OCR Text |
Show Filings FOR AMQHGANS Premier Inspects U. S. Troops and Commends Men for Their Bravery. ATTACK DEFEATED Fight More Severe Than First Reported Americans Are Absolutely Confident. PARIS, Sunday, March 3. Premier Clemencoau visited tho American troops today and reviewed the soldiers sol-diers who repulsed tho German attack-Friday. attack-Friday. The premier loft Paris Saturday Satur-day evening and returned this evening when the following semi-official note was issued: "The president of the council desires personally to congratulate the Ameri-, can troops in the sector where they t have just repelled brilliantly a strong enemy attack. Tho battalion, which took part in this operation, was reviewed re-viewed by the premier in whoso presence pres-ence tho general commanding the army decorated with the war cross certain officers and privates whose bravery had been particularly remarkable. remark-able. "This chock to the enemy attack was, moreover, for more severe than first information showed. The Ameri-, can government had modestly an- j nounced that somo of tho enemy had been killed nnd somo made prisoner, As a matter of fact, tho latest recon-1 naissances have shown that, in addl-, tion to the theso losses, tho Germans left quite a large number of corpses j between tho linos. Fine Success of Americans. -! "It was a very fine success, reflect- ing gre'at honor on the tenacity of the American Infantry and the accuracy of tho artillery fire, which have thus shown they are capable of attaining the maximum effect from the French material which they have adopted. "After visiting tho field hospital where he admired the morale of the wounded, the premier went to the front lines to examine the scene of this operation. op-eration. During his conversations with American generals, officers and privates, pri-vates, the premier noted in every one a feeing of absoluto confidence which, if possible, has been heightened farther far-ther by the brilliant results of their first serious meeting with the enemy over whom our allies have thus clearly shown their superiority. French Soldiers Determined. "The premier also saw on his way some of our own troops at rest. He conversed with tho officers and men, warmly congratulating and encouraging encourag-ing them. Our pollus had but one reply: "'They shall not pass!'" Premiqr Clemenceau on his return to Paris was too occupied to givo the Associated Press an interview on his -visit, but a prominent government official of-ficial who accompanied the premier, ! said: "I cannot, of course, say what sec- tion the premier visited nor give any i military detail, but your gallant General Gen-eral Pershing camo to meet him and accompanied him on the entire visit Premier Deeply Impressed. "Your army made altogether an ex-i ex-i cellent impression on the premier, he found the men In perfect physical condition con-dition and their morale thoroughly satisfactory, showing calmness, confidence confi-dence and Implacable resolution. Their evident desire is to rival in courage their ciders in the struggle. The premier equally was struck by the , fine bearing of your officers and their j skill in handling their men and also by the extreme cordiality of their relations rela-tions with their French comrades." |