Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1919-07-11
Action Of the OPS
In the World War

the Courier OF the Big Gun Corps"
published at Fortress Monroe, and
received by Secretary Lynn Mowat
of the Commercial Club, is an inter-
estlng article on the 9.2's in the war,
by Lieut.. Col. 0lln H. Longlno. This
officer states that so far as he knows
the 65th artillery, C. A. c., in which
Ia number Of Ashland boys served in
France, was the only regiment OF
9.2 British Howitzers to get into
action.
Lieut.. Col. Longino in this article
tells the story OF the 65th as II got
into action on the fields OF France,
from the time they completed the
preliminary training at Pierre But
fiere, near Limoges. The battalion
left its billets about August 1, for
La Courtine. where target practice
was held. This was completed about
August 20, 1918, and Immediately
departed for the Training Area, near
Chaumont, being billeted in the vii
lage OF Donjeux, some 30 kilometers
north OF Chaumont. Here they were
inspected by COL Harry T. Matthews,
c. A. c., and on August 26, received
orders to go to the front.
The battalion travelled overland
and was five or six days reaching
Toul, near which II remained in con-
cealment until the position was final
ly chosen. It was first assigned to
a position in the Bois de Haye, near
st. Jean and st. Jacque. However,
before the position could be prepared
the brigade commander, Brigadler
General w. G. Davis, made change !
and a new position was assigned
which was across the Moselle river
In the Forest du Facq, near the vii
'lage OF st. Genevleve.
At first the commanding officer
of the regiment objected strenuous
ly to the placing of the guns in that
position as they were placed right on
top of the line of resistance of the
Infantry, and It was two days be-
fore a position could be found that
was satisfactory to both parties. Be-
fore the guns could be brought up to
the position, which was 80 or 40
kilometers from Toul, 1t was learned
that the troops on the right bank of
the Moselle river were not to par
ticipate in the attack and, in fact,
might drop back slightly, and as this
would cause the guns to be in very
precarious position as they were
within 500 meters of the existing
line OF resistance, the position was
again changed.
The new position assigned was in
the Bois de Puvenelle, on the left
bank of the Moselle river, south of
the village of Madieres, and about
two kilometers southwest of the
town Of Pont-a-Mousson. The guns
of ID" battery were emplaced prac-
tically on top of the line of resis-
tance of the Infantry, and those of
&c" having longer range, were
placed about one kilometer south of
I'D" and across the road Immediately
behind the kitchen of the reserve
company of the Infantry Battalion
holding the line at that time.
The artillery preparation was TO
start at 1:15 a. m, but owing to the
congestion of the roads and their
condition it was 1855 before one
complete round of ammunition ar
rived at the battery emplacement.
Fire was opened by the battalion at
Las a. m, and both batteries there
after responded every time they
were called upon. until the drive
was over.
During the course of the action
the Battalion was called upon to fire
upon German battery which was
giving great deal of trouble to the
personnel of the First Corps. OBJ.
by an American Section OF
The F. r. s. was obtained and the
first salvo was reported as being %
meters over and meters right, the {
sedchd reported at "hit, battery I
probably the powder) burning; the |
third salyo was reported as being all /
hits battery destroyed" II
AS soon as the St. Mihiel drive was II
over they received orders to move Nv
over into the Argonne. The person. c
mel moved by road, but the guns and /
tractors went by rail from Fruard. U
Upon arrival. the battalion comman- I
der was directed to report to the 7
Third Corps and was assigned by
hat Corps to the 10th Division and v
acted as Divisional Artillery during a
.he drive beginning September 26. t
A position was assigned near Nome t
,ille, q ruined village about 2 or 3 [