The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-05-28
EIGHTIETH DIVISION
(cont1uued Prom Page ren-)

their achievement in erecting the bTdSc
across the FORCES At Bethincourt on
September 26. which bridge was cotnpieC-
ed within three hours after the aSSaulI-
ing infantry had taken the town oS
means Of this crossing not only the d.
tillery and supply columns or the SUN
but Of tho 33rd and +th Divisions on 10
right and left, respectively were aoie "
20 forward in the general rush 1hoSe
who were present can hardly imagine
what would have resulted TO the sra
corns had not Colonel SpaldinE and the
sosth engineers by their unusual EFFORTS
opened up the roads and cleared the way
for the congested traffic which threat
ened at the outset to halt the entire al
vance- The problem which they SolEcu
was an appalling one, and undouoteul1
enabled the whole advance TO proceed.
The care Of the wounded was under 'ne
direction OF Colonel Thomas l.. RhoaoS'
who vas the division surgeon. he h'u
at his disposal the S05th sanitary TRAM
which maintained ambulance colIeC''"e
and dressing stations far 10 the i1r"N
and we'll equipped field hospitals as lar
forward as it was practicable 10 ''Ne
them The wounded received proHp'
and careful attention. 1t may be saieiE
- stated that no man OF the SOth pl'isot'
,rho ,p,s ~ all accessible to the Stretcher
heorers laid out on the battlefield over
night. In addition 10 caring Tor inc
sounded Of the SOth Division. the oV0'n
sanitary train evacuated thousands eA
rner of other divisions through their es-
Establishments, thus saving many nun
dreds OF American lives Colonet Nno"u9
services were recognized and ne " as az
yanced to corps surgeon. ana sh"t' ~
afterward to the office OF cher SURGEON
Of tho First American Army.
To the sO5th Field Signal Battalion
under the command Of Major Thomas l.
King. Is due the thanks or the otH's vi
FOR the efficient manner in ~hich tte'
maintained the line OF communicable
with the front line.
On October 10 the division had Deen
transferred from the 3rd to the As.
Amy Corps, and on the 2Srd II ~ae
ordered forward to the vicinity OF Les
Islettes, where it remained until Ihe
3oth concealed in the woods fLne
weather prevailed and every available
hour was utilized 10 train the troops
in the use OF their new arms ana 10
break in the requirements.
Many changes had occurred In the
division. Shortly before its RELIEF from
the front line on October IL. Generai
Jamerson had sustained. a severe accl-
dent which compelled his absence from
the division in hospital until arer, the
armistice. Over the 159th Brigade me
division commander now exercised dl-
rect command. through the brigade ao-
jutant. Lieutenant Colonel L. \. Fn
chanan. Colonel Jones and Licutenan'
Colonel Kellar had succeeded Colonies
Eofrilow and Perry in command OF the
slSth and 3l7th Infantry. respectively.
The services Of Lieutenant Colonel kel-
lar had been especially brilliant during
the fghting from October A.. and
earned his advancement 10 the rank or
colonel.
The mission OF the S0th Division on
the first day OF the attack was 10 seize
the high ground north OF Sivry-le-Gu-
Fancy. advancing between ENcrme Mt,
FleSilie. Sommauthe and st. Georges
on the right. and Apremont. Chatel
Chehery. Cornay. Buzancy Nnclustve),
and ST. Pierremont GcXclusive) on the
left. The enemy hold very strong
position with its front line roughly a
few hundred yards south Of ST. Jurtn
and st. Georges.
The division marched % kuometcrs
through the Argonne forest on october
30 and 81. and relieved the send D:vi-
sion along he line OF ST., Georges 81.
Juyin, Its own artillery had continued
in the line with the 3rd Corps when *
was. relieved. SO that TO IL was how
attached tho 18th Field Artillery Brig
ade OF the send Division. re-Nnforced by
two American and ten or more French
batteries.
Again the Issth brigade. General
Brett commanding. was selected &c
make the ASSAULT while tho i59th Brig
ade was held IN reserve near Chche7y.
On November I. at $50 a. m. are,
an artillery preparation OF unprcdcntet
p intensity which lasted two hours, the
3i9th and 32oth Infantry. each in col
urfon OF battalions. on the right ana
left. respectively. advanced 70 the as
sault behind the rolling barraSc. II
liason with the End Division OF the 5tt
Corps on tho right and the nth D!yi
sion on the left.
Tho 319th infantry advanced rapid,
and by nightfall had reached a point OF
tho Buzancy-Bayonville road north O
In1ecourt. where connection with III,
Second division was established. On tn,
left OF tho division heavy machine gu,
and artillery fire had been encountered
from tho Ravtnc aux PirrreS and tn
S20t hinfantry had been unable 70 pres!
beyond Alliopont. or 10 keep abreast O.
the 319tk. The center and left division!
of the crops made no progress. so tina
the only advance made on November Is
by the First Corps was made by tn,
SOth division.
In front OF the corps tho enemy re
manned in n wood which barred the pro
greSs nf tho whole corps line beyond th
319th' infantry. Tho independent action
OF tho Snth division command alone en-
ablHd tn" difficulty TO be overcome
During tho night Of the first il was ar
ranged that tho 3l9th infantry. which
had made a splendid advance 70 tel
north Of tho hostile position mentioned
should deliver flank attack upon it d!
rectly 10 the west on tho following day
This was don" at six a. m. and was com
!. plctely successful The 320th infantr,
then advanced from All;cpont practic
ally without resistance. SO that Nerpc
and ThcrorgicS wer" reached during tn
2 morning. Several hours later the I'll
dirisiong>and on its loft tho 18th 2l
\ vision. moved up abreast OF tho SHth.
! \ Rut while tho division commander hat
undertaken Of mis- own initiative to SWEEP
the front on the left by a flank attack
he had nor proposed to delay the ad
vance on the right and thus fall bchint
the Second division. During tho nigh
Of tho first ne had ordered the 31Ttl
infantry forward from reserve and ol
a tho second at 1n:i5 a. m. IL advanced {
4 the attack. The strong position OF Blu
zancv was carried and before night Of
the 2nd the line was established mort
Of tho town.
Tho action Of tho S0th division on thi
occasion was n brilliant one indeed. an
F,,lI,. percSjVirC tho affect IL had haG