The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-12

cast on any particular division. He
warns that the average divisional his
torian is prone to tell what the sur
rounding divisions did not do rather
than to what his own division did,
thus seeking to account for his d.
Visions heavy losses or even why they
did not advance father than they did.
In the confusion of a fight, the divi-
sional officer is so busy keeping track
of his own division that he can pay
no attention to the divisions on either
flank, certainly not to the extent OF
ascertaining why they did or did not
advance. he declares.
Nine divisions gave a vigorous shove
on the door of the Argonne" which
some enthusiasts credit the 35th with
opening. When the drive started on
the morning of September %, the 35th
with the 2Sth and nth divisions
formed the First corps, and they faced
one of the strongest sectors in the
Hindenburg line. The 35th was en-
tirely in the open. In the first line
were the 18th regiment, on the left,
and the 13Sth on the right. For five
hours preceding the zero hour the
artillery had poured an inferno of
steel and explosives into the German
lines.
The Americans advanced under a
dense fog, crossed the supposedly i'm
pregnable Hun trenches and captured
Vauquois hill, one of the strongest
positions between Verdun and the
Aisne, and against which the French
had beat in vain since 1914. Oppos-
ing the 35th at different stages were
the pick of the German troops, COM
manded by Prince Eite1 Frederick,
son of the late kaiser
Credit Where 1t Belongs.
The line advanced nearly three
kilometers before the German resist
ance began to have any effect. The
village of Verennes, on the left of the
18th, and Cheppy, on the left of the
13Sth, were strongly defended, but
the two famous regiments, halted for
a short time only, wiped them up and
passed ON. Credit is given the 95th
for the capture of Varennes before the
2Sth division came up, for it was really
in the 2Sth's sector Several hundred
prisoners and large number of guns
were captured in the two villages,
when the order came to dig in for the
night. The 10th brigade, composed of
the 140th and the 139th regiments.
had followed close behind, but had
not been in the first days fight, but
now advanced to relieve the 69th
brigade and take the lead in the next
days struggle. During the first day
the 18th was commanded by Col.
Clad Hamilton, of Topeka, who was
later evacuated during the fight. The
35th had broken the Hindenburg line
and made an advance of six kilometers
into the enemy's ground.
The division headquarters was now
moved forward to Cheppy and with
such an advance it was necessary to
get the artillery up to cover any fur
Their advance. The first days advance
had been across mo Mans Land"
where no roads crossed and the single
available road was in the 2Sth's sec
tor, coming into Varennes from the
south. Two mines had been exploded
on this road, leaving craters 100 feet
across. For miles the road was
damned with lines of trucks and wag-
ons, carrying material, food and am
munitiop, waiting to get across, while
from the north came long lines of
ambulances carrying wounded. And
in this road, choked to impassability,
the artillery was endeavoring to move
forward. Only the 129th artillery is
credited with getting across but the
heavy guns succeeded in laying a
strong fire down on the Germans. es-
pecialIy their artillery, which was in
fIicting terrible losses on the Ameri-
cans.
Had to Go On.
Altho the impossibility of the ar
tillery getting across before late next
morning was seen, there came imper-
alive orders for the last corps to adj
vance in order to keep up with the
general attack all along the line of the
Argonne drive. The 139th and the
140th advanced on the second day.
After hard fighting the latter took
Hill 21S. The 18th cut its way up the
valley to the outskirts of Charpentry.
village on the side of a towering
hill. and there was halted. All that
day the village held out, the 18Th
paying a toll of officers and men every
minute and it was not until dusk that
another attack, with the assistance of
nine French tanks. was successful.
Altho the men had fought thru the
night, were exhausted and had suf
fered heavy casualties, the order was
gwen to move forward again at $50
and the third days fight began. The
18th and 140th resumed the attack.
1t was on this day that Col. Clad Ham
ilton was evacuated. Many COM
panies had lost all their officers. Lieu
tenants were commanding battalions
The repeated attacks in the woods in
the fog and darkness had resulted in
much confusion and intermingling of
units. The 18th regiment was again
in the line and out in advance on the
left. The Germans in Chatel Chehery
rained a murderous fire upon them
and they were forced back, leaving
the 18Th and 140th exposed. The