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BEING THE NARRATIVE OF BATTERY A OF THE 101st FIELD ARTILLERY
Page 83
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CHAPTER VI.
THE
TOUL SECTOR
WHEN the great German offensive started on March 21, the 26th and 42nd Divisions were just arriving in their rest billets and were planning to carry on an extensive war game with each other. The events on the British front, however, quickly cancelled all previous plans. The First American Division, which was then holding the Toul Sector, was needed to help stem the onslaught farther north, and the 26th was promptly called upon to fill up the gap they left.
The Toul Sector came under the category of a "rest sector." It was supposed to be a quiet, respectable place where each side treated the other with consideration. Such a thing as shelling the other fellow's towns was unheard of, and would be sure to bring back prompt retaliation. Combat troops who were tired out and needed recuperation would go to a place like the Toul front to rest. They would do only the minimum amount of fighting necessary to maintain the state of war, their main idea being to live as well as possible in deep, comfortable dugouts.
New troops going into the lines for the first time were also trained in these quiet sectors. There was another very important consideration, however, which helped keep the Toul Sector quiet,—at least from the point of view of the Allies,—the Germans held all the high ground. The Heights of the Meuse
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