The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1919-06-11
OPINION
OF THE EE|GHTy-FIRST
Commander American Forces
Gives High Praise to the
Wonderful Prowess
OF WILDCAT DIVISION

Columbia, S. c., June 9.-"With
such a record the Division may re-
turn home proud of it's service in
France as part OF the American
Expeditionary Forces"
This is General John ] Pershing's
praise of the S1st., division, better
known as the wild Cats in let
ter addressed to Major General Chas.
]. Bailey. The letter follows in full:
France, April 1st, 1919.
Major General Chas. J. Bailey,
Commanding 81st., Division,
American Expsditionary Forces
My dear General Bailey
1t gives me great satisfaction to
extend to you, the officers and men
Of the S1st., Division, my compG-
nents upon their appearance at the
,eview and inspection on April 10th,
It Chatillon-sur-Seine. The trans
portation and Artillery of the dlv1-
sion were in good shape, and the
general bearing of the men was up
o a high standard, and worthy of a
Division which, though in France
or comparatively short time, has
made a splendid record.
ARRIVING in this country towards
the middle of August, your period
of training in the area near Tonnere
was interrupted by the necessity of
sending the division into the line to
,e1ieve for the the actual battle, vet
aran organizations. The 81st., was
N the st. Die sector from the 18th,
of September to the 18th, of Oct
ober, when it was withdrawn and
prepared for its participation in the
Mouse-Argonne offensive.
1t entered the line in this opera
ton on the night of November 9Th,
relieving the 35th., division as the
righ flank division of the First
Army, and attacking on the morning
of November 9th, against strong
enemy resistance, the advance COW
ering five and one-half 6 1-2) Kill
ometers.
The bearing of the division in
this, it's first experience in battle,
showed the mettle of officers and
men and gave promise of what it
would become as a veteran. With
such a record, the division may re-
turn home proud of its service in
France as a part of the American
Expeditionary Forces.
Sincerely yours,
Tohr
The Official History of the (Wild
Cat) Division Follows.
The division arrived in France,
via England, on August 18th, 1918,
and proceeded to the training area
at Tonnerre (Yonne), except the
156th., Artillery Brigade, and the
306th., Ammunition Train which
were sent to Camp Valdahon
Doubs.)
After months training the divi-
sion, less the artillery brigade and
ammunition train, proceeded to the
st. Die sector (Vosges) arriving on
September 18th, and occupied the
same until the 18th, of October. It
formed a part of the 33rd., Corps
(French), and later, the 10th, corps
(French).
During the month of service in
the sector, the division was engaged
in the repulsed raids. One of the lat
ter, preceded by long and severe
artillery preparation by the Ger
mans, was followed by an attack of
about one hundred shock troops who
were repulsed with some ten killed
one captured and probably several
wounded. Shot guns and automatic
rifles were successfully used by our
troops, one of our men killing three
Germans with an automatic. Dur
ing the occupancy of this sector, the
casualties were:-killed-2 officers.
l9 men; Wounded-14 men.
The division left the st. Die sec
tor on September 10Th, and pro-
ceeded to the vicinity of Rambers-
viiiers (Vosges) to await transpor-
tation to join the First Army for
the Meuse-Argonne offensive. It
feached the Sommedi-eue-sector
south OF verdum. early in November.
jpined the End, Colonial Corps
(French), remaining in reserve a
,ew days, and on November eth,