The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-18

Exactly one week was spent in
Hargeville. On october u the 13Oth
left stopping a day or two in shelter
ed woods and travelling after. dark as
usual on the night of October 15,
the third battalion moved into posi-
ton on the Sommedieue sector
southeast of Verdun. The other bat
talions followed shortly. At that time
there were only enough horses to
move two batteries at time. When
all the guns were in placement, the
animals were moved to the rear
echelon at Camp Senagalais, near the
town of Sommedieue.
During the time the regiment served
on the Sommedieue, or Verdun, sec
tor, 6.S75 shells were fired, divided
among the batteries as follows; A.
SOS; B, 11O9; c, 1875; b 902; p,
/ 436( and f. 1895. That made the
following grand total of steel rations
served to the boche by the both: A,
25gS: 3. 3,54O; c. 1851; d, 2,S4S;
T. 3IS3 and F, 1884, or 1880 pro-
jectiles fired by the entire regiment.
The detectives fired upon by tine
130th on this front included, besides
many active enemy batteries. the
towns of Vile en- Woevre. Braquis,
Haute-court. Abaucourt, Moranville
and Hermeville and Soupleville Farm.
Infantry Goes 10 Rear.
The 35th division in.Bntry was in
the front line, constantly making raids
in particular one, command by Maj.
Ralph Truman of the 140th infantry,
remained in villages behind the Prus-
sian outposts for three days at a
time. Artillerymen were stationed
with the infantry on Laison duty.
German Smelling in the last days of
the war on the Sommedieue front.
which was regarded as defensive
sector. was erratic. Gas seemed to
predominant in the area occupied by
AsTA Inv
Captain MacLean. But it was general
Iy agreed that for every shell Jerry
sent over four we'll directed projec-
tiles were fired in return.
Early in November, the two infantry
brigades, still in bad shape from the
terrible losses received in the Argonne,
with these blank files replaced by in
adequately trained men fresh from the
states, were relieved by the doughboys
of the S1st, or Wildcat division.
This was selective draft division
from the south, one which had OBJ
tanned but little front line training,
and that on a Comic opera" sector.
The Goth field artillery brigade re-
manned at the front to back up the
Wildcats" The S1st was the third
infantry division that the both sup
ported in addition to the 35th. The
others were the LIST and 2Sth, in the
ArEonne offensive.
The wildcat division, commanded
by Major General Bailey, went. over
the top onN the early morning OF No
vember 3, following a heavy barrage
put over by the 12Sth. 129th and
13Oth field artillery regiments. which
also rendered assistance to the 33rd
French Colonials on the right. Some
of the batteries moved forward. I4iai-
son was maintained by artillery pri-
marked inefficiency of S1st division
officers in this important phase OF
modern warfare.
13Oth Backs "WiIdcats."
The Wildcats suffered consider
able losses in the three-day attack.
one regiment went over with full
pack equipment, including extra
shoes and blankets, a rare piece of
military folly A battalion was lost.
Had the division met with the resist
ance offered the 35th in the Argonne.
the result would have been little less
than a calamity.
The men of the 130th worked day
and night, feeding death to the Ger
mans and, by actual observation, blow
ing up enemy batteries and machine
gun nests. The men of the 81st di-
vision infantry, altho poorly differed,
fought bravely and advanced several
kilom eters, meeting with ragged ma
chine gun opposition. 1t was apparent
that the Germans had Withdrawn their
crack troops for the bitter battle
the heights of Sedan.
Col. Hugh S Brown, a regular army
officer, assumed command about No
Vember /. replacing Thurston. just
promoted to Northumberland. Colonel
Brown was one of the most capable
artillery officers in the A. f. F. and
endeared himself to the both because
of his sense of fairness and justice.
The regiment had been poorly COM
manded since leaving the states. and
~ IL I
Southerner, who had risen from the
grade of private, was placed at its
head.
The armistice fiasco of November
Z, which was widely heralded in the
United States. did not affect the troops
in France, who did not even hear of
it until months afterward. Rumors
were rife on the 9Th and 10th that
the war was coming to an end, al
though many skeptics refused to listen
to the reports.
Late on the night of November 10
word simmered up from the more
calculating centers of information in
the rear that the arnlistice would be
signed the following day. Early on
the morning of the 18th official news
was given out from General Berrys
headquarters. The order came to
cease firing at II o'clock.
The World War Ends.
Some of the batteries were near
abandoned French ammunition
dumps and the men grasped the
chance to steal some extra shells and
fire them. These were not included
in the ammunition reports, but lots OF
projectiles were fired that morning
which were not accounted for The
last shots We're fired at various times
from 1880 to 1885 o'clock
At IL O'Clock all guns were silenced.
NO more lives We're jeopardized. The
great war was ended.
The celebration at the front was not
hilarious one, because the regiment
was miles away from civilization Ex-
Cept for the absence of gas sirens
for the batteries'had been given n tire.
1nendous amount of mustard in the
last few days-and the Quie tness in
the air, the first night of peace was
httlc different than the last night of
war.
The most noticeable change was in
the lighting. Trucks. motor cars and
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