In July the Germans struck a terrific blow at Château-Thierry. Without waiting for artillery, Pershing struck, and in six hours had captured as much ground as the Germans had spent six days in getting possession of. The Americans were advancing with great rapidity. The Germans were dumbfounded. They did not have time to remove their supplies.
The turning point of the war
By the brilliant generalship of Foch the great German attack was stopped in the middle of July, and after that it was the German army which was in danger.
Now Pershing got ready for St. Mihiel. He drew from the French and English ranks the Americans he had sent to learn war from these veterans. Now he also had tried men. St. Mihiel was important. It threatened the famous battlefield of Verdun and protected the great German fortified city of Metz.
SUBMARINE PURSUED BY AIRPLANE
American victory at St. Mihiel
247. Germans Cry "Kamerad." On September 12 the Americans burst forth in a rain of shot and shell such as the Germans had seldom before witnessed. The fierce battle raged for four hours. The Americans then charged across the river yelling like demons. The German soldiers had been taught to despise these "green American troops." But these same Germans now cried "Kamerad" in dead earnest. Five miles of ground were gained before these "green" Americans halted.
The next day our artillery opened fire at 1:30 in the morning. Before the day was done, more than one hundred and fifty square miles of German territory were in our possession.