Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-23

headquarters with the information
that if Gen. Brett's troops were being
held up. there was reason for it.
But they were not held up often,
1t is a matter OF record that from
November / to November the S0th
Division. with Gen. Brett comma nding
! the assaulting brigade, moved for
ward for 1855 miles in an air line;
| that 1t always led; it captured two
| Huns for every man wounded: 1t
captured one machine gun for every
! man wounded; it captured one cannon
| for every 10 men wounded. to say
| nothing of quantities Of munitions
and other stores, and it accomplished
these results. of vast Importance to
the success of the general operation.
| with far smaller percentage of casu.
alties than any other division en-
gagged"
Praised by Corps Commander.
It was during the drive Of Novem.
Der that the commander of the LIST
American Army Corps, telegraphed to
the division: 1.-The corps commander
Is particularly pleased with the per-
sistent. intelligent work accomplished
by your division today. He is further
DESTROYS that his congratulations and
appreciation reach Gen. Lloyd M.
Brett, commanding the brigade which
bore the brunt Of the burden"
The division commander. Maj. Gen.
A. A. Cronkhite, in recommending
Gen. Brett for promotion under date
Of November 6. 1918, paid him the
following unusually glowing tribute:
There can be no question whatever
as to his fitness for this advancement.
both personally and professionally,
and there can likewise be no question
that he has earned this advancement
by long and honorable military rec.
ord which, as far as I know, is not
excelled by that of any officer now
on the active list in the service Of the
United States"
Gen, Brett, however, remained
brigadier general throughout the war.
to retire after its close in his pre.war
rank Of colonel. He never discussed
his failure to receive a promotion
which had elevated other officers be-
low him on the Army list.
INDUCES In Renaissance.
But members Of his mess remem.
Der one evening at dinner, long after
the armistice had been signed. when
the general was In q rarely reminis-
cent mood, that he recalled a day 20
years before when he rode over the
plains to the West, fresh from West
Point, in command Of classmates
going with him to join their first COM
mand under Gen. Miles. He named.
one by one, the officers who had
ridden with him. Some of them were
dead. Some had been retired. But
few were commanding divisions while
he still comma nded a brigade. On
that day 40 years before ne mad rank
ed them all, but In the Juggling Of
the promotion list and the strings
that are pulled here and there some.
times In the Army. they ranked him
now. Some Of his superiors, 40 years
before, had not yet been admitted to
West Point. That was as near as he
ever came to comment on his failure
to receive the two stars Of ma jor
general, which many Army officers
OF high and low rank contepded he
deserved.
Gen. .Brett's service in France was
officially recognized again on October
30. 1919, In general orders No. Is, is.
sued by the division commander, which
read: "It is his desire to officially ex-
press his high appreciation of the ex-
ceptional services rendered, and 1t
gives him great pleasure to honorably
mention Brig. Gen. Lloyd M. Brett,
u. S. A., commanding the 160th In
fantryt Brigade. for special efficiency
in the conduct of his brigade in the
marked successful operations resulting
in the complete evacuation Of the Dan.
neveux sector. and in the operations
in the Bots des Ogons."
In addition to his honors from his
own country, Gen. Brett was an officer
NJ fhAt TSArinn NJ H0unr ond vo
awarded the Croix de Guerre with