Evening star., 1918-11-27
DISTRICT TROOPS
FOUGHT in WORST,
SLAUGHTEROF WAR
Battery A Was Of 29th Diyi-
sion, Which Won at 0rmont
Wood, North of verdun.
LETTERS Received TELL
OF TERRIBLE CARNAGE
Gen. Morton. Commanding, Com.
pliments Courage Of Of
fcers and Men.

ficers and Men.
News has reached Washington of
the glorious work of the famous Blue
tary circles as the goth Division.
Battery A, District National Guard. is
part of this division
In letter written the latter part
of October and just received here it
was stated that the famous division
made up of fighting men from the
north and the south was Gin the
thick" of the worst Of the fighting.
So large was the number of indi-
vidual cases of gallantry that it was
difficult to pick out all the heroes.
Up to that time fifty men had been
recommended for the Croix de Guerre.
1t appeared that there would not be
sufficient number Of honors to go
round for deserving fighters, because
this number was all that was al
lowed.
The letter was received in Washing
ton yesterday and was one Of thou
sands that arrived in the United States
a day or two ago from men overseas.
particularly units in the 29th Di-
vision.
Included Cavalry and Artillery.
The District cavalrymen and field
artillery troops are in the 110.h Regi-
ment of Field Artillery in the saith
Artillery Briga-e. The District unit
was formerly Battery A of the Wash
ipu or1
Field Artillery is commanded by Col.
Washington Bowie of Baltimore, who
is assisted by Lieut.. Col. Lanternman
of New Jersey. Maj. Leroy Heron
manager of The Star, is in command
of the 1st Battalion. with Capt. John
W. Thompson, also of this city, as
adjutant. Capt. Thompson was in the
real estate business on 18th street
in this city before entering the Army.
That the Blue and Gray Division
suffered heavy casualties and partici-
Eated in grueling engagements is in
dicated in letters received from men
in the division by relatives in other
sections Of the country.
In "Worst Slaughter"
Letters received by New Jersey
announce that they had been through
the worst slaughter of the war"
Since in the large engagements it is
fair to assume that the entire division
took part, it may likewise be assumed
that the District unit was in the midst
of the fray.
One officer has written to his family
in New Jersey that ION October IL our
regiment w mt into battle at Ormont
wood, north of Verdun, and something
miscarried, with the result that there
are only few Of US left to tell the
tale.''
THE dead and dying" he continues.
were strewn all over the field. How
guns as well as cannon were belching
death. while airplanes used US as
targets. l stopped to bandage the
wounded and the Germans shot them
again. one Of the men lying across
my lap when he was shot
This officer said that French and
American generals agreed that it was
"the worst slaughter of the war
worse than Chateau Thierry and st.
Mihiel fighting put together" This
lieutenant added that after the battle
he had fourteen men left"
General Compliments.
first real taste of fighting, and on
November l Maj. Gen. Charles Morton.
commander of the division, compli-
mented the men.
Now that it's part in the action
north of Verdun is finished" Gen.
which has reached this country, 1.-The
commander wishes to take occasion
to express his deep appreciation of
the Skill endurance and courage
shown by the officers and men of the
division. including both staff and line.
This was the first real fight of the
division Casing Of our troops was
easily accomplished (this by reason
of the terrain, the informant ex-
planned. with the heavy woods and
had to fight their way).
Gain d All Objecives.
"At the end of the fight we not only
had gained all of our detectives. but
held them. We advanced no ? than
light kilometers (more than four
miles) through the enemy's trenches.
took 2.100 prisoners, Z cannon. 200
machine guns and large quantities of
ure of seeing two hostile divisions
withdrawn from our front, one of which
was the best the Germans had
"On many occasions captured pris-
rapid and our fire SO effective that
they were overwhelmed and had moth
ing to do but to retire or surrender"
Prior to the battle of Ormont wood
the Blue and Gray Division did cred
liable work at Montfaucon. The at
tack was on September 26 and q,
and was begun under the greatest
concentration Of artillery fire seen
up to that time. The town was con-
sidered as one of Germany's strong
est positions. Raymond s. Thomp-
kins, writing in the Baltimore Sun
recently, said that the Huns made a
bold attempt to hold the fortifica-
tion and hurled fresh divisions into
the fighting to stem the tide Of the
YankS, but without avail.
Ousted Crown Prince.
1t was in this battle. said Mr..
Tompkins, that the Blue and Gray
Division reached the crest OF the hill
day ended and by the next morning
breakfasts just outside the former
observation tower OF the crown
prince.
During these operations the 29th
got its first experience Of the Huns
dirty fighting" such as the wearing
of Red Cross brassards by actual
.'kamerad." and the rest OF his bag Of
tricks.
q. 8. MAY BUY HOG ISLAND.
Steps Taken to Put Proposition Up
To Government.