The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-14
BACK The CHARGE
Officers Bear Out Statements
Made by Governor Allen.
They Say the 35th Was Without
the Proper Support.
ARTILLERY, TANKS, PLANES SHY
And Americans Suffered Big
Losses From Own Artillery.
Capt. Ralph Z. Truman Is the
Officer Who Is Heard.

Kansas City. Feb. 14.-While the
contention of Governor Henry j. AL
len of Kansas, that the 35th division
| in the battle of the Argonne received
poor artillery support; that it received
| little or no support from American
airplanes: that the wounded were
neglected and many lives needlessly
| sacrificed because of the blunder of
some one in authority had been con-
tradicted by the war department and
| the governor severely criticised for his
| staten ents, copies of orders and mes
| ages sent and received by officers of
the 140th infantry in the five days
| battle, just received in Kansas City.
bear out the statements of Governor
Allen in every respect.
Official reports by Capt. Ralph E.
Truman, intelligence officer of the
140th, who, with his men, was in the
| advance all during the fight, are cited.
| 1t was Captain Truman's duty to make
accurate observation and report gen.
| eral impressions of the day, position
/ of enemy front line. enemy order of
| battle, enemy activity, enemy aeronau-
| tics, together with miscellaneous OBJ
| servatfons supplemented by activities
| of the 14Oth infantry.
| From reports received here the reg
| iment went into action at 5:45 a. m.
September %. No casualties were re-
ported that da.-
There Was No Support
Copies of messages sent to COM
manders in the rear by Captain Tru-
| man indicate that the division resumed
| the advance as ordered at $3.50 a. M,
September ~. At $50 a. m. Captain
Truman notified the adjutant of the
10th brigade, to which the 140th was
| attached, that both the 18th and
| 140th infantries were held up by
enemy machine gun fire. The MESA ge
| concluded:
1
| support.
| An hour later another message was
| sent to the effect that the troops still
| were held up by enemy machine gun
fire. with the repeated request for ar
| tillery support. This MESA ge also
asked for tanks to clear out enemy
| machine gun nests. and the request
was repeated in another message dat
| ed at ! 10 p. m.
Tanks Slow in Coming.
| The following day, September %,
| Captain Truman reported, the advance
| began at a. m. in the face of terrific
enemy machine gun fire, one hundred
| casualties being reported in the early
| hour rush. At $50 a. m. reports show
| that the tanks, requested twenty-four
hours earlier, had arrived and were
ready to go into action. At 2:30 p. m.
| of that day the following message was
sent:
Regiment halted by terrific artillery
| Smelling and concentrated machine gun
| fire; drawing showing approximately
| our front line. There may be little
| change made during the night. We are
| thanked by artillery fire every side but
| our rear: artillery has given no
support during the attack; enemy planes
very active during the day: one squadron
| of enemy planes over position at l p.
m. They turned their machine guns on the
| men. causing some losses: fifteen planes in
\ the party. also one enemy plane flew low
l over troops all during the forenoon,
| directing the fire of artillery. We have
| suffered heavy losses in killed and
| wounded. Men are now at dressing sta
tons that We're wounded yesterday; num-
bers of men who were wounded have had
| no attention and still lying on the
ground where they fell We are short of
| ammunition. which is very badly needed
The adjutant of the regiment has been
gassed and the commanding officer has not
been since the attack started. Run
ners unable to find any trace of him.
Shells Fell Far Short.
The following day, September 20,
at 1890 p. m, Captain Truman re-
ported as follows:
Our troops started the advance on time
set. They had not the proper time to re-
organize. with the result that the organiza-
| tions were split up and confused. Our ar
tillery fell short, in many cases causing
losses to our troops. Enemy artillery very
Gus losses in regiment in killed and wound
ed. Our troops now occupy EXermont.
Another message, bearing the same
date and hour, reads:
EXermont was taken under fierce ar
tillery and machine gun fire. Our losses
were heavy in killed and wounded. Our