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

1t was a grave mistake to furnish |
tobacco to the army.
Just before the break OF day the |
column moved on and into the Foret |
de Haye. The ST. Mihiel offensive had |
begun and the rumble of guns sound |
ed the opening of one of the most |
brilliant victories of American arms.
The 35th division was in reserve, |
always few miles back in the woods, |
ready at any moment to take up the
offensive should its services be needed. |
Airplane battles were fought overhead |
and the long guns of the enemy played |
frequently upon reserve positions in |
the timber. The division was not
called to take an active part in the
drive. 1t was deemed unnecessary be- |
cause the Germans, taken by surprise, |
were easily routed and did not offer
the resistance that had been expected. |
Prisoners were taken in wholesale lots
and the casualties to the American df-
visions were comparatively light.
The new battle-line on the St, Mihiel
sector having been definitely estab-
lished, the 130th moved to the north
and west, where the greatest chapter
in its history, and in the story of
American participation in the world
war. was to be staged
Major Thurston commanded the
regiment, and the battalionS were
commanded by Captain MacLean. Ma
jor Brady and Captain Porter. Major
Jennings was in a hospital in Paris
suffering from facial paralysis which
kept him from the organization until
shortly before the signing of the arni-
stice.
Guns Moved INTO Place.
On the night of September %, the
column moved into position at Forni-
court, Foret de Hesse. Turnout the
dismal hours that the regiment hiked
from Rarecourt to the position. the
whine of German IT shells, the burst
of shrapnel over adjoining fields and
loads and the soft and dangerous puff
of the gas projectiles made the jour
ney more terrifying than interesting,
but they thrilled the jaded marchers
| thru and thru.
| In the early morning, before the sun
| tried to creep over the eastern horizon
during lull in the rain, the 1S0th
| field artillery faced a critical situa-
ticn. The guns had to be moved up
| the slippery slope of wooded hill, in
order to be properly concealed from
the foe IN the daytime. The horses
could go only to a certain point. The
men, eighty and ninety to a gun,
sweating and cursing as their chilled
! hands clutched the leather harness,
inch by inch, foot by foot, hauled the
heavy. cannon into place.
The guns were close to each other,
sheltered from observation by friend
ly trees. A coast artillery unit, firing
|
batteries-army, corps and ''clandes-
| tine" artillery-were crowded into the
| cumberland. The pieces were on one
side of the range of hills, while on
the other were the front line trenches
| and beyond that the four lines of de-
tense considered impregnable by Won
| Hindenburg, who had conceived them
The terrain for several miles was
an open country, bounded on the left
by the tangled Foret de Argonne.
which did not come within the 35th
divisions area until the River Aire
| was reached. Opposite was Boureu-
| lilies and Petit Boureuilles, little viii
! lagos which had long since paid the
penalty of being in the war zone. A
bit to the right of Boureuilles, and
well within the territory allotted to
the division, was Vauquois Hill. called
by the French, Dead Mans Hill"
/ This has often been termed the "key
or the Hindenburg line.'' for it domi-
| mated vast expanse of territory and
its abrupt, rocky sides made it almost
| impossible to ascend in the face of.
hostile machine gun or artillery fire.
The Enemy Defense.
The Hindenburg line was solidly re-
inforced with concrete and barbed
wire. Behind this was a support line
known as Hagen Stellung, and in the
rear of this was a powerful system of
trenches called the Volker Stellung
The greatest concentration of artil-
lery the world has ever known was in
readiness Tor the last act of a drama
which put an end to the lust for world
imperialism that possessed Kaiser Will
helm. Napoleon once said: God is
on the side with the mightiest artiI-
lery." Marshal Foch. who nearest
approached a Bonaparte in this war.
was close student of Napoleonic tao
tics and probably believed in this
phrase.
In previous attempts of the French
to take Vauquois Hill, the artillery sup
port. while heavy, had not been ade-
quate to cope with the powerful de-
lenses which the Germans had gradu-
Tally built up. Foch decided that such
a mistake would not be made in this,
the most crucial attack.
For three days and nights the en-
listed men of the 130th carried up
ammunition to the pieces on "Barrage
HILL A system generally employed
twas to relay the projectiles, for they
were too heavy for a man to carry
far. Hundreds were transported in
this fashion to the cannon.
The night OF September "a was
pitch black and the rain had ceased.
Telephone wires had been strung to
the observation posts on the brow of
the hill. Officers, non-coms and pri-
Yates spent hours at these points. OBJ
movement of the Germans had been
noted that day and telephoned back
to headquarters for the information Of
the intelligence staff.
Foe Accepts the Challenge.
Twenty-Five hours before the zero
, hour. the Germans, having been APP
: prised of a concentration of troops OPP
: posite, altho not fully realizing the
extent of the maneuvers, put over a