26/9/1918 The forest of death: the Americans attack into the Argonne

After the successful reduction of the St. Mihiel salient, Pershing wanted his American troops to press on towards Metz. Foch, the supreme Allied commander on the Western Front, had other ideas. His plan is for the Allies to launch rolling attacks converging on the centre of the German position in France and Belgium. Foch hopes that this relentless pressure will break German resistance, perhaps even force them to throw in the towel before the year’s end.

The Americans have been chosen to launch the first of Foch’s offensives, attacking into the Argonne forest west of Verdun, supported on their left flank by French troops. This has obliged Pershing to transfer his men from the St. Mihiel sector. Transportation bottlenecks have however meant that he has not been able to bring his experienced troops to the frontline: when the offensive begins today it is spearheaded by inexperienced American…