davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1919-01-24
STATE OF MISSOURI,
COUNTY OF GASCONADE, IS.

COUNTY OF GASCONADE, IS.
Thno. Graf, Judge of the Probate Court, in and for the County and
State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the above is a true copy of the
original Probate Court Docket, showing what settlements are de. for and at
the February Term, 1919 of the said Probate Court, IS fully as the same ap-
ear of record in my office.
In Testimony Whereof have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
seal of said Probate Court, at Office in Hermann, Mo-, this goth day OF
January 1919. THEO. GRAf,
(SEAL Judge OIL PROBATE.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11
The King
APPROVES

The Australians were not con-
sidered the gcntlest fighters in Eu-
rope. After the battle Of Hamel
they were asked how the Americans
had done, and their answer caused
good deal of amusement up and
down the British front. They said
the Americans were Good soldiers
but bit rough"
A short time after this battle the
King Of England arrived at our
headquarters and decorated twelve
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11
Roosevelt
Not Forgotten

1t would be impossible to enumer-
ate all the officers and men who dis
tinguished themselves particularly
in the division. The whole division
worked we'll together ard were de-
voted to their leader, General Bell.
We constantly spoke Of Colonel
Roosevelt and Major General Leon
ard Wood. We felt that their work
and the Plattsburg camps had made
it possible for American arms to
strike just in time.
Lieutenant Colonel Frederick L.
Huidekoper, who, while civilian,
wrote a book called the "Unpre-
paredness Of America," did espe-
cially brilliant work during the
Meuse-Argonne battle, as liaison
officer with the French. His in
innate knowledge of French military
history and his love for the French
people made him most acceptable,
and he greatly aided General Bell in
keeping in close touch with the plans
Of the French High Command.
Lieutenant Colonel Chipperfeld
was used as liaison officer with the
American division adjoining us and
also rendered splendid service.
Captain Marshall Field, one of
General Bells aids, who entered the
division as private and worked his
way up to the rank of captain, rem
dered valuable service on many
occasions, being constantly in the
front trenches with the general.
Brigadier General Paul Wolfe
commanding the 66th Brigade, Brig
adler General Edward King, COM
manding the 65th Brigade, and
Brigadier General William K. Nay
lor, chief of the staff of the division
all of the regular army, exercised
the highest qualities of leadership
and were liked and admired both
by officers and men.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11
Intense
Aerial Attack

The aerial activity which took
place during June, July and August
IN this region was the most intense
mat Witnessed while in France.
Our men and British soldiers were
E'lled in MolIiens and Perrigott. One
night Brigadier-General Paul A.
wolfe, commanding the 66th Brigade,
ana q British general, both billeted
N the village Of Perrigott, near our
headquarters, had bombs land in the
packyards of their cottages and
partially destroy the rooms in which
taey slept. The house in which Gen
eral Bell was bi|leted was hit just
slter we left, az / have since heard.
The Germans came over every
GEAR night in great force, bombing
hs troops, railroads and dumps;
ss very heavy cost, however, to
Mefnsciyes, as the British Air Ser
ses, generally speaking, had the
a0sIsry oil the air in this region
snd destroyed large number Of
nsrsnan planes. The work Of the
of't'sh Air Service was very re-
narxable. They would attack at
nasqt exactly as they attacked in
Ms daytime. We saw an enormous
rnaan bombing plane in full
u ! ~ Of the scarehlight, attacked
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11

five engines of six cylinders each
and had carried nine Germans,
whose bodies were being buried in
the hole that the plane had made
when it landed and it's bombs ex-
ploded.
The division went into it's first
fight on July a, when d thousand
of our men and about six thou
sand Australians supported by
British artillery attacked and won
a brilliant victory at Hamel. This
engagement sent a thrill through
the whole division. A telegram ar
rived shortly-that same day
from the British commander in
chief congratulating the division
on the "skill and gallantry' with
which the operation had been con-
Quoted. A telegram from General
Rawlinson, the commander Of the
4th British Army, also was re-
ceived, conveying his thanks to the
division, and adding, "I hear moth
ing but praise of the manner in
which your units fought the enemy
and my only regret is that I was
not permitted to employ a larger
portion of your fine division" That
same day letter arrived from
Lieutenant-G General Sir John Mo-
nash, the commanding officer of the
Australian corps, addressed to
General Bell, in which he said:
81 desire to take the oppor-
tunity of rendering to you, as
their immediate commander, my
earnest thanks for the assistance
and services of the four COM
panies of infantry who partici
pated in yesterdays brilliant
operations.
"The dash, gallantry and eff
cheney of these American troops
left nothing to be desired and
my Australian soldiers speak in
the very highest terms in praise
of them. That soldiers Of the
United States and of Australia
should have thus been associated
for the first time in such close
cooperation on the battlefield, is
an historic event of such signifi-
canoe that it will live forever in
the annals of our respective ma
tons"
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11
Decorations and Battles of the SD

Second French Colonial Corps.
Fourth American Corps.
Ninth American Corps.
Seventh American Corps.
Sixth American Corps.
It fought in the following battles
and made these advances:
Metres
July 4, 1918, at Hamel, Companies
c and E, 131st Infantry, and
Companies A and C. 132d Infan-
try, with Australians. ........ 210O
August 8, 1918, at Gressaire Wood
and Chipilly Ridge, Somme
offensive, 131st Infantry, with
the English ....... .'.......... 1000
MEUsE-ARGONNE BATTLE
Sector between the Bois de Forges
and the Laiterie dc Belhame
Metres
September 26, 1918, 13lst Infan-
try, Companies B and C. 124th
Machine Gun Battalion and
Company D, 10sth Engineers :. 1000
BoIs DE FORCES
September 90, 1918, 1924 Infantry
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11

w 7E SAILED from New York
W. on May 16 and travelled
so fast that ten days later
our headquarters was es-
tablshed in the little village of Hup-
pey, near Abbeville, in reserve, be-
hind Amiens on the British front.
The headquarters troop followed
close behind us and reported the
first casualty that the division suf-
fered. The troop had been attacked
on its train by enemy planes and
one of its mer had been hit.
At this time Abbeville was being
attacked with aerial torpedoes prac-
tically every clear night, and finally
its usefulness as railhead was de-
stroyed. The gallant 9th Division
was just to the north of us at this
time.
We had scarcely arrived at Hup-
pey when Field Marshal Sir Douglas
Haig came to our headquarters and
met the staff officers and spoke of
the work ahead. During the months
that followed we developed the deep
est admiration and affection for the
British commander in chief.
1t was generally thought at this
time that the next German drive was
coming down the valley of the
Somme in order to cut off the Chan
mel ports via Amiens and Abbevllle
to the sea.
Under the leadership of its COM
manding officer, General George Bell.
jr., Of the regular army, the division
worked and trained INCREASINGLY to
get ready for this drive. General
Bell is one of the finest men I have
ever met. He is man of enormous
energy and extraordinary personal
courage, and was beloved by every
officer and man in the division.
Toward the end of June we moved
toward the front and took station
just behind the British and Austria
lians, who were defending Amiens.
Generally speaking, the British lines
ran to the north and the Australian
lines to the south of that city. This
whole country was heavily fortified
and gunned in anticipation of the
expected attack.
Part of TIE trenches defending
Amiens had been constructed by our
own 108th Engineers, under the COM
mand Of Colonel Henry A. Allen,
who had preceded US and were
camped in the Querrieu Woods.
The division made it's headquar-
ters just to the north of Amiens in
the village Of Molliens-au-B Bois and
the troops were brigaded with our
allies in the front and support
trenches.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11
The 33d First Fight With the British in the "Backs to the
Wall" Days Amens - Called Even bv the
Australians "a Bit Rough

E The 33rd Diuision is about to
return to the United States. At
the request of The Tribune, Major
Hensu S. Hooker, A. g., e. S. A.,
who 1Cos acting adjutant of the
diuision during its active opera
tions on the British front and IN
the Meuse-Argonne battle, has
qiven the folloacing accoaa't Of this
famous unit. Major Hooker was
injured at the end of the aUar. He
has been recommended for the Dis
tinguished Seruice Medal By his
commanding general, for e1cep-
tionalLy merito7'ious service Dur
ing the operations near Amiens
and Verd,tn He is NeaV York
la,oger and an er-member of
Squadron A.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11
By Major Henry S. Hooker
A. G., U. s. A., Acting Divisiom Adjutumt

of the officers and men who had
especially distinguished themselves
in the fight. The presentation took
place in little park in the rear of
the castle at Molliens- -Bois, in
front of detachments from all arms
of the division. General Pershing
and General Bliss were also present
that day and were decorated.
On the approach Of the French
national fete day a letter was re-
ceived from the Prefect of the
Somme, asking that an officer rep
resenting the American forces de-
Tending Amiens attend a luncheon
that was to be held in Amiens on
July Id. I was sent by my general
to represent the American division.
Amiens was under shellfre at this
time and presented a scene of indie
scribable desolation. When l ar
rived at the town hall, however.
/ found that building covered
with flags. I was ushered into the
cellar, where General Monash, the
commanding officer Of the Austria
lian corps, and various British and
French generals were gathered to
do homage to France and to indi-
cate to the world that the spirit of
Amiens still lived. The table was
covered with flowers, the lunch was
very good and the wines delicious.
We sat there until late in the after
noon, while the Prefect of the
Somme, Senator from Paris and
others spoke with the deepest emo
tion Of the will to conquer. We left
the luncheon and went back to our
commands, moved by the undying
spirit Of France.
The division fought it's next fight
on August 8, when the 131st Infan-
try, under command of Colonel
Joseph B. Sanborn, captured Gres-
saire Wood, assuring the fall of
Chipilly and materially assisting
the British attack, which never
stopped from that time until the
end of the war Colonel Sanborn
has received several decorations for
his gallantry in that affair
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11
BRITISH

Distinguished Service Order.
5 Military Crosses.
Distinguished Conduct Medals.
II Military Medals.
FRENCH
AZ Croix de Guerre.
BELGIUM
Officer of the Order of Leopold.
The Division fought under the
following five armies and twelve
corps:
Fourth British Army
Second French Army.
First American Army.
Second American Army.
Third American Army
Second American Army Corps.
Nineteenth British Corps.
Third British Corps.
Australian Corps.
Fifth American Corps
Seventeenth Freneb Corps.
Third American cssps.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11
eronti
the

manding the 18th French Army
Corps in a citation which, as trans
lated by the interpreter, ended with
these words:
"All infantry, artillery. engineers.
aviators. staffs and services, all of you
have your part In the success. Ameri-
can soldiers, French soldiers, both white
and black. you have rivalled in valor
and comradeshlp to tear off the bond
age which still afflicts our immortal
citadel
~ am proud to have commanded you
"(Signed). CLAUDEL"
Toward the middle of October
the division was brought further
south and took over part of the
line facing the fortress of Metz
1t attacked here under the Ameri-
can army, breaking through the
Kriemhilde Stellung and carrying
it's objectives, until the war ended
on November 1 tx g
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11

Met
Companies A and D, 124th Ma
chine Gun Battalion, and Com
pany E, 108th Engineers. .... 50
September 20 to October ID, 1918,
65th Infantry Brigade, Bois de
Dannevoux and Bois de la Cote
Lemont 20
October s, 1918, near Consenvoye,
132d Infantry (less Sd Bat
talion); I'd Battalion, 131st In
fantry, and Companies A and
D, 124th Machine Gun Battalion 4C
October 9, 1918, Bois de Chaume,
1921 Infantry (less Sd Bat
talion); I'd Battalion and Ma
chine Gun Co., 131st Infantry,
and Companies A and d, 124th
Machine Gun Battalion. &C
October 10, 1918, Bois de Chaume
and Bois de Plat Chene, 181st
Infantry Qess I'd Battalion);
Company B, 122d Machine Gun
Battalion, and Company B,
124th Machine Gun Battalion. &c
October 10, 1918, Bois de Chaume.
Sd Battalion, 130th Infantry. 2(
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11

The regimental commanders, Colo
nels Sanborn, Clinnon, Davis and
Myer, and all the other officers of
the division, did great work. l last
saw Sanborn in Metz. He had been
selected to lead the French parade
with one battalion of his gallant
131st Infantry when the French
army made its victorious entry into
that city and was reviewed by
President Poincare, Marshals Joffre,
Foch, Petain, Sir Douglas Haig and
other generals.
The casualties Of the division
amounted to 8,279 officers and men.
Up to the present time it has re-
ceived 8 Congressional Medals Of
Honor, 10 Distinguished Service
Crosses besides foreign decorations.
The division captured thirteen
pieces of heavy artillery, eighty
seven pieces of light artillery,
twenty trench nortars, 400 machine
guns and many rifles.
The infantry was so splendid
that in spite of our lamentable un-
preparedness, for which, of course,
the infantry had to and did pay in
full, it carried every obstacle and
earned many citations, Of which the
following are very few:
Private first class, Felix Bird,
1 1885, ,424, Company c, 132d In
fantry. Next of kin, Mrs. Con-
stance Bird (mother), 1922 Albany
Avenue, Chicago, III.
At Bois de Chaure, near Con-
senvoye, October 8, 1918, he fol-
lowed a German into dugout and
forced this man and forty-eight
more to come out at the point of
his bayonet. When one prisoner
tried to escape Bird shot him and
marched the other prisoners to the
rear.
First Sergeant Johannes S. An
derson, 1899, ,O34, Company B, 132d
Infantry Next of kin, John Carl
son {friend), 4874 Ferdinand Ave
nue., Chicago, III.
At Bois de Chaume, near Con-
senvoye, October 8 and 9, 1918,
displayed conspicuous courage and
bravery under heavy she'll and ma
chine gun fire. Personally took
strong point without help, captur-
ing one entire machine gun section
and twenty-three prisoners. Dur
ing all of two days fighting dis
played a high degree of courage
and his example was splendid one
to the men under him.
Private Clayton K. Slack, $685.
344, Company D, 124th Machine
Gun Battalion. Next of kin, Mrs.
Jennie Slack (mother), R. F. D.
No. 5, Stevens Point, Wis.
During the operation of October
8 and 9, 1918, near Consenvoye,
this soldier advanced alone and, by
f1anking the positions, singlehanded,
captured ten of the enemy and two
machine guns, the latter being fully
loaded and ready to open fire, there
by saving many of his comrades
and neighboring infantry from
heavy losses, and by his GOODNESS
and daring inspiring his comrades.
Private William M. Woodsmall,
2,869,212, Company A, 131st In
fantry. Next of kin, Mrs. A. Wood
small (mother), 1112 College
Street, Little Rock, Ark.
On October 10, 1918, at Consen-
voye Woods, singlehanded, rushed
in broad daylight and put out of
action a machine gun nest, killing
or capturing the crew and bringing
back two enemy machine guns.
Corporal Thomas A. Pope, l.
3S7320, Company f, 131st Infan-
try. Next of kin, Joseph T. Pope
(father), 373 Fourth Street, Brook
lyn, N. Y.
At Hamel on the evening of
July a, 1918, the enemy having
captured one of our advanced posts
by counter attack, the first platoon
of Company E was ordered to re-
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11
Sixfy=fw0 But
Full of Pep

He is over sixty-two years old,
and on that day he executed with
his regiment forced march of
practically twenty-five miles. Upon
arriving about seven miles west Of
Gressaire Wood, at $3.50 p. m., so
grave was the situation that he re-
ceived an order to attack at $3.50
through the wood and to drive the
enemy beyond the Bray-Corbie
road. Colonel Sanborn was at this
time behind his regiment. He
started to run, reached the head Of
the regiment and personally led his
battalions through heavy German
barrage,. arriving just in time to at
tack behind the British barrage.
After leading the attack he pro-
ceeded under heavy fire to a shell
hole, being knocked down on the
way by the conclusion of a she'll
Sitting in his shell hole, he gathered
some runners from another organi-
zation, established his P. c., and
from that place, still under fire,
directed the battle to a successful
issue.
The 108th Engineers, under
Colonel Allen, had large part also
in this engagement, and the division
was Immediately congratulated by
General Rawlinson, General Butler,
General Ramsey, General Cooley,
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11

one night by small British fighting
plane. The small plane kept hang
ing on behind the big bombing
plane, firing at it until finally it
brought the enemy plane down in
flames. rode over the next day
and saw the wreck. 1t had fallen
near a place called Talmas. 1t had
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11

store the position. Corporal Pope
rushed hostile machine gun singles
handed, bayoneted several of the
crew and, standing astride Of the
gun, kept the remainder of the de-
tachment at bay until the arrival
of reinforcements, and the gun
crew were all killed or captured.
Corporal Jake ALEX, 1,3s7,s15s
Company H, 131st Infantry. Next
of kin, Antoine ALEX (brother),
1850 South Ashland Avenue. Chi
cago, Ill.
This soldier displayed personal
bravery and leadership in a high
degree at Chipilly Ridge, August 9,
1918, by taking command of his
platoon when his platoon COM
mander was wounded. Pushing for
ward on a machine gun nest, he
personally bayoneted FIVE of the
enemy, and when his bayonet was
broken used the butt of his rife,
capturing the remainder of the
crew.
The divisional artillery, namely
the 58th Artillery Brigade, under
Brigadier General Henry D. Todd.
did not fight with us but performed
good work elsewhere, as the fol-
lowing letter from the chief of staff
of the 1st Division indicates:
81. The division commander
desires me to express to you and
all of the officers and men of the
58th Field Artillery Brigade his
commendation of your gallant
conduct in the recent operations
against the st. Mihiel salient.
The loyalty and devotion exhib-
tied in moving forward your bat
teries over the most difficult
country under the worst weather
conditions are worthy of the
best traditions of the field artii-
Iery. The skill and efficiency
with which the guns were served
are evidences of the high stand
ard that obtained in the brigade"
Brigadier General Edwin 3.
Winans, commanding the Gath Ins
fantry Brigade, sent this:
Il. | desire to express my utmost
satisfaction with the artillery sup
port rendered by your 58th Artillery
Brigade in connection with the sue
cessful attack and capture by the
Gath Infantry Brigade of the Bois
de la Morine, the Bois du Chene Sec
and the town of Gesnes.
"2. In this operation the barrage
was precise and exactly timed, the
destructive and counter battery fire
effective and the fire on feeting tar
gets prompt and accurate. The ef-
ficient liaison established by your
liaison officers, Lieutenants Shields
and Hunter, is deserving of high
commentator.
80. 1t will, no doubt, crafty you
to know that not a single report of
friendly shorts was received during
this operation"
Brigadier General Frank Mccoy,
commanding the 63d Infantry Bri-
gade, sent this to General Todd:
During the first two days of the
operations of my brigade agains.
Kriemhilde Stelliing, in front of Ro-
magne, had the very effective sup
port of your brigade of field artil-
lery, and / wish to express nv an
probation to both yourself and your
colonies. / was keenly conscious
OF this support not only when asked.
but Of the quick and fine initiative Of
yourself and staff, which made it a
pleasure and satisfaction to work
together"
Official commendation was also sent
to the artillery from Major General
C P. Summerall commanding the
9Th Army Corps, and from Brigadier
General Aultman, his chief of ar
tillery.
The division spent the winter in
Luxembourg and is now on its vay
homa
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11

Metres
October 10, 1918, Bois de Plat
Chene, Sd Battalion, l29th In
fantry ................ 2OOC
October 10, 1918, Bois de Chaume
and Bois de Plat Chene, 1st
Battalion, 129th Infantry, and
Company A, 1924 Machine Gun
Battalion 1900
October Is, 1918, Bois de Plat
Chene, I'd Battalion, 129th In
fantry 1000
November 10, 1918, Marcheville,
I'd Battalion, 130th Infantry,
and Company D, 123d Machine
Gun Battalion .... 5000
November 10, 1918, Bois d'Har-
vile, and st. Hilaire, 131st In
fantry, and Companies A and
B., 124th Machine Gun Bat
talon .............-.. 400(
CHATEAU D'AULNOIS, RIA.
WILLIE AND MARCHEvILLE
Metre,
November IL, 1918, 12eth 1nfan-
try. 130th Infantry, 123d Ma
chine Cue Battalion, and Com
pany F. lSsth Engineers. ... 5000
New-York tribune., 1919-05-11
u = sHto t1IIS 7
The MeuSe
Advance

On October the division was
transferred to the 17th French
Corps, and on October 8 attacked.
this time on the east bank of the
Meuse. The 132d Infantry, under
Colonel Abel Davis, crossed the
river on that day at Brabant and
Consenvoye, and the next day
pushed forward to the Bois de
Chaume. The bridges on which the
infantry crossed were built by the
lO8th Engineers under direct OBJ
servation and constant enemy ar
tillery fire. The bridge at Brabant
was 120 feet long, in IL feet of
water. The bridge at Consenvoye
was 1856 feet long, in Is feet of
water. From that time until it's re-
lief by the 18th French Colonial
Division, the 33d Division con-
tributed to the success of the opera
tions east Of the Meuse, and gained
splendid reputation for efficiency
and initiative. 1t received the
warm thanks of the general COM