The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-24
THE THIRD DIVISION.
More Information Wanted About
Brilliant Exploits on the Marne.

bEuthut GAHfoftb w ehO <.essso'
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-sir: The
arrival at New York Of the Third d.
vision leads me to suggest the develop
ment of more information about that
remarkable lighting unit SO we can greet
the boys with greater understanding
and appreciation of our debt to those
who, with the boys of the Second d.
vision and other units. turned back the
Tcutonic hordes and saved not only
Paris but France,and lot more OF the
globe at the second battle of the Marine.
My acquaintance with two young
Lieutenants OF the Fourth Infantry,
Third Division, one of whom succumbed
in battle just before hostilities ended,
gave me through letters from them
while the war was in progress few
gllmpses Of happenings in that tremen-
dous theatre which I think belong to
every American patriot
I was informed months ago that
Second Lieutenant of the Fourth In
fantry was tine first American soldier to
cross the Marne River In the advance
on the enemy at the second battle OF
the Marine. He was accompanied by
French officer. perhaps a liaison officer
in a reconnoitre, and these two soldiers
across the river penetrated enemy terri
tory for some distance, following which
an army division acting on their report
crossed the Marine and pushed the enemy
back for six miles in one rapid stroke
Immediately after the second battle OF
the Marne all the officers Of certain
"outft" were given q pleasure or recre-
alton leave at Paris foe forly-eight
hours In recognition OF some exploit
that had brought forth a flood OF tele-
graphic and telephone congratulations
from leading Generals OF all the allied
armies in France. The OUTFIT was
prominently cited in orders from Ameri-
can headquarters and the forty-eight
hour Paris leave was regarded as not
able In that the officers favored were
said TO have been the only American
officers up to that time-probably until
the signing. OF the armistice-who had
enjoyed exception to regulation pre-
venting American officers or men from
visiting Paris except when ordered there
on military business.
/, Now an "outfit" seems TO embrace
great many kinds of units In the army.
In this instance the two young Lieuten-
ants of my acquaintance were In the
outfit. and recall the pleasure ex-
pressed to me on account OF that outing.
my correspondent explaining that II
was his first absence from the fighting
zone since he landed In France, origi-
naily with the First Division. after sail
ing from Hoboken in June. 1918. with
the vanguard of American troops.
These boys, writing about their two
day frolic In France. happened to be
with the Fourth Infantry. I do not
know whether that regiment constituted
the only outfit given recreation leave to
Paris or whether by outfit reference was
made to the entire Third Division. In
the latter event the surviving officers OF
the now famous Thirty-eighth Infantry,
recruited at Syracuse. n. Y, In June,
1917, had their we'll earned Paris outing
after the battle opposite Chateau Thierry,
In which. according to General Per-
shing's official report, they ''wrote one
Of. the most brilliant pages in the an
nails of military history"
My inquiry to THE SUN OF June as
to the identity OF the single regiment
which held the Marine opposite Chateau
Thierry. and, as General Pershing puts
It, while firing in three directions, met
tho. German attacks with counter-2t-
tacks at critical points and succeeded
In throwing two German divisions into
complete confusion, capturing 500 pris-
oners," was followed by the publication
In your newspaper OF June II last OF
detailed story of the remarkable fight
ing conduct of the Thlrty-eighth Infan-
try, Third Division, at Chateau Thierry
which drew forth the notable officia
praise OF General Pershing.
But the Fourth Infantry and two
other heroic regiments OF the Third Dl-
vision were in as violent action as the
war brought forth both in the vicinity
of Chateau Thierry and at Mezy in the
same operation.
Added to the exploits OF the Thirty
eighth Infantry was II given to the
Third Division TO furnish the first Amer
lean soldier to cross the Marine?
And what was the notable military
triumph, II my information Is correct
that gained for the officers OF a certain
outfit OF the Third Division. possibly the
whole division. the exclusive distinction
OF "shore leave" at Paris? L. D.
ST. LOUIS, August %.