The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1921-01-20
Told Germans in ArgOnne
Forest to go to He'll
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porting bodies to keep III touch with
cach oCner, but presently it was dis
covered tnat they were surrounded By
bocnes.
A runner WAS sent back in the at
tempt to tell OF their phgnt, but cur
lousy enough the commander to
whom this messenger reported pro-
ceeded to send him along to New
ofk so that the first news that he
had of the really desperate condition
CT his, former comrades was not learn
ed until he reached home and the
reporters came thronging about him
with the thrilling story of the lost
! battalion.
Meantime efforts We're being made
to relieve the belcagured battalion
Their position was well known to
| their friends, but so large a body Of
Germans had got in behind them, in
a deserted trench, that, in spite of
! strenuous efforts, it seemed for
/ TIME impossible TO get help to them.
In all, nearly 800 men were thus
Ut eff, and the question Of food soon
became serious. Every attempt TO
'4+NNN tiAOiI ny attack upon INC
memy proved costly and futile. Ii
nd, however, have its value, for it
prevented them from completely an
aihlating the little band.
Relief by air was attempted. Four
ten ailplanoS were sent out to drop
Two tons OF food and considerable
ammunition at points where it was
hoped they could be Of service. HON
mo pigeons were also dropped by
parachute within the lines so they
could communicate with the main
body. To a great degree all these
efforts to afford relief had TO be made
by guess as the forest was so thick
our aviators could see nothing of the
missing men. A final and desperate
lttack on the enemy at last broke
through and the men were saved on
he brink of starvation.
While the fortunes of Col. Whit
leSey's little band seemed at the
most hopeless stage, bindfolded
nan appeared among them, coming
rom the enemy's lines. He proved
% be an American who had been
taken prisoner and he bore a note
which read: Americans, you are sur
touncd on all sides. Surrender. in
the name of humanity You will be
| eel treated.
Col. Wh;ttlcscy did not hesitate
lomcnt: GO to HE'LL he cried in
.toice so loud that the Germans, hid
EN- in the thickets must have heard
i'm, while his ven around him cheer
u Justify in p!te Of their weakness.
It nigh Nave hen their death war
ant they cAccred, but it was not, for
.elief came in a few hours.
When the facts of this daring eX-
)loit became known, the incident of
Col. WhittlcSey and the lost battalion
was heralded around the world as one
Of the thrilling events Of campaign
marked by great sacrifice and distin-
uished by many wonderful deeds of
| heroism.
Congress voted a medal of honor
| 20 Col Whittlesev for his services
and this mark Of distinguished cour-
| age was conferred upon him by Gen
| eral Edwards, Commander of the
TWenty-siXth Division.
The military and civil organizations
IN town would have been very glad
to have extended a cordial welcome
% Col. Whittlesey in some public
way had his presence here been gen.
orally known. His visit here was
strictly business mission and he re-
turned to New York Wednesday
night He may be here later when
opportunity may be offered TO do him
honor.