The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-04-03


continually hsrsssed Wy heavy and
we'll directed fire from the right flank
much OF this fire beirg direct. and
coming from the sector TO the right
and although repeatedly requested. !
was unable TO obtain counter battery
fire because Of the l4ist Infantry, On
the 10Th. being positive that the most
advanced units Of the l4lst Infantry
were In the rear Of my line, and that
the enemy batteries could be fired on
with complete safety. ! assumed all
responsibility Tor any injury caused
TO friendly trooW thelefTom and OBJ
tancd fire on enemy batteries
! also had repeatedly requested fire
on the trench system north Of St.
Etiennc. which had been reported IS
early as the 9Th 10 contain enemy
machine guns. did not obtain fire
however. until about a. m. Of the
10Th The bulk OF our fire was d.
rec,ed on the back area OF the enemy
and so far back that It was hard to
convince my officers in the line that
they really had artillery support
The French tanks sent 10 suppor,
my front line battalion rendered prsc-
tically no assistance. Only six Of
these tanks ever reported. the French
officer in command was killed early
IN the action and those tanks not
crippled by enemy fire were with
drawn.
Low Runners Handicap.
Liaison within the regiment was
maintained almost entirely by run
ners, bulzcr and telephone. As have
already stated, both the runner de-
tzchment and the signal platoon were
lost during the entire night Of the
9th and 7th and did not reach their
position until the evening OF the 9Th
This was a serious handicap. The
runfcts had lost an invaluable day
and opportunity to iamiliari,e them
selves with the locations Of the p.
C.s and lines. and the same applies
to the signal men.
II was 80 on the morning OF the
&h when the first message came In
telling that the attack hsd been
launched as ordered, bat wss' pro-
crossing very slowly in the face Of the
extremely heavy machine gun and ar
tillery fire A. the advance pro-
eressed messages took longer TO get
in and the information furnished was
often as much a. two hours old, and
therefore practically vaiueiess To
remedy this situation about II o'clock
on the 9Th. | established an advanced
information center under Lieutenant
Black. 1t was located close 10 the
original r. c. OF the Second battalion
Messages were taken in At this poin,
and relayed by phone to regimental
r. {. After the withdrawal on the
afternoon Of the 9th. telephone com
munication was established with oil
battalion commanders. one line being
run TO the captured position on the
right. Thereafter wire communiea
,ions we're maintained and were found
very valuable. A line was laid into
st. Etienne on the night Of the 0th
and lOth, when the Third and FRS,
bat,alions took up positions there
The wires were repeatedly cut b,
she'll fire, but in spite Of this, proved
to be a rapid and practical method
Of getting information. Runners wer,
slow and casualties were heavy.
| On the morning of the i2th, acrosl
the battle-ground Of the previous days
the regiment marched forward in ,
column Of squads. That 10, al tha
was left OF the regiment. WhsA hss
been three bsttalions, looked the six'
Of one, and 4 battalion could cash,
he mistaken for . cosWpsny. Passing
Just east Of Machsslt We Mvouacket
in . valley about two kiiometer.
southeast Of Dricourt. Rain bseai
falling about noon and eoutinuet
throughout the night. and the men hss
neither blankets nor shelter halves, bu
we did have hot food. The march wa
over . country strewn with enem,
wire. Ammunition dumps seemed Il
be everywhere. On one ridge wer,
dusotts still smoking, and here ant
there was evidence Of the good worl
Of our heavy guns.
Two Phases Of Operations.
The operations Of the l@2nd lnfantr,
covering the period Of seven days be
ginning on the Nh OF October, 1915
may be divided into two Phasss. Tn
first phase consisted Of shose opera
tons necessary to move the regimen
from its biilesinG area near Champig
neul to the Second division front lin
north Of Somme Py, on and in iron
Of Mont Blanc. II embraced the move
msnt by bus from the billetinG are
TO Semme Suippes. the march irod
there 10 the appointed rendesvou
near Somme Py. the approach mascl
| fpm this rendezvous 70 the lines oc
eupied by the Sixth regiment q Aa
rines and the relief consisted OF IN at
tack, . withdrawal. much subsequen
fighting and the occupation of the VII
hee Of 81. Etienst.
| On October ( my regiment 10
gether with the l4lst iafantry and N
i2nd maehiae gun bsttalloa, cen
posing the jeventy- First imiantry bri
eade. w Transferred 10 me EourtI
French army and remained In that Or
my until about he q d Oeto6ei
October I 70 3 this regiment was q
tached 10 the Seeond .divispa. O
the eth Il vas returned 10 the Thirty
Sixth division.
4 Shortly after dark on The night .
October the i<znd infantry, ies
the Supply company and the ban<
was esnbusssd st the several billet
Ing arsas IN ths vicinity d Chan
Il - a