The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-05
GEN. ALEXANDER ON
LOST BATTALION
Continued from First Page.

line at about 1shOo.i The casualties in
this command up TO about that time
that Is during the advance-amounted
to about one hundred officers and men
killed and wounded. AS the result OF
this advance two German officers, twen-
ty-eight men and two machine guns
were captured.
Trench Crossed, Wire Overcome.
During the advance a trench system
was crossed and heavy wire was en-
countered and overcome. This attack
was delivered by Companies A, b, c, e.,
G. and II, 3OSth Infantry, accompanied
by sections Of machine guns from Com
panies C and ID, 306th Machine Gun Bat
TALON, and was directed along the
wooded heights and slopes east or the
rayine referred to. D and F companies.
3OSth, were west OF the ravine referred
to, and held that position. while the
Third Battalion Of the 30Sth Infantry
was further to the rear.
Upon reaching the objective posi-
ton for the night was taken up alons
the AL Viergette- Moulin de CharleVaux
road. This position was about ooo
meters east Of the Moulin de Charlevaux
on the steep bank which runs down
rayine. The machine gun sections were
nIaced on the tanks Of the line and the
left flank was refused-somewhat with
a view to securing what was considered
the most dangerous quarter. Tho men
| of course, dug roxholes and prepared &c
| hold their Positions as directed.
The orders contemplated that the line
on advancing to the east and west roaC
referred to would reorganize, perfect
| its liaison between the organizations
exploit the ground to the front by meant
OF strong patrols and prepare for further
advance to be started when ordered. A
! daybreak on October Company Il wac
detached from the command ana starte'
back along the line of advance, the in
tention being that II join Companies L
and F on the west Of the raVine, attaci
with them, and bring up the left Of thu
line TO its proper position In liaison will
the companies already on the objective.
In order to clear up here the move
ments of this company, 1t may be state'
that upon moving to the rear for the pur
| nose indicated, II was found that enem!
| forces had got into position during TN
night and very few of the men of thi
company got through one platoon re
turning to Col. Whittleeey's command
and one officer and eighteen men or tn
company finally getting through to tn
south.
Iiaison Group of 3O7th Armies.
About Z A. Nj. on October 3. the com
| n,and was Joined by two officers ant
about eighty men of Company h, 301t
Infantry. This company had been DIES
,gnated by the Colonel OF the 301th a
the liaison group between his regimen
and the 30sth Infantry 1t now cam
up and took its place at the right OF IN
line, anticipating an advance by the re
mainder or the front line battalion of tn
3O7th Infantry. The situation from tina
time on until the remainder OF the lin
was able to advance remained as ha
been given
Col. Whittlesey's command held II
position, repulsed numerous attacks o
the enemy suffered losses in so doing
but was found an organized comman
when the remainder of the line came VI
The remainder of the line upon attempt
ing to advance found decidedly stub
born opposition in its front, and wa
able to make but small advances at an
one time.
The opposition on the spur known a
Bots de la Naza has been referred t'
II further developed that on the lei
| or the division sector u boCHe tTeIc
system was found running down fror
La Palette across the spur which lead
west from the Bots de la Naza. Thi
trench system. probably but very light
occupied at the time of Whittlesey's ad
vance, was reoccupied by the German
in considerable force during the Nigh
after the advance, and the wire whic
existed on the spur referred to wa
extended to the eastward. so as to lin
up with the wire already in existenc
on the Bots de la Naza. Tins. howeve
was not completely done and to tina
lack OF complete wiring may be attrit
uted the ultimate success OF the measur
taken to advance the rest of the lin
Realizing OF course that my left fan
was entirely exposed l directed early