New-York tribune., 1921-01-08
The Vigneulles Monument
Not in the Village and Site Was
Taken by the 10th Division


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Several members and friends Of
tho 1st Division have called my attention
to tho article appearing in The New
York Tribune of recent issue, in which
it is alleged that the 1st Division has
erected a monument at Vigneulles on
ground captured by the 26th Division.
While all controversies as to the ac-
complishments Of the different divisions
arc to be deplored as unworthy Of the
great sacrifices that were made. it is
felt that such q charge cannot be per-
mitted to stand. In justice to tho men,
bers Of the 26th Division, which has
always been held in high esteem by the
1st Division, it is believed that the
statement could only have resulted from
ignorance or from individual prejudice
by those who made it.
The fact is that tho monument to
which reference is made stands, not at
Nigneulles, but several hundred meters
east of the village and quite kilometer
from the center Of tho town, on the
road from Vigneulles to St. Benoit, and
near the junction Of this road with the
road from Nonsard, along which the 1st
Division advanced. The site was in the
zone of action Of the 1st Division and is
on its objective line, which was reached
at 10 p. NJ. September IL, and where
prisoners were taken.
The inscription says nothing as to
the capture of Vgneullcs or any other
place. The monument simply bears in
honor the names of those brave men
whose lives were the price of victory on
that field. Over them stands, with
lowering wings, the eagle which typities
the land for whose ideals they died
The site vas selected because it marked
the final objective limo of the division
and because the passerby could not fail
TO see this tribute to the dead and per
haps feel something Of the inspiration
that comes from sacrifice.
No elements Of the 2eth Division an
preached this point during the opera
ton. On page 227 Of New England in
France it is stated: Unto blazing Vi
gneulle.s, at the foot Of tho hill below
Hattonchatel, marched the regiment be-
fore 8 o'clock. Strong patrols. with
machine gun sections, were immediately
n bn o,,J
and Heudicourt, and it was in the latter
village that contact was made later in
the morning with elements of tho 1st
Division" On the same pagc IL is
stated that prisoners were taken in
Hattonchatel, but no such claim is made
at Vignculles. The map on page 2l6 of
the same book shows that the exploita-
ton line reached by the o6th Division
which is term universally employed to
indicate the furthest point gained, In
Guided all OF Hattonchatel, extended
through the center Of Nigneulles and
tncn turned sharply westward. Creuc.
which was indicated as the direction OF
the movement described on page 227
lies we'll to the southwest Of Vipneulles
Thus, even the 26tl Division does rot
claim that it occupied any ground or
even patrolled to the east or southesa+
Of Vigneulles.
General Pershings Final Report states.
on page az: Just after daylight on Sep
tember 13 elements of the 1st and 26th
divisions made Il junction near Hatton-
chatel and Vigneulles, eighteen kilo.
meters north OF st. Mihiel." The lst
DIVISION, therefore, must have advanced
from tho east and southeast. Tho terri.
tory Immediately east Of Vieneulles was
III the zone Of action Of the 1st Division
and it is clearly within its right to mark
It's battle lines and erect its monuments
at any point that it might select on the
ground that it redeemed with Its blood.
'Ihere was no conflict or disagreement
among the troops when thew vere ~,
their objectlvcs, and It is deplorable
that such aspersions should bo made to
threaten antagonisms between men who
fought q 8 comrades and who carncd
each others confidence and esteem. It
is almost trite to repeat that there was
glory enough for all.
II the article in question was intended
to arouse interest in marking the battle
limo Of the 26th Division the 1st Divi~
sion would heartily concur, but it is not
necessary to discredit others in order to
accomplish that worthy purpose.
OLIVER ALLEN.
Major, 18th Infantry, L. S. A., Sec
retary 1st Division Society.
Camp Dix, N. j., Dec. 81, 1920.