Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-02-17

and even by day, hundreds Of guns
We're being moved up and put In posi-
tion These guns were SO cleverly
hidden that passersby on the forest
roads could scarcely detect them. A
mile ahead Frenchmen held the front
line, while another mile farther on
were the Germans. At this time that
part of the front was very quiet and
the camp was disturbed but little by
shells and had no casualties.
On the evening of September rs the
men were ordered to strip their
packs" by which they knew they were
about to 60 into battle. The writer
was struck by the determination on
most Of their faces. 1t was certain
that the 91st was about to do itself
credit.
Early that night the units began to
move through the Hesse forest. Just
before midnight they stopped behind
the front line. In the morning the
French were to step out and the Amer
leans were not only to step in but to go
straight ahead.
East of the 91st and west of 1t other
American divisions had taken their
places similarly in long line. The
drive was to extend over 40 mile
| front. 1t was to stretch from east OF
Verdun to west of the Argonne forest
| There were some French to take part
at the east end, and at the west end
of this 40 miles, but mostly the line
was American.
| Soon after midnight on the night OF
the 25th, a wonderful artillery prepare
I ton began along the whole 40 miles
Just as hundreds of guns of immense
size, and hundreds of smaller size, lay
camouflaged behind the 91st, so other
hundreds were roaring behind each OF
the other divisions. The volume OF
sound was amazing to these boys OF
Washington. Oregon. California. Utah
Montana and the other states that con.
tributed men to this division. They
were in front of most of the guns, but
there were guns>all around them. Fo,
hours this went on, Kidding the Ger.
man positions for miles.
GAVE 'EM HE'LL.
| The hour was $50 a. m. That houl
on the 26th of September is a fatefu
one for hundreds of western parents
1t was then the 91st went over the
top, and within few days from thai
time, and within a few miles of the
Foret de Hesse, most of the men lost
! by the division in France had giver
their lives.
The writer spoke to some of the mer
of the 364th as they went in. GIVE
EN- Hell, Buddy" he said to one
group; and to another, GO get 'em
boys" you bet WILL" came the an.
swer Not, You bet we will" THAI
was the spirit with which the dough
boys went in. Each seemed to feel II
was right up to him. The faces con-
firmed it.
From September 26 to October the
91st fought magnificently. Genera
headquarters congratulated 1t in tel
egram. Many of the men were toe
brave for the good of the army; In
their absence of fear they got wounds
| not always necessary; often they
would not always take cover.
On the 4th of October the division
came out" another division relieving
it. 1t rested three days in woods
from which 1t had recently driven the
Germans. Then there was a call fol-
two regiments and the 361st and thu
Send infantry were sent, and fought
| till October 10. Meanwhile the res
of the men had been drawn back b.
slow stages to the region of Bar-le'
Due, and there the 361st and 362ne
Joined them October 10.
| The fighting of the division from
September 26 to October 13 was prin
cipally near the following villages
Cheppy, Very, Epinonville. Eclisfon
tame, Avocourt, Cierges, Gesnes ant
Charpentry. Only the best maps SHOW
these villages, which are all tiny. The.
are only a few miles apart, and rang
from IL to 25 miles west, and slight.
north of yerdun. Just to the south
1 west of the area is Varnennes; min
miles to the north is Romagne; just
the northeast edge Is Montfaucon-
these three places are shown on small
er maps.
In these villages, in the numerou
woods and thickets that lie betweel
them, in dugouts on sidehills, and II
ravines, the Germans made most de
ltermined resistance to the s1st. The.
did not send out infantry to fight, bu
posted scores Of rifle snipers and ma