New-York tribune., 1919-01-29
Splendid Achievements of
New York Troops Against
Hindenburg Line Cited
Promotion Ban Attacked
Senator Declares Order Is
sued After the Armistice
Depresses Army Morale
Ne,o York Tribune
byashirOfOu Bureon

tflbAtS 20 VIE OiU ttn New NCrH
Regiment. to the New York National
Guard as whole, and an attack on
The order of Secretary Baker prevent
ing promotions after the signing Of
the armistice were the high lights of
a speech upon the American Expedi-
tionary Force by Senator James W.
Wadsworth, of New York, in the Ser
ate to-day Mr.. Wadsworth recently
returned from an extensive visit to the
troops abroad, and ne told the Sena-
tors some of his observations while in
France.
Senator Wadsworth told how the
l0lth Infantry - the old 7th New
Nork-was cut Oft from the rest of
the army 5or two and g hall days The
regiment had advanced so fast that il
outstrlpped the other troops.
THE men, were reached by alrulanes
which dropped cartridges and chocolate
to them. vfFe=Seftsssf snid "a t the end
OF two and half days support reached
them and the action was complete
General Haig and General Rawlinson
the British Field Army commanders
showered compliments on the 27th and
30th divisions. They had achieved
what | honestly believe to be one of
the greatest feats of this war on a
comparatively small scale. which was
to attack, on q two division front.
about three miles, and shatter and
stagger the strongest German offensive
position In France. 1t resulted in q
crumbling OF that whole portion of the
German line.
Victory Cost Heavily
The action referred to began on Sep
tember 29 and lasted three days. 1t
was directed against that part of the
Hindenburg line between Cambria and
ST. Quentin. Tire American losses
were very severe, Senator Wadsworth
said.
Frankly, | do not see," he continued,
how men could have gone through
such position and come out alive
The achievement to me is astounding
think 1t would be SO to any other
civilian to see that maze Of trenches
and underground passages, acres and
acres Of barbed wire and canal itself
emerging from tunnel on the north
going toward & tunnel on the south,
which had to be crossed. Remember
that the men were subjected to a
fearful enfilading fire from their left
flank as they pushed their '-ay into
this position.
"A British division assisted upon
the right flank. also the famous 18th
Highlanders. They crossed the opcsl
on top of the hill oves the canal
and carried all the positions In
front of the canal. Their detectives
were almost three miles away from
their starting point but they reached
them on the first day. Then ersued
d terrific handto- hand contest to hold
what they had taken.
Major General Organ. commanding
the eth Division, states that in his
Judgment. had not his infantry and
machine gun units possessed that To-
cality pride, in addition to their Amer
ican pride and patriotism, that sympa-
thetic touch of elbow. that team work
that comes from long acquaintance from
men In the ranks who come from the
same town or the same street in a
great city, they could not have per
formed the task assigned TO them. He
counts IL, as | think very large num-
Der OF military men count il, vast
military asset; and it is d fact which
cannot be contradicted that the viola
tlon OF that principle and the conse-
qUent treatment of soldiers as mere
automatons who can be put into any
division, any regiment, any company,
anywhere. is a violation of the humani-
ties and Injuries the efficiency Of the
soldier.
Senators will remember that an or
der was issued Immediately after the
motions from that time on | have
never been able TO find out exactly the
reason for the order. it may have
very good reasons back of it.
Effect of Order Regrettabe
II know something Of its effect upon
the spirits of the men. It was most
regrettable. 1t had d very profound ef-
feet. Many lieutenant was command
ing a battalion in the Argonne forest.
-4j JaI 6
days and days. his own captain and his
major having been hilled or wounded he
was entitled TO some recognition in the
way Of promotion, but il was impossible
Tor MS commanding officer to make out
me suitable papers, the required papers
N the heat Of action, with men scrain-
bling through that wilderness fighting
day and night. That had TO be post
poned until the regiment or the unit
could settle down somewhere in Z quiet
place and give the commanding officer a
chance to catch up with his paper work
and send in his recommendations for
promotion.
Scores and scores of these young
men shouldered and carried rcsponsi-
bilities higher than the place which
they occupied. In scores Of cases their
commanding officers had prepared the
papers recommending them for prom o.
tion. They could not be gotten in by
November Il; but on November IL out
comes the order saying that no one
shall DC. promoted, and all the machin-
cry Of promotion was stopped"
Weeks Indorses Criticism
81 agree with the Senator from New
York" said Senator Weeks, "as 10 the
harmful effect Of that order Ycster-
day the chief of staff was before the
Military Committee TO testify IN re-
gard to a bill which has been intro
duced commissioning the men who have
been recommended before November II .
and the explanation which he made 50
me committee was that these promo
tons we're not made because there we're
no vacancies; that the army. it's size,
its officers. and everything relating TO
~ was fixed by an act Of Congress. and
y was not within the power Of the War
Department unless there we're va
eancies
i do noG undertake to say whether
tnere were or we're not vacancies in
zone particular organizations | think
that would be a technical objection to
making promotions; but do not under
stand that Il would move me in being
opposed 10 legislation which would en-
aDie those men 10 receive the promo
taon which they had earned and which
think could be done without any great
difficulty y"
81 arn freronnHo,.I., a.~...4 - -