The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-19
Complete "Rainbow" Division
Is With FOch.
"New England" Division Also
in the Offensive.
THE 35TH is NOT MENTIONED
Topeka Units Probably Are
Not Participating.
Parts of Eight Divisions Helped
Hold Germans.

Washington, July 19-The Rain
bow and the New England" divisions
are the complete American divisions
now battling the Germans in the
great Franco-American offensive,
members of the house military COM
mittee were told by Chief of Staff
March today.
Parts of Eight I visions Fought Huns.
Parts of eight American divisions
were engaged in the fighting early in
the week that resulted in checking the
German drive on the Marine.
Many Others Brigaded With French.
In addition to the two divisions now
engaged, many other American troops
are brigaded with the French in the
offensive action.
The committee was told that nearly
100000 Americans are now in
France or on the way.
One thousand Kansans in the M
munition train are included in the
Rainbow division. Members Of the
train were used extensively in the
April and May fl Ig.
In the May fighting. many men,
bers of the ammunition train worked
seventy hours without stops for rest
periods. Scores of the men slept only
while the big trucks were in motion
while the drivers seized their oppor-
tunity to sleep as men loaded and un-
loaded the heavy ammunition trucks.
Recently it was reported that some of
the men in the organization have suf-
fered from spanish grippe"
The ammunition train in the Rain
bow division is a strictly Kansas or
sanization under command of Lieut..
Col. Frank -. Travis of lola. It is
composed of units from a number of
IN IT,
pekans were transferred from Battery
A to the train. Several other men en-
tered the organization as volunteers
when the ranks were brought to war
strength. The train was stationed in
Topeka last fall before being sent to
Hampstead. n. Y, for finishing
touches before being taken overseas
The Kansas National Guard organ
izations are with the Thirty fifth di-
vision which has not been mentioned
IN the dispatches concerning the pres
ent fighting in France
kansas City, Rcsedale, Lawrence.
Topeka, Hutchinson, Wichita Man
haitian, Dodge City, Independence,
lola, Fort Soft, Chanute, Emporia,
and many other towns are represented
in the ammunition train
Drive Germans Back to Old Line !?
Washington, July 19.-War depart
ment officials told members of the
muse military committee today that
1t is believed the present offensive will
not strike serious snag until the
Germans are driven back to one of
their old trench lines
While officials do not state the Of
fensive will stop there they predict it
VIII be necessary to shell the Ger
mans out before further progress can
De made. The committee was also
told that the present fighting relieves
materially the danger to Paris.
There is no doubt that the Ger
mans started an offensive in hope of
getting nearer Paris or perhaps TAX
ing 1t, one committee man said after
the conference. Instead of getting
nearer. they have now pushed much
farther back
Army officials also took the view
that the present drive is not the main
allied offensive, which it has been
generally understood would be launch
ed early next year. The drive now
under way is described as an lex
tremely strong counter offensive"
100000 Men Over Now.
The committee was told that ap-
| proximately 10000 men had been
| shipped to France in the last week,
making nearly 100000 men in
France or en- route.
Seven hundred and thirty-three De
Haviland bombing planes have been
| delivered to date and 425 shipped, the
| committee was told.
Five hundred and thirty-seven Lib
! erty motors have been shipped abroad
| and a number of American made Is
| millimeter guns.