TROUBLE FROM RIGHT FLANK
THE greatest source of trouble during the period of stabilization was the German artillery located on the
east side of the Moselle. Owing to the fact that the divisions to the right of the 90th had not advanced
during the St. Mihiel offensive, our flank was “in the air” and open to enfilading fire. In fact, German
guns on the east bank could be located further south than our positions in the Bois des Rappes and shoot
our men in the back, as it were. Our supporting artillery was several times accused of firing “shorts”
before the nature of this enfilading fire was understood. Despite the hardest efforts of the 153d Field
Artillery Brigade at counter-battery, this fire against our right flank, directed by German observers on
the heights at Vittonville, continued to cause casualties as long as the Division remained in the sector.
Lieutenant Fred H. Morgan, Company C, 357th Infantry, was struck and killed by a 77-mm. shell the
day after he returned from school. His battalion was in the outpost position, but he had stopped on the
line of resistance, as a relief was to take place the next day. Lieutenant Benjamin E. Irby, 3d Battalion
gas officer, was shot through the shoulder while on a patrol.
This continual shelling made the question of supply very difficult. All transport was forced to
cross what was known as “Death Valley” through Vilcey-sur-Trey or Villers-sous-Preny, which was
under constant observation during daylight. On the morning of September 16, the Supply Company of
the 357th Infantry, which had kept well up with the advancing infantry, was caught in shell fire near St.
Marie Farm, and many horses were killed and wagons knocked out. A new road built from Montauville
through the Bois-le-Pretre, and then by way of Villers-sous-Preny into the Bois des Rappes, was used by
the 359th Infantry. In crossing “Death Valley” eight horses of the Supply Company were killed, and
twelve more were lost in the Bois des Rappes.
The kitchens were located near springs in order that water might be had. For example, those of
the 358th Infantry were near the large spring in the southwest corner of Bois de Villers, and the 359th’s
in the Bois de Chenaux. These spots were well known to the Germans, who correctly guessed that our
men were making use of them, and they were constantly shelled, especially with gas, thus running up the
number of casualties among the “kitchen police.”
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