Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1919-02-28
STORY Of THE
ARGONNE BATTLE
Gen. Traub Denies Charge Of
Needless Loss of Life
FACED A CRACK DIVISION
Casualties Of The 35th Division
Were 500 Killed And $500
Wounded In Six Days
Of Fighting.
FACED A CRACK DIVISION

Washington.-A dramatic recital
of the fighting Of the Thirty-Fifth
(Kansas and Missouri National
Guard) Division in the great battle
of the Argonne, was given the House
Rules Committee by Major-General
Peter E. Traub, the division COM
mander, who himself was twice
gassed in the course of the battle.
Appearing to deny charges Of the
needless sacrifice of men made by
Governor Allen, of Kansas, General
Traub described with great pride tae
work of his troops from the misty
| September morning, when they went
over the top, until they had driven
the Germans back nearly six miles
after six days and nights Of almost
incessant fighting over the most
strongly fortified section of the West
ern front.
Fresh from France, the general
still was suffering from the effects
of gas, his two experiences in the
Argonne being his fifth in the war,
and he frequently had to interrupt
his recital to drink water. At times
his voice failed him almost entirely,
but suggestion of members Of the
committee that he delay his testi-
mony were met with instant refusal.
When his voice refused to give en-
phasis to his words he pounded the
table beside him to further drive
home his praise of the soldiers it was
his "honor to command"
Z "For six days and nights" said the
general, 1--WE fought the best the
Boche had. We penetrated the lines
for five and half miles, took 1000
prisoners and captured "a pieces Of
field artillery and As machine guns.
We fought in the open and we lost
500 killed and 4,500 wounded, the
great majority Of the latter being
hurt but slightly. Never was there a
finer body of men than those had
the honor to command. They were
a wonderful lot, who only asked to
know what was wanted and they did
it and did it WE'LL"
General Traub told the committee
that the first task Of his men after
jumping off" was the capture of a
hill which had everything in the way
of defense which the Germans could
build, ami one that "the French had
been up against for four years" The
35th, the General said, took this
strongly-fortifled position in three
hours after viscious hand-to-hand
fighting.
The wounded received the best of
care and the first consideration, Gen.
eral Traub told the committee. He
said the 1000 wounded passing
through the field station Of the 35th
Division were hurried to the rear by
impressing into service every truck
of every description. but because Of
the "devilish fire" of the Germans
they could be moved only at night.
One main road served the whole
army corps, and at one time 1t re-
quired 48 hours to build a road
around crater caused by a German
shell, and ten days to bridge it.
Airplanes appeared on call, and
flew over the German lines, the Gen
eral said. A shortage Of horses was
admitted, but the officer declared
there was always artillery support.
Only half dozen shells from the
American artillery fell in its lines,
but in this connection the General
asked to be permitted to refrain
from comment on French artillery
with the division
Recalling General Grants attack
on Cold Harbor' in the Civil War,
General Traub compared the casual
ties there with those of the 35th Di-
vision, saying General Grant lost
10000 men and accomplished moth
ing"
General Traub said the divisions
casualties in six days and nights Of
fighting were 500 killed and 4,500