The Washington times., 1919-09-17


together, and for the last time today
row, they will march together.
There's been a proud record Of sue
cessful achievement 1t began more
than two years ago now. when few
chosen units. hastily gathered and
rushed 10 New York. quietly boarded
a transport and slipped down the har-
Der. out to sea. toward France.
Within a few days the First Divi-
sion as a unit will cease to exist. But
the story OF what the men OF the
First did will live long after those
who made 1t have fought the last bat
tie and are forgotten.
For II IS a history written In the
blood OF 26,352 officers and men. Il
Is a record for which 1850 men and
zoe officers paid the supreme sacrifice
in the making. 1t Is q monument 70
the living and a memorial to those
who sleep over there.
Every United Deeorated.
When this division marches down
Pennsylvania avenue today be-
hind General Pershing. the streaming
battle flag Of every unit WIN bear
the Croix de Gusrre Of France This
First DiviBion-the first In France,
FIRST to fght, first to Gre a shot at the
Germans. first to attack, lrst to con.
duct a raid, hrst 20 be raided ,hrst
to capture prisoners, first to inhict
casualties first to sufer casualties,
frst to be cited singly in general or
ders, first In number Of division, corps
and army commanders and general
stan officers graduated from.its ranks
Is a lighting division with q hghting
history. It's the Regular Army First.
The medals and decorations worn
by the men OF the division were gain
ed in the sectors in which they
fought-AnsauVille, Cantigny. Sois-
sons, Saizerais, St. Mfhiel, heuse-Ar-
gonne. Mouson. and Sedan. Today
there are 2 Medals OF Honor, 426 ID.
S. C.'s, 8 d. s. Ms. 5 Commander OF
the Legion OF Honor, ? officer OF the
Legion OF Honor, "a Chevalier Of the
Legion Of Honor, 80 Medal MilitaiFe.
Al Croix de Guerre, Commander OF
the Order OF the Crown OF Belgium,
Knights OF the Order OF Leopold Of
Belgium. Belgian Croix de Guerre,
? British decorations, and 10 Italian
decorations worn by the men OF the
First
The division, landing In France In
early 1917. was reorganized.
Trained with French.
The infantry Of the First was train
ed with French infantry and the ar
tillery with French artillery, ard the
officers OF both arms testified CRATE
fully 70 the splendid instruction giV-
en- them by their allies. It's prelimi-
nary training once over. the division
entered the SommerVilIier sector. in
Lorraine. where Il got its frst taste
OF practical warfare while grouped
with units OF the Eighteenth French
division. The infantry was rafded BY
the enemy the frst night of their en-
try into the sector, sustaining their
first casualties.
Next the First was assembled in the
Grondecourt area, where II endured
an unusually cold winter until the
middle OF January. 1918. while it was
undergoing its final training. Il
then relieved the First Moroccan Di-
vision in the Ansauyille sector, north
OF Toul. For a time the French
troops remained. IN order that the
Americans might have time to orient
themselves before they assumed the
entire responsibility Of the sector. On
March I the enemy made &c raid
against the Bois de Romiers. The
Third Battalion OF the Eighteenth
Infantry repulsed- the raid. taking
four prisoners and allowing none to
the enemy. General Passage con-
graduated the battalion and awarded
the Croix de Guerre to the officers
and soldiers who had distinguished
themselves.
Suffers First Losses.
The division carried out two raids
ten days later, one at daylight in
front Of the wood and the other at
dark against the town Riechcourt-
French batteries assisted the diVis-
ions own artillery. and the barrages
were so excellent that the raiders suf-
fered no losses.
During its tour in the AnsauviIle
sector the division took ten prisoners
and lost five Officers and fifty-one
men killed, besides numerous wound
ed. When the Germans started their
drive toward Amiens, Pershing offer
ed the services OF the First to the
French high command. II was sent to
the GisOrs area, where II received q
few days training in open warfare,
and then marched toward the battle
line in front Of Montdidier, where il
relieved the Forty-hfth African d.
vision.
Sueeessful Attack.
At daylight on May 2s, after intense
artillery preparations and preceded
by a rolling barrage. the Twenty
eighth moved forward, accompanied
by French tanks. on a front OF 200
meters, and penetrated to an extreme
depth OF 1000 meters. The attack
was completely successful, the en-
tire garrison of the town being killed
o. captured. Two hundred and
twenty-five prisoners were taken and
2T5 dead were counted in Cantigny
alone. Losses in the actual operation
were light, but they became serious
during the hours OF consolidation, for
the enemy shelled heavily the posi-
tiOns from which il had ben ousted
Many counter attacks were repulsed.
Recalled To SOIssOns.
In July the First went to Beauvais.
for training in open warfare, but al
most Immediately the enemy launched
an offensive in the Marne salient. and
pioneer division started
moving eastward at night toward the
front south Of scissors.
At 4:S5 on the morning OF the
18th, with only six minutes OF artil-
lery preparation, the infantry ad-
yanCed, accompanied by French tanks
and preceded by a thin. rolling bar
rage, the enemy was completely sur
prised, and the infantry pressed rap
idly on TO the plain which law south
Of scissors. By the end of the first
lay the First infantry brigade. on the
right, had gained six kilometers and