The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-05-08
CHAPTER XII

In the organization of our armies
for the World war it was evident that
if any considerable numbers were TO
be sent abroad an additional force
would be needed over and above the
regular army and the National Guard.
The War department therefore estab-
lished what was called the national
army. to be composed principally of
men who were TO come into service
through the draft Most of the d.
visions of the national army were or
ganized in August and September, 1917.
As the time approached to begin the
training of the smaller units il was
found that after equipping the special
troops urgently needed in France there
was little equipment left even for the
additional men required to fill up the
National Guard.
Unfortunately. this made II neces-
sary TO delay calling out men for the
units of the national army. However.
considerable numbers were called into
service and proceeded with prelimi-
nary instruction. but the lack of equip
ment seriously delayed their progress.
Visiting BIleting Areas.
My diary notes the following:
Paris. Tuesday. August 81. 1917.
Visited billeting areas of Forty
seventh French and our First d.
vision with General Petain on
Sunday
Inspected ST. Dizier regulating
station and witnessed attack near
Verdun yesterday Visited French
hospital at Souilly.
Returned this morning with Nj.
Painleve, minister of war. on his
train.
As | had accepted General Petain's
invitation TO see the French offensive
that was to take place August 20.
motored to French general headquar-
tiers on the 18th. accompanied by Col
onei Palmer and Captain Boyd. and
after dinner left with General Petain
and two or three members of his staff
on his train for an inspection of
French and American troops the fol-
lowing day. We reached Gondrecourt
the next morning and began the day
with a review of the, French Forty-sev-
enth infantry division. which was pa
raded on a prominent plateau near
HOudeIaincourt.
This division had been in every seri.
Gus engagement Of the war and its
losses had been very heavy. as could
be easily surmised from The youthful
appearance of the officers. most of
whom had risen from the ranks TO re-
place casualties among their seniors.
General Petain told them that because
of it's fine record the division had
been given the special honor of assist
ing in the instruction of the American
First division.
Visit Our Troops in Training.
Accompanied by Brigadier General
Bundy. Colonel Cruikshank and others.
| took General Petain to see some of
our troops being trained in throwing
automatic rifle. An amusing story was
told US in connection with grenade
instruction. One of the men insisted
on throwing his grenade Immediately
after setting the fuse instead of wait
ing till he slowly counted seven. which
was necessary 81 the explosion would
occur as the grenade reached its
destination.
After being cautioned several timel
by his officer the man said: Captain.
| just can't hold these grenades any
longer because can feel them SWELL
ing in my hand"
We visited several villages occupied
by French and American troops. As
we passed through our billets and in
spected the kitchens, Petain particu-
larry inquired about the componenrs
of our ration and the manner of cook
ing and serving meals The French
soldiers were furnished wine in place
of coffee provided for our men and the
allowances differed in other respects.
ours containing a larger meat COM
ponent. But when ii came to cooking
the French were ahead of us. although
our men preferred our own food TO
either the French or British ration.
Wounded Nurse Decorated.
Motoring to Souilly. the headquar-
tiers of the French Second army. we
met Major General FayoIle. command
ing the group of armies of the center
and Major General Guillaumat. COM
mander of the Second army. whose
chief of staff explained in detail the
plan of the battle that was to take
place next day. We had luncheon with
General Fayolle. whom later | came to
regard as one of the ablesf of the
French generals. In appearance he
was rather frail. no longer young. but
active and alert.
On our visit to the military hospital
at SOuilly General Petain decorated
Mdlle. de Baye. nurse. with the croix
de guerre. as she lay on a cot suffering
from severe wound inflicted by a
piece of shell two days before When
he told her who | was she said: II
am glad you are here. general. TO see
how a French woman can suffer for
her country" She was so happy. hos
ever. that ] am sure that for the u.o
meni she had entirely forgotten Der
pain
TO BE CONTINUED,