The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-02-07
Said John Barrett, Reading
Messages from Pershing,
Baker and March
KEPT UP TRADITIONS
OF THEIR ANCESTORS
Mr.. Barrett Spoke at State
House in Montpelier
Last Evening T


In an address last night at the capitol
before joint session of the Vermont
legislature at Montpelier, and in response
to a special invitation extended to him
as a native son of the state (Grafton,
! Windham county,, John Barrett, direc-
tor general of the Pan American union
and former United States minister to
South America and Asiatic countries,
read direct communications which he had
| just received from General Pershing, com
manding the American expeditionary
forces, Secretary of War Baker and Gen
eral March, chief of staff, commenting
upon the records Of Vermont and New
England forces overseas
Although the main theme Of Director
General Barretts remarks was THE New
Pan-Americanism and What 1t Means to
Vermont and New England" he paid spe-
eial tribute to the splendid achievements
of the Vermont and New England boys
on the firing line in France and urged
that each state should erect noble per
manent memorials in honor of those who
sacrificed their lives in the war.
General Pershing's Message.
Under date of "Great Headquarters,
American Expeditionary Forces, Feb. 9"
General John J. Pershing cabled Director
General Barrett as follows;
Replying to your cabegram, it gives
me pleasure to send You a message about
Vermont and New England troops Brief
ly 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 Of
'76 has been theirs. They have played
their full part in the splendid achieve
ment Of American arms on the battlefield
and in the supporting services"
Secretary Bakers Statement.
On the same date Honorable Newton
d. Baker, secretary OF war, wrote Mr.
Barrett as follows:
Il have just received your note of the
first.
The 26th, or New England, division
includes the l02d regiment Of infantry,
the l0lst, l02d and l03d machine gun
battalions. In each of these organiza-
tlons there are compouents of the old LIST
Vermont. In order, therefore, to have
any adequate appreciation of the services.
rendered by the Vermont soldiers in this
war it is necessary TO follow the fortunes
of the 10Th division, which went into the
line on July Is and fought at Chateau
ThierTy, Torcy and Beleau woods. In
September this division occupied the left
Of the American army in the attack on
Saint Mihiel, and closed the gap between
the two American attacking wedges, cut
ting off the right of the Germans at mid
night of the first day Of that battle I'm.
mediately after the Saint Mihiel victory.
the 26th was moved into the line east Of
the Meuse, where it remained in active
combat until the signing Of the armi-
stice. With the LIST and the I'd regular
army divisions, and the ADD, or Rainbow
division, the Goth is numbered, they be.
ing considered the first four veteran di-
visions of our great American expedition
airy forces and ! would be glad to have
the people Of New England know that
their division, the first of the National
Guard troops to embark overseas, bore
itself with distinction and galantry. and
that IL contributed on every battlefield 10
Americas real participation in the fight
ing and the unbrokeu success of our
arms
General Marchs Statement.
General Peyton c. March, chief of staff
provided Mr. Barrett with the following
summarized chronological statement of
such activities of these troops rs are now
available in the war department"
THE Vermont troops were incorporat-
ed into the Goth division, the members
being distributed through the l0lst ma
chine gun battalion, l02d machine gun
battalion, l02d infantry regiment, l03d
machine gun battalion, l0lst ammunition
train, and the j7th Pioneer infantry regi,
ment
October s, 1917, division headquarters
left Boston October 81, 1917, arrived at
L. S, p. 0. No. 700, training area No, ?.
Artillery at Coetquidan for training. Di-
vision trained intensively in these areas
until early part of February. February
s, 1918, entrained for front. Spent one
month of trench instruction north of
Scissors with headquarters at Couvrelles
Division was placed with the French 18th
army corps.
March is. 1918, withdrawn to Bar
Sur Aube, March q, 1918, upon compile
tion Of months tour, ordered to line
northeast of foul to assist in the emer-
gency. Division headquarters at Reynel
In this sector the division held a portion
of the line usually assigned to two di.
visions. Was attacked twice by picked
troops,
april lO-ll, 1918, the lO4th was at
tackled in the forest of Apremont, April
20.2l, 1918, the lO2d infantry was at
tackled at Seicheprey. Both attacks were
repulsed. From this date until June 30
the 26th division held the Toul sector,
with more or less activity on both sides
About July 7 moved to the Marine
front. July II, 1918, SD brigade Of goth
attacked and took Torcy and Belleau.
July 10, 1918, whole division attacked,
reaching Bots d'Etrepilly.
July %. 1918 withdrawn for rest.
Month of August resting. First part of
September ordered to line at st, Mihiel.
September 10, 1918, en- line near st.