New-York tribune., 1920-09-12
Com nm anders
Greet Veterans
OF St. Mihiiel
Eight u. S. Generals Send
Messages Through Amer
ican Legion ON Second
Anniversary of the Battle
Tributes to the Dead
Valor of Americans Who
First Fought ON Euro
pean Soil Commended

To-day is the second anniversary
of the battle of St. Mihiel, when an
American army, commanded by Amer
leans, fought for the first time on Eu-
ropean soil and, by clearing the Ger
mans from the famous salient, won
glorious victory.
In commemoration of that anniver~
sary the commanding generals of the
eight combat divisions Of the American
Expeditionary Force which took part
in that battle have sent messages Of
greeting through the American Legion
to the men who fought under their
command.
The messages of the division COM
'manders, which appear in the current
issue of The American Legion Weekly,
the official publication of the Legion,
follow:
First Division-On the anniversary
ID, the reduction of the St. Mihiel
salient desire to extend the greetings
of the First Division and Of myself to
all our members, wherever they may be,
in remembrance of the momentous
events of that day and Of the superb
spirit, the high morale and the fine
courage that animated the entire COM
mand.
(Signed) C. P. SUMMERALL,
Major General, U. S. A.
Tribute From Lejeune
Second Division-To the men who
served in the I'd Division during the
World War: September IL will be the
second anniversary of the battle of St.
Mihiel. In that battle, for the first
time in history, an American army,
under American command, fought on
European soil. 1t was a great victory.
The I'd Division played a glorious part
in that victory. 1t broke through the
enemy's fortified lines and, leading the
advance, it seized the crossings of the
Rupt de Mad, captured Thiaucourt and
occupied the heights beyond. In this
battle it captured $500 prisoners, 12O
cannon and an enormous quantity of
other material.-John A. Lejeunc,
Major General, U. S. NJ. C.
Fourth Division--"To my comrades
of the 4th Division: Now that the sec
ond anniversary of the St. Mihel drive
IS approaching, my mind naturally re-
verts to the stirring scenes of that
great event in American history. The
courage, energy and devotion to our
great cause which you displayed in that
attack shall always remain fresh in my
memory. desire to express to you my
appreciation of your gallant conduct,
and wish for you every happiness and
prosperity. Your comrade in arms, J,
H. Hines, Major General, U. S. A."
Epoch in American History
Fifth Division-"Greetings to the old
9th Division. Owing to the death of
Major General McMahon, who COM
undersigned, who succeeded him in
command, sends greetings to the old
members of the division who so glori-
ousy participated in the St. Mihiel
drive. They may all be proud of hav-
ing participated in the St. Mihel ac-
tion, which will be an epoch in Amer-
can history as the first purely Ameri-
can action of the World War May sue
cess attend all your efforts, and may
you always retain that patriotism and
devotion to your country that distin-
guished you at st. Mihicl.-H. E. Ely,
Brigadier General U. S. A.
Twenty-sixth Division-"To the vet
Grams of the 26th, or Yankee Division,
this anniversary recalls the fact that
in 1915 fifteen French divisions, with
10000 casualties, failed to penetrate
the Les Eparges sector, which was
yours to reduce on the 18th of Sep
tember, and that you didn't stop, but
made night march down to the Grande
Tranchce Calonne and reached Wig
neulles at o'clock on the morning of
the 18th. Ny greetings and congratu-
lations." &C. R. Edwards, Brigadicr
General, U. S. A.
Forty-second Division--"The most
bow Division have on St. Mihel Day is
of those who went two years ago to
their last charge. We cannot forget.
Blue-lipped, smudged with sludge,
chilled by the wind and rain of the
foxhole, forming grimly and without
emotion in the murk which the ground
was throwing up, as heavy as that
which the skies were letting down,
they drove through to their obi Give