The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-05

slowly moving, rocking ships, than
I ever in their most severe engagements
! On one ship the favorite "hokum"
was;
What did Sherman know about
war? He stopped at the sea. "
| The harbor of Liverpool in war
time. The first disillusionment about
! the meaning of rest" camp at Win
chester, a rest camp with diet of
cheese and strong tea. "A. E. F. on
| letters to the folks" A sickening
night on a crowded packet boat which
darted across the channel. Signs in
strange language on shops of stranger
design. Little French children who
tugged at sleeves and asked for hard
tack and pennies-"biskee, biskee!
Pence, penee!"
men and 8horse boxcars. the side
door Pullmans." A training area
, again in Haute Marine, with brigade
headquarters at Prez-sous-Laufauch
and RimaucOurt. Distant guns on still
night "Bonjour, mademoiselle."
A few weeks of intensive training
no thrill in that. the seth was numb"
to drill now-and the division was
ready for the front
The 89th, without the 164th field
artillery which was training near Bor-
deauX, relieved the send American di-
vision August Is in a sector of the
front line forming part of the south
ern face of the St. Mihiel salient be-
tween Remonauville and Bouconville.
A Greeting of Gas.
The sector was regarded as quiet,
but before the last of the SIND di-
vision had left the seth received its
baptism of fire" a severe gas attack
the night of August 7, concentrated
on the 354th infantry in a wood about
kilometer south of Flirey. The 1st
battalion of the 355th infantry also
suffered heavily. Forty-two officers
and men had died before August 81,
as a result of the mustard and phOs-
gene gas used. The casualties of the
seth were SIS, with $50 in addition
in the SIND.
Here is part of what Major General
Wright, who took command of the di-
vision September 8, said of that fight
in general order issued after all the
reports had been compiled:
In most instances it was the first
in practically every instance it was the
first time the personnel had been I'M
The order in force at the time re-
quired troops of the advance post posi-
ton to hold that position to the death
unless withdrawal was ordered by the
army commander. That order was car
ried out faithfully in spite of the in
tensity Of the attack and the helpless
ness Of the troops to retaliate- 1t was
an example of courage and steadfast-
ness deserving the highest praise, and
the spirit Of the troops was further
indicated by the fact that they re-
quested to remain in the line and fin.
ish their tour of duty when relief
was proposed.
When the seth settled down to
trench life things began to happen
in that quiet sector in front of the
famous MOntsec. 1t was there the
division won a reputation for daring
raids which brought it many COM
do oh
lean high commands and even 'cita-
ton" as a first class shock division
in orders captured from the enemy in
the Argonne.
Selected for st. MfhieI Drive.
The St Mihiel drive, the first all
American offensive, was approaching,
and the 89th had been selected to take
a part, going in with the famous Rain
bow and End divisions. 1t was the first
national army division in major OPP
Grafton Would this representative of
the national army, upon which Amer
lea must place so much burden if the
war lasted, make good?
1t did. Jumping off September 70,
it had advanced an average of twelve
kilometers when the actual offensive
ended September 10. It had taken
Beney, Essey, Bouilionvfile, Pannes, /
Xammes and Thiacourt. Eighty Off
GERS, -2,2S7 men, seVenty-two cannon
been captured. The seth was a vet
eran division.
The "Jump-off' came at o'clock
after a 4-hour artillery preparation. |
The 353rd infantry, the 'all Kansas
regiment" had mopped up the deadly |
Mort Mare wood by IL o'clock The |
354th infantry, the Missouri infantry, |
advanced to Bouillionville the night |
of the 18th.
Of 70
st. Mihiel front, a line which elimin- !
ated the st. Mihiel salient and took |
the allies within threatening distance /
of Metz. In those grim nights in fox
holes in front of the bad" little towns
of Beney and Xammes came greater /
hardships than in the actual attack. |
The casualties totaled 1888, as COM !
pared with / 0OS in the actual advance. !
Praises From High Up"
The success of the American drive !
had thrilled the world. From Mar !
shall Foch, President Wilson, General |
Pershing and others came commenda- |
ton.
General Pershing's general order
said:
1t is with soldierly pride that I ac-
cord in general orders a tribute to the
taking Of the St Mihiel salient by the
On September Il, 1915 you delivered
the first concerted offensive operation
of the American expeditionary forces
upon a difficult terrain against this
redoubtable position. immobably held
for four years, which crumpled before
your ably executed advance.
Within twenty-four hours after the
commencement of the attack the sa-
lent had ceased to exist and you were
threatening Metz.
Your division, which never had been
tried in the exacting conditions of
major offensive operations, worthily
emulated those of more arduous ex-
perience and earned their right to par
ticipate in the more difficult task to
come. Your staff and auxiliary serv-
ices, which labored so untiringly and |
so enthusiastically, deserve equal COM
mendation and we are indebted to the |
veteran French divisions and to aux
Hilary units which the allied high com
mand put at our disposal.
Not only did You straiGhten dan
gereus salient. capture sixteen thou
sand prisoners and 443 guns and lib
crate 80 square miles of French terri
tory, but you have demonstrated the