The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31
VAN OF FIRST
BACK TO MARCH
WITH PERSHING
Five Stars and 1,400 Cita-
tions Return With Fa-
nous Division.
5000 RETURN IN DAY
Rest Are Expected to Be in
City in Time to Take
Part in Parade.

The First Division, the last big
lighting unit to be retained In the
Army of Occupation on the Rhine,
having a total of 21,sOo officers and
men. is being brought back TO America
for rehabilitation, which will take
place after the parades here on Sep
tember 10 and In Washington a. week
later. Yesterday eight transports ar
lived from Brest with almost 5000
members OF the division. Another
transport, the Freedom, is scheduled to
dock September 8, and the various
ether ships bringing the remaining
members Of the division will arrive
within the next FIVE or six days.
On the Orizaba, which arrived at
Hoboken in the morning. was the first
unit Of the division. including Major
Gen. Edwin r. McGlachlin. COM
rander, and forty officers. They went
Immediately to headquarters. which
have been established at the Hotel
Biltmore, to begin arrangements for
the reception to Gen. Pershing when
he arrives September s. Enlisted men
On the Orizaba Of the Twenty-eighth
Infantry and First Engineers num-
bered 1922. Col Adolphe Huguet is
In command of the former unit, hav-
Ing been transferred to 1t on Decem-
Der 10,
Several ships Bring Men.
Ten officers and thirty enlisted men
landed shortly afterward from the Pas
torres The Peerless brought Il officers
and II men the Iowan 81 officers and
sra men; the Santa Marta 36 officers,
541 men and IL welfare workers; the
Leonora As officers and 34e men. and
the Graf waldersee ZIG officers. 1,421
men and 147 civilians.
The First Division was the first con-
tingent of American troops sent to
France and the first to fire shots. artil-
lery and infantry, at the Germans. Orig
inally IT was composed OF regulars, but
through displacement caused by casual
ties chiefly only about $500 Regular
Army soldiers remain in It's ranks. 1t
is said that its history, now being pre-
pared by Major Charles S. Coulter.
practically will be complete history of
the war. in so far as America was con-
cerned In 1t. for the unit. in whole or
part, was IN every important battle
fought by the A z. F.
In compliance with Geographic in
structions from Washington May 81,
1917, the division was organized on the
border, being made up OF the Sixteenth
Eighteenth. Twenty-sixth and Twenty
eighth Infantry regiments Of United
States Regulars, who then were patrol
ing the Mexican frontier.
The unit was hurried to Hoboken fol
embarkation. Arriving at st. Nazairt
June rs to %. 1t was transferred tc
Gondrecourt. the first training area main
tained by the United States. 1t was II
the Luneville sector, where the Ameri
can troops were sandwiched in between
French. that the first shot of the A. E
f. was fred. This was by a gun o.
Battery c, Sixth Artillery. Major Nc
Clendon-at the time a Lieutenant-wa,
in command. The next day an infantry
company got in its first shot. At abou
the same time eleven German prisoners
were taken by Company F 81 the Six
teenth Infantry.
The division went into action in tn,
Toul sector in December and followed
up at Ansauville, Cantigny, Montdidier
the Noyon defensive. the Aisne-Msus'
offensive. the defense of the saizerai
sector-in August. 191s-the st. Mihie
nHanStra txvir In he A.
gonne. At the time OF the armistice !
was on the march to Sedan.
The First Division has been com
manded in turn by Major-Gen. William
n. Sibert, who took 1t over: by Major
Cen, now Lieut.-Gen., Robert Lee Bull
lard, who assumed command In July
1918; Major-Gen. Charles p. Summerall
by Brighten, Frank Parker and Major
Gen. Edward +. McGlachlin, Jr Gen
Summerall took the division through al
OF its hard fghting until October 1915
and Gen. Parker carried 1t through tn
Argonne and on its march to Sedan. 1t
last commander has been in charge sine
the signing Of the armistice.
Five stars are worn on the victor,
ribbons by its members, a star each 10
Luneville, Seicheprey. Montdidier, Can
tigny and scissors. Major Coulter sal
yesterday that from January Is. 1915
~ tNoNeHiper II no element OF the di
vision was out OF the fighting for NOR
than six days aud practically the entir
personnel was on the firing line for tn
whole Of that period. According to Gen
McGlachlin the total casualties of tn
division amounted to 26.332 out of e.
original organization OF about $500
men.
Training in France.