Arizona republican., 1919-05-07
t58TH WEN SAW ACTION THOUGH
 NUT TOGETHER.
Colonel Who Brought Boys Home Tells How Unit Served-Was Used As A Replacement Regiment

Colonel $. M Saltmarsh, who brought Inc famous 15Sth infantry home from France, and arrived in Phoenix Sunday night with the train of "our boys" is staying at the Adams for a few days before going on to his home in San Francisco.
 The Colonel and Mrs. Saltmarsh were entertained at lunch Monday at the Adams by Governor and Mrs. Camp bell.
 The 15Sth infantry did their whole duty," Colonel Saltmarsh declared to a representative of The Republican. They arrived in central France, at La Guerche, about August 24th, 1918, under the command of Colonel Grin stead.
 "An interesting feature was that Colonel Grinstead wired ahead to the commanding officer of that section, notifying him of the probable time of the arrival of the division, and when he got there the telegram wos delivered 10 him. There was not a higher rank ing officer in that part of France. As a consequence. no billets had been ar ranged, and the officer fthe 15Sth had to attend 10 their own settling down.
 "I was then division inspector, and arrived on the 26th. The regiment was billleted at a town called Precy, assigned to the $. c. $. Service of Supply), which meant that they were 10 he a replacement division.
 Used as Replacement Unit
 "On September first, TT officers were sent from the division, a few days later 1900 men. and little later 20O0 men, all sent directly to the front for re- placements. The demand for man power at this time was tremendous, and in a very short time the regiment aad the division was reduced to a mere skeleton, with only cadreys (organiza . ton units of non-coms) were left Nearly all the men in the 15Sth saw service very soon after their arrival most of them de-training under shell fire and entering companies that went to the front during the night
 Most of those boys we never saw again. By that l do not mean that they were lost, but that they replaced men from other companies. regiments and divisions. and the 15Sth in tur1 was filled by replacements from other organizationS men discharged from the military hospitals, men from ar irving units, and so on.
 When we returned the 15Sth wa. very cosmopolitan, made up of mer from practically every part of tho country, with comparatively few of the original members.
 Colonel Grinstead elected 10 remair in the service. and was consequently sept to another command and I was put In command of the regiment tC bring them home We sailed on the OhiOan and the Iowan with 275S mer and s5 officers The regiment wen over S700 strong.
 15ath Did Whole Duty
 Yes, the men of the 15sth did their duty, carried their full share of tn, burden, though as 8 regiment the, never went to the front
 We have been treated splendid! since our return, it could not hay, been better. Our entertainment il New York and Fl Paso, our reception here,-it was fine.
 "The boys certainly appreciated tn welcome accorded them by Governo Campbell and his devotion to thei interests and wants. He knew man. of them personally. which would natur ally add to his interest,".
 Col. Saltmarsh is not only a goo, soldier as his record shows; he is hu man and friendly, willing to obligt His long experience as a railroad mar and prior to that as a reporter ant newspaper man, has stood him in goo s,ead in handling men and getting re suits.