South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-07
The Story of the First DiUiSiOn
An History of the Fighting Achievements
Compiled Under the o General
and Issued by Direction o the Department

lated the battalion on its perform
ance and awarded the CroiX dc
Guerre 10 the officers and soldiers
who distinguished themselves In re-
Polling the raid. This resulted in a
great Improvement OF the morale of
the entire command
on March II. the division made
two we'll prepared raids against the
enemy. one OF which took place at
daylight In front Of the Bots de
Romieres. and the other at dark.
against the town Of Richecourt. The
artillery Of the division was greatly
increased by the addition Of French
batteries and the raiding parties
We're so well protected by the artiI-
iery fire that they sustained no loss
"a. This taught the infantry that
they could cross No Mans land and
return, and il showed the artillery
that il had developed sufficient skill
10 support the infantry effectually.
Mutual confidence was greatly in
creased and a cordial feeling was
cemented between the infantry and
the artillery which lasted through
ont the subsequent operations Of the
division.
During its tour in the Ansauville
sector. the division captured 10 pris-
Oners. II lost I'VE officers and 81 en-
listed men killed. % officers and
PSI enlisted men wounded and gass-
ed and 10 enlisted men missing or
| prisoners.
When the German offensive to-
ward Amiens began. on March %.
Gen. Pershing offered the service of
the first division TO the French high
command. Between April and
/ April 8, the division was relieved
/ by the 26th American division It
marched 10 the vicinity OF Toul
where IL entrained and proceeded
/ 10 the GisOrs area arriving there
| between the Sth and 10th OF April
Here the first field artillery brigade
/ was Joined by Lieut. Col J. A p
/ De Chambrun of the French field
artillery. who remained with il un-
/ til the end Of May. To his superior
/ professional attainments, his domi-
nant leadership and his Jealous de-
vOtiOn 10 the American army. is due
I q large measure of the success that
attended the missions of the artil-
/ lery in the subsequent campaigns
| His technique and his methods
! greatly increased the efficiency OF
the brigade and he labored unceas-
ingly over the details Of organization
and plans for the employment Of the
: batteries. His fine poise and his ex-
tensive experience in the war in
spired confidence, and his bound
i less sympathy and cheerful fortitude
won the affection OF the entire
command. His influence shaped the
destinies of the first field artillery
brigade, and through the officers
end soldiers Of this command, il has
been helpful TO the entire American
field artillery.
I Not less distinguished and help
T full were the services Of the other
French officers who were generous
/ ly detailed by the French high COM
mand to all units of the first divi-
sion. To Capt. Crochet, the head OF
/ the French mission with the divi-
sion, the entire command was placed
under lasting obligations. His at
+ tainments as a general staff officer.
I his eYkra ordinary tactical skill and
! his quick and well balanced judg-
ment made him indispensable in the