Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfare (2008) - The Black Vault

History of Chemical WarfareFig. 2-23. US participation in the Oise-Aisne offensive.Map: Courtesy of Dr Corey J Hilmas, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense.IV Corps (Figure 2-24). A secondary thrust was carriedout against the west face along the heights of theMeuse by the V Corps. The AEF used scant offensivegas because shelling would have negated their surpriseattack, but it suffered significant casualties fromGerman gas. Data from the division gas hospitalsstate that the 90th Division alone experienced 1,390chemical casualties (460 mustard and the rest fromlachrymators [tear gasses] and sternutators [sneezingagents]) during the 5-day battle, compared to 275from the 26th Division. 45,46Meuse-ArgonneAt the end of August, Marshal Foch submitted plansto the Allied commanders for a final offensive alongthe entire western front (see Figure 2-2, Figure 2-25).Pershing and the AEF struck a zone about 20 mileswide between the heights of the Meuse on the eastnear Verdun and the western edge of the high, rough,and densely wooded Argonne Forest (Figure 2-26). 38,50Pershing hoped to launch an attack with enough momentumto drive the elaborate German defense lines atMontfaucon, Cunel, and Barricourt into an open areabeyond and, in a coordinated drive with the FrenchFourth Army on the left, effectively cut off the Sedan-Mézières railroad. The Meuse-Argonne offensive operatedover four phases because of stalled gains and thereplacement of exhausted and depleted divisions. ByNovember 11, 1918, the AEF closed up along the Meuseand, east of the river, advanced toward Montmédy,Briny, and Metz, ending hostilities. 35,47General Pershing summarized the results of theMeuse-Argonne campaign, the greatest battle inAmerican history up to that time, in his final report:Between September 26 and November 11, 22 Ameri-33