New-York tribune., 1919-02-18
Thirty-ffth Division Was
Shot to Pieces Because
Some One Erred, He SAYS
Baker Accused of Evasion
Failure of Aircraft, Artil-
lery and Medical Support
Is Blamed for Casualties
New York Tribune
Iy'ecjif.0fols Byreuu


gardine casualties and declaring the
people are weary of the excuses Of
the War Department and are entitled
to the facts from competent witnesses
who knew the situation through their
grim participation in it, Governor
Henry J. Allen, of Kansas, addressed
the House Rules Committee this morn
ing in advocacy of formal and search
ing investigation OF the alleged failure
of the American command st the bat
tie of the Argonne to provide tine in.
fantry with adequate artillery and
aircraft support. According to Gov
ernor Allen, this failure was supple
mented by the failure Of the Medical
Corps that resulted in SO per cent
increase in mortality among the Sc
verely wounded.
The Governor accused the War De
partment of attempting to divert at
tention from the real facts of the ter
rife losses sustained by the 35th Di-
vision in the first day or two of the
battle by stating THAI the dead and
missing in the 35th were "only 1,733,"
and this division suffered less than
some others.
"Why was it not frank" he asked,
ain saying that this division lost viz
tually all of these men in one engage
ment, while other divisions with which
it compared the 35th were in several
heavy engagements? Why did the de-
partment neglect to mention that in
Cd 70 q n
5000 wounded and manned were in the
casualty list Of the 35th Division?"
Reports 6,3Ol Wounded
Although Secretary Baker said some
time ago the War Department had no
report on these casualties. Governor
Allen told the committee the report
of the medical officer in charge of the
"triage.' or casualty clearing station,
which he placed on file. showed that
6301 men, mostly from the 35th,
many others were handled directly to
the rear by French and American
trucks, without waiting for the ambu-
lances.
Moreover the shortage of ambu-
lances- there were only fourteen for
the whole divisiOn-made it impossib bic
TO triage all the men. many of whom
lay in the open without blankets, lit
terS or other protection or comfort for
as much as forty hours. The report as
TO these facts was made as early as
October II, and undoubtedly came to
the War Department many weeks ago
Il believe" the Governor continued
that thousands of men were lost be-
cause there was lack Of protection in
the air shortage Of transportation
which would have been effective ar
,
OF the battle, and other inadequacies
OF machinery which sent the American
army into the gloomy forest fighting
although the best equipped army in
the world, with little except infantry
arms
Stories of Fighters Filed
In support Of his position Governor
Allen submitted fifty letters from Of
flcers and men of the division, telling
Of lack OF artillery, Of only four horses
to a gun. of failure 10 provide the ad
Vanced battali0ns with two French 10.
each 20 use against machine gun nest:
(accordiag 70 plan), Of the absence Of
protecting aircraft. Of infantrymer
fighting German planes, which held The
ar, with revolvers and rifles, in tn,
absence Of anti-aircraft guns, and o.
artilleryYnen shot down at their gun.
BY German alrmen.
Governor Aliens contention is tha
the loss by the 35th of nearly so pe-
cent Of its fighting infantry in tht
Argonue from September 26 TO Octohe
z, because Of lack Of adequate artil
lery, aircraft and medical support. il
spite of the fact that the battle wa
deliberately planned months in ad
vance, reveals such defective staff worl
that searching investigation shoul.
Ef. ado -f
sponsble
Governor Allen was present at tn
battle as y. NJ. c. A. worker with tn
35th. composed Of Kansas and Missour
troops.
Governor Allen read letter from
major, whose name he declined to dis
close, who wrote that the casualties il
the S5th Division amounted 90 80 pe
cent.
Fought ARTILLERY With Rifles
letrer from lieutenant colone
oar artillery failed US and did no
SS-ppoort US after the first few hours
e fought the German artillery ma
cnine guns and hand grenades VIII,
cur service rifles only"
OMcial letters issued by Major Con
u era! Peter L. Traub, commander of III,
2 osvision, quoted by Governor Auen
showed the n0th Engineers beld
poslfion IN the line for several davs
a.tnoNgh u was not supposed 10 be or
Sanlzea Tor infantry duty.
Governor Allen iaid before tbe coro.
ni'tee copy Of official reports sen,
PACK by runner from the advancino
infantry 10 post commanders. Thnse
reports were signed by CAPTAIN Trn.
man, who forwarded q copv al MON r.
ms "iIe, through whom they had beer
made public They were dated bv The
hour and gave L chronological review
o1 the events Of the battle day b. day
sample report read as follows:
During the entire day our troon.
were continually pelted With our ow,
artillery. Our own artillery was NOR,
obstructive 70 our men than the enemy
our airpianes have been Of little ug,
70 uS in combating enemy planes.
nave sent five different messages :.
the artillery this morning 10 lenythe,
our range. sShort fire is doing NOR.
else. va
Only 1000 Men Left
There Is not q telephone in the or
sanization; no signal flares left; ant
we have no way 10 communicate exccp
by runner. Our regiment has no NOR,
than 1000 men left"
"Thc regiment vent in With the fuI
strength Of 1000" commented Governo,
Alien mt this point