San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-22

we were to cooperate with the Brit
ish forces, such an order was perfectly
proper. and We hnstened to comply.
"a. "OFF AGAIN, ON AGAIN"
Hardly had the order been complied
with when another order reached us
directing that we return the British
rifles and equip the troops with Amer
lean rifles which we're being sent us.
We had about complied with this
unreasonable order and bemoancd the
loss of our own rifles, because the
ones issued were not in perfect condi-
ton, when n third order directed us
to return the American rifles and to
accept British rifles.
Further comment is superfluous.
Within few days after our arrival
at Hnppy we were honored by visit
from Fieiu Marshal Sir Douglas Haig,
who made a casual +. inspection and
asked questions regarding the division.
This visit gave him an opportunity to
meet the division commander and mt
the same time to size up matters
which a soldier should know. When
he and / were left alone we talked
ONGT bCfGldl Inv
supplies for American divisions.
We were evidently getting closer
and closer to the day when we were
to come face to face with our ad-
versaries.
The first sign was an order to re-
duce our baggage to the field mini
mum. The next order was to change
areas. We were sent to Eu, adjacent
to the seashore resort lie Treport, a
fairly large city, in which area the
troops were given training in all i'm
aginable field exercises to familiarize
them with the duties they will likely
confront at an early day.
On June 20 we went to the front.
Division headquarters were established
in Moliens-au Bots. a village consist
ing of about two streets, very close to
the trench systems between the oppos-
ing forces, and in this area the diverse
units assembled for the serious bust
ness OF going into battle.
GERMANS START BOMBING.
When our division occupied the
Moliens area. the division headquar-
tiers offices had to be placed in resi-
dences. such as a small French cillage
affords, in barns, old stables, hay
sheds. some Of which were in the most
primitive condition imaginable. But
these facilities were luxuries in CON-
parison with those afforded the CON-
bat units. The regiments of infantry
had to bivouac lnder shelter tents in
forests. to be hidden from the view OF
aviators. Unoer ordinary circum-
stances, such a camp would appeal to
the younger soldiers as something ro-
mantle, but the ground on which the
men had to sleep and walk over was
ankle deep mud. In spite of these
physical handicaps the spirit Of the
troops was splendid.
Our arrival ut the area was the
signal for the Germans to extend to
us a noisy weicome-promptly at 10
o'clock in the evening--by dropping
two bombs over Moliens. They killed
and wounded a number Of British SOL
diers clustered in and around peas
ant hut for rest from long tour OF
service On the firing line.
MEN UfiAFRAID.
The British officer in charge OF the
men telephoned our headquarters for
assistance and we rushed our attend
ing surgeon to the scene. No American
was hurt and the bombing had no in
fluence whatever on the morale OF our
troops.
As in no modern army training is
considered complete until troops have
been under actual fire. at first pla-
toons. later companies and finaliy
larger units were ordered into the
trenches to become familiar with actu.
al conditions while being shot over. "
All theoretic training. all lectures
and all field exercises are of small ini.
portance compared with the training
under actual fire. 1t is in this manner
that both officers and men become ac-
customed to the very things which so
often have caused green troops to be-
come. panic-stricken. FamiliaritS
breeds contempt, even with death.
g Our battalions, / felt. had "gradu-
ated" soon after we became, nom.
inally at least, part Of the British
Fourth Army, and more immediately
of the British Third Corps and of the
Australian Corps under Sir Jonn
Monash, though actually we were un-
der the administrative control OF an
American Corps-there having been
at one time ten American divisions
with the British.
At about that time the spirit OF the
Allies was not the best. The Ger
mans still held the upper hand; they
were still on enemy ground, and what
ever efforts British and French units
had made TO push the enemy towards
the Rhine had met little success.
Lieutenant General Monash was
getting ready to make a desperate et
fort to regain the terrain around the
now famous village of Hamel. which
had a certain tactical Importance. He
asked for American troops to partici'
pate in the proposed offensive and set
July ! as the day Of attaci as a COM
pliment to the Americans.
Toward the end OF June American
Corps headquarters sent me an order
to select for the proposed attack m
aggregate of two and one-half bat
talions, or n total of ten war-strength
infantry companies. l not only has
tened to comply with the order. but,
realizing the importance of the oeca-
sion. took every precaution humanity
possible TO prevent fiasco and TO m
sure the safeguarding Of American
prestige.