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HEADQUARTERS, AIR SERVICE, FIRST ARMY,
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES.

BATTLE ORDERS NO. 1.    September 11, 1918.

1. The enemy is losing ground, personnel and material at all points of the front on which the allied armies are attacking. On the front of the first Army he is holding the line Pont-sur-Seille -- St. Mihiel -- Fresnes-en-Woevre -- Chatillon sous les Cotes in his old positions. His air service is estimated at 150 pursuit, 120 reconnaissance and 25 battle air planes, which is being reinforced. The strength of his ground troops is estimated at about seven divisions, with from 3 to 5 divisions in reserve. The strength and morale of these divisions is reported low. There are signs that he intends to withdraw from his first lines and make his main resistance at some point further to the rear.

2. The First Army attacks on the whole front on 12 September, 1918. The hour of the attack will be 5 H 12 September, 1918. The First and Fourth Corps will attack at H hour. The 5th Corps will attack at H hour plus three hours. The Second French Colonial Corps will attask [[attack]] as follows:

The attack west of the 4th Corps at H plus one hour.
The attack south of the 5th Corps at H plus four hours.
The artillery bombardment will commence as follows: 1st and 4th Corps H minus four hours. 5th Corps H minus four hours. The Second Colonial Corps will attack at H minus four hours.

3. OUR AIR SERVICE WILL TAKE THE OFFENSIVE AT ALL POINTS WITH THE OBJECT OF DESTROYING THE ENEMY'S AIR SERVICE ATTACKING HIS TROOPS ON THE GROUND AND PROTECTING OUR OWN AIR AND GROUND TROOPS.