The lines of the St. Die Sectorhad been stable since 1915. Deep
trenches with the land between the trenches (No Man’s Land) controlled by
the Germans. Due to their occupation of the highest ground in the sector,
the peak of Ortomont, the Germans were able to place artillery fire on all
portions of the front. Initiating a campaign of heavy patrolling the Infantry
units of the 5th Division quickly took command of No Man’s
Land.
(RIGHT)Pvt Fred Rambus, Company E, US 61st Infantry, 5th Division, peering through German trench periscope, 1918.
Snipers of
the 61st Regiment were effective in stopping movement of German troops
during daylight hours. On the 17th of August the division initiated a large
scale attack on the town of Frapelle. In the third wave of the attack, the
61st Regiment took heavy casualties from artillery firing gas and from the
German counterattack on the 18th. Using rifle fire, machine-guns and
artillery the counterattack was broken up and the entire Fave Valley was
secured. Division casualties totaled 16% of the troops engaged. Although
the operation was only a one division battle it was important for morale in
that it was the first advance in this sector for three years. Starting on the
23rd of August the Division moved off the line and into Arches for
additional training and replacements. On the 28th the Division moved to
Neuvillers-sur-Moselle, near Luneville. On the 6th of September the Division
began a forced march, moving only at night, to their new sector, St. Mihiel.