Another great offensive was started by the Germans, May 27, resulting in the taking of the Chemin des Dames from the French and crossing the river Aisne.  On the following day they crossed the Vesle river at Fismes.  Here the Americans won their first notable victory by capturing the village of Cantigny and taking 200 prisoners.  They held this position against many subsequent counter-attacks.  By the 31st the Germans had reached Chateau Thierry and other points on the Marne, where they were halted by the French.  They made a few gains during the first days of June.  On June 6, American marines made a gallant attack, gaining two miles on a front two and one-half miles long near Veuilly la Poterie.  On the following day they assisted the French in important victories.  In the second battle northwest of Chateau Thierry, the Americans advanced nearly two and one-half miles on a six mile front, taking 300 prisoners.  It was in these engagements that the Americans established themselves as fighters equal to any.

On June 9, the Germans began their fourth offensive, attacking between Montdidier and the river Oise.  They advanced about four miles, taking several villages.  In the operations of the following day which gained them several villages, they claimed to have captured 8,000 French.  This day the American marines took the greater portion of Belleau wood and completed the capture of it June 11.  The French at the same time defeated the Germans between Robescourt and St. Maur.  There were other battles on the 12th and 13th, but on the 14th it became evident that the German offensive was a costly failure.

The fighting from this time until the end of June was of a less serious nature, although the Americans in the Belleau and Vaux regions gave the Germans no rest, attacking them continually and taking prisoners.  The Americans at this time were also engaged in an offensive in Italy.  July 2, President Wilson announced there were 1,019,115 American soldiers in France.

The Fourth of July was celebrated in England, France and Italy as well as in the United States.  On that day Americans assisted the Australians in taking the town of Hamel and many prisoners.  On the 8th and 9th the French advanced in the region of Longpont and northwest of Compiegne.  On the 12th they took Castel and other strong points near the west bank of the Avre river.  July 14, the French national holiday was observed in America, and by the American soldiers in France.

The fifth and last phase of the great offensive which the Germans had started in March, began July 15, in an attack from Chateau Thierry to Massignes, along a sixty-five mile front and crossing the Marne at several places.  At Chateau Thierry the Americans put up a strong resistance but the enemy by persistent efforts finally succeeded in getting a footing on the south bank.  The battle continued east and west of Rheims with the Allies holding strongly and the Germans meeting heavy losses.