New-York tribune., 1919-03-07
Cunners
Share in All
Glory of 9th
Battalion Participated in
Every Action of Division.
Major Whitney Asserts
Joy to Fight With Them
Record of Engagements ON
West Front Shows Men
Always in Thick of Frav

Boosting record of participation
IN every action in which the 9th Di-
VISION had share, Major Stanto,
Whitney led the 105th Machine Gu,
Battalion back home yesterday.
Major Whitney, who enlisted 90 q
priavte in Squadron nineteen yests
ago and is one Of the many officers
OF That command who has risen frar,
the ranks; paid All eloquent trlhnte ts
The men Who fought with him ~ lbs
'efflhe action Whieh broke lhe iiindes-
bufe line and the battles preoedipg
lhA engagement
"it was a perfect ioy to tiaht with
'heh'' ne SAID, "lhe reason our hat
talon has not received more deoora- J.
tlons than those already made is that
1t would be necessary to cite the whole
crowd They have never been called
upon to perform the most hazardous
or rigorous duties without jumping at
the chance--every mothers son of
them"
Major Whitney is member of the
Stock Exchange, and his wife and four
children live at Red Bank, N. j.
Only Twenty Originals Left
Only about twenty of the men who
we're originally in old Squadron A are
left in the 106th. Four of the old
timers who are still in the ranks are
in Company B. They are Sergeants
Jack O'Keefe and Allen ]. Steen and
Corporals Richard Ellsworth and
Allen Barnard
Major Whitney said that at one time
Company D went into action with only
eighty men of the 172 of its roster
in shape TO fight. The deaths were
few, he said, but many men were
wounded.
The record of the engagements in
which the 105th Machine Gun Bat
talon participated was kept by Major
Whitney throughout the campaign in
France. 1t follows:
Cast Poperinghe Line Belgium,
July 9-August 20. This action
consisted in constructing and occupy
ing the second position opposite Mt.
KENNEL during time when the enemy
was expected to make heavy attacks
The position was under close observa-
ton from Mt KENNEL and was sub
jected to observed artillery fire by day
and continued fire by night, inhicting
daily casualties. The position was oc-
cupied by three battalions and one ma
chine gun battalion at time, with six
ternating. Enemy opposite front of
9th Division - Divisions of Prince
Rupprecht's group of armies.
Dckebusch Front Line Held
"Dickebusch Sector Belgium,
August u -30-This action consisted in
holding the Dickebusch sector front
line, repeling raids, making raids and.
patrols, being under continual artillery
servation from enemy positions on Mt
KENNEL. Enemy opposite front Of
9th Division -- Divisions Of Prince
Rupprcchts group of armies
"Vierstraat Ridge (Vicinity Of
Mt. KENNEL, Belgium August 81
Sept. 2.-This engagement was an ad-
vance TO occupy this ridge and MI
KENNEL from which the enemy was be :
licvcd to be retiring. The enemy was
found to be withdrawing his mai force
to Wyschacte Ridge, but leaving ma
chine gun nests to hold ns long ns pos
sblc and keeping the whole terrain
covered with artillery fire. The troops
above mentioned continued following
action with artillery and machine gun
preparation, meeting strong resistance,
including counter attacks by enemy in
fantry to cast of the slope of Vier-
STRAIT Ridge. The 30th American Divi-
sion on our left, the 34th British Divi-