New Britain herald., 1919-04-26
FIGHTERS OF 18TH
RETURN TO DEVENS
3o3rd Field Artillery Only Unit
to See Service
CITED BY COMMANDER
Transport Santa Rosa, With 2,1OO Of
ficers and Men, Docks at Boston
Early Observation-Disclosures Went
to Front.

Boston, April 26-The transport
Santa Rosa with nearly 2,100 officers
and men and including the only
units of the 18th division to partici-
ate in actual fighting in France,
docked shortly before a. m. today.
After an enthusiastic welcome the
troops entrained for Camp Devens.
The transort arrived in President
Roads yesterday.
Units Landed Today.
The landed units included detach-
ment 81 st field artillery brigade. two
officers 20 men; 32nd field artillery,
field and staff officers, batteries 3, Q.
D, 80 officers SIT men; 3O3rd field
artillery complete 81 officers and t.
376 men. The 3O2nd and 3O3rd regi-
ments originally formed part of the
18th division which trained at Camp
Devens. Shortly after their arrival in
France last July. the artillery units
were detached and sent to the front
while the rest Of the division. became
replacement troops.
Manned Six Inch Guns.
. The Santa Rosa sailed from Bor-
deaux on April 13 with Col. Arthur S.
Conklin of Elmira, N. Y, commander
of the 303rd Field Artillery, the heav-
les, the charge of the returning troops
The 303d had the distinction of being
one of the few American artillery reg
iments equipped with the famous
"grande portee filloux"--a six inch
field rifle mounted on rubber tired
wheels and drawn by caterpillar trac-
tors. These weapons have range of
10 to 12 miles and are among the
most m ObiIa of hea17y r.ifcc
Connecticut Boy in Outfit.
Maine and New Hampshire men
made almost the entire personnel of
the 303d when it was organized but
later when it was decided to equip
the organization with a motor drawn
gun several hundreds from Massachu-
setts, Connecticut and New York were
added. The regiment had it's intensive
training at Clernlond Ferrance,
| France The first and second battaI-
ions went into action on the Woevre
| sector, ten miles southeast of Yer
| dun where they supported the SD
Division in the last few days of fight
| ing before the signing Of the armi-
! stice The third battalion, under
command of Major Roberg H. Gard
ner of Ncedham was sent to the most
advanced artillery position in this Sec
tor. This battalion suffered three
casualties but none was fatal.
Cited BY Commander.
Although the 303d was in the fight
ing but a short time it was cited by
Brig Gen. Richmond P. Davis the
brigade commander.
Only part of the 302d Field Artil-
lery Regiment was included among
the troops on the Santa Rosa. This
regiment, together with the 301st
Engineers and the 3O1st Field Signal
Battalion, also participated in the last
! days of the fighting. The 302d was
| made up mainly OF men from Vermont
and Connecticut. Chaplain j. II.
rwichel of Hartford, returned with
the troops.
Rogers and Eddy Home.
On the Santa Rosa, Lieutenant
James Rogers and Sergeant Stanley
Eddy, two other local men, also land
ed in Boston this morning. Eddy is
the son of Mr.. and Mrs. Elford B.
Eddy, of West Main street, and
brother Of Corporal Welles Eddy, who
is training for a commission at the
| Bordeaux port of emba rkation.