Omaha daily bee., 1919-09-14
First Division of A. E. F. Was Only American
Division Singly Cited by Gen. J. J. Pershing;
Allied and German Leaders Praise u. S. Men
High Rank Sincere Tribute Unit and Tells OF High
Efficiency Moral of Outfit Week Captured 4O7 Prs
oners and Numerous Machine Guns


anu SCOT6S.
The First Division has the distinc-
ton Of being the only American
division In France which was cited
singly in general orders by General
Pershing. The order followss
G. H. Q.
American Expeditionary Forces.
general orders.
No. 20l. France, Nov. 10, 1918.
|. The commander in chief de-
sires to make of record in the gen.
! eral orders of the American expedi-
tionary forces his extreme satisfac-
ton with the conduct of the Of
fcers and soldiers of the First divi-
sion in its advance west of the
Meuse between October 4 and II,
1918. During this period the divi-
sion gained a distance of seven kilo-
meters over a country which pre-
sented not only remarkable facili-
ties for enemy defense but also
great difficulties of terrain for the
operation of our troops.
2. The division met with resist
ance from elements of eight hos
! tile divisions, most of which were
completely rested. The enemy chose
to defend its position to the death,
and the fighting was always of the
most desperate kind. Throughout
the operations the officers and men
of the division displayed the high
est type of courage, fortitude and
self-sacrificing devotion to duty. In
addition to many enemy killed, the
division captured 1,407 Of the enemy,
IS II nm. field guns, 10 trench NOR
tars, and numerous machine guns
and stores.
3. The success of the division in
driving deep advance into the
enemy's territory enabled an assault
to be made on the left by the neigh
boring division against the north
eastern portion of the Forest of Ar
gonne, and enabled the First divl-
sion to advance to the right and out
flank the enemy's position in front
of the division on that flank.
4. The commander-in-chief has
noted in this division special pride
of service and high state of NOR
ale, never broken by hardship or
battle.
S. This order will be read to all
organizations at the first assembly
formation after its receipt.
BY command of
GENERAL PERSHING:
JAMES w. McANDRES,
Chief of Staff.
Official:
ROBERT C. DAVIS,
Adjutant General.
The letters of commentator, cita-
tions, etc, from the American high
command, the French, neighboring
divisions, the British and from 9TH
er sources are so numerous that
they can only be mentioned in pass
ing. However, a letter of appre-
ciation from Maj. Gen. Lajeune,
commanding the Second division, is
given below as we'll as the opinion
of German officer on the lighting
abilities of this division.
Letter from General Lajeune.
Headquarters Second Division
(Regular)
American Expeditionary Forces.
France, November 2, 1918.
From: Commanding general, Sec
ond division.
To: Commanding general, First
division.
Subject: Expression Of Apprecia-
ton for assistance rendered by
the First Field Artillery
Brigade, First Division.
/. The success of the attack of
the second division on November
|, 1918, was largely due to the eft.
ficient and energetic cooperation OF
the First Field Artillery Brigade,
First division. 1t is requested that
the aforementioned organization
be informed of the high apprecia-
ton of the Second division of its
valuable assistance.
Major General, u. S. M. {.
The following is statement made
bv captured enemy field officer of
high rank concerning the First di-
vision, which was published to the
division within five hours of the
officer's> capture, and is sincere
tribute to the First divisions:
yesterday I received orders to
hold the ground at all costs. The
American barrage advanced toward
nv position and the work of your
artillery was marvellous. The bar
rage was so dense that it was i'm
possible for us to move out of our
dugouts. Following thi. barrage
closely were the troops of the First
division. I saw them forge ahead
and knew that all was lost. All
night I remained in my dugout, hop.
ing vainiy that something would
happen that would permit me to
reioin my army This morning your
troops found me and here l am,
after four years Of fighting, pris-
oner,
YESTERDAY I knew that the First
division was opposite US, and knew
that we would have to put up the
hardest fight of the war. The First
division is wonderful, and the Ger
many army knows it. We did not
believe that within five years the
Eina Thin oe