The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-05
TOLD OF The 18Th
Martin Traces Division From
DOniphan to the Argonne.
Men Did Not Like Connection
With British, He Says.

The history of the 35th division,
until the battles of St: Mihie1 and the
Argonne was traced Tuesday night by
Brig. Gen. Charles I. Martin, speaking
before the COOPERATIVE club.
After landing in Liverpool the di-
vision was sent to a rest camp at
Winchester, but in a few days was
moved across the English channel,
landing at La Harve, France. From
that point they were brigaded with the
British 90th division, unit that went
into action $4,000 strong. But at the
time the 35th was sent to them back
of the British lines they mustered only
a strength of 500 men. Here, says
General Martin, they were introduced
to the peculiarities of the British drill
sergeants and also to the English
mess, the latter an experience not at
all to the liking of the boys from the
middlewest. AS they were to be
brigaded with the British to facilitate
transportation of supplies and ammu-
milton, they were compelled to turn in
their beloved Springfield rifles and
were issued the British Enfield, longer
and heavier than their own gun. All
extra equipment was taken up and
they were left only with actual neces-
stiles. But when the lads We're \told
that after they wore out the uniforms
they were wearing they would be is
sued British uniforms, many of them
were seen sneaking back to the
clothes dump to cut buttons off the
discarded uniforms, saying that they
might make them wear British uni
forms but they would have United
States buttons.
We're Widely Scattered.
They left the British soon for train
ing quarters at Eu where they were
Let in Xyi1l1 oil he
neceSSitated a forty mile ride each
day, the general says, to visit all of his
PLANTATIONS.
Besides military training. the boys
studied French. by the heart route.
They catered to the small children.
then they helped the old folks with
the chores, then --"Ooo-la-la Ia" they
stepped out with the daughter of the
family. Nothing new in this, says
General Martin, the same stuff is used
in the United States, working equally
we'll either place.
| General Martin predicts the use of
many French idioms and slang phrases
which will creep into general use with
the return of the young soldiers.
| N'est-ce pas, means is it not" and
| CONNIE. is equivalent to what but
"Ooo-1a-la" is in q class by itself and
when the boys leave France it may be
| that they will find American express
sion more useful.
First war IN tOSgeS.
The first taste of warfare came in
| the Vosges mountains, according to
| the general 1t was a hard sector to
| operate on account of the difficulty of
| keeping up the line of supplies. Rail
ways, trucks, overhead trans, mules
and finally the back of the men them
selves were used in bringing up the
needed material.
Among incidents of bravery men
toned, General Martin spoke of the
! exploit of Corporal Rid1on, formerly
| city salesman for ZercheFs, who pene-
| trated back of the German lines one
night, stayed out all day and returned
the next night. The 35th took No
| Mans land away from the boche and
made it United States territory. They
put a flag up on a building in front
| of their lines and maintained it until
they left the sector, taking the flag
with them for fear the relieving divi-
| sion might lose it.
General Martin did not say much
| about the action at St Mihiel, but did
say that nothing could compare with
| the morale and determination of the
| citizen soldiers who, came from their
| homes for a big, distasteful job and
yet one they intended to finish as soon
/ as possible.
The general closed his talk with the
| 35th division marching at night up
| to the Argonne forest.