A U.S. Army officer was ordered to march with the Marines during their first engagement of the war and explained all that he saw:
“The Germans are effective, machine-like fighters. They can dash over in mass with all their devices and weapons, put down a fierce pommeling upon those attacked and rush back again. The French are adroit fighters; keen to sense the designs of the enemy and able to decide quickly and correctly whether to stand fast or withdraw and to follow that decision forcefully. The English are stubborn fighters who never admit defeat. The resistance of this fierce attack by the Americans had in it the essence that characterizes the Americans as fighters. Every man as an individual, without command or suggestion, turned in to defend his post and resisted the approach of every force that came to threaten that position.”
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