The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-18
NEEDFULS LACKING
IN ARGONNE BATTLE
Gov. Allen Charges Staff In
efficiency in Supplying
Troops in 6 Days Fight.
Special DespascA to Tun Son.


WARRINGTON, Feb. 17.-Startling tes-
umony as TO failure OF the stan depart
ments in the American Fxpeditionary
Forces to function in support of line
troops in action was supplied to the
House Rules Committee by Gov. Henry
J. Allen of Kansas, who appeared in
support OF Representative Campbells
resolution for an investigation OF the
activities and treatment OF the Thirty
NTH Division in the Argonne battles
Gov. Allen is expected to make further
revelations tomorrow before the Senate
Military Committee.
As q result Of the testimony OF Gov.
Allen, who served with tho Thirty-fifth
Division. Kansas and Missouri troops,
in his Y. NJ. C. A. capacity the Rules
Committee may report out resolution
calling for a more or less general inves-
tigation OF the conduct OF the American
Elk Evolutionary Forces.
In the case OF this division in the Ar
casualties in six days lighting amounted
to about 1000 men. Of which 1888 were
killed in action.
Supplies Inadequate for battle.
Due largely to poor stan preparation
and inefficiency In the service OF sup
plies according to Gov. Aliens state
ment these points stood out in the bat
tie:
Infantry. unsupported by artillery.
was sent against machine gun and ar
tillery fire.
Shortage OF horses and inferior
horses made 1t impossible to move the
divisional artillery fast enough to
keep pace with the advancing infantry.
In part at least because Of this tho
American artillery barrage frequently
| fell short or was walked into by the
infantry.
Air craft was inadequate to offset
hostile craft or properly to direct
American artillery fire.
Communications we're lacking in tel
ephones, flares and other signalling
apparatus. Runners were used where
telephones and other means of COM
munication should have been avail
| able.
Through shortage OF stretchers, am
| balances first aid equipment and
| transportation wounded lay on tho
| ground for forty eight hours without
adequate clothing or emergency ra-
| tons.
Tho day before the division went
| into its greatest battle two of Its gen.
| eral officers were relieved.
All Lacking hut "Raw Men,"
THE Argonne Forest was the battle
| for which we had been preparing for
, vat u.o We In u.a
not have the machinery" said Gov
Allen 1t seemed to be part of that
highly organized ineff1ciency that char
acterized the whole army over there
! Whenever you touched anything it fell
! down: all except one thing-the raw
| man material-and that was all right"
One OF the National Guard officers re-
lieved from command the day before the
| Argonne fight began was Brig Gen. c
! I. Martin, now Acknowledgement OF
Kansas. Gen. Martin will testify to.
morrow.
The Secretary OF War tried to show
that the Thirty-hfth Division had nc
| more casualties than a number OF Other
divisions" Gov. Allen testified. III
| should be noted, however, that this STA
day Arsonne battle was the only en-
Sagcment OF tho Thirty-fifth Division
while most OF the divisions used by thu
| secretary III MS comparison ndu peeH 1T
numerous engagements.
Gen. Marrh has said that 100 air
planes were in use in the Argonne bat
tie. II so they >covered a twenty-five
mile front and many would he on the
ground. There were not enough at any
particular point to do any good. The
artillery did not arrive and We Tough
with French ordnance, We were con
stantly buying broken down horses from
the French for $500 each and losinl
them the next day because they wer,
! unit TO do the work"
Artillery support Falls Down.
Coy. Allen read a letter from a Lieu
tenant Colonel which stated:
our artillery failed us and did no
support us after the first few hours, w,
fought the German artillery. machln
guns. hand grenades. &C, with our ser
vice rifles only"
Gov. Allen read letters issued b.
II