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

photo by Bachrach)
Col. Hugh s. Brown, the well liked and
efficient rcgimental commander,
who has delivered q fine tribute TO
the character of his command.
the lines OF the enemy-a foe manned
and slain by these very shells.
Gas, high explosives and shrapnel
these were dealt to the crack troops
of the Prussian Guard with an impair
tial hand. This was a field day for
the howitzer. a jour d'fete for the 75's
and an epic for the big naval and coast
artillery guns in the valleys behind the
| lines.
| Death Dealt for Three Hours.
| The mission of the lighter guns was
to obliterate the personnel OF the en-
! envy. The 130th was directed to blow
up the concrete Notifications of Vau-
quois Hill and geodedic points in the
enemy's territory. The still heavier
and third lines of defense, and at the
highways far back OF the lines where
the German guns were being taken to
less precarious positions in the rear.
| For three hours this tremendous
barrage continued and the missiles of
death and destruction to man and his
handiwork were hurled without ces-
sation. Daylight found the cannon
still believing. The woods were thick
with smoke and despite the chilled air
great beads of sweat rolled down the
cheeks of the artillerymen. The
horses were brought up shortly after
the barrage started, having been kept
in safety in the rear echelon for sew
eral days.
In full war equipment. the infantry
men waited in the trenches. The big
job had been assigned them, but the
way was made easier by the three
hour barrage.
In the observation posts, when the
view clarified with the dawn, the
scene was magnificent. To the dough-
boy, half hidden in the unsheltered
advance line. it predicated only the
thought that his work lay before him.
At $3.50 sharp the barrage lifted.
The infantry went over.
The artillery fell to the immediate
task of Harvesting the horses to the
guns. The animals were a bit fresh
er from their brief respite at Neu-
vile, where they had been picketed
The men were the more tired this
time.
| General Berry, who commanded the
brigade thru every phase of its ex-
istence, says:
| "As the history of these past events
comes out, particularly from the Ger
man side, it appears that the convic-
ton of defeat OF that nation arose as
a consequence of the successes gained
on September ~ and 2s, 1913, in the
Argonne offensive On the left of the
American line, in the first army corps,
the only break in the German rear
line (the line they evidently intended
to hold was made by the 35th di-
vision, largely thru the good work of
my command, which included the
13oth field artillery.
| 1.-THE army corps on our right was
largely held by the Germans on their
line of resistance. Further to the east
things were a little better for us. The
conviction of defeat on the part of the
Germans meant victory for the allies"
! After the infantry went over the
top, the both slowly wound its way
around the edge of "BaTrage HIP
and on to the observation-disclosures
road. This was damned with traffic
t-amnunition trains, ambulances. ar
tiIIery. engineers, infantry. rations
and even German prisoners, bagged In
the first few hours of the fighting.
At one important cross-roads, coi-
onel was acting as a traffic police
man and succeeded only IN making
the tieup more battling.
Mines further ahead had blown up
1.-The highway and engineers, working
under shell fire, were building new
rock road around the debris. Inc
Heavier artillery could not move across
the sogRy fields. Some of the lighter
batteries cut across country and were
able to fire on the afternoon OF the
26th from new positions.
Engineers Do Noble Work.
/ The both was held up half way be-
tween Beureuilles and Varennes. The
linen chafed at the delay. They were
power1ess to aid. German cunning
had forestalled them for several hours.
Turnout the long night the engineers
worked, and by morning the temporary
road was built and q bridge over the
Aire, which had been partially de-
stroyed, was repaired. The regiment
moved into Varennes, taken the after
noon before by the 137th infantry, a
|, Kansas unit.
To the left Of the Thirty-fifth was
the Twenty eighth division of Penn
sylvania and several batteries OF the
j 10Sth field artillery, of that division,
were stationed in and near varennes.
: Within twenty minutes OF the time
1.-THE 130th entered Varennes, the guns
were roaring at the enemy. Each
ipiece had it's allotment of shells from
its caisson, scarcely sufficient for an
hours firing. But soon the great
trucks of the 10th ammunition train
began to arrive, and remedied the
shortage.
Each battalion sent officers and men
forward to points just behind the in
fantry. where observation posts were
established. Telephone lines were
strung from the batteries to these
! points, and communication kept in
tact The guns remained in the
wrecked town Of yarennes and the
go. Prs" were located on a high
ridge overlooking the valley in which
were the towns of Agreement and
Baulny. A distance of approximately
. three miles separated the batteries
y from the orientation men. The targets
were frequently several miles beyond.
i The Argonne was n ssnighfmare' p
In addition 20 a constant harassing
i from the enemy artillery, the visits OF