Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-27
SECOND DIVISIONS
RECORD IS DRAWN
BeIIeau Wood Battle History,
Written by Thomason,
Checked Thoroughly.

By the Associated Press.
When 1000 former members of the
I'd Division meet in Boston. May 80 to
June /, eleventh anniversary Of the be-
ginning of the Belleau Wood engage
ment their celebrated historical COM
mittee will announce the completion of
the Belleau Wood monograph.
They may read the history that they
made in 10 high-casualty attacks in
Belleau Wood, June l. to July Ia. 1918
1t comes from the pen of John W.
Thomson, jr., or-illustrator. cap
tain of the United States Marines, and
is part of the gigantic I'd Division his
torical section project in which German
original army records were checked with
those of the American Army to insure
accuracy. Capt. Thomson spent three
months in Germany. Every statement
of his monograph is supported by refer
ence. Maps of his own sketching will
aid the I'd Division regulars" in their
reniniscing over the Belleau battle
ground. And Capt. Thomasons clear
cut word pictures will bring back the
scenes. Turn the pages:
Sun Hot and MerciIess.
1.-THE weather was clear and the sun
hot and mercileSs on this last day of
May. The hard Rue Nationale and the
lesser roads bore top dressing of dust
as fine and white as talcum powder
The dust rose and hung thick in the
still air, so that each motor column went
in cloud of its own making. The
camions went up the right of the road;
on the other side, coming down, was the
melancholy flow of refugees country
side in flight. The Boche had broken
through again"
The small bluff bound town of Belleau
and the Chateau, its "Bois de Belleau"
game preserve, turned battle-ground, ap-
pear:
"--rees in full leaf, coked with
heavy underbrush. Within the woods
a surprising variety of contour, I'M
guessed from the map. Knobs rise alb
ruptly. Great boulders thrust up from
the ground. an outcropping of these
crowned the height in the south face
OF the wood-gray, enormous stones,
leprous with moss, and frost-split. Of
fering ideal natural protection from
shell fire and location for machine
guns"
German Impressions Recorded.
A verbatim translation of German
military experts first impressions of
Americans in action, June /, 1918:
Gangs of men-10 to 20 strong
Brave conduct. Alcohol. Some of the
wounded carried on despite their in
Jur1eS. Our men have thrown granadeS
into those clumps of men; enemy didn't
pay any attention to them. Not bit of
knowledge of tactical principles Shoot
while they walk, with their rifles under
their arms. Garry no grenades, but use
knives, pistols, rifle-butts and bayonets
Big, husky fellows. every one of them
CRowdies) Absolutely no military
bearing"
The thick of battle:
Small, desperate groups rushed
more than half way across the open
wheat between the woods and the
Lucy-Toray road their bodies were sal
vaged weeks afterward."
Savage, Close Fighting.
Again
THE days fighting had been OF the
closest and most savage description.
The woods were SO thick that all action
was local and individual The Ger
mans had posted snipers and machine
gunners in trees, and every path and
clearing was commanded from masked
positions"
The Belleau Wood monograph Is third
In series of five which will comprise
complete war history Of the End Dr.
vision. After being proof-read for ac-
curacy by 100 commanders, the history
will be simmered down to text book
size for use in military schools.