The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-09-12
End ANNIVERSARY
BATTLE ST. MIHIEL
Messages of Greeting Through Amer
lean Legion Sent to Men Who
Took Part in Victory.

New York, Sept. 11.-Tomorrow is
the second anniversary of the battle
of st. Mihiel when an American ar
my commanded by Americans fought
for the first time on European soil
and by clearing the Germans from the
famous salient won a glorious vic
tory.
In commemoration of that anniver-
sary, the commanding generals of the
eight combat divisions of the Ameri-
can Expeditionary Force which took
part in that battle have sent messages
of greeting through the American Lee
gion to the men who fought under
their command.
AT dawn, September IL, 1918, began
the first all-American major often
sive battle of the war which reduced
in AZ hours the wedge held by the
Germans since 1914.
In the operation the Americans took
10000 prisoners. 443 guns and vast
quantities of material, and established
the allied line in a position to threat
en- Metz The assaulting troops sui
fered 1000 casualties.
The divisions participating were
the First, regulars, from all states;,
Second, regulars apd marines. all
states; Twenty sixth, New England
National Guard; Forty second or Rain
bow, National Guard from 27 states:
Eighty second, Georgia Alabama and
Tennessee National Army troops;
Ninetieth, Texas and Oklahoma Ma
tional Army troops.
The messages of the division com
manders, which appear in the current
issue of the American Legion Weekly.
the official publication of the Legion,
follows:
First Division-"On the anniversary
OF the reduction of the st. Mihiel sa-
iient l desire to extend the greetings
of the First Division and of myself to
all our members, wherever they may
be- in remembrance of the momen-
tous events of that day and of the
superb spirit, the high morale and the
fine courage that animated the entire
command
(Signed)-"C. P. Summerall. Major
General, u. S. A."
Second Division-"To the men who
served in the Second Division during
the world war: September IL will be
of st. Mihiel. In that battle for the
first time in history an American ar
nv. under American command fought
on European soil. 1t was great vic
tory. The Second Division played
glorious part in that victory 1t broke
through the enemy's fortified lines. and
leading the advance, 1t seized the
crossings OF the Rupt de Mad. cap
tured Thiaucourt and occupied the
heights beyond. In this battle it can
tured $500 prisoners, 120 cannon and
an enormous quantity of other ma
terial.-John A. Lejeune, Major Gen
eral, u. S. NJ. c."
Fourth Division-"To my comrades
of the Fourth Division: Now that the
second anniversary of the st. Mihiel
drive is approaching my mind nat
urally reverts to the stirring scenes
of that great event in American his
tory The courage, energy and de-
votion to our great cause which you
displayed in that attack shall always
remain fresh in my memory. | de-
sire to express to you my appreciation
of your gallant conduct and wish for
you every happiness and prosperity
Your comrade in arms, ]. H. Hines,
Major General u. S. K"
Fifth misunderstanding to the old
Fifth Division. Owing to the death of
Major General Mcmahon, who com
manded the Division of st. Mihiel,
the undersigned, who succeeded him
in command, sends greetings to the old
members of the division who so glori-
ously participated in the st. Mihiel
drive. They may all be proud of hav-
ing participated in the St. Mihiel ac
ton, which will be an epoch in Ameri-
can history as the first purely Ameri-
can action of the world war. May