Ardennes 21 to 23 August 1914

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Dave Bender
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Ardennes 21 to 23 August 1914

#1

Post by Dave Bender » 17 Sep 2009, 22:32

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Historical French attempt to invade Germany via the Ardennes. German 4th Army and French 3rd Army were the main participants.

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Re: Ardennes 21 to 23 August 1914

#2

Post by tigre » 07 Jun 2015, 20:48

Hello to all :D; bumping up this post................

The "Battles of the Ardennes," but in 1914!

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLE OF VIRTON, 22 AUGUST, 1914. By Captain Fred During

I-HISTORICAL FACTS.

1. The Battle of Virton is one of a series of battles of the "Battles of the Ardennes," in which the German Fourth and Fifth Armies met the French Third and Fourth Armies in a <> great meeting engagement.

The German Fifth Army pivoted on its left flank near Thionville and the right flank reached the line: Etalle-Chatillon on 20 August. It rested on this line on 21 August. The V Corps was the right corps of the Fifth Army and consisted of the 9th and 10th Divisions.

The French Third Army advanced on 21 August on the line: Virton-Tellancourt. The IV Corps was the left Corps of this Army and consisted of the 7th and 8th Divisions.

The French II Corps was the right corps of the Fourth Army and on the evening of 21 August, units of this corps were located in the general area: Meix-devant-Virton-Sommethonne-Houdrigny-Robelmont.

2. At 6:00 PM, 21 August, the German V Corps received orders to advance on 22 August, and to take up a· position in the vicinity of Virton with its left near Belmont and to hold this position. The V Corps ordered the 9th Division to advance to the heights between Virton and Robelmont, while the 10th Division was ordered to advance to the heights east of Virton. Both divisions to clear the railroad: Rulles-Virton at 4:30 AM, 22 August. The German 9th Division was in the vicinity of Etalle.

The position of the French IV Corps on the evening of 21 August was on the line: Virton-Latour, with the 8th Division in the vicinity of Virton and the 7th Division in the vicinity of Latour. The IV Corps issued orders to the 7th and 8th Divisions to march on Etalle-St. Leger with the mission to counterattack all German troops menacing the right of the II Corps in the zone west of the road: Etalle-Habay la Neuve.

3. The organization 'of the German and French divisions was similar, only the Germans were stronger in artillery.

The French 115th Infantry had two battalions on outpost along the Virton ridge; the 3d on the left with Bellevue inclusive, the 2d on the right, and the 1st in reserve at Virton.

4. At 3:00 AM, 22 August, the French 8th Division received the corps order for the advance. The division order was-issued at 3:15 AM. Heavy and thick fog made the distribution of the orders very difficult. At 4:00 AM .the alarm was given to the cavalry, and its commander, Captain La Brosse, received special orders at that time; too late, however, for him to be able to reach the southern end of the woods by 4:30 AM, which time the special order specified. The cavalry began its advance at 4:45 AM in the direction of Etalle, without having had any breakfast.

Everybody in the division, was' in the best of spirits; nobody considered an encounter with the enemy as imminent. The division commander left Harnoncourt at 4:00 AM by automobile for Virton, reaching there at 4:30 AM. He estimated, that, on account of the reports of the planes and the cavalry, a serious fight was out of the question today. At 5:00 AM the cavalry and the point of the advance guard of the division arrived simultaneously' in Virton and started to leave the northern exits together. The division commander halted the infantry, so as to permit a, desired distance between it and the cavalry. One platoon, commanded by Lieutenant Gosselin, trotted ahead. Due to the heavy fog, the cavalry was forced to march on the road; the terrain had too many wire fences. At 5:15 AM the outpost line and the Farm Bellevue were reached. The company commander of the 12th Company, 115th Infantry, reported that the enemy was very near. The cavalry continued the march. The cavalry point heard a shot fired and it galloped back to report that the enemy had been met. The cavalry commander rode back to' the advance guard and reported personally this fact to the advance guard commander. When the cavalry commander asked for orders from Colonel Chabrol, the latter only shrugged his shoulders. The cavalry commander returned to his squadron and the cavalry advanced again. When it reached the heights north of Virton it met with heavy fire. The platoons tried to deploy, but the many wire fences prevented this and retirement was ordered. This withdrawal I caused a panic on the right flank of the 9th Company, 115th Infantry, which was on outpost duty.

Source: Review of Military Literature. March 1934.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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Re: Ardennes 21 to 23 August 1914

#3

Post by tigre » 20 Jun 2015, 17:32

Hello to all :D; more follows................

The "Battles of the Ardennes," but in 1914!

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLE OF VIRTON, 22 AUGUST, 1914. By Captain Fred During

I-HISTORICAL FACTS.

5. The German 9th Division, after the units were warned to be in readiness, issued orders at 3:45 AM to advance to the heights between Virton and Robelmont. The advance guard, consisting of the 7th Grenadiers, a corps d'elite, commanded by the Kaiser's son (Prince Oscar) and one battalion 41st Field Artillery, left Huombois at 4:30 AM, 22 August. The 1st Uhlans received orders to advance and seize Bellevue and to cover, on a broad front, the debouchment of the division from the woods, and to reconnoiter to Villers-la-loue - Virton- Gomery-Bleid. In addition, two companies were sent out during the night to the southern exits of the woods.

When the Uhlans reached the vicinity of Bellevue they came under fire. Direction was changed toward Robelmont, but receiving fire from there, the Uhlans withdrew into the woods north of Virton. After the Uhlans had sent a report back that weak forces were near Bellevue, the 58th Infantry with one battery of the 41st Field Artillery attached, were sent, at about 6:00 AM, to the right in the direction of Robelmont with the mission to seize the heights east of the woods in order to assist in the debouchment of the division. There was a heavy and thick fog, which prevented 'visibility for more than 50 paces. At 6:00 AM the German advance guard reached the southern exits of the woods where it came under fire from the French outpost. For one and one-half hours the advance guard fought here, when it was reinforced by two battalions of the 154th Infantry. The Germans sang German songs, while advancing and going into action, in order to prevent firing into each other in the thick fog.

6. The French suffered heavy casualties' and the outposts at Bellevue were sorely pressed and finally withdrew to the southwest. The 1st Battalion, 130th Infantry, as support of the advance guard, soon came in contact with the enemy. At 5:50 AM it had reached a point on the road to Etalle, about 800 meters north of Virton. No thought was given of a possible fight with the enemy. When the support came within 500 meters of Bellevue, it came under heavy rifle and machinegun fire. The losses were quick and great, and a panic started. In a short time the entire battalion, had disappeared in all directions. The battalion commander, three company commanders, and several platoon commanders were killed. About one hundred men of the battalion were found later in Houdrigny. The battalion had run into the 1st and 3d Battalions, 7th Grenadiers.

The advance guard commander, Colonel Chabrol, was still in Virton; he had no knowledge of the panic, and was under the impression that the ,outpost, reinforced by the support of his advance guard, would hold the enemy. Therefore he halted the reserve of the advance guard, which fell out along the road, and then sent the following report at 6:05 AM to the division commander: "The point of the advance guard is held up at the south edge of the Bois de Virton. Four companies are engaged. Due to the heavy fog it is impossible to get a clear picture of the strength of the enemy."

7. At 6:55 AM, the German 9th Division issued orders for the 18th Brigade to occupy the line from south of Bellevue to north of Virton and to prepare to defend this line, as soon as the advance guard had gained possession of the heights between Virton and Robelmont. The 19th Infantry to become division reserve. The 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, was attached to the 18th Brigade.

8. The remaining companies of the French 130th Infantry were now sent forward and for one hour stuck it out, but -they fell back in disorder into Virton. While this was going on, the main body was closing up on the advance guard and Virton was soon congested with troops.

Source: Review of Military Literature. March 1934.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).

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Re: Ardennes 21 to 23 August 1914

#4

Post by tigre » 22 Jun 2015, 16:17

Hello to all :D; more follows................

The "Battles of the Ardennes," but in 1914!

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLE OF VIRTON, 22 AUGUST, 1914. By Captain Fred During

I-HISTORICAL FACTS.

9. At 10:30 AM the German 18th Brigade had reached the line: Bellevue-the road Virton-Ethe, with the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, in position south of Bellevue. The 2d Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, was in position east of the road near the Farm Harpigny, and the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, north of Bellevue. Due to the heavy fog no artillery action was possible until some time between 10:00 and 11:00 AM. The division command post had been established on the road 2 km. north of Robelmont.

10. The French 8th Division staff established a command post north of Virton, close to the front line. The headquarters of the French IV Corps was established in the town hall of Virton. The Corps Commander arrived at Virton at 6:30 AM and issued the following order to the division commander: "It is very important that we reach the northern exits of the woods in order to protect the right flank of the II Corps." Then he decided to go to the front himself. Reaching the command post of the division he directed the following: "The 124th Infantry to go into position on the northern edge of Virton, the 117th Infantry to advance in the direction Houdrigny-Robelmont, and the remnants of the 115th and 130th Infantry to assemble west of Virton as reserve. The 1st Battalion, 31st Artillery, to remain in its present position, the other two battalions to go into position south of Virton." The Corps Commander then returned to his command post at Virton.

The 1st Battalion, 31st Artillery, went into position west of Virton from where it opened fire without having any observation due to the fog; the other battalions could not find suitable positions, and they were then ordered to take position on hill 280, two miles southwest of Virton. To get there it was necessary to cross the river Ton at Harnoncourt and owing to the congestion of the road the batteries-did not go into action until 12:00 noon.

The 124th Infantry, as was stated before, had received orders to go into positions on the northern edge of Virton. It had little difficulty in carrying out this mission; in fact, it advanced a little farther than ordered, when suddenly the fog lifted and they were met with heavy rifle and machine gun fire which brought the regiment to a halt. It dug in using mess kits. Pursuant to orders of the Corps Commander, the 2d Battalion, 115th Infantry, which was on outpost on the ridge northeast of Virton, was directed by the regimental commander to assemble west of Virton. The battalion made use of the fog in its withdrawal but, while complying with the order, the brigade commander countermanded the order and directed that the position be held. In the meantime the German 154th Infantry began occupying the position vacated by the French, and the fog began to lift. The French 115th Infantry was met with heavy fire from the Germans. The French lost about one-third of their strength needlessly. While the French 124th Infantry held on to the crest, in spite of heavy losses, the 117th Infantry was forming west of Virton for its attack in the direction: Houdrigny-Robelmont. When this regiment reached the crest of the ridge west of Virton it ran into units of the French 87th Infantry from the II Corps.

11. At about 11 :00 AM the Germans had taken the heights north of Virton and the division commander considered that his mission was accomplished. The 2d Battalion, 19th Infantry, was attached to the 18th Brigade. The 2d Battalion, 5th Heavy Artillery, went into position in the vicinity of Robelmont. The 1st Uhlans were still in the woods north of Virton.

Source: Review of Military Literature. March 1934.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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Re: Ardennes 21 to 23 August 1914

#5

Post by tigre » 27 Jun 2015, 06:11

Hello to all :D; more follows................

The "Battles of the Ardennes," but in 1914!

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLE OF VIRTON, 22 AUGUST, 1914. By Captain Fred During

I-HISTORICAL FACTS.

12. The 2d Battalion, 147th Infantry, of the 4th Division, II Corps (French), was in Robelmont during the night August 21-22, with an outpost east of Houdrigny towards Virton. German patrols attacked the outpost; at the same time the battalion commander received orders to rejoin the regiment. He broke off the fight and marched to Meix-devant-Virton, where the battalion halted. The French 91st Infantry was entering Houdrigny, when scattered elements of the French 115th and 130th Infantry entered the town. They reported Germans advancing on Houdrigny. The regimental commander, after sending a battalion to point 295, decided to continue the march. But when the advance became impossible due to fire from the direction of Robelmont, he decided to attack in an easterly direction.

When the ridge southwest of Virton was reached the regiment was unable to advance. At 10:30 AM the division commander of the French 3d Division, II Corps, issued orders to have two battalions of the 87th Infantry attack in an easterly direction and gain the ridge. Upon reaching this ridge they met units of the 91st and 117th Infantry. As was stated before, units of the 115th and 130th Infantry were picked up in Houdrigny by the 91st Infantry. This regiment utilized the men in the attack. Consequently-we have here now in a small space units belonging to three different French divisions, to two different corps and two different armies, all badly mixed up with each other. In the meantime the 2d Battalion, 147th Infantry, had left Meix-devant-Virton for Bellefontaine. Therefore the commander of the 3d Division decided to send two battalions of the 51st Infantry to Meix-devant-Virton. They marched by a covered route west of the valley and reached their objective about 2:15 PM. When the 128th Infantry reached Somme-Thomle the II Corps Commander issued orders to this regiment (without going through the division commander) to march on Meix-devant-Virton and Farm Rayon. We have now two regiments of the same division marching on the same objective, divided by a ridge, unknown to each other and to the division commander.

In the meantime the attack by the 51st and 128th Infantry against Robelmont was in preparation. At 1:00 PM the French 3d Division Commander had been informed of the mission of the 128th Infantry given it by the corps commander. The division commander later met the 5th Brigade Commander, who intended to attack Meix-devant-Virton, which town was in the hands of the French 51st Infantry. The division, commander therefore changed the direction to Robelmont and ordered one battalion of the 51st Infantry to cooperate in a converging attack from Meix-devant-Virton. Robelmont was taken under fire by the corps artillery, and the Germans left the town at about 3:00 PM. The division artillery was in position in the vicinity of Villers-Ia-Ioue as was the corps artillery.

13. At 7:00 AM the regimental commander of the 58th Infantry had issued orders for the 3d Battalion to seize the heights east of Robelmont and to dig in. The 1st and 2d Battalions to be in position in readiness under cover in the valley northeast of the heights. The troops reached their respective positions at 8:00 AM. The 3d Battalion came under artillery fire and rifle fire from Robelmont. At 11:00 AM the regiment received a division order to take Robelmont, in order to protect the right flank of the division. The 3d Battalion took Robelmont without many losses, which were inflicted mostly by artillery fire. The 2d Battalion, as flank protection, took position north of Robelmont, and the 1st Battalion as reserve took position in rear of hill 305.

Later the 58th Infantry received orders to take the heights east of Meix-devant-Virton. At the same time the 2d Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, and the 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry, were attached to the 58th Infantry. At 3:00 PM the position of the troops were as follows: 1st Battalion, 58th Infantry, on the west edge of Robelmont; 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry, on the right thereof; 2d Battalion, 58th Infantry, in reserve, protecting the flank between the woods and the town; 3d Battalion, 58th Infantry, on the heights east of Meix-devant-Virton.

Source: Review of Military Literature. March 1934.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).

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Re: Ardennes 21 to 23 August 1914

#6

Post by tigre » 28 Jun 2015, 14:52

Hello to all ; more follows................

The "Battles of the Ardennes," but in 1914!

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLE OF VIRTON, 22 AUGUST, 1914. By Captain Fred During

I-HISTORICAL FACTS.

14. The French 128th Infantry had reached its line of departure along the railroad. The attack had every prospect of success when, at the time the attack was to start, the brigade commander of the 5th Brigade was killed and some Germans appeared out of the woods near Meix-devant-Virton. This resulted in the division commander cancelling the attack, and the French corps artillery without orders promptly limbering up and trotting away to the south. The French 51st Infantry did not receive any news of this change of plan. In fact, they received the order to cooperate with the 128th Infantry one hour after the attack had been called off. During the late afternoon, the 2d Battalion, 51st Infantry, marched directly in front of the 128th Infantry. When this was noticed the order was given to withdraw to Houdrigny.

The division command post of the French 3d Division was changed from a position directly north of Villers-Ia-Ioue to the west exit of the Bois de la Vaux. It will be remembered that units of the French 115th, 130th, 117th, 87th, and 91st Infantry were all badly mixed and in confusion on the western end of the Virton ridge since 2:00 PM. Units of the 117th were ordered to hold on till 8:00 PM; units of the 87th were ordered to retire at 7:00 PM, while the units of the 91st were to retire at 7:30 PM. The 91st withdrew in a panic. When the battalion commander of the 3d Battalion, 87th Infantry, saw that his battalion became mixed in the panic, he gave the order to attack in the direction of point 295 near Bellevue. The 5th, 6th, and 7th Companies, which were without leaders, followed and, singing the Marseillaise, attacked the outpost of the 7th Grenadiers with the bayonet. The Germans withdrew some 100 m. and then opened with their machine guns, which stopped the attack. The French 117th Infantry participated in this attack.

The French 51st Infantry was ordered to have the 1st Battalion occupy Meix-devant-Virton, and the 2d and 3d Battalions to prepare to defend Villers-Ia-Ioue. The 87th Infantry was to remain on hill 280 until night and then withdraw to Sommethonne. The 1st Battalion, 17th Artillery, was withdrawn to Thonne-Ia-Iong, in which town were already two battalions of the corps artillery. Two other battalions of the 17th Artillery were to remain in position. The 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry, was to move to Villers-Ia-Ioue; the other two battalions to take over the defense of the Haut Bois. The 72d Infantry to remain at the Farm Hayon. The 3d Division command post was changed to Sommethonne.

Source: Review of Military Literature. March 1934.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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Re: Ardennes 21 to 23 August 1914

#7

Post by tigre » 03 Jul 2015, 15:21

Hello to all :D; more follows................

The "Battles of the Ardennes," but in 1914!

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLE OF VIRTON, 22 AUGUST, 1914. By Captain Fred During

I-HISTORICAL FACTS.

15. When the corps commander of the French IV Corps returned at 8:15 AM from the command post of the 8th Division, he directed to have the Corps Artillery No. 44 take positions in the vicinity of hill 280 south of St. Mard. Communications with the Third Army and with the 7th Division had not been established. He decided to change his command post to hill 280 south of St. Mard. The 1st Battalion, 115th Infantry, was sent there to protect the artillery. The 8th Division also changed its command post at about this time to the same place. The corps commander decided shortly after noon that his mission, could be performed by taking up a defensive position about two miles in rear of 'Virton, and issued· orders accordingly. The Division was ordered to the following places and remained here during the night:

115th Infantry (less 2d Battalion), Lamorteau
2d Battalion, 115th Infantry" until further orders St. Mard, to be prepared to move to Harnoncourt
117th Infantry, Harnoncourt
Remnants of the 130th Infantry, Lamorteau
124th Infantry, Montquintin, with three companies to guard the southwestern edges of the Bois de la Cote and Bois de Guelville.

The corps command post was changed to Lamorteau and that of the 8th Division to Harnoncourt.

At 9:00 PM the 8th Division received an order for defense for the next day. The division artillery and one battalion of the corps artillery was to remain in present position, the remaining two battalions of the corps artillery to move to Harnoncourt.

16. The German 9th Division issued orders in the evening to attack Virton at 7:00 PM. But prior to that time patrols had reported that the town was under enemy artillery fire and that it appeared as if the inhabitants were in communication with the enemy artillery and that the enemy was preparing a defensive position on the heights from hill 280 southwest of St. Mard to north of Villers-Ia-Ioue. In view of these reports the attack was called off. The 1st Uhlans received orders to march to the vicinity of Robelmont and Meix-devant-Virton.

17. The losses on the German side were:

Dead .......................... 20 officers and 313 men
Wounded .................. 55 officers and 1123 men
Missing .................... 173 men (49)

The losses on the French side were: The brigade commander of the 5th Brigade, General Deffontaines, and the brigade commander 'of the 15th Brigade, Colonel Chabrol, and the regimental commander, 130th Infantry, Colonel Laffargue, were killed. The 130th Infantry had lost nearly all of its officers. The combat strength of the regiment was that of one battalion. The 124th Infantry had lost its three battalion commanders" and many officers, and 770· men. The 117th Infantry lost 725 officers and men. The total strength of the 115th Infantry was about one and one-half battalions. The 128th Infantry had 11 dead and 30 men wounded. The 87th Infantry had 11 officers, 196 men dead, and 349 men wounded.

Source: Review of Military Literature. March 1934.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).

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Re: Ardennes 21 to 23 August 1914

#8

Post by tigre » 05 Jul 2015, 21:36

Hello to all :D; more follows................

The "Battles of the Ardennes," but in 1914!

The French 33d Division near Bertrix - August 1914.

In the Ardennes in 1914. "In not reaching Recogne, its objective, the XII Corps abandoned the security of the flank of its neighbor on the left, with which it was charged, permitting the disastrous attack on that neighbor which had accomplished its own mission." This disaster spread to the XI Corps and to the Army. New troops, without fault, had their morale ruined.

The 9th Chasseurs spent the night 21-22 August inside the infantry lines at Herbeumont, moving out at 6:00 AM the 22d.

The same night the 19th Chasseurs was at Bellefontaine, 8 kilometers in advance of the leading elements of the II Corps, "where they had made contact with the enemy and knew his locations and strength. It boldly camped, maintaining this contact, with a German division in its front and a forest defile at its back." Thanks to it, General Cordonnier knew, before daylight, 22 August, while still at Meix-devant-Virton, that, on debouching from the defile where he then was, he would meet at least an enemy division."

The heads of all columns of the Fourth Army, except the II Corps, fell into enemy traps. The II Corps was not surprized at Bellefontaine and gained some tactical success.

Visualize the XVII Corps; to the west, in a zone identical with that of the II Corps, a large forest (of Luchy) with a village (Ochamps) at the exit. "Now, on 22 August, the 33d Division under orders to march through an immense unreconnoitered wood where the idea of attack was so far from the minds of the men that, enjoying the freshness of the forest and the promise of good billets, they sang as they marched. Suddenly, not in hours but in minutes, this column is cut off on the north, east, and south, submitted to a very heavy fusilade.".

Source: Review of Military Literature. March 1934.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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Re: Ardennes 21 to 23 August 1914

#9

Post by tigre » 18 Jul 2015, 14:51

Hello to all :D; more follows................

The "Battles of the Ardennes," but in 1914!

The French 33d Division near Bertrix - August 1914.

"And the 9th Chasseurs?" The 9th Chasseurs has a very complicated cavalry problem. The XVII Corps with divisions abreast, left flank of its 34th Division protected by the XI Corps echelonned in advance, right flank of its 33d Division supposedly guarded by the XII Corps echelonned to the rear.

Result: 6 squadrons, two being divisional. Four missions - (a) Liaison with the XI Corps, (b) Advance guard for 34th and (c) 33d Divisions, (d) Guard the right flank (liaison with the XII Corps).

Allotment to missions: To (a) (above) and advance guard of 34th Division, 5 squadrons. To (d) (above) the divisional squadron of the 33d Division. To advance guard of the 33d, nothing.

The badly balanced disposition explains the disaster.

Here was lacking at the headquarters of the XVII Corps a "chief of cavalry" with the role of adjusting to the terrain the technical possibilities and the tactical necessities, and finally, in the hour of contact of the infantries, of shifting the cavalry-not to an inactive place among the baggage of the 34th Division" but to a useful place, the right flank. This "chief of cavalry" must not be the cavalry colonel, whose place is at the head of his regiment.

A given piece of terrain can not be guaranted free of enemy at a given moment unless there are troops along the edge of this terrain so disposed that the enemy can not infiltrate between them.

Not new! Germans applied it in the Ardennes, 22 August. "But in advance of them (the corps of the French Fourth Army) the reconnaissances of the Cavalry Corps had been thrown out in strong detachments reinforced by infantry, installed at the edges of the woods and which had prevented penetration to the position: Maissin-Anloy-Ochamps." The 19th Chasseurs had applied the same idea at Bellefontaine.

Source: Review of Military Literature. March 1934.

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M 8-).

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