The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-01-10

port 10 tne secretary OF war we learn
at last just what divisions of our
army had the chance to distinguish
themselves on the battle-fields of
France and just what names those di-
visions are entitled to inscribe upon
their glorious battle flags.
The first action in which our men
were engaged in force took place on
April goth at Seicheprey, not far from
Toul. There the Goth Division-a Ma
tional Guard Division from New Eng
land-mct and repulscd strong Ger
man attack. The steadiness that our
troops showed in that defense was
reassuring omen; still more cheering
was the gallantry and dash that they
showed in their first offensive--the
capture on May 2S of Cantigny on the
Picardy front, by the list regular di-
vision.
Then came the great Aisne- Marine
offensive of the Germans, when the
enemy all but broke through on the
road to Paris. Two other divisions of
the regular army, the End and 3rd-
the End containing two regiments of
Marines-were thrown into the
threatened line at Chateau-Thierry
and near there. The End Division bore
the brunt of the fighting; it not only
held the Germans but drove them
back. Bouresches, Bellcau Wood
renamed by the French the Bots des
Marines-and NauX are the names
that will be forever associated with
those critical days when the fate of
the world hung in the balance.
At the second battle Of the Marine
we were galantly represented. 1t was
the turn of the 3rd Division TO sus-
tain the German attack in force. 1t
kept the enemy from crossing the
Marine at most points along its front,
and when two divisions had forced
crossing a single regiment Of the Bird
Division engaged them, and, although
almost surrounded at one time, fought
on until it actually drove the Germans
back across the river. Elements of
the 42d, or Rainbow" Division and
the 2Sth, National Guard division
from Pennsylvania, won honorable
distinction in Gen. Gouraud's army,
which held the line east of Reims
against every German attack.
When Foch began his countcr-offen-
sive on July Is the 1st and 2nd Di-
visions were given the post of homer
and quickly vindicated their right to
it. Berzy-lc-Scc and scissors are
names that the LIST Division will new
err forget. Beaurcpaire Farm and
Very mean quite as much to the I'd
Division. The 26th was also engaged
in that historic advance and took the
village Of Torcy. 1t was then relieved
by the 42d, which fought its way
through the Foret de Fere to the
banks of the Ourcq. Meanwhile the
Sd Division had chased the enemy
back across the Marine and won the
positions of Mont st. Pere, Chartevcs
and Jaulgonne. Then it advanced well
into Roncheres Wood, where it was re-
lieved by the SOD. from Michigan and
Wisconsin. The AID at Sergy and the
32d at Hill 230 did their share in driv
ing the Germans back to the Vesie,
where they were relieved by the 4th,
division Of the regular army, the
2Sth and the nth, drafted division
from New York City.
At St. Mihicl an American Army
for the first time fought Independent
ly--with some support from two
French corps. The LIST, I'd, 26th and
42d Divisions were all in that battle,
too; and so were the 9th, a division
of the regular army, the SD, from
Georgia. Alabama and Tennessee, the
seth from Kansas, Missouri, Colorado,
Nebraska, South Dakota, New Mexico
and Arizona. and the 90th, from Texas
and Oklahoma. Les Epargcs, Com
bres. Thiacourt and Vignoulles are
names that recall the victories in that
fight.
Cur greatest battle of all was that
of the Mouse ATgonne. which began on
September 2G and closed only when
Sedan was taken and the armistice
declared. 1t was desperate, bloody
fighting, but not an American regi-
mcnt engaged did less than magnifi-
Gently. Our army took 10000 pris-
oners and 46S guns, and its q divi
sions defeated and cut TO pieces no
less than 40 German divisions. Dur
ing the six weeks of fighting, the LIST,
I'd, Sd, 4th, 9TH, Goth, 28th, Goth, 32d,
SD, 35th, 37th, AID, nth, 18th, 10th,
90th and 9lst were engaged. The 29th
comes from Virginia, Maryland Del
aware and New Jersey; the 33d from
Illinois, the 35th from Kansas and
Missouri, the 37th from Ohio, the 18th,
10Th and S0th from New York, Penn
sylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, West
Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the
District of Columbia, and the DIST
from the Pacific Coast States, The LIST,
5th, Goth, AID, nth, S0th, 89th and
Goth went into the battle line twice.
Montfaucon, Guisy, Septsarges,, NAL
ancourt, Brieulles, Gesnes, Chatel-
Chenery, Cunel, Caures Woods, Grand
Pre-, Champignculles, Chatillon sur
Bar, Ormont Woods, Ancrcville, Lam
dres-St. Georges, Burzancy, Stenay,
Fosse, Nouart, Halles and Sedan
those are names that the regimental
standards may bear in letters of liv-
ing gold.
In the great battle that broke the
Hindenburg line between Cambria and
St. Quentin we also shared. In COM
pany with the Australians, the 9th
Division, from New York, and the
Both, from Tennessee, the Carolinas
and the District of Columbia, smashed
the German line along the st. Quentin
Canal and took over 5000 prisoners.
The I'd Division was engaged in front