The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-07
John Barrett Reads Mes
sages from Pershing,
Baker and March
THEIR RECORD THAT
OF 18th DIVISION
Commanding General of the Oversees
Forces Says Green Mountain Boys
Maintained the Best Traditions of
Their Ancestors and Spirit of 76

session of the Vermont legislature. III re
Spouse to special invitation extended
To him as native son Of the statelSraf
ton, Windham county,, John Barrett, d
rector general Of the Pan American union
and former United States minister to
South American aud Asiatic countries,
read direct communications which he had
just received from General Pershing, com
manding the American Expeditionary |
iofccs. Secretary Of War Baker, and Gen
cral March, chief Of staff, commenting up
IN the records of Vermont and New Eng
land forces overseas Although the main
theme OF Director General Bauett's re
marks was The New Pan Amerieanism
and What it Means to Vermont and New
England, he paid special tribute to tue
splendid achievements OF the Vermont
and New England boys on the tiring-line /
IN France and urged that each state
ahould erect noble permanent memorials /
IN honor OF those who sacrificed their |
lives IN the war
Under date OF Great Headquarters |
american Expeditionary Forces, Feb. >, |
General John J. Pershing eabled Dircc /
tor General Barrett as follows
/
me pleasure to send you a message about |
/ Fermont and New England troops Brief |
/ y stated they merit the warmest praise
by the people they represent They have
maintained the best traditions of their
/ New England ancestors and the Spirit o.
/ Seyenty-Six has been iheiIs They. have
/ llayed their full part in the splcndid
achievement OF American arms on the
battlefield and in the supporting services =
On the same date Newton d. Baker.
| secretary OF war, wrote Mr. Barrett as
follows
! 4 have iust received your note.of the
first
The 10Th, OF New England, division
includes the lD2d regiment of infantry,
the lalst, ICED aud lo3d machine gun bat
talions. IN each Of these organizations
there are eomponents Of the old Frs.
esmont. In order. therefore to have
: any adequate appreciation OF the services
rendered by the Vermont soldiers in this
war It Is Necessary 70 follow the fortunes
2 u the 26th division which went into the
line on July Is and fought nj Chateau
2 FhierlY, Torey and Belleau Moods In
. September this division occupied the let
g of the American army in the attack on
Saint Mihiel, and closed the gap between
: the tao American attacking wedges cut
ting off the right Of the Germans at mid
+ night Of the first day Of that battle In
r mediately after the Saint Mihiel victory,
. the 26th was moved into the line east
. tse Aeuse where Il remained IN active
e cc abat until the signing Of the aiInistice
c y til the lst, and the ID regular army
. divisions, and the 42d, or Rainbow. divi
:, sion. the 26th is numbered, they henK
4 +. Hr
: OF our great Americas Expcaitioaarv
e forces and would be glad 10 have the
:, people of NeB- England know that tacif
= division, tie 6ist Of the National esnard
Y troops To embark overseas. bore Itself
i with distinction and gallantry. aud that
II contributed on every hatfleield to
< Americas real participation IN tie fight
t ing and the unbrollen success Of ouI~allns. .
Y General Peyton G March chief ~ staff.
! provided AIR Barrett with the following
l. summarized chronological statement Of
such activities Of these troops a5 ars
4 now available in the war department
p The Vermont, troops were incorpara-
e ted into the 26th division, the members
l. being distributed through the loist Aa.
chine gun battalion: lG2d maehin. aln
battalion; lo2d infantry regiment; I03d
machine gun battalion i0lst amnuni-
y ton train; and TIE 57tn pioneer niantty
: regiment
October Stb, lel7 Division He,dquap.
tiers left BOSTON October 3lst. 1917 Al.
rived at t. : p @. No. 700. training
t area No. :. \rtillers at toetquidan fol
training. Division trained intensvely in
these areas until eariy part Of February.
February 18th, 1915 Entfainetl Tor fronz
spent one month Of trench instruction.
: north OF scissors with headquarters a,
Couvrelles. Division was placed with tht
= French 18th army corps.
March 18th, l9lS-N withdrawn to Bar
Sur Aube. March eth. 1918 Upon com
pletion of months tour ordered 10 lux
northeast Of foul to assist in the emci
iency Division headquarters at Reynel
in this sector the division held portion
q the line usually assigned to two divi
ions Was attacked twice by pickce
troops.
April 1911. 1915 The 10Th vas at
a tucked in tie terest Of Apgemoni Apri
II .e-21, 1918 The l02d Infantry was at
o .cked at Seieheppey Both attacks wcr,
" j pulsed. tfQ5a this date until June 30ti
q tae Goth division hsld the foul secto
= it'll more o. less activity on both sides
~ About July 18th moved 10 til,
: 'alne front july lTta. 1918 I'D b1igad
,e 26th attacked and took 1otey and Bel
Il an. July leth. l9lsWhoe division al
! tucked reaching Bois dEtrepiIly
July -, 1918 withdrawn fpr rest
III Month Of August resting, First part q
a September ordered to line at St Mihiel
s, September 10. 1918 On line near ST
+. lIilaire Usual trench warfare in the Vi
le entity Of Fresnes until October 23d.
October y, l9ls Attacked Capture,
n lois de Bellen, Bois de Warville an,
c. Eois d'Etraye.
I'd November II, 1918 Attacsed Halle.
n ~ the almistice