The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-18
Colonel BroWn Pays
Splendid Tribute to I'm
surpassed Efforts of
His Soldiers.

German airmen were entirely 400 fire.
quent. During the time the 35th di-
vision was in the offensive, the Ger
mans easily had the superiority of the
air. Their observation and combat
planes came over the allied lines AT
will, firing on all arms of the Ameri-
can service with machine guns. drop
ping bombs promlscuously and OBJ
tanning information which later was
reflec. ID in well directed shots from
their own guns.
Infantry Fights Calamity.
Each battery had different objec-
tive, and these changed daily. some
times hourly. The gun crews worked
in shifts. The drivers. when not busy
caring for their horses, carried shells
from the ammunition dump in the
center of the town to the field pieces.
Sleep was something to be obtained
only in snatches now and then. \ few
dugouts were occupied. but most or
the men slept out in the open. the
rain abated but little, particularly on
the night of September ~, altho there
was some sunshine in the days that
followed.
A day in the Argonne fight. particu-
llarly at the beginning, when the
backbone of the Hindenburg line had
to be broken. was like an ordinary
Lifetime. in that one had more expert
ence and came closer to death than at
any previous time in life.
The infantry fought doggedly- fooE
liason with troops on the right ana
left and the scrapping qualities OF
the 35th division doughboys. permit
l ted them to gain more rapidly than
was necessary and left them open 10
fire from both flanks. The Casualties
in the infantry ranks were heavy. Each
succeeding day brought down more
land IT1ore~mer.
| The artillery, on the other hand. YVES
more fortunate. Under fire all OF the
time, executing problems while sheHS
were bursting near and far. it was 4
miracle that the 10th got off as light
ly as it did. The chief menace was the
Iairp1anes. On October 2. for instance.
1 one came flying low over Narennes.
dropped a bomb, fired q few machire
gun rounds, and escaped after inflict-
ling twenty-eight casualties in the
t130th and numerous others among
stray troops in Verennes at the time.
Several men were killed. The total
casualties, killed. wounded and gafsed.
of the regiment might be approximate
ed at seventy-five.
\ Cited fog Rcpcllirg Attack.
The 1SOth fired, from position In
Varennes, 5,C53 shells. divided among
the batteries as follows A, 1,lS9; j..
1879; c. 744: d. 75l; Z. sac. and F.
1855. These projectiles blew UP German
ammunition and supply trains, eSploG-
ed in columns of reserve infantry. DC
stroyed houses and church steef1es
and other buildings used for observa-
ton purposes and otherwise defnolish-
ed the mater'el. to say nothing OF
morale. OF the German troops. The
regiment was cited in divisional orders
for it's assistance in repelling a Ger
Imam counter attack near EXcmont.
During this same period the 13Oth aid
ed the sore pressed infantry OF tho
l2Sth division. Because OF the great
size of the shells, they were not cas-
~ r-aH
That work was assigned TO the resi-
ments firing the Incompatible French
I75's.
The infantry brigades of the 35th
division were relieved by the First
division troops on the night OF Septem-
Der 80. The artillery brigade includ-
! ing the 130th regiment. remained in
action, backing the First division in i;s
attack. The efficiency of this work
was well illustrated in the following
citation, issued by Maj. Gen. c. i.
Summerall, commanding general OF
the First division.
In view of the possibility Of Jhe de-
parture of your division from the vi
cinity OF the First division ] wish to
| express my appreciation and the arrre-
Il citation of the division for the services
rendered by your divisional artillery.
The Goth field artillery brigade ny
its nlertness, efficiency and willingness
preston on all ranks of the division.
| In this connection | wish TO csne-
ci0lly name big. Gen. Lucicn &. Berry,
to whose personal influence the eff
cheney and zeal displayed by the Goth
field artillery brigade may well be
attributed.
Artillery Is Relieved.
Il Late on the night of October 2, the
130th again was on the move. Tho
horses were hitched to their guns by
men who could not see two feet ahead
in the abysmal darkness. The unit
moved out along a road parallel with
the ever moving front line and then. in
an early hour of the morning of Octo-
Der 8. veered sharply to the left and
into the Bots de la Chalade. where
camp was made for the day The fol-
lowing night was spent at Froidos. and
on October the war-weary little vii
flage of Hargeville was reached.
u Every day at Hargeville was a rainy
one, but in huge barns. plentifulIy en-
dowed with coolies. the men rested
and renovated. as best they could,
their equipment. A great many horses
\ were salvaged On the promise that
more would be sent in their places, a
promise, by the way. that was not
kept.
Perhaps the first opportunity for
many OF the men to write home since
leaving the yosges September l was
CONTINUED on next pagel