Evening star., 1937-08-15

than a feet of fishermen. Not all
tales of Camp Mcclellan, for that
was minor detail in the history of
the Blue and Gray, though a mighty
interesting one; for it was in Alabama
that the District boys and their SOL
dier friends from neighboring States
had the rough edges rubbed of them
Rough edges that have to be smoothed
over before you can really stand in
that mans Army.
Overseas is where the boys OF the
Blue and Gray shone. They are mod
est about their accomplishments, as
BELTS an outfit that took it all in its
stride. In the New York Times Cur
rent History, however. volume Xxx,
there are just few lines that speak
rather we'll of the 29th Succinct
praise may be found in cold, matter
Prisoners captured. 2,l87; battle
deaths. $40; wounded, 5,219. OF these
wounded, many died in after years
the toll of battle.
NCLE SAM placed AZ divisions In
France during the World War.
but only % saw actual combat. OF
these, seven were Regular Army
divisions, and the rest equally divided
between National Guard and National
Army.
Twas in August, 1917, that the
boys started their period of training
Some of them came as raw recruits.
Some did not have equipment The
task their commanding oficer faced
was not an easy one; but, as he said
afterWard, Thanks to the adapta-
bility of the average American, his
sportsmanlike qualities, his inherent
patriotism, and his zeal to succeed
in the enterprise Immediately before
him order soon came out of
apparent chaos and the organization
of the division was effected. A fight
ing unit destined to win for itself i'm
mortal glory in the greatest Of all
wars"
That was the tribute of Gen. Morton,
two years after it was all over, As he
looked back upon the glorious deeds
of the Blue and Gray from his head
quarters in the Hawaiian Department
at Honolulu. The old general, q New
Englander and West Pointer, was
mighty proud Of his boys. Discipline
in the division from the very first was
OF the sternest kind" this old disciple
marian admitted. "Onicers and men
alike were ruled with an iron hand,
but I came to love them as father
loves his children"
Military efficiency was the standard
held up to one and all in the 29th
Division, and the boys Of the Blue
and Gray accepted the order. They
went out soldiers and they came back
soldiers. After terrific Winter
the worst weather Alabama ever saw,
they declare-the transfer was made
from American soil to French, and
in July, 1918, the division found itself
ordered to take over q section Of the
Alsatian front. The Americans re-
lieved French division.
For 81 days the Blue and Gray was
under fire. Almost three months in
the trenches. Hardened and disci-
plined, their FIRST baptism of fire
found them prepared for battle. They
| fought like veterans.
FOR those who come to Washing
ton, memories of those thrilling
days in France will furnish the remi-
niscence. They'll recall how, toward
the last of September, 1918, they were
| transferred to the 1st American Army,
How they suffered the discomforts
of night marches. They relieved the
Yankee Division at one point-and
that's when the de-lousing became
necessary. did those babies have
cooties." one Of the 29th remarked
the other day. Did they? But that
wasn't the half Of it. Take the dirty
billets, bivouacs in the cold, clammy
woods. Boy, boy, boy!
In October of 1918 the Blue and
Gray bivouacked in and around the
historic city of Verdun. Headquar.
ters were located there. Some Of the
heaviest fighting and most severe ar.
tillery fire In the World War tool
place at Verdun-and the District oi
Columbia boys, and their companion
from Maryland, Virginia and New Jsr.