The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-02-13
BADGER BOYS"
WIN new TITLE
Lurnberjacks of 32nd Divi.
sion Styled LES Terri
bles" by French Com
mander Mangin.
KENOsHANs IN NUMBER

In the days of '61 and '65 Wiscon-
sin Boys in Blue' won the title of
the Iron Brigade In 1T and Is
Badger boys in khaki" proved
themselves worthy of their fighting
sires by winning the title of "Les
Terribles" from the mouth of
French commander who saw their brav-
cry in action.
This is one of the things told in a
recent unofficial report sent back by
Major "Bob'' Conner of the work of
the 32nd Division - the Lumber,jaeks
on the battlefelds of France The
32nd was composed of the Wisconsin
and Michigan National Guardsmen and
in its ranks were many Kenoshans who
share the glory of the new epithet.
General Mangin of the French army
saw these Americans turn the Germans
back towards the "vaterland" at Cha
teau Thierry and heard how they kept
up the chase at the Argonne. Then
he styled them as 'fLess Terribles -
the Terrible = and cemplimented them
highly for their bravery and determine
ton.
The record sent back to the States
by Major Conner was received by one
of his friends at Marshfeld and was
first made public in the columns of
the "Marshfeld Herald.'' 1t gives an
account of the journey of the "Lum-
ber-jacks" from the time they left
Liverpool until they triumphantly
crossed the Rhine at Bassenheim en- the
18th of December. The totals as shown
in the report will be of interest to
many Kenoshans who had sons, bro
theirs or friends in the ranks of this
division.
The account shows first that the 32nd
fought its way through the most strong
~ fortified part of the German line -
through ChateauT hierry and the Ar
gonne and from February to Deem
Der advanced 236 hlometers. Of this
SO kilometers was plowed through be-
fore the armistice was signed and the
Badger and Wolverine troops paid in
blood for every step of the advance.
They had in the killed list of the cas-
ualties a total of 73 officers and 1869
men and in those who were reported
missing IL officers and 1919 men. In
the whole time only 2 officers and 70
men were captured by the Germans.
The Huns also knew that the 32nd
was fighting for the U. S. A. for the
statistics show that 2113 Germans sur
rendered to this division before the
Americans started across the Rhine.
The 32nd also had to its credit the cap
ture OF eight big German guns and
of 13 "Berthas and 100 machine
guns. "These were the boys" writes
back one of the officers, Fthat the
Kaieer misjudged when he said that
America would not fight"
TIE account shows that the heaviest
fighting of the division was done at the
Fismes sector where Americans first
turned the Germans back at Chateau
Thierry, at scissors where they cap
tured more than nine hunderd Huns
without having one man captured and
at the Argonne where they suffered
their heaviest casualties. Word has al
ready been received from Kenosha
members of this division who were in
the fight and who substantiate the
words of the report.
The tabulated report shows one
strange coincidence. The Americans
were in the active sector just sc days
and in that SO days they advanced SO
ki1ometers or an average of one kilo-
meter each day. The casualty list
shows that they never hesitated when
the command was forward" and
the share of prisoners and booty which
fell to them is testimony enough that
they were worthy representatives of the
Middle West in America s great fight in
France.