Painted by Gayle Porter Hoskins-C. P. Co., 1918,

"THEY SHALL NOT PASS!" THE SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE And above Across the pontoon bridges the Germans came, streams of gray-green, writhing under the bombs from allied airplanes, into the arms of the Americans. The bridges blew up under them, the river seized them, the bombs rained upon them. Everywhere they were hurled back. the clamor rose the battle cry of the marines.

AM

CHAPTER XI

AMERICA THE DECIDING FACTOR

MERICA was now ready to be tested as a factor in the war. Men and munitions poured in an endless chain of ships across the ocean. Some little preliminary training was given to troops before they were put into action, and while this training was going forward the older divisions were taken out of the training areas and put into the line. On June 30th, American troops in France in all departments of service numbered 1,019,115.

Like an electric current the news had sped through the entire allied front that the Americans had proved masters of the Germans at Château-Thierry, Belleau Wood, Bouresches and Cantigny. Along the lines of transportation from Brest American troops were pouring in streams of brown, virile, confident young manhood. New life surged through the arteries of the allied forces. For the first time they felt that the day of deliverance from the German menace was at hand. They had made a good fight against overwhelming odds. They had held the line against all that German scientific efficiency could hurl against them. Poison gas, airplanes, long-range guns, machine-gun nests, hammer strokes of German artillery and infantry against weak spots-all these had been endured. Now America vibrant with wealth, youth and determination had come like a fresh, well-trained gladiator ready to strike the deciding blow against the formidable foe.

Following closely upon the spirited defence at ChâteauThierry and the capture of Belleau Wood and Bouresches came the attack on Vaux and communicating positions along the German lines to Hill 204. This action was commenced and completed on July 1st, by the regular soldiers of the 2d Division included in the 3d Brigade.

While the marines of the 2d Division had been earning immortal laurels in Belleau Wood and Bouresches, the

regulars of the 3d Brigade had been lying under almost constant shellfire. Little action had come to them. Now and then a German raiding party came across No Man's Land to encounter death and defeat. Once in a while the regulars made reprisal raids but the German lines remained intact. The regulars, envious of the marines, were eager for action. Hungrily they looked in the direction of Vaux with its formidable trench system and its concentration of artillery and machine guns.

Vaux was larger than Bouresches and more scientifically fortified. Every ruined house was a center for German troops. From the cellars ran communication trenches; concrete embankments reinforced the substantial stone walls upon which the thrifty French had erected their homes.

It was upon these cellars that the intelligence service of the 2d Division concentrated its attention. Every excavation was located and carefully plotted upon maps which went to both artillery and infantry headquarters. Balloons and airplanes were the eyes of the intelligence service.

Slowly and with maddening deliberation the heavy artillery of the Americans bracketed their objectives until they finally came upon the target of each cellar in Vaux. The hits were registered, sights were adjusted and everything was made ready for the prelude to the assault.

The Germans upon their side were fully aware of the 3d Brigade's intentions. They sensed the time selected for the attack, and sought to prevent it. Their method was to pour into the 3d Brigade's position an intense shellfire for the purpose of destroying the morale of the Americans. For fifteen hours this terrific bombardment of the American trenches continued. The doughboys dug themselves in, took what toll of death the shells demanded with a stoicism that marked them as heroes, and waited for the zero hour.

It came at dawn on the morning of July 1st. Every officer, every gunner, every infantryman was ready. More than that, every one knew exactly the part he was to play in the grand assault. Big guns increased the rain of heavy projectiles into the cellars of Vaux. Guns that were to protect the infantry laid a barrage that was a real curtain of death through which

no enemy might come. In the trenches, officers with maps showing the objective of each company and the location of every cellar, passed among the waiting regulars and marked

with satisfaction the readiness of each man for the charge. At a signal the brigade snapped off behind the barrage.

On the right of the regulars the French were ready and moved forward in liaison with our men. Their objective was