Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1919 — OUR BOYS IN FRANCE [ARTICLE]

OUR BOYS IN FRANCE

From Gen. Pershing’s recent official report to the Secretary of War we learn at last just which divisions of our army had the chance to distinguish themselves on the battlefields of France and just what names those divisions are entitled to inscribe uppn their glorious battle flags. The first action in which our men. were engaged in force took place on April 20 at Seicheprey, not far from Toni. There the 26th Division —a National Guard division from New England—met and repulsed a strong German , attack. The steadiness that our troops ehowed in that defense was a reassuring omen; still more cheering was the gallantry and dash that they showed in their first offensive —-the capture on May 28 of Cantigny on the Pipardy front, by the Ist regular division. Then came the great AisneMarne offensive of the Germans, when the enemy all but brake through on the road to Paris. Two other divisions of the regular army* the 2d and 3d —the 2d containing two regiments of marines, —were thrown into the threatened line at Chateau-Thierry and near there. The 2d Division bore the brunt of the fighting; it not only held the Germans but drove them tfeck. Bouresches, Belleau Wood-r-renam-e«k by the French the Bois des Marines —and Vaux are the names that will be forever associated with those critical days when the fate of the world hung in the balance. At the second battle of the Marne we were gallantly represented. It was the turn of the 3d Division to sustain the German attack in force. It kept the enemy from crossing the Marne at most points along Its’ front, arid when two divisions had forced a crossiing a single regiment of the 3d Division engaged them and, although almost surrounded at one time, fougbt on

until it actually drove the Germans back across the river. Elements of the 42d, or “Rainbow,’’ Division and the 28th, a National Guard division from Pennsylvania, won honorable distinction in Gen. Gouratid’s army, which held the line east of Reims against every German attack. • .

When Foch began his counteroffensive on July 18 the Ist and 2d Divisions were given the post of (honor and quickly vindicated their right to it. Berzy-le-Sec and Soissons are names that the Ist Division will never forget. Beaurepaire Farm and Vierzy mean quite as much to the 2d Division. The 26th was also engaged in that historic advance and took the of Torcy. It was then relieved by the 4 2d, which fought its way through the Foret de Fere to the banks of the Ourcq. Meanwhile the 3d Diivision 'had chased the enemy back across the Marne and won the possitions of Mont St. Per e, ♦" Char teves and Jaulgonne. “ Then it advanced jvell into Roncheres Wood, where' it was relieved by the 32d, from Michigan and Wisconsin. The 4£d at Sergy and the 32d at Hill 230 did their share in driving the Gormans back to the Vesle, where they were relieved by the 4th, a division of the regular army, the 28th and the 77th, a drafted division from New York City.

At St. Mihiel an army • for t)he first time fought independently—with some support from two French corps. The Ist, 2d, 26th and 42d Divisions were all in that battle, too; and so were the sth, a division the regular army, the 8 2d, from Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, the 89th, from Kansas, Missouri, Colorado; Nebraska, South Dakota, New Mexico and Arizona, and the 90th, from Texas and Oklahoma. Des Eparges, Combres, Thiaucourt and Vigneulles are names that recall the victories in that fight. Our greatest battle of all was that of the Meuse-Argonne, which began on September 2 6 and closed only when Sedan was taken and the armistice declared. It was desperate, bloody fighting, but n 4 an "American regiment engaged did less than magnificently. Our army took 26,000, prisoners and 468 guns, and its 21 divisions defeated and cut to pieces no less than 40 German divisions. During the six weeks of fighting, the Ist, 2d, 3d, 4th sth, 26th, 28tlh, 29th, 32d, 33d, 35th, - 37th, 42d, 77th, 78th, 79th, 80th, 82d, 89th, 90th and 91st were engaged. The 29th comes from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey; the 33d from Illinois, the 35th from Kansas and Missouri, the 37 th from Ohio, the 78th 79th and 80th from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, -Delaware and the District of Columbia, and the 91st from the Pacific Coast States. The Ist, sth, 26th, 42d, 77th, 80 th, 89th and 90th went into the battle line twice. Montfaucon, Cuisy, ’Sept-! surges, Malancouft, Brieulles, Ges- j nes, ChateDChenery, Cunei, Caures, Woods, Grand Pre, Champigneulles, Chatillon sur Bar, Ormont Woods,

AnCreville, Landree St. Georges, Borzancy, Stenay, Fosse, Nouart, Halles and Sedan—those are names that the regimental standards may bear In letters of living gold. In the great battle that broke the Hindenburg line between Cambra! and St. Quentin we also shared. In company with the Australians, the 27th Division, from New York, and the 30th, from Tennessee, the Carolinas and the District of Colbubia, smashed the German line along the St. Quentin Canal and took over 6,000 prisoners. The 2d Division was engaged In front of Reims In. the early days of October, supporting the French. It stormed Blanc Mont and took St. Etienne, when it was relieved by the 36 th, from Texas and Oklahoma. Toward the end of the campaign the 37th and 91st Divisions were withdrawn from tha Argonne front and sent up to Belgium to help the French. The 37th drove the enemy across the Scheldt River and the 91st took the town of Audenarde. This is a brief and cold summary of deeds as gallant ap any that American soldiers have ever achieved. It can only hint at the courage, the dash, the dogged determination, the splendid discipline and organization, that "caused this army made up largely of -untried soldiers to be more than a match for the best veterans that Germany could throw against it. Every part of the United States has had its representatives In the battle line; the nation take® legitimate pride in Its soldiers—whether regular, militia or conscript, whether from the North, the South, the East or the West. It salutes Gen. Pershing and the splendid military organization he built up. Not the least glorious page® of our history have been written in- blood and fire on the fields of France.