Evening journal., 1919-04-11
BY JUNIUs II. WOOD.

Special Correspondent OF the Washing
ton Evening Star and Chicago Daily
News.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMIES IN
EUROPE, General Headquarters Chau-
mont, France, March ij-Except for oc-
rasional mention that tanks took part
IN certain battles, little has been writ
ten about the work performed by the
American Tank Corps. The American
lank was something like the American
terOplane-they were Just starting TO
.nalerialize when the armistice ended
the war. However, the Tank Corps
was we'll organized and, using French
snd British tanks, did effective service
In every engagement under American
command.
The best evidence that our tanks
were up where The fighting was hot
test Is that so per cent. of their Off
cers and u per cent. Of the men OF the
corps were casualties. Seventeen tanks
were disabled wig direct artillery hits
IN the 81. Mihiel offensive alone. All
OF them were more or less battered
UP. but the corps in the automobile re-
pair shop. which was I'm operation
Every night Just back Of the battle
line. repaired 22O per cent. OF the fleet,
meaning that each tank was salyaged
and put back into service more than
once.
Men Carefully selected.
Two former cavalrymen were in
command OF the tank battaliJns. Lieu
tenant Colonel George s. Patton, Jr OF
Los Angeles, for several years preced-
r ing an aid TO General Pershing had
command IF the light tanks with the
American forces. lie left the semi-so-
cial Kid glove G. IT. Q. position TO take
command OF a tank battalion in the
field. a transition similar to that from
ballroom TO a blacksmith shop. Ma
Tor Ralph 7. Sasse had charge Of the
american tank men with the British.
An OF the tdnk men were specially
picked from other branches Of the ser
vice and given a regular course OF
training. They thoroughly mastered
the operation OF one Of the iron boxes
before they took them into action.
The American tank battalion made its
initial bow at the st. Mihiel offensive,
September g. i9is-the first American
offensive Into that action went IA
American tanks. With their officers
walking outside-one feature Of tank
service is that the commanding officers
do not ride in the armored boxes. but
20 on foot directing the way-ihese
tanks went over the top ahead Of the
infantry. crushing the barb wire and
siraddling The trenches which had pro-
tected the Germans for four years.
Tanks Lost at the Front.
The 10iilla OF tanks ambling along
D. In. If rrrITr
. Is considered the best evidence by en-
emy aviators that an attack is impend-
ing Consequently tanks are not
brought up until the last moment, un-
less they can move at night and be put
in a place well covered from obserNa-
zion in the daytime
The tanks for the st. Mihiel offensive
were brought as close as possible on
trans-long strings OF cars like cir
. Gus caravans. The last train OF TWEEN
ty-nve tanks did not get 10 the r3ilhead
until $50 a. m. the morning Of the at
tack. The artillery preparation had al
ready been started. The infantry was
10 90 over at . a. m- and in order to
get into their position in front these
tanks had 90 cover eight miles over
road iammed with traffic and then
cross the American trenches.
Colonel, make them wait Make them
wait. We must get there on time the
young officer commanding The last sec
lion. urged Lieutenant Colonel Patton.
Keep moving. IL they start ahead
OF YOU, catch up" was the only con
ISOLATION the colonel could give him.
Tho tanks got there.
That first action OF the American
Tank Corps formed a large part Of The
correspondents cables The following
day.
Lieutenant Keeps at the Front.
Lieutenant Julian X. Morrison OF
Louisiana was wounded three times in
the lcft hand on the first day OF the
ST. Mihiel drive. The battalion COM
mander that night ordered him to the
rear. lie had his hand dressed. but in
stead OF staying at the rear was at the
front again at midnight. The next day
Dis hand was so swollen that the gen
cral commanding the brigade ordered