El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-10
ARGONNE BATTLE WAS VERY COSTLY;
EVEN SO, 1T WAS WORTH THE PRICE

IN the end nothing viii Of the charges that Ameu-
can losses in the battle Of Argonne forest were excessive
owing to lack Of artillery support, lack Of machine guns
lack Of adequate number Of stretches and stIeener
hearers and nsJfency OF support IN the ar Inc de-
bate has been keenT interesting and at times acrimonious
The accusations have been proved N part and partly as
proved and there the matter lies There VIII be court
martial for Gen. PeIshing other high officers.
What viii Of 1t all Is intense conviction that
Americans dashed haif prepared they always
fought hopeless odds ike heroes they always do waged
death battle with the best German divisions, who also
fought for all they worth drove those German dvi-
sons ont Of positions that relatively as strong as
Verdun when the prince atacfedand by winning
Convinced the German high command that America could
through to the Rhine in SPITE Of all opposition and that
further resistance useless
Gov. Henry Allen Of Kansas who IN France with
The YMCA first made the above mentioned charges and
he testified before congressional committee that many
Kansas and Missouri troops to their death because
neglect bunders Of officers higher up He declared that
the actual losses the American side in the battle Of the
Argonue were nearly 100000 while the official report
showed only 5000 He said these casualties
ineXcusablc lack Of artillery airplaue and
ether supplies and that American soldiers killed
by American guns when they went through their bar
rage He added that wounded lay long 80 hours
the cold and wet before being evacuated to dressing sta
tons He said thai the $4,000 Of the division
lost IN SIX days 1000 men, rciL6ing 1888 killed IN action.
declared one reason for the failure Of the artillery to
coordinate that amy constantly paying fabu-
ous prices for Old brokendown horses discarded by the
French army and that these horses unable pull and
we're constantly dying.
Backing up the governors statements we're letters
signed BY many officers in the lower grades, decar
ing that the artillery failed and did not support
after the f few hours and another saying that the bar
rage fell short because Of lack Of aerial observation d.
rect the fire.
In answer to these charges Gen Peter E Trsub COM
handing the s5th division in the Argonne battle appeared
before the committee shortly before the adjournment OF
congress Gen Traub pTefaced his statement with whole
hearted and most enthusiastic tribute to the wonderful
ighlng ability Of his men he admitted there
tain shortages but declared they the inevitable re-
suit Of battle conditions he did not include aircraft among
these Shortages He admitted that half dozen shroOs
fe short and caused casualties among the Americans but
said they fired by the French He said there was one
day when the American artillery failed to cooperate that
being when conditions made such cooperation impossible
He said the whole American army short Of horses He
admitted that wounded lay long time without care
The responsibility for that fact he took upon himself
speaking about as follows:
O have attempted have removed these casualties in
daylight would have required many thousands Of srethe
bearers far than available the whole zone OF
action Moreover It would have meant rskiug the lives Of
four men for every lying wounded So left the cas-
uales to apply their first aid equipment and make them
selves comfortable possible until it was possible to
remove them under cover Of night
The general said considered the loss Of life marvel
ousy low IN view Of the fact that the 35th division was in
me most exposed POSITION and that IN five days and five
nights 1t advanced against three Of the finest snemv div
SONS IN the entire German army for distance Of 12Js
oneters, taking positions which had bafed the French
Tor four years which thew considered irureqnsbe
Gen Iraub did not agree with Gov Aliens statement as
10 the number Of casualties in the 35th division The com
nander said only few than 500 were killed ana
less than $500 wounded
Now comes Lieut.. Col Frederick Palmer, former war
ano lately Of Cen Pershings staff who ad-
LIS me gonne Date vas costly but says It shortened
ne war many months and thereby saved thousands OF
iFes he says 1t originally planned to fight the Ar
come battle IN 1919 but that Foch Pershng suddenly
leded in the midst OF the St Bih operatiou IN aftar
he Aronne On September g. in spite Of the shortage Of
guns and supplies IN the belief that they saw chance TO
TaT.
Thus It seems to be fairly well established that the Ar
onne losses were very heavy and that the artillery did
lot junction up to the mark There comes an inquiry
RheheT this part OF Gov. Aliens charge is not borne ont
y the letter from Corp David OREGON recently published
z Inc herald N which he told Of charge Of American
roops without either artillery OF machine q s1orf s15
en resulted IN extraordinary losses although the Ameri
ans took their detectives.
me answer IS, no. because while Corp OREGON fought
n the Argonne, the incident above related occurred At I'm
~ near Chateau Ihierry. 0rtegons outfit moving M
NO 1atue Inc came IN contact with the enemy Tnex-
7ectedy and before the artillery and machine Bs had