New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
Heroes of Chateau Thierry.
Soiss sons and Blanc
Mont, Praised by Per-
shing and Petain, Return
Its Courage Saved Paris
One Of Oldest American
Regiments Engaged in
All Big u. S. Drives

mental colors the 9th Infantry of the
I'd Division. regular army, came
home quietly and unostentatiously on
board the transport Princess Matoika
yesterday from Brest
This regiment sailed overseas Sep
tember 8, 1917, and was engaged in all
major offensive operations of the
American Expeditionary Force. Their
honQrs were divided with the 5th and
9Th Marines at Chateau-T -Thierry and
Beleau Wood, while they alone held
the Paris Metz road against nine con-
certed attacks Of the invaders. The
Paris-Metz road was regarded by the
Germans as the key to the French
capital. 1t is reported that General
bundy, commanding the I'd Division,
when he received word that the French
were being forced back on either flank
and that in order to straighten out the
line the Cd Division must likewise give
way, replied Give way, hell! We've
only just got here. We're going ahead"
1t was the 9th Infantry that was
ordered to charge the German posi-
tions, which after q hand to hand
struggle lasting thirty-six hours were
captured and consolidated against all
counter attacks. The German advance
was broken and driven back, and all
the objectives were attained and held
SptllnG
the fate of Paris.
The 121 officers and 3,O79 men were
commanded yesterday by Colonel Adna
Chafee, I. S. A., who wore the Dis
tinguished Service Cross, awarded for
exceptional bravery under hostile shell
fire. Sergeant Frank A. Barth and Pri-
vate First Glass Louis Van Iersel were
awarded the Congressional Medal.
There were decorations galore among
the officers and men. One hundred and
thirty-two wore the Distinguished Ser
vice Cross, fourteen the Medaille Mill
taire, the highest military decoration
of France; AGA the Croix de Geurre;
three, Italian War crosses, and one,
Italian Kings Crown.
During their many engagements the
regiment suffered nearly 15O per cent
casualties, only one-third of the origi-
nal number who sailed with the organi-
zation, returning. Their losses were
as follows:
Officers Men.
Battle casulties ...........l2s 4s58
Died Of disease ....-........ 20
Total casualties ...,.....,..19s 1855
One of Oldest Regiments
The 9th Infantry is one of the old
est regular army units. 1t was organ
lied at Burlington, Vt, in January
1873, and has won fame IN all the
wars of the United States since that
time. 1t was one Of the first to be SEM
to France. The 9th received its pre-
area IN September, 1917. and the fol
lowing March was sent into the lines
under the command Of Colonel l.. S.
Upton. 1t relieved the 32Sth Infantry
of the 52d French Division, March 10,
between Maizy and Les Paroches
where the Allied line crossed the
Meuse River. north of st. Mihiel. The
sector had changed little since 1914
and was regarded as ideal ira ing
purposes. The first encount, vi a the
enemy occurred on the nigh o. April
1914 Nearly five hundred Germans
came over, wearing uniforms Of Frencn
or Americans and calling "Gas!' At
first they disorganized the outposts
several of whom were captured. Realiz-
ing their mistake, the men in the front
lines turned upon their captors, and
a hand to hand battle ensued. The
enemy quickly withdrew, leaving
eleven prisoners and siXty-seven dead
Commended by Pershing
After this raid, which was one of the
first directed against American troops
General Pershing commended the 9th
Division in the following terms:
Allow me to extend my warmest
congratulation upon the splendid spirit
shown by the 9th Infantry in the re-
cent encounter with the enemy, espe-
cially to those men who declined to
accept their status as prisoners, but
turned upon their captors and de-
stroyed them and returned again to
their own lines"
After their splendid stand on the
Paris Metz road came the Battle OF
scissors. Going into battle the regl-
ment's combat effective strength was
70 officers and 3,051 men. After reach
ing their detectives their casualties
amounted to 53 officers and l ,305 men
or considerably more than 70 per cent
of their total effective strength Among
the killed was Major Arthur L. Bouton
commandin gthe second battalion. The
regiment was awarded the Croix de
Guerre with the gold star under the
following citation by General Petain
"The 9th American Infantry Regiment
under the orders of Colonel Upton, en-
gagged unexpectedly in the offensive OF
July II, 1918, in the middle of the night
on terrain which was unknown and
+ difficult, displayed during two days
: without allowing themselves to stor
because of fatigue and the difficulties
of obtaining food and water, re.
markable ardor a-d tenacity, driving
back the enemy II kilometres G miles
capturing 2,700 prisoners, IL cannon
and several hundred machine guns"
Booty in St. Mihiel Battle
During the battle of st. Mihiel the
regiment captured 900 prisoners, l .0O(
OF whom were sent in by the thirt
battalion, sixteen German camps, sew
enty-six cannon, one hospital at Jaul
ny, one hospital train, one narrow
gauge railroad with three engines ant
nifty cars. Their losses were six officers
and 346 men killed or wounded.
The battle at Mont Blanc ridge, il
the Champagne sector, was one of The
most severe in which the regiment
fought. The regiment took 1889 lris
oners, including colonel and sixt,
other officers, 12o machine guns, ter
mlnenwerfers and twenty artiler,
pieces. In speaking of the work ac
= comp!!sAsd by the Second Division Ma
Jor General John A. lie Jeune, U. S
NJ. c.. said:
"To be able to say when the war is
finished, i belong to the I'd Divi
sion. l fought with it at the battle
of Mont Blanc ridge, will be the high
Of bat /,