New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-20
Kaiser's Crack
Troops Beaten
By Heroic 9th
Continued from page l

ground as long as possible and was
keeping the entire terrane covered with
artillery fire.
"The troops of the 9th Division par
ticpating in this engagement were the
105th. 106th and 10Sth Infantry Regi-
ments, and the 1O5th Machine Gun
Battalion. These units met with strong
resistance, including counter-attacks
by enemy infantry
"All objectives were taken by the
New Workers. and an advance made Of
line trenches. This placed the troops
of the 9th Division on the eastern
slope of Wytschacte Ridge.
After the capture Of Nierstaat Ridge,
Rossignol Wood. Petite Bots and Pa
team Farm. the division was withdrawn
from the line in Flanders and placed
in front of the IIindonturg Line, mid
way between Cambrai and St. Quentin.
The next battle of the division was OF
September =, with the Knoll, Guile
mont Farm and Quencmont Farm as
objectives This operation was a
Planned attack with tanks. artillery and
machine gun barrage % capture the
strong advance line of the Hlndenburg
system.
In Flanders the New York Division
had fought against the 236th, 9Th and
SD infantry divisions. 1t was now con-
fronted by the 18th, saith, 121st and
lSoth infantry divisions, as we'll as the
10Th Rifle and I'd Guard divisions. Also
in front of it were the defensves upon
which the German Empire implicitly
relied after four years of incess nnt
labor to make the line impregnable.
"The situation on September 26
was such that the front line Of the
nth DIVISIONS sector lay between 900
and LOO yards behind the front line
of the Both Division, which held the
sector on our right. The operation of
the 9th was planned to straigh:en out
the front line in our sector. The 106th
Infantry Regiment was assigned to
make the attack with all three battal-
ions in line, with the 105th and 1O6th
Machine Gun battalions furnishing a
machine gun barrage, in addition to
the rolling barrage by field and heavy
artillery.
"Mopping up parties were designated
to follow the advance. Shortly after
zero hour our barrage brought forth a
terrific retaliating fire from the enemy.
The New Workers met stubborn resist
ance along the entire line and they
had to fight every yard Of the way. In
spite of this, however, the Knoll Gull
lemont Farm and Quennemont Farm
were taken.
"Eniladng fire from the left made
the position on the knoll veritable
hell. The enemy counter attacked and
fought desperately in an attempt to
rccapture the height. At o'clock
in the afternoon word WAS received
that the Americans had been forced
TO withdraw. The New Workers quick
ly reorganized their line, however, and
at p. m. had regained possession of
the knoll in one of the bloodiest en-
gagements in the war.
Heavy fighting continued through
out the entire day in and about Guile
mont Farm and Quennemont Farm,
where isolated pockets of enemy ma
chine gun nests fired into our lines
from all sides. many Of the enemy,
coming up in the rear Of our troops
through underground passages.
Piles of German Dead
During this preliminary engage
mant three officers and @59 Germans
Of other ranks were captured. A re-
connaissance Of the battle-ground made
after the fight showed that a large
number Of enemy dead We're in the
trenches, which was eloquent OF the
sanguinary character of the fighting
The number Of the German dead neal
the knoll was enormous.
"The attack against the main defences
VI INK l1LllVENuuIS Inc lOCA place Ot
September 20. On that day nine Ger
man officers and 523 men of other
ranks were captured. The heaviest bar
rage of the war was laid down at 5: sc
IN the morning, just before dawn. The
fighting continued from that hour unit
October l without cessation, at the
end Of which time, according to experts
who had examined all battlefields dur
ing the four years Of war there were
more enemy dead in the wake of the
eth Division than had ever been seer
behind any division of the Alice
"r:nies. Also it was said that every
man Of -hc 9th Division killed in thi.
LATHE fell with his face to the enemy
0eneral Organs men performed feat
OF Valor which were indescribable
They conquered innunerabfc machin,
gun nests, walked over what was con
sidered to be lmpenetrabc forests
OF barbeI wire, and captured trenche
and pill boxes built OF concrete ant
steel and believed to be impregnable.
Performed Feats of Valor
"Tho New York division, at the yer,
point of the wedge, together witt
the 30th American Division, broke
the Hindenburg line at it's strongest
point. At times the division was max
ing both frontal attacks and wardinl
off counter attacks of the enemy
hammerlng at the divisions left flank
where the British were unable tt
come up. The battle tactics and STRAIT
egg Of General John f. Organ durinl
this battle, perhaps the most impor-
tant IN the war were marvels of in.
gcnuity, determination and militar,
foresight and knowledge, which re
suited in overcoming staggering odds
and III accomplishing a result which
/ had been attempted on five previous
occasions by other divisions without
success. Opposite the 9th Division
= during the battle were the following
enemy division: Second Guard, 282c
Infantry, oath Infantry. 1s5th Infantry
121st Infantry and 10Th Infantry.
"Ten days later the 9th Division
was again moving into the line, havin,
side-slipped to the south. It's next bi,
battle was on October II. when, again
at the point Of the wedge, the New
York division went into and capture,
the town Of st. Souplet. forded Ii
, Selle River and forged on beyond
. nigh railroad embankment, taking OF
: THIS one day 1,400 prisoners, asid
from an almost unbelievable rfumbe
t OF machine guns, railroad train con
( sisting of an engine and fourteen
coaches and large amount of othe
material.
The battle, fought in the mist o
/ the carly morning, had been precede
on October II by daylight raid an,
: PRIOR and subsequent to that time b.