History of the 151st field artillery, Rainbow Division, by Louis L. Collins, lieutenant governor of Minnesota. Edited by Wayne E. Stevens, PH. D. Pub. by the Minnesota War records commission.

82 HISTORY OF THE 151ST FIELD ARTILLERY

the Chateau-Thierry salient as well. The German attack was
everywhere checked with great losses. It was a heavy blow to
the enemy who had hoped that the battle might decide the war in
his favor. The number and high quality of the divisions participating in the attack, as well as the testimony of prisoners and the
evidence of captured documents, make it clear that the German
high command had anticipated great results. It was expected
that Suippes, in the rear of the position occupied by the 151st
Field Artillery, would be taken on the morning of July 15.
Chalons-sur-Marne, Rheims, and Epernay were to be occupied on the
next day, these three cities being the principal objectives of the
Germans.17
So sure were the Germans of reaching their goal that orders
had been issued governing the behavior of the advancing troops.
Wasteful pillaging was to cease. If pilfering was to be done, the
army would do it officially. One order directed that a mounted
officer of the quartermaster corps should take charge of the stores
found in Chalons and gave detailed instructions with regard to
the disposition of the booty.
General Gouraud's order of July 16, addressed to the Fourth
Army, is a worthy supplement to the famous appeal of July 7:
SOLDIERS OF THE FOURTH ARMY
On the day of July 15, you foiled the effort of fifteen German
divisions, supported by ten others.
According to their orders, they were to have reached the Marne
in the evening: you stopped them short where we chose to engage in
and win the battle.
Well may you be proud, brave infantrymen and machine gunners
of the advanced positions who signaled the coming attack and dis17It may be of interest to note the German plan of attack as revealed by
information gathered from various sources. From the point of view of the
attack, the offensive in the Champagne sector consisted of three phases. On
the right wing, two groups led by Generals Lindequist and Gontard, each composed of three divisions in the first line, were to maneuver for the purpose of
crossing the Vesle to the southwest, reaching the Marne, and enveloping
Epernay. In the center, the 12th Corps and the 3rd Bavarian Corps were to
fall upon Chalons in a direct drive to the south. The 151st Field Artillery
was stationed along the road which was to be the apex of this attack. On
the left wing, the 88th and the 7th infantry divisions and the 33rd Reserve
Division were to advance obliquely to the southeast toward Ste. Menehould in
an attempt to cut the railroad communications.