On August 7, 1918, information was received of the promotion of Brig. Gen. Lejeune to the grade of major general, and of Col. Neville to the grade of brigadier general, both to date from July 1, 1918. Col. Albertus W. Catlin arrived in the United States on board the _America_ on August 3, 1918. Col. Catlin, having been wounded on June 6, 1918, during the first attack on Bois de Belleau, was admitted to Hospital No. 2, Paris, France, on the next day, was discharged on July 22, 1918, granted two months’ sick leave, and sailed for New York from Brest, France, on July 25, 1918. On August 5, 1918, movement of units of the brigade was started for the occupation of the Marbache subsector, near Pont-a-Mousson, on the Moselle River. By August 8, 1918, the movement was completed, with Headquarters established at Scarponne just across the Moselle River from Dieulouard. The sector was quiet and occupation uneventful except for an enemy raid which was successfully repulsed and prisoners captured. On August 8, 1918, Lieut. Col. Earl H. Ellis was appointed adjutant of the Fourth Brigade, relieving Lieut. Col. Harry R. Lay, who had been detailed as inspector general of the Second Division. The relief from the Marbache sector was completed on August 18, 1918, and the brigade moved to an area about 20 kilometers southeast of Toul, headquarters being established at Favieres. Intensive training for the impending St. Mihiel offensive was indulged in here. The brigade started to move from this area on the night of September 2, 1918, and after a series of night marches, during which time headquarters were established at Pont St. Vincent, Velaine-en-Haye, and Bouvron, the brigade arrived just outside of Manonville, headquarters being established in Manonville. From September 12 to 16, 1918 the brigade was engaged in the St. Mihiel offensive in the vicinity of Remenauville, Thiaucourt, Xammes, and Jaulny as a unit of the Second Division of the First Corps of the First Army. Headquarters during these operations were successively at 1 kilometer north of Lironville, Thiaucourt, and finally at Manonville, on September 16, 1918. On September 20, 1918, the brigade moved to an area south of Toul, with headquarters at Chaudenay. The brigade remained in this area until September 25, 1918, when it moved by rail to an area south of Chalons-sur-Marne, with headquarters at Sarry. Chapter XIII. THE CHAMPAGNE—BATTLE OF BLANC MONT RIDGE—CAPTURE OF ST. ETIENNE—MARCH TO LEFFINCOURT. Marshal Foch, having asked for an American division to assist in breaking through the powerful German defenses in the Champagne, the Second Division, including the Marine Brigade, was temporarily placed at the disposal of the Fourth French Army under Gen. Gouraud from September 27, 1918, to October 10, 1918. At first it was directly subject to the orders of Marshal Petain, but before the actual fighting began it was placed directly under the orders of Gen. Gouraud.