Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1918-09-06
BADGER TROOPS IN IT
Wisconsin's Part on the Front
Described by One of Her
Fighting Leaders.
BY GEN. G. r. BoARDMAN.


scattered all over France. The One
Hundred Twenty eighth Infantry,
which was composed of the First and
Third Wisconsin National guard on
its arrival in France, had nine out of
twelve company commanders and
1,300 picked men transferred to the
first division. The vacancies were
filed with men from all parts of the
United States. When we sailed from
New York there were good many
cases Of mumps and measles and
other diseases, developed at the en-
barkation camps 1t resulted in a
considerable portion being quarantine
ed and some were left on this side.
o. These came over on later boats and,
after they landed, instead of coming
oack TO the Wisconsin organization,
they were placed in other organiZa-
tions. That was not done on purpose
to break up the organization, bat this
method was made use of to accom-
plish the grouping of the armies in
the shortest time at the least ex-
Ipense. The transfers cannot be help
ed. 1t was the only way the govern
gllent could do.
The artillery brigade in our division
was made up largely of Wisconsin and
Michigan troops, who were detached
onour arrival in France, and we new
er saw anything of them until early
in. July, when a portion rejoined the
division.
The Wisconsin troops are we'll fed,
well clothed, and well taken care OF
all the time. [ consider the work Of
the war department and the officers
in organizing and equipping the
troops in France, as simply wonder
full. No matter where we have been
or what the conditions were, we re-
ceived food and supplies promptly
The spirit Of the troops is of a very
high order. While they were under
nv command we had number of
small fights with the Germans, the
largest of which was over a three
mile front. From every one Of these,
Judging by the number of prisoners
we took, and the known dead and
wounded, we invariably inflicted
from two to three times the casual
ties we received, so | believe that,
man for man, the American soldier
today is superior to the Germans,
and | attribute this to the fact that
the Germans have lost the flower Of
their army and that the men now
fighting are tired and worn out, while
our men are in the prime of youth
and vigor.
1t is only question of time when
we get our organization completed
and our forces increased, when We
will be able to go through the Ger
man lines at any place the high COM
mands sees fit to send us.
Almost everyone wants to know
how long the war will last. No one
can answer the question. One per-
sons guess is as good as another's.
All / can say is that the French Off
GERS with whom ! was associated
were generally Of the opinion that it
would not last to exceed a year long
er. Tie American officers think it is
liable to last two years longer. On
the III her hand, it is possible that the
war Viii end with iSt as much sud-
dennesS as it began.
1e Ii, fnr ~
Uni,ed States t., do, and that is to
bend every energy Of its man-poWer
and money-power toward fighting the
thing through to finish. We have
got tie Job on our hands and we
ought TO conclude il as soon as posi-
Bile That is the way the men feel
over there, and to do it we must put
every ounce of energy in the fight
and make it our sole purpose.
| was under a French command for
two months in the fighting line, and
during that time had the honor to
command a French division. On
this occasion | had the opportunity
TO meet many French officers and
want to say of them that they are a
wonderfally efficient body Of men.
extremely modest and particularly
thoughtful of others. Their hand
ling of the Americans and the policy
of consolidating the forces and help
ing to train and instruct is not only
efficient but it is diplomatic and cor
dial. The French are very much
like the Americans and act like them
They kick about their government
the same way we do, and look at
things from the same viewpoint I
think that is the reason the French
and Americans get along extremely
we'll together. The only difference is
that of language.
The devotion of the French people