Arizona republican., 1919-06-10
GAME BUNCH 1T. MEN, ARE BOYS 0F THE 340TH"
Arizona's Representatives
 In the Artillery Made Rec
 ord In France That Was Not Beaten in Whole Army

Captain J. w Getsinger, battal-
 ion headquarters, First battalion Of
 the 940th field artillery, is the son
 of B. w. Getsinger of Phoenix, who
 just returned from France and is
 home on leave
 He entered the first officers
 training school at the PreSidiO in
 May. 1917, and was graduated with
 the rank of second lieutenant. His
 promotions came in France as the
 result of his services with his regi-
 ment He was promoted to first
 lieutenant in November, 1918, and
 was made captain in March, 1919.
 after all promotions had been
 stopped. as the result of recommen-
 dations made before the stop order
 was issued.
 The 340th field artillery was the gamest bunch of men it has ever been my pleasure to be associated with, ? said Captain J. W. Getsinger to a Republican representative yesterday. They had the spirit and the pep, and they wanted to go all the time. They made record to be proud of, a record in camp on this side. on the way over, in front line service and on the way home. They have been a model out fit, game to the core. as true AriZonans should be.
 Artillery does not have the oppor- tunity to get the medals and do the spectacular things the infantry and other arms of the service have, but they are johnny on the spot with the heavy work. We were on the front eight weeks, going into the St. Mihiel d,-ix ha z and helping to finish up that good job
 Kept Fritz Worried
 Then it was the duty of the 340th and their 75's to keep Fritz busy and worried in that sector by continually threatening Metz. Many of the main German lines of communication rar parallel with the front from Metz, and they were worried for fear we were going to come over and get them. We kept dropping shells in their roads and making things lively in general, and keeping them guessing as to what was going to happen next
 We did not go to the Argonne, we stayed there and made things inter esting for the Germans. On October 25 we put on big show to make the Boches think we were starting an at- tack there and hold the four divisions they had in Metz while the boys LII the line were getting ready and start | ing the big battle of the Argonne. After they got going good it was too latt | for the Germans to send the re-en. forcements from Metz, and our objec was accomplished. We fired contin. ually at full speed for II hours tha- time, which comes pretty close tt breaking a lot Of records.
 Under Constant Fire
 From the time the regiment got t, 1 the front they were under constan i shell fire, but they sent back all the, l received and with usurious interest. Il 1 fact, they made things so hot for tn enemy that they took notice of it, an, whenever they moved, the enemy com nunications warned the sector wher they had gone that bad outfit wa opposite them.
 All preparations had ben made fo a drive on MeIz when the armistice in terrupted the game. Replacement had been made ready for re-enforce ments and orders had been received t move forward on the 11th, the day 0 the armistice. One battalion had move forward a couple kilometers and tn rest were aching to go.
 | Ofdlnaflly the men were not al lowed to fire the guns as fast as the could and would like to, for the yer good reason that they would burn u the 75s in short time
 A TO- Second Record
 But when word came to cease firin at Il sharp, they were turned loose fo 50 seconds. The whole regiment wa turned loose at 10:59, and ceased firin at 10: 59:50. ten seconds before the al mistice, to give the last shell ten sec onds to say hello to Fritz.
 Tt was some artillery fire The me worked like well-oiled machines. Tn way the 75s work, they recoil after tn charge is fired. So expert were til gunners that they would have tt breech open before the barrel reache the end of it's recoil, have a fresh she in before it was back in firing position and had to wait to pull the lanyard T. til it was fully back.
 The crew of Battery E fired rounds in the 50 seconds, and thin ra out of shells. Other crews fired & an Continued on Page Eight