New-York tribune., 1919-05-05
Alexander Declares Troops
Simply Held the Position
Assigned to Them With
the Greatest Callantry
Stayed Until Relieved
Commander of 77th Gives
a Vivid Description of
the Celebrated Battle

Major General Robert Alexander,
commander of the 77th Division, issued
statement yesterday in which he
characterized the term "Lost Battal-
ion," referring to the famous COM
mand Of Colonel Whittlesey in the Ar
gonne battle, as "a misnomer." The
general gave detailed description Of
the operations of his division between
October and T, in which the so-called
"Lost Battalion" prayed such brilliant
part, and showed that Whittlesey's
troops had been in no sense "lost." but
simply held the position assigned to
them under extremely trying circum-
stances--a position where they were
found in orderly formation when the
rest of the American troops moved
their line forward.
In his statement Major General
Alexander said:
1.-THE daily and periodical press have
seen fit to refer to Major Whittlesey's
to speak OF it's rescue In the opinion
Of the 77th Division, neither Of these
terms is opposite. Major Whittlesey
conducted his command TO the objective
designated for him by the division
commander, occupied the position as
signed him and held that position until
the remainder of the division was able
to move up to him, He held it with
the indomitabe determination which
has characterized the work of the
American soldier wherever he has been
called upon to perform a task.
Suffered From French Fire
"This command was neither lost nor
rescued 1t suffered heavy losses; it
was subjected to fire from both enemy
and supposedly friendly artillery (The
French, in spite Of my determined pro
test, placed artillery fire on this ravlne
the morning of the 7th of October
being quite convinced that the COM
mand must have surrendered) Not
withstanding all this, Colonel Whittle-
sey and his command held the position
to which they had proceeded under my
order and were found by me, when |
or October 8, an organized command,
IN good order and in excellent spirits.
1T may be noted that demand for
surrender, made on the morning of the
th, when the command was under its
most disadvantageous circumstances,
was repelled with scorn, the command
feeling perfectly competent to look out
for itself. even then.
Reserve Not Rightly Placed
Notwithstanding my orders to the
commanding general of the 154th Bri-
gade, the brigade reserve was not placed
where it could accomplish the end de-
sired. Instead Of being paced facing
west or northwest 50 as to stop the gap
III the left Of Whittesey's command 1t
apparently was placed in double column
of companies about on the spur marked
PIP, south of the road leading into Bi-
rarvllle from the east
The situation of Major Whittlcsev's
command was of course recognized by
me as being extremely critical. He had
gone into action with his reserve ra-
tions ly-supposedly a supply for
two days. Fear was entertained that
ms ammunition supply might run out
and consequently every possible effort
was made by the division to advance
our line so as to again come into COM
munication with him. For this pun
pose five direct attacks, preceded by
sEch artillery preparations as was pos
slble, were delivered against the trench
systems on the west of the sector but
none of these attacks succeeded in
breaking through. Neither could the
right (153d) brigade advance
Effort was also made by means
Of the air service to reach Colonel
Whlttlesey's command with ammuni-
ton, ratlons and carrier pigeons for
communication, but owing to the den
slty of the underground and the con-
sequent uncertainty of his actual DO
sltion, none of these efforts met with
success, two planes and two aviators
being lost in the effort.
Filtration Tactics Tvied
"The position on the Bois de la
Naza was strong in itself, and was suf
flclently organized to offer serious OBJ
stacles to an advance. In addition to
this, my right flank was quite exposed.
there being no friendly troops in
touch with me on that side, EXCEPT
some scattered elements of the division
on my right, which we're quite out of
touch with all the remainder of their
division. Meanwhile, every effort was
being made to filter men in small
groups through the interval between
the ridge Of the Bois de la Naza and
the ridge running southeast from the