Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-24
LOSSES 35TH
DIVISION Low,
STATES MARCH
Investigation Of Reported
Heavy Casualties An
swered'by Army Men.

SWereQ Dy ARMY MeIl.
Washington, Jan. 24.-Losses OF
the S5th division (Kansas and Mis-
souri, National Guard) in killed and
died OF wounds during its entire serv7
ice in France up to November y, were
Bar men, Secretary Baker told the
rules committee today. in connection
with a resolution by Representative
Campbell of Kansas, calling for con.
gressional investigation Of reported
excessive losses in this division.
Campbell said. was founded on re-
ports current in Kansas and upon
statements made by Governor Allen
Of that state on his return from serv-
ice with the 7. NJ. C. A., attached to
the 35th division. 1t asked for tnves-
tfgation of reports that the division,
in a seven days tight in Argonne for
est lacked adequate artillery support,
ammunition. food, airplane protection
and adequate care Of wounded. 1000
of whom were said to have been left
on the wet ground without shelter tor
IS hours. Il
In the course of the hearing Gem
eral March, who accompanied Secre-
tary Baker said that roughly 100000
American troops participated in the
Argonne fight. They had behind
1000 guns, he said, and an official
statement from the chief Of staff of
the artillery Of the first army. Of
which the 35th was a part, stated that
the infantry never got beyond artil-
lery support.
Baker Invites Inquiry.
Secretary Baker said the wal de-
partment invited the fullest investi-
CATION of the conduct Of the war by
congress and called attention to the,
fact that after the Civil var an ex-
tensive investigation of this character
was made. He indicated that he
after the returnFof the troops from
France when full reports would be
available.
So tar as the reports as to the 35th
division were concerned, MI. Baker
said he felt that the men could tell
OF all that happened in the fighting
in the Argonne were still in France
and it would be impossible to hold q
just inquiry without their evidence.
The total requirements of the 35th
for all causes, Secretary Baker said.
were 10,605 men from the time Of it's
arrival in France UP to November 10.
AAO SloOShl ! IlAu1SdlCu ia oSSE CO
innate in the report cited by Repre-
sentative Campbell that seven thou
sand men of the 10000 infantry of
the division had been killed or
wounded in the Argonne battle.
Representative Campbell brought
out the fact that both infantry brigade
commanders of the 35th division, Cen
erals Clarence 1. Martin, a national
guard officer, \and Mcclure. a regular.
had AAn~ ~ArANvrol ~ thN ~S,N ~ <L4
battle. Secretary Baker and General
March said they had no specific infor-
nation as to the reason for these re-
movals, but General March thought
it was "a preliminary to. the battle.
A "Well Planned" Battle.
Secretary Baker said the Argonne
battle was "the most difficult opera
ton ever undertaken by American
troops" and General March declared
that no hint Of complaint had come
from abroad as to the handling of
divisions in that action:
TT was a we'll planned battle" the
chief of staff declared. TT would never
have gotten through if it had not
been"
This fight General March added,
was the first real action in which the
clared hat the division had done
very WE'LL
The indicated casualties, he thought
"were incredibly low" in view Of the
difficulties of the fight in the forest.
Representative Campbell asked
General March repeatedly if the re-
moval of Generals Martin and Nc
Clure just before the fight had not
ltended to derange battle plans.
General March thought not.
THE day of personal leadership is
gone." he said. The machinery that
runs the fight is the staff. I do not
think the removal of any individual
would impede it."
Secretary Baker. who was in France
at h time told the committee that
not than half a dozen people in
France knew Of the plans for this
! battle more than two weeks before II
/, began. General March said the brigade
commanders in all probability did no
get any word Of it until the. day be-
fore when written orders were handed
\ to them. The whole action had been
planned months ahead by General
Pershing and his staff.
A question as to Governor Aliens
probable sources of information on
which his statements were based, led
Representative Campbell to say he
did not know how close to the front
the governor, as a Y. NJ. C. A. worker
might be permitted to 60.
II saw Y. NJ. c. A. men in. the
front line trenches" i%nterjected Sec.
rotary Baker.