Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-23
Yankee Division Given
Credit for War Service
by War Dept. Board

The report Of the Battle Participa-
ton Board of the War Department
recently published. giving the Goth
Division credit for being under fire
for longer period than any other
National Guard organization and
ranked only by the First Regular
Army Division, was received with
much interest in this city, for Angus
Ia was represented by many men in
this New England Division, the lO3rd
Infantry, with the insignia of the
Pine Tree on its helmets. bearing its
full share in the work OF the divi-
sion. The report of the board shows
that the Yankee Division was actual
ly under fire for 20S days as COM
pared with 260 days for the First
Division The length Of service of
the regulars is accounted for by the
fact that they were landed in France
months earlier than the goth Divi-
sion and had their baptism of fire in
November. 1917. practically three
months before the men from New
England heard the screech of a hos
tile shell.
The report of the board takes up
in detail the service of the 26th Di-
vision from the date Of the landing
in France of the various units dur
ing the fall of 1917 until the Arm
lstice was signed. 1t speaks of the
service in the Chemin de Danes, in
which sector the 103rd Infantry oc-
cupied the Piono salient, through
the ToulBocq sector in Lorraine,
near Chateau 'chierry during the
Champa gne- Marine defensive in the
Pas Fini sector and the Aisne- Marine
offensive, the Saint Mihiel offensive.
holding later the TroyOn sector I'M
til they We're sent into the Meuse-
Argonne offensive in which they
served in the front line from October
II until the Armistice.
The increased credits over the re-
port OF a previous board is due. says
the report. not only to a careful
study of the records, showing the
units under fire, but We're not so
credited in the original reports. but
to the fact that the present board
has given credits to all units of the
organization, whereas the original
gave credits only to the units car
rying standards and colors. Thus
credits are now given to the 10lst
! Trench Mortar Battery, the l0lst
Ammunition Train. the 10lst SAM
tary Train, the 1O1st Supply Train
and the 1O1st Train headquarters and
Military Police.
| The report concludes: ut is recon-
mended that those units of the 26th
| Division which are entitled to carry
colors or standards be authorized to
| place thereon Streamer i'll the COL
| ors of the Victory Ribbon bearing
the following inscription, to show
, battle participation during the
World War: Lorraine. lie de France
Champagne Marine, Aisne- Marine, st
Mihiel and Meuse- Argonne."
These are the names OF the French
provinces in which took place the
i operations in which the Goth Division
participated. Only the 3rd Division
| has the right to more names on ITS
lstreamcrs, this being due to the ser
| vice of its Engineers for short
! time with the British.
The colors of the 103rd Infantry OF
the 26th Division bears no Streamcrs
at the present time but does bcal
seven clasps, showing that the regl-
mcnt was engaged on the Chemin Des
Danes, the Toul sector, Champagne
Marine, Aisne Marine, st. Mihiel
Troyon defensive sector and tho
Meuse-Argonne. The streamer also
will be placed with the colors, when
the necessary order is issued by tho
War Department. Under recent pro-
visions, q case is being built ir
which will be placed the flags of tho
Maine regiments, used in the recent
| war.