PANORAMA OF BELLEAU WOOD SEEN FROM HILL 190.
In the above photograph (from left to right) are seen: the village of Bouresches, between two small hills; Belleau Wood, in the middle; the villages of Belleau and Torcy; and the hamlet of Givry on the right.
This region was grimly defended on June 1, 1918, by the “Devil’s Regiment,” as the Germans surnamed the 152nd French line regiment, on account of its daring exploits. Outflanked on June 2, this regiment was forced to withdraw from Torcy and Belleau to Belleau Wood, which was abandoned only after a heroic defence, and when the position was on the point of being turned. On June 3, after reforming behind the line of support furnished by the Americans, they counter-attacked Belleau Wood, advanced in spite of fierce counter-attacks by the enemy, and held all gains until night-fall, when they were relieved by the Americans. On June 7, Bouresches was retaken by the Allies. On the 8th, the Americans repulsed a violent attack extending from Belleau Wood to Le Thiolet, along a two-mile front. On the 9th, they broke up a new German attack near Bouresches. From June 10 to 26, fierce fighting enabled them to improve their positions. On the latter date they took 240 prisoners south of Torcy and 264 in Belleau Wood. On the 25th, they completed the capture of this wood.
THE CAPTURE OF BELLEAU WOOD.
It was on June 3, 1918, that the Americans took over the Belleau Wood sector. Like the Priest Wood near Pont-à-Mousson, Grurie Wood in Argonne, and the Sabot Wood in Champagne, Belleau Wood has become famous. The broken, rocky ground lends itself naturally to defence, and, by filling it with machine-guns, the Germans had made it well-nigh impregnable.
The attack was begun on June 10, 1918, by the American Marine Brigade—the first of Uncle Sam’s units to land in France (June 27, 1917)—300 prisoners being taken. Operations were successfully continued on the 13th, when a powerful German counter-attack, with orders to drive out the Americans at all cost, was repulsed with heavy enemy loss.
It was from Belleau Wood that, on July 18, 1918, the 26th American Division, which formed the pivot of General Degoutte’s army, set out on the Great Counter-Offensive. Its eagerness was such that it had to be restrained, to allow the wings to reach their assigned positions.
Its first objective was the Torcy-Belleau-Bouresches line (held by first-class German troops: the famous 1st and 4th Guards and 6th Bavarians), which was carried in a single rush. Organizing the conquered ground, it there awaited the signal to advance on Etrepilly, given on July 20 by General Degoutte. (This village, which is situated on the farther side of Hill 190, is not visible from where the tourist stands. The road G. C. 9, leading thither, was crossed on the way to Hill 190.) The attack on Etrepilly, which was to relieve the French (tenaciously opposed to the north of Belleau), was executed with great vigour and ability, according to General Degoutte’s report.
Three guns, one bomb-thrower, numerous machine-guns, and 200 prisoners were taken, while the advance forced the Germans to abandon their positions in front of the French lines.