The north Mississippi herald., 1919-06-20

appfeciated Dy General Hines, who
was in charge of the artillery in the
american Expeditionary Forces.
Ready for Front
As have stated the 14Oth did not
participate in any engagement in the
war, but let me say that this was not
because the regiment was not ready
ana anxious to do so. Immediately
after landing at Brest and passing
through the camp where hardships
were endured that were as bad or
worse than those of the Civil War the
regiment was sent to its brigade
training area at Coetquidan. The
course was completed in record time.
the officers qualifying rapidly. Only
fone officer failed and the brigade
s.abieEl, fired as sort of gradua-
ton test, was declared one of the
best ever fired in France.
AT this time the American and the
French troops were being concen-
trated for what was to be the biggest
battle in the worlds history. Metz
was to be taken. It was no small
task, no childs play that was contem-
plated. To capture Metz was to di-
vide the Germans, to cut off their
army from the Rhine and force its
capltulation. But Metz ancient city
OF Alsace, dear to the French as part
of their country, was and is one of
the strongest fortified cities in Eu-
rope. The German high command
recognized this fact, knew full well
its stragetic Importance and it was
not to be expected that the Boche
would part with it without first en-
acting to the fullest the toll Of dead
and dying the Allies must pay for its
capture.
General Pershing realized too that
to take Metz was to end the war, to
crafty the cherished hope of every
man in Khaki and put the boys in Ho-
boken by Christmas-Metz must fall.
To that end the stage was set and on
November IA, the bombardment was
to commence. As army artillery
motorized and to be used at those
points where quick, effective firing
would count for the most, the 14Oth
was to play its role in the greatest
dramatic spectacle the world has
known-But the God of battles will
ed otherwise, the Germans realized
that they had come to their JOURNEYS
end, that the only way to escape
crushing defeat was to surrender.
Their master mind demanded of the
Kaiser an armistice, their envoys
were instructed to make the best
terms possible but to bear in mind
that no matter how severe the armis-
tlce trems might be they must be
signed. And because the Germans.
up against decisive military defeat,
had the good sense to quit, this reQi-
ment was denied its greater oppor-
tunity..
/ But wherever it has been called up
on to serve the men and officers of
the outfit and typified the best there
is IN the American Army; they have
worked day after day without COM
plant and coming back to civil life
each man can say that he has lived
up to the noblest ideals of the Ameri-
can soldier.
No Officers Court Martialled
One Of the things that must prove
gratifying to the commanding officer
and to every officer of the regiment
| Is the fact that during its career in
the army not an officer of the 14Oth
has been court martialed nor have
any of them been guilty of conduct
that reflected upon themselves or
their regiment.
Only one officer failed to grasp
the various details of artillery techni-
que and was separated from the regi-
ment. Four officers asked for dis
charges, after the armistice and re-
ceived them. Only one Of these was
"a Mississippian; this officer, one Of
the original officers of the regiment,
was man Of advanced years, during
his sojourn in France he had lost q
child and was certainly justified in
wanting to return to his interests.
Low Death Rate
While comparative figures are NOT
available, as this j. written, the COM