the Americans
established themselves as fighters equal to any.

On June 9, the Germans began their fourth offensive, attacking between
Montdidier and the river Oise. They advanced about four miles, taking
several villages. In the operations of the following day which gained
them several villages, they claimed to have captured 8,000 French. This
day the American marines took the greater portion of Belleau wood and
completed the capture of it June 11. The French at the same time
defeated the Germans between Robescourt and St. Maur. There were other
battles on the 12th and 13th, but on the 14th it became evident that the
German offensive was a costly failure.

The fighting from this time until the end of June was of a less serious
nature, although the Americans in the Belleau and Vaux regions gave the
Germans no rest, attacking them continually and taking prisoners. The
Americans at this time were also engaged in an offensive in Italy. July
2, President Wilson announced ther