•A* ^ W / ^ •$ V 7 ^'/ V""*V v^v «.*•«•< k .* * • • » - « V O * • • • ' 1 v^o^ B*°<* s - •V d. .ft. II I STORY OF The 126™ INFANTRY Pj* /iV THE WAR WITH GERMANY 2 r EMIL B . GANSSER Under the iJirection oj the /^6th Infantry A s soc iation , A. E. F. ILLUSTRATED ONE VOLUME GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN D7b9 1^0 COPYRIGHT, 1920 126th INFANTRY ASSOCIATION, A. E. F. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. This volume is dedicated to the memory of our fallen heroes and comrades who made the supreme sacrifice so that we might live, and who are now resting in that final sleep in the fields of France and Germany. They shall never be forgotten by their comrades who survived them. PREFACE The story of the service, experiences and battles of the 126th Infantry, Thirty- second Division (National Guard) , during the World War, from July 15, 1917, to the month of June, 1919, when the last elements of the regiment were mustered out of military service, is told in these pages. Also a chapter of the early history of the regiment dating from the Civil War is included. This book represents much research work in the investigation and examination of orders, battle maps, operations reports, company log books, and other documents, as well as personal recollections, and all statements herein contained were carefully prepared and verified as to their correctness before they were printed, and we can assure the reader that the events relating to the regiment are truly stated and authentic in every respect. The author fully realizes that when these pages are printed they will become a permanent record of the military service rendered by the regiment in the greatest war in history, and for that reason much more time and labor has been expended than was at first anticipated, so that the chief value of this volume may lie in the correctness of the facts herein related. Yet, it is recognized that in a book of this kind, there may be some discrepancies in details of minor importance, but hours and often days, has been spent in collecting and preparing material facts, even for a single page. The plan of this volume presents the story of the activities and experiences of the regiment in a chronological order from day to day, from the time of its muster into the military service of this country in 1917, to the time of its muster out. What is said of the experiences of the 126th Infantry in this book is in many respects fairly typical of the experience of most infantry regiments which served during the war V with combat troops on active fronts and no claim of special credit for the regiment is made in these pages on account of the service rendered by it. To their credit the fighting ability and achievements of the regi- ment was never extolled or exploited by its personnel, as was too often the case in other organizations, and what is said in this respect about the regiment must also be said of the other units composing the 32nd Division. Whatever glory, whatever honor or fame was acquired by the regiment and division came voluntarily and unsolicited from those outside of the division. It was at first intended to print the picture of every man in the regiment who lost his life in action, but want of space made this impos- sible, although it is hoped that this might be done in the future in the form of a supplement to this volume. However, the picture of nearly one-half of the more than 7,300 members of the regiment are published, including the officers killed, of whom pictures could be obtained. The battle-maps are reprints of actual maps used during the fighting and most of the views are reprints of official army photographs taken by the U. S. Signal Corps. The late war produced many new weapons and methods of war- fare, and while our Government declared war against Germany on April 6, 1917, our Regular Army Staff was woefully unprepared to meet these new conditions and it was not until late in 1917 that our troops began to receive some training and instruction in modern warfare as developed in Europe after more than three years of fighting. It was said that only about 36 per cent of the officers of the regular army reached France and but very few of these saw service in the line on fighting fronts, and the front line troops engaged in battle were led mostly by officers of the National Guard, Reserve Corps and non- commissioned officers of the regular army given temporary officers' commissions for the duration of the war. If one were to express an opinion on what was the most essential to the effectiveness of troops in battle, he would unhesitatingly say "esprit de corps," and for the next most essential, "more esprit de corps." It is the spirit, loyalty and pride of the troops which carries them forward in the stress of battle. If a proper "esprit de corps" exists, the other essentials of a good soldier, such as discipline and knowledge in the art of warfare, are easily and rapidly acquired, and, as developed in this war, our troops respond to this "esprit de corps" more readily under a democratic system and administration of army government. EMIL B. GANSSER, December 1, 1920. Formerly Captain 126th Infantry. CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGES Early History of the Regiment — Service in 1898 — Mexican Border Service — Declaration of War with Germany 9- 18 CHAPTER II Period July 15, 1917, to January 26, 1918— Mobilization at Grayling — Reorganization of Regiment at Waco 19- 36 CHAPTER III At Port of Embarkation — Overseas on U. S. Transport Presi- dent Grant — Submarine Scare — Arrival in France 37- 48 CHAPTER IV Laboring in Service of Supply and Training in France — At St. Nazaire — In Tenth Training Area 49- 58 CHAPTER V In Trenches in Alsace — First Casualty — Enemy Raids— Spies —Life in Trenches 59- 88 CHAPTER VI From Alsace to Chateau Thierry — Journey to Verberie — Night March Into Battle— Under Shell-Fire 89- 96 CHAPTER VII The Aisne-Marne Offensive — In First Attack — Capture of Hill 212 and Jomblets Woods — Driving Enemy Across the Vesle— Cited in General Orders 97-132 CHAPTER VIII Rest Period After Marne Offensive — Moving to Croutoy — Attached to 10th French Army 133-139 CHAPTER IX The Oise-Aisne Offensive — Shock Troops— Over the Top — Enemy Counter Attack — "Les Terribles" — Colors Dec- orated by Gen. Mangin 140-158 CHAPTER X Period Between Oise-Aisne and Argonne Offensive — In Join- ville Rest Area— To the Front Again 159-161 CHAPTER XI The Meuse-Argonne Offensive — Attack in the Fog on October 9th — Piercing Kriemhilde Stellung 162-197 CHAPTER XII Period October 20 to November 16, 1918 — Resting in Mont- faucon Woods — Entering Line Second Time — Armistice- _ 198-206 CHAPTER XIII PAGES The March to the Rhine — Marching Through Luxemburg — Crossing Into Germany — Crossing the River Rhine 207-218 CHAPTER XIV In the Army of Occupation — Christmas in Germany — Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge — Division Review 219-229 CHAPTER XV Departure For the United States 230-232 CHAPTER XVI The Auxiliary Troops of the Regiment 233-235 CHAPTER XVII Comments by Division and Brigade Commanders- 236-243 CHAPTER XVIII Extracts From Some Newspaper and Magazine Articles 245-249 CHAPTER XIX List of Winners of D. S. C. and Other Decorations 251-253 CHAPTER XX Rosters of Regiment 255-347 MAPS France 50 Alsace and Belfort 60 Alsace Trench Sector :- 65 Marne Salient, German Map of 90 Marne Offensive Sector, Map of 98- 99 Juvigny, Map of 144 Verdun and Montfaucon Sector, Map of 164 Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Map of 168-169 PORTRAITS Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge 7 Colonel William T. Mollison 215 Pvt. Joseph W. Guyton and Lieut. Carl A. Johnson 70 Generals Hann, Covell and McCoy 240 POEMS After the Battle 132 Love, My Thoughts Go Back to You 158 March to the Rhine 206 Our Outermost Guard 218 A Doughboy's Idea of the Colors 243 The National Debt of Echternach and How It Was Paid 249 COLONEL JOSEPH B. WESTNEDGE Commanded Regiment from its organization to November 6, 1918, when, through sickness brought on by gas burns, he was evacuated to a hospital in Nantes, France, where he died November 26, 1918. HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY EARLY HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY CHAPTER I THE One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Infantry, United States National Guard, was organized from units of the Michigan Brigade of National Guard troops, which was a military organ- ization of volunteers. All of the units composing the regiment date since the Civil War and many of them are the offspring of organizations which existed prior to 1861, and which earned for themselves credit and glory during that conflict. However, none of the organizations now in service were organized and mustered into State service prior to 1870. Soon after 1865, numerous independent military companies were organ- ized throughout Michigan, composed chiefly of officers and men who had had service in the Great War of the Rebellion just ended. Early in the seventies the State began to feel the need for an organized force, as the old Militia "training day" system had fallen into disuse long previous to the outbreak of the Civil War and nothing had been devised to replace it after that war, and the independent military organizations then existing began to offer themselves for muster into the service of the State. Six of the units of the regiment date their organization and muster into State service during the ten years succeeding 1870, and the remaining units were mustered in from time to time until January 1, 1898, when there existed in the State altogether forty infantry companies organized into five regiments of eight companies each, which was the organization of the army prior to that time. The officers for these troops were chosen by the elective system, which system had been grafted on them by National legislation in the early part of the nineteenth century and tended more towards military inefficiency than any other one thing with which the volunteer troops HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY had to contend with in continuously striving for real efficiency. In Michigan, even in 1898, the tendency of thought was away from the elective system of officers, and by law the term of office for officers was extended to three years, with corresponding good results. When the Michigan National Guard was called for service in the war with Spain, it was composed of the First, Second, Third and Fifth regiments of infantry, and the First and Second Independent Battalions. The equipment in the possession of the Guard at that time was very poor and inadequate. The State had shelter tents and field cooking equipment for but one regiment. The infantry was armed with a breech-loading Springfield rifle and many of the guns had been in the hands of the troops for more than fifteen years, and damage to sights, fair wear and tear, and neglect had rendered them unserviceable. The weapon had long before become obsolete and should have been replaced with a modern rifle using smokeless powder. When war was actually declared by President McKinley, he issued a proclamation, on April 23, 1898, calling for 125,000 volunteers, Mich- igan's quota being 4,104, to consist of four regiments of infantry, each of 1,026 officers and men. On the next day orders were issued for the mobilization of the entire Michigan National Guard, at Island Lake, and the re-organization of the different regiments in accordance with the new regulations and requirements was begun at once and the Second Independent Battalion was assigned to the Second regiment, giving it twelve companies of infantry, four being from Grand Rapids, four from Detroit, and one each from the cities of Muskegon, Grand Haven, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. The other regiments were simi- larly organized into twelve companies each. The regiments thus organ- ized were designated as the Thirty-first, Thirty-second, Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, following in numerical order the infantry regiments raised in the State for the Civil War, and the old Second regiment thus became the Thirty-second Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and on May 19, 1898, the regiment, under the command of Colonel William T. McGurrin, an able and efficient officer, left for Tampa, Florida, where it remained in training for several weeks and then was moved to Fernandina, Florida, for further training and embarkation for Cuba. In the meantime the regiment had been relieved of the old breech-loading Springfield rifles and was awaiting new arms and equipment in preparation for service in Cuba, orders for which had been issued and a U. S. transport was in the harbor when, just before the hour for sailing, the order for Cuban service was cancelled and the regiment returned to Island Lake, September 16, 1898, from whence the 10 EARLY HISTORY several companies departed to their home stations and were mustered out between October 25th and November 9th following. In 1899, the Michigan Guard was reorganized into three regiments of twelve companies each, and one independent battalion, and the State appropriations for National Guard purposes steadily increased from 1899 until, in 1917, it was ov:r $300,000, and in 1909 the elective system of promotion of officers was abolished and since then the Guard of Michigan has been concerned in improving and increasing its own efficiency, and in securing National legislation which would Federalize the National Guard of the country, which was realized in the much- abused but now completely vindicated law of June 3, 1916. Upon the reorganization after the Spanish-American war the regi- ment was designated as the Second Infantry, and April 22, 1915, it was changed to the Thirty-second Michigan Infantry, which designation it retained until changed to the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Infantry, U. S. National Guard, under which designation it served throughout the World War. Since 1899 the various units composing the regiment saw service in the Durand railroad riot and the prison riot at Jackson and, in 1913, the entire regiment saw service in the great copper strike in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. On June 19, 1916, the entire Michigan National Guard was called out for service on the Mexican border and the com- panies assembled at their armories and arrived at the State mobilization camp, at Grayling, Michigan, on June 25th. At this time the regiment had twelve infantry companies and one machine gun company in conformity with the regulations of organiza- tion of the War Department then in force. The various units were recruited from the southwestern part of Michigan and the home stations of the different companies were as follows: Company A, Coldwater; Company B, Adrian; Companies C and D, Kalamazoo, which companies comprised the first battalion and was commanded by Major J. Charles McCullough, of Lansing. Company E, Ionia; Company F, Grand Haven; Company G, Muskegon, and Company H, Big Rapids, com- prised the second battalion under command of Major Eli Falardieu, of Big Rapids. Companies I, K, L and M, all of Grand Rapids, comprised the third battalion under the command of Major Earl R. Stewart, The Machine Gun Company and Sanitary Detachment also came from Grand Rapids. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Louis C. Covell, of Grand Rapids, and Lieutenant Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge, of Kalamazoo, was second in command, and Captain Patrick R. Dun- nigan was regimental chaplain. On the first day of July, 1916, the regiment was mustered into the 11 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY Federal Service and in a few days left for El Paso, Texas, where it arrived on July 12th, and pitched tents at Camp Cotton, which was within three hundred yards of the Mexican boundary line. The Thirty- first Michigan Infantry had preceded the regiment by a week and were already established in Camp Cotton. The Thirty-third Michigan Infantry was held at Grayling and did not reach El Paso until the first week in October, when it also established camp in Camp Cotton, thus bringing the entire Michigan brigade together under the command of Brigadier General John P. Kirk, of Ypsilanti, Michigan. Camp Cotton was the nearest American camp to the boundary line and besides the Michigan brigade, the only other American troops in this camp was a brigade of Massachusetts National Guard and two infantry regiments of regulars. All the other troops assembled in the El Paso district during the Mexican border service were located in camps in the vicinity of Fort Bliss, and from five to seven miles from the border line. After a few days spent in establishing camp, the regiment entered upon a program of intensive training. The first four weeks of this period was devoted to close order drill during the forenoon in the vicinity of the camp, the last hour of which consisted of marching for the purpose of getting the men into condition for actual campaign service. Details were furnished from the regiment to guard important points in the vicinity of El Paso and, on August 15th, the regiment took over the entire outpost line along the Rio Grande River and the boundary line in New Mexico. This outpost line stretched from Fort Hancock, about fifty-one miles southeast of El Paso, to Las Crusces, New Mexico, about forty-seven miles to the northwest. On September 1st, the regiment was relieved from this duty and returned to Camp Cotton and the training schedule was again taken up, which consisted principally of field tactics and open warfare. The drill ground was a limitless stretch of sandy waste land located to the east of Fort Bliss and was known as the "Mesa." It was a three-mile hike from camp and the troops marched this distance daily, leaving camp at 7 o'clock in the morning and reaching the drill area by eight and then trudging through the sandy fields for the next three hours when the return to camp was made. This program was carried out daily except Satur- days, when a thorough show-down inspection was held. The Mesa was covered with every known variety of cactus and mesquite bushes; horned toads, lizards and other tropical insects infested the drill field, all of which was something new to the troops from the North, and the memory of this sandy waste cherishes no desire to return to it. The afternoons were devoted to schools and athletic work. The regiment 12 MEXICAN BORDER made rapid progress in its training and the strenuous work soon hard- ened the men into well-trained and seasoned troops and ready for any service south of the border. The city of El Paso was formerly a Mexican and Spanish town and was called by them "El Paso del Nord," which translated means the pass to the north, deriving its name from the fact that at this point the Rio Grande River, upon whose shores the town is located, crossed the Rocky Mountain range at its lowest point on the North American continent. El Paso lies at an elevation of thirty-seven hundred feet above sea level and its climate is rather pleasant. Across the river lies the Mexican town of Jaurez, which was connected with El Paso by two international bridges. During mid-day it was very hot, while the evenings and nights were always cool, due to the high altitude; but the dust storms was a disagreeable nuisance. On account of the dryness the sand and dust was easily stirred by the slightest breeze and when the velocity of the wind increased, the sand and dust formed regular clouds and at times were so thick that one could not see more than one hundred yards, and the tents and mess halls became filled with dirt. In the latter part of September, 55,000 troops were stationed in and around El Paso, and a provisional division of about 20,000 men was formed for the purpose of making a practice march as part of the training schedule. The regiment was brigaded with the First and Second South Carolina National Guard regiments and the destination was Las Cruces, New Mexico, and return. The division included artil- lery, cavalry, signal corps and engineer troops, together with the author- ized wagon trains, and the marching troops carried full field equip- ment, including the packs or blanket rolls. The route of march fol- lowed the Rio Grande River valley and, as suitable drinking water was not available along the route, it was supplied by means of tank cars hauled to each halting place over the Santa Fe Railroad, which also followed the river valley. On October 1st, the march began, and as the provisional division stretched out along the road, it formed a column nearly six miles long. The first night out it rained for the first time in a month and camp was established in the bottom lands along the river where the soil is com- posed of what is called doby mud, and this mud formed a sticky and slippery mass and clung to the shoes in large chunks, making walking difficult. The daily marches averaged twelve miles and, with the 32nd Michigan Infantry regiment in the lead, Las Cruces was reached on the afternoon of the fifth day. Here a halt was made for three days and another phase of the training schedule was carried out, which con- 13 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY sisted of field maneuvers, drill in open warfare and establishing and constructing trenches. On the third day a cold and drizzling rain fell most of the day and night, which interrupted the training, and orders to begin the return march the following day were issued, and the return hike began in another cold and drizzling rain which stopped about noon and began again towards evening and continued all night and every day during this return hike was a repetition of the first day. All this time the troops lived in shelter tents and the meals were cooked on the field buzzycots. The lessons learned and experience gained by the troops on this march proved to be of considerable value in the future service of the regiment during the World War. The training schedule was again taken up within a few days after reaching camp and the long daily hikes to the Mesa was resumed and the drills in open warfare were continued until shortly before the regi- ment was ordered home. During this period the schedule included two divisional reviews, which were held at Fort Bliss, and sham battles carried out on the Mesa, together with two or three tactical marches. During the fall months a football schedule was arranged for the troops in the El Paso district- as a part of the training in athletics carried out during the afternoons. Nearly every regiment in the dis- trict entered a team, which were divided in two sections. The schedule provided for a game between every team in each section and the cham- pionship for the district was to be determined by a game between the winners in each section. Many teams entered had men playing upon them who had won fame playing with the best college and school teams in the country and the playing throughout was of the highest class. The team representing the 32nd Michigan Infantry won all its games in its section and the final game for the championship was played January 1st on the High School stadium ground before a large crowd, with the team from the 8th Artillery as its opponents. After some fast and skilful playing, our team proved too much for the artillery men and defeated them by a decisive score and thereby becoming the champion football team of all the troops in the Mexican Border service. During the months of December and January, frequent flurries of snow fell, and as the weather began to turn cold, lumber was procured and the pyramidal tents were provided with floors and the side walls built up to a height of three feet, and sibley stoves were installed to provide against the cold, which was below freezing every night. Bath houses were installed soon after our arrival and these were equipped with hot water heating devices. While everything was made as com- fortable as could be and no one complained about the service, it was realized that the possibility of any active service across the border had 14 MEXICAN BORDER passed and orders for the return home of the regiment was anxiously awaited. These orders came the latter part of January, 1917, and on the 18th day of the month tents were struck and the camp site was thoroughly policed and cleaned up in a soldierly manner and early the next day the regiment entrained for its journey to Fort Wayne, Mich- igan, where it was to be mustered out of the Federal Service. The movement was made in three trains and the trip required nearly six days and Fort Wayne was reached on January 24th. The necessary paper work and checking of equipment preliminary to muster out was begun at once and by February 4th half of the regiment was mustered out and returned to their home stations. The muster out proceedings of the remainder of the regiment was stopped on account of an epidemic of scarlet fever, which required them to be held in quarantine, and on February 9th word was received that the German ambassador had been given his passports and that diplomatic relations with Germany was broken off by the President, Woodrow Wilson, and a telegram arrived directing that muster-out proceedings be discontinued until further orders. This new turn in events caused some excitement among the remaining troops and speculation was rife concerning its import, and the general belief was that war with Germany was imminent and that the troops remaining would not be mustered out after all. Three days later instructions were received to proceed with the mustering out pro- ceedings and the troops were mustered out of the Federal Service on February 15th and proceeded to their home stations. It was reported that had not a part of the regiment been mustered out before diplo- matic relations with Germany were broken the whole regiment would have remained in the Federal Service. As the various units of the regiment were mustered out of the Federal Service they automatically reverted to their former National Guard status as provided by the National Guard law adopted by Con- gress June 3, 1916. This Act had barely become a law when the National Guard was called into the Federal Service for Mexican Border service and the provisions of the law were now effective for the first time. All companies entered upon the work to recruit up to one hun- dred men, as required by the new law, and weekly drills in the home armories were held regularly. The training and experience acquired in the border service greatly increased the military efficiency of the Guard and this training was quickly imparted to the new recruits. Brigadier General John P. Kirk's term as commander of the Michigan Brigade expired, in accordance with the Michigan National Guard law, on Jan- uary 16, 1917, and Colonel Louis C. Covell, who was the senior colonel in the brigade, was advanced to the rank of Brigadier General and 15 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY placed in command of the entire brigade. As the Michigan law pro- vided for promotion by seniority, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph B. West- nedge, who was second in command of the regiment, was advanced to the rank of colonel and became commander of the regiment, and the senior major, Eli Farardieu became lieutenant colonel and Captain John H. Schouten, who was senior captain in the regiment, was pro- moted to the rank of major and placed in command of what was then the second battalion. During this period the relations between the German Imperial Government and the United States were becoming more strained every day and the country was drifting towards war as surely as rivers run toward the sea. In the month of December, 1916, the Imperial Gov- ernment issued an ultimatum to the world that it intended to declare a blockade of the entire eastern Atlantic coast and that all waters within a certain described boundary line extending some three hundred miles out into the ocean to be within the blockade zone and that unrestricted submarine warfare would be waged upon all vessels, whether beligerent or neutral, sailing within such zone, and that the intended blockade would become effective on and after February 1, 1917. This surely was a departure from all former established rules of international war- fare upon the high seas and a note containing the protest of the United States against the proposed action was sent to the German Imperial Government, and after an exchange of a series of notes, our govern- ment demanded and insisted that all unarmed vessels of neutral coun- tries be halted and searched to ascertain if they carried contraband of war before they were attacked, and if found not to have contraband, they must not be harmed and allowed to proceed on their journey. To this demand the Imperial Government agreed and forwarded its approval to Washington through its ambassador, but, notwithstanding its agreement, its ultimatum was put into effect on February 1st and some unarmed vessels were torpedoed by the undersea craft without warning and the German ambassador at "Washington was given his passports. Further notes were sent to the Imperial Government inti- mating that if it persisted in carrying out its unlawful intentions and sunk any more ships such acts would be regarded as unfriendly by this government, which intimations were ignored by the German Govern- ment and its policy of unrestricted submarine warfare was continued and on the 6th day of April, 1917, the Congress of the United States declared war against the Imperial German Government. The events following that eventful day are now history. The abdication of the German Kaiser and his flight to Holland to save his own hide are well known, as is also the efforts of many of his subjects to exhonorate him 16 DECLARATION OF WAR from the blame for the ruthless sinking of the Lusitania and similar kind of warfare which brought the United States into the war. It was not over the Kaiser's protest or contrary to his desire that piracy was resorted to, but with his approval and by his direct order, as is proved by a document obtained in this country from the files of the German foreign office and which reads as follows: (Strictly Secret.) General Headquarters, Jan. 6, 1917. I order the unrestricted submarine war to be started with full energy Feb. 1. You must make all necessary preparations immediately in such a way that this purpose is not prema- turely recognized by the enemy and the neutrals. The essential plans of operations are to be submitted to me. A copy of this is to be handed to the imperial chancellor. Wilhelm I. R. After war was declared the press of the country published an- nouncements that our entry into the war did not necessarily mean that the young manhood of the United States would be sent to France, but that our navy would be used to assist the Allies and that, perhaps, the regular army troops may be used, but to military men who followed the course of the war in Europe closely, this statement appeared to be untrue, as it was well known that what the Allies needed more than anything else in the crisis then pending was soldiers, and infantry sol- diers at that, and to military men there was never a doubt but that our young manhood would sooner or later be thrown into the maelstrom of the conflict raging in Europe. Within a few weeks after war was de- clared, orders were received to recruit all organizations up to their maximum war strength as provided by the new Federal National Guard law. The strength for infantry companies was one hundred and fifty men, and for the machine gun company it was seventy-two men, and for the supply company and sanitary detachment it was fifty-four and thirty-two men respectively. The new law made no provision for a headquarters company except the regimental band, which was a sep- arate unit. The new law required each organization to increase its strength approximately one hundred per cent and by July 1st the necessary quota was reached. The large number of new volunteers obtained during this period required a great deal of work in starting each soldier's service records and other data which had to be collected regarding each man, so that on June 1st the regimental commander, the regimental adjutant and sergeant major, and the battalion com- manders and their adjutants, medical officers and every company com- mander and first sergeant of every unit in the regiment was ordered on 17 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY active duty. Regimental headquarters was established at Kalamazoo and every armory was a scene of activity. The War Department announced that the entire National Guard of the country would be called out on two different dates, July 15th and August 5th, and the Guard of Michigan was included in the call for the first date and the regiment was ordered into active service on July 15th, on which day its service during the World War began. Upper view : General Pershing on left and General Haan on right. French Div. Sentheim, Alsace, June 20, 1918. Lower: Inspection in Company street at Waco, Texas. Col. Laucagne, 9th 18 CHAPTER II THE TRAINING PERIOD FROM JULY 15, 1917, TO JANUARY 26, 1918 TRAINING PERIOD AT HOME ON JULY 15th, the various units of the regiment assembled at their home armories and the equipping and training of the troops began in earnest. Government rations were provided and the several armories were turned into barracks. Daily drill schedules were prepared and every forenoon and afternoon the com- panies went through calesthenics and close and extended order drill on the home commons. Within a few days every officer and man was given a physical examination by newly appointed medical reserve officers with the result that many good physical specimens of man were rejected for the slightest defect by these barnstormers. Men, phy- sically perfect otherwise, were rejected for being a half-pound under- weight or for some other trivial defect which did not impair their fit- ness for military service in the least. Many of those rejected imme- diately enlisted in the regular army and were accepted without ques- tion. Some men rejected for being under weight drank a few quarts of water or milk or ate weight-producing fruit or other food and submitted to another examination within a few hours after being rejected and were accepted. All other rejected men were later taken in the draft and accepted for military service. The total thus rejected was about eight or ten per cent, but their places were quickly filled by volunteers on the waiting lists. After the physical examinations were completed, all officers and men were vaccinated and everyone received a triple injec- tion of anti-typhoid serum, which was administered on three different occasions. On August 5th, the regiment, in common with all national guard troops in the country, was automatically transferred to and became a part of the Army of the United States. With these preliminaries out of the way, the training at home stations was again taken up and con- tinued until August 16th, when the movement of the regiment to the mobilization camp at Grayling began. In every city where a company was located the home folks turned out in great crowds to bid their soldier representatives God-speed on 19 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY the eventful journey, upon the first lap of which they were now embarking. Final partings and farewells, in many cases the last, were said between a proud father or a faithful mother with a heavy heart and their soldier son, and between the soldier husband and his loving wife and children. Many a heart throbbed and tears could not be re- pressed when the departing soldier fondly embraced and kissed his loved ones for the last time an instant before the train pulled out of the station. The farewells said, the trains steamed away amid waving handkerchiefs and flags, the ringing of bells and tooting of shop whistles, and here and there in the crowds could be seen an anxious mother, wife or sweetheart, with bowed head and moist eyes. The day will not soon be forgotten. MOBILIZATION AND TRAINING AT GRAYLING By night all of the Michigan National Guard was assembled at the state mobilization camp at Grayling, except the 33rd Michigan Infantry, which was retained in the Federal service after its return to Michigan from the Mexican border service, and was engaged in guarding important industrial points in Michigan; the 3rd Battalion being located at Camp Custer during its construction period. Most of the troops were for- tunate in arriving at Grayling early enough to put up the pyramidal tents before dark, while the late arrivals were forced to spend the night in pup tents. The following day was given over to establishing camp more permanently and necessary comforts were provided. The camp site at Grayling is one of nature's beauty spots and an ideal camp ground for troops. It contained nearly thirty square miles of territory and a small inland lake three miles long and a mile and a half wide, known as Portage Lake, lay almost in the center of the tract. It is surrounded by low hills, which slope gradually towards its shores, and camp was made on the hill slopes on the eastern and southern side of the lake. The entire tract consisted of rolling ground dotted here and there by several hills and a considerable portion was covered with second-growth trees and brush, making the site ideal for carrying out small maneuver problems. The soil was sandy, with a good turf, and whenever it rained the water soon disappeared into the ground, making marching and drilling more pleasant than it was before. This spot was not a stranger to many of us who had the pleasure of attending former military camps on these grounds, and the sight of it recalled many happy days of former years, and never did the regiment camp on a better or more beautiful site than this one. The Michigan National Guard consisted of the 31st, 32nd and 33rd Michigan Regiments of Infantry, which constituted the Michigan 20 21 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY Infantry Brigade, four troops of cavalry, the first field artillery, brigade headquarters detachment, two companies of engineers, two companies of signal corps troops, one field hospital and two ambulance companies. The entire Michigan Guard was under the command of Brigadier Gen- eral Louis C. Coyell, an officer of long military service, he having been a captain of an infantry company of the old 32nd Michigan Volunteers during the Spanish-American War and an officer in the Michigan National Guard ever since its reorganization after that war. The 32nd Michigan Infantry regiment was commanded by Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge, who also was a captain during the war of 1898. Lieut.-Col. Eli V. R. Falardeau was second in command, and Major Earl R. Stewart commanded the third battalion, Major Jay C. McCullough the first, and Major John H. Schouten the second battalion. Captain John P. DeRight, Kalamazoo, was regimental adjutant, and Captain Patrick R. Dunnigan was regimental chaplain. The different companies were com- manded by the following captains: Company A, Roscoe L. Graves, Coldwater; Company B, John Benner, Adrian; Company C, Robert L. Wright, Kalamazoo; Company D, Frank VanLandegent, Kalamazoo; Company E, George R, Hogarth, Ionia; Company F, George L. Olson, Grand Haven; Company G, Carl M. Field, Muskegon; Company H, Charles L. McCormick, Big Rapids; Company I, Louis J. Donovan, Grand Rapids ; Company K, James Sinke, Grand Rapids ; Company L, Jess W. Clark, Grand Rapids; Company M, Emil B. Gansser, Grand Rapids; Machine Gun Company, William Haze, Grand Rapids; Supply Company, Walter N. Burgess, Grand Rapids; Sanitary Detachment, Ernest C. Lee, Detroit. John Bickert, of Grand Rapids, was band leader. The total strength of the regiment was fifty-four officers and 1,950 enlisted men. Hardly had the regiment become settled in its new camp when training began in accordance with new drill schedules, which called for exercises in the forenoon and afternoon of every day except Saturdays, when the usual inspections took place, while Sunday was a day of rest. The system of training followed was that prescribed in the army text books then in force, supplemented by the experience acquired in the Mexican border service, and consisted chiefly in close and extended order drill, calesthenics, bayonet exercises, guard duty and the work- ing out of problems in minor tactics. Guard mount was held daily and every third afternoon the regiment marched in parade. As yet no manuals .of instruction in modern warfare as developed in the war in Europe had been received and no training was obtained at this camp in the use and purpose of new weapons, how to conduct trench warfare, new attack formations, defense against gas, and the many other and 22 AT MOBILIZATION CAMP new methods employed in modern warfare, and neither was any of the new weapons and equipment received while at Grayling. Not until the latter part of our stay here were any pamphlets received upon these new subjects and then too late to receive any instructions therein. However, what training was done served to put the troops in a fine physical condition and made the strenuous training and arduous work through which the regiment was yet to pass, easier to do and endure. Instruction in musketry was also given and every man was required to fire on the rifle range as many shots as the limited rounds of ammu- nition available would permit. Also, medical and vermin inspections were held weekly and many a boy fondly cherishes the memory of a short sojourn on "scrub hill," when he had his meals brought right up to his tent and otherwise lived as independent as a king. On a Sunday a review of the entire brigade was held for Governor Albert E. Sleeper, and after the review the troops assembled before a stand, where the Governor of Michigan delivered a memorable address, and reminded the troops of the brilliant deeds our forefathers from Michigan had performed in our country's defense in previous wars, and wished us well. A large number of people from the vicinity and nearby towns, as well as relatives and friends of the soldiers, witnessed the review. In fact, during our stay at Grayling there were visitors in camp every day, being mostly parents and relatives of soldiers who had come to see them once more before they were too far away. A few days later a new flag was presented to the regiment, with impressive cere- monies. The flag was the gift of the Knights of Columbus Lodge of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and was presented to the regiment by Rev. Dean O'Brien, in well-chosen words expressing most patriotic sentiments. During this period a number of lieutenants were detailed from the regiment to attend the army schools at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for a course of instruction in the use and operation of the new weapons which had come into use in Europe after three years of war. This instruction was in charge of officers and non-commissioned officers of the Allied armies sent to this country for that purpose. Each officer was given a course of instruction in some particular subject or weapon in which he was to specialize with the object that when they had completed the course prescribed, they would rejoin the regiment and later become regimental instructors in these new specialties. The regiment was fortunate in having many officers in its personnel with long military service and experience, and under their instruction the training progressed rapidly. All the field officers and many of the company commanders were vet- erans of the Spanish-American War, as well as many enlisted men, and all except the recent recruits, had seen service on the Mexican border 23 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY and the fostering of Esprit de Corps was not overlooked. A spirited, but friendly, rivalry existed between the companies and when on parade every man was on his toes doing his level best so that his company might have the straightest line when passing in review, and any man who made a misstep or was out of line on these parades at once became the subject of the severest criticism by his comrades. Every man learned to be proud of his company or platoon and swore that it was the best in the regiment. It was this spirit that made the regiment what it was, and which carried it ever forward through the trying days when in action. This spirit and Esprit de Corps prevailed throughout the regi- ment, from the Colonel down to the lowest private, and every member was proud of the regiment. Late in August it became known that under orders of July 18, 1917, the 32nd Division was to be organized from National Guard troops of Michigan and Wisconsin, and that Camp MacArthur, Waco, Texas, was to be the southern training camp of the division, having been changed to this camp from Houston, Texas, which had been previously desig- nated. It was now the first part of September, and as the days passed by an undercurrent of suspense pervaded the regiment, with everyone anxiously inquiring when we would start on the second lap of our journey. But being up here in the northern wilds of Michigan, where everything was so quiet and still, the thoughts of war existing had almost faded from our memory. Newspapers, usually a day or two old, were eagerly scanned for the latest news from the front. The first thing looked for was the headlines for news that the war had not ceased, but was still going on, for in such a peaceful place as this camp site was, one's thoughts could not be associated with the realization of war, and many had expressed a fear that the regiment would never get out of the State before the war would be over. After being reassured that the conflict had not ceased we just dug in harder and took on more muscle so as to insure a knockout when the Hun came within our reach. The usual camp stories and rumors went the rounds and many a boy spent hours going all over camp for a pail of taps, or to borrow a few yards of guard line for his corporal, and other similar missions, all of which was very mystifying to the recruit, but yet deemed neces- sary by the old-timers as part of the soldier's training. About this time a stir was caused in camp when word was received that the Michigan Ambulance Company, No. 1, was ordered to proceed to some unknown place to join and become a part of the 42nd National Guard Division, which had been named the Rainbow Division, on account of its being composed of organizations of National Guard Troops from fifteen different states. This company was the first unit 24 CAMP MAC ARTHUR to leave Michigan and was soon to be on its way to France. That the regiment would move soon became apparent when instructions were received at regimental headquarters to detail a company of infantry to proceed to Camp MacArthur to prepare the camp site to be occupied by the regiment and to guard material, and on September 8th, Company L was detailed on this duty and entrained the following day, arriving at Waco, Texas, on September 12th. On the 14th orders were issued by Brigade Headquarters to the regiment to entrain on the following day. Our regiment was the first to leave and every one worked with a will to pack up and load the equipment on the cars, which had been placed on sidetracks near camp. The next day, on September 15th, the regi- ment entrained and started on the second stage of its journey. It took three trains to haul the regiment, and the first train, carrying the first battalion and regimental headquarters, left camp at noon; the second train, carrying the second battalion and supply company, left late in the afternoon, and the last train, carrying the 3rd battalion and machine gun company, left camp at 10 p. m. TRAINING AT WACO The rail route followed took the regiment through the city of Kala- mazoo, where it was planned to have the regiment parade, but on account of poor train service, only the troops on the first two trains paraded. The townsmen of Colonel Westnedge turned out in force to greet their distinguished soldier and displayed their high esteem for him by presenting him with a thoroughbred riding horse. After nearly four days and nights of traveling, which took the regiment through the states of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, it arrived at Camp MacArthur on September 19, 1917, rather a little weary after the long trip. Major Mathew Hansen, Q. M. C, Michigan National Guard, who was one of the first officers to arrive at Camp MacArthur as Constructing Quartermaster, had the camp almost completed when we arrived. Row upon row of mess halls greeted our eyes, and innumerable large warehouses and hospital barracks had been erected, all scattered over a field nearly two miles square. The camp site was near the northwestern outskirts of the city of Waco and through it all new roads had been laid out and constructed. However, there were no barracks for the troops and so they immediately became busy and put up the old army pyramidal tents, and the small nine-by-nine tents were used by the officers. A bath house and latrine had been erected for each company. The following day was employed in getting settled and cleaning up and advantage was taken of looking over the new camp site. The camp was laid out in sort of a square, the north side of which 25 HISTOEY OF THE 126th INFANTRY was set aside for the 63rd Infantry brigade, which included the Mich- igan Infantry, and the west side for the 64th Infantry brigade, and the Artillery regiments were on the east side. The space in the center was the drill field and large enough for all infantry and artillery troops to drill at the same time. The other units of the division occupied other portions of the camp. The regiment was about the first troops to arrive, with the exception of the individual units sent in advance. REORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT Major General James Parker was assigned to the division and he assumed command August 26, 1917, and on September 18th, a day before our arrival, he left for France on special duty. Brigadier Gen- eral William G. Haan, U. S. A., had arrived at camp to assume com- mand of the new artillery brigade to be formed, and being the senior officer present, he assumed temporary command of the division after Major General Parker left. There had also preceded us to this camp about one hundred and fifty newly commissioned officers from various training camps, and many of these officers were later assigned to the regiment and rendered most efficient service, they serving with the regiment throughout the war. Brigade headquarters, under General Louis C. Covell, had also preceded us and was soon involved in the difficult task of working out plans for reorganizing the infantry brigade in conformity with the new tables of organization adopted by the War Department and which was modeled after the organization adopted by the Allies, except that our units were considerably larger. No oppor- tunity was had to recruit our companies to 250 men while in Michigan, and which was now required. Under this new system the infantry brigade consisted of two regiments instead of three and this necessitated the breaking up of one Michigan regiment, and the 31st regiment being the junior, was broken up, part going to the 32nd regiment, part to the 33rd, and part of the 119th and 120th machine gun battalions. The 33rd regiment was designated the 125th Infantry and the 32nd became the 126th Infantry, and Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge was assigned to its command and accordingly, by general order number one, dated Septem- ber 23, 1917, he assumed command of the 126th Infantry, N. G. The new order of things called for twelve infantry companies consisting of one captain, three first lieutenants and two second lieutenants and 250 men each ; one machine gun company of one captain, two first and two second lieutenants and 172 men; one headquarters company (a new unit) of one captain, three first and two second lieutenants, and 289 men; one supply company of one captain and one first lieutenant and 140 men, 26 REORGANIZATION and a sanitary detachment of four medical officers and 52 men. Regi- mental headquarters consisted of one colonel, one lieutenant colonel, one regimental adjutant with rank of captain and one chaplain; the enlisted personnel were members of the headquarters company. Each battalion headquarters consisted of one major and one adjutant with rank of first lieutenant; its enlisted personnel was drawn from the headquarters company. In reorganizing the regiment, original company organizations was preserved, but consolidation was necessary to bring the companies to the required strength from the formerly prescribed strength of 150 men. The second battalion was broken up and distributed among the other two battalions. In the first battalion, companies A, B and C remained intact and company E of the second battalion became com- pany D of the first; the members of old company D, 32nd regiment, were consolidated with company C and the other companies of the battalion. This still left the battalion short over 250 men. In the third battalion companies K and M remained intact; L company became the headquarters company, and I company was consolidated with K and M ; company F of the old second battalion became company L in the third, and company H became company I, and the members of company G were consolidated with the new I and L companies. Men were trans- ferred from the newly formed companies to the machine gun, head- quarters and supply companies to bring them somewhere near their required strength. Five companies were transferred to the regiment from the 31st Michigan to make up the second battalion. The com- panies transferred were G, H, I, L and M; companies G and H re- mained intact, while company I became company E, and company L became company F. Company M was consolidated with F and E companies. All officers were transferred with the companies and in order to have the required number of officers all second lieutenants were pro- moted to first lieutenants and a little later examination of enlisted men for promotion was held and 29 successfully passed and were commis- sioned second lieutenants and assigned to the various companies. The 31st Michigan Infantry did not reach camp until September 29th and final reorganization could not be completed until after its arrival. In the final windup of the reorganization it was found that the regiment was short a number of first and second lieutenants, as well as about 1,060 enlisted men. The ranks of lieutenants were filled temporarily from among the reserve officers who were attached to the regiment. Also a surplus of a major and five captains was caused by the new change, and these were attached to the regiment until assigned to other units where vacancies existed, some of the surplus officers remaining with the regiment until long after reaching France. The regiment was 27 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY divided into three battalions of four infantry companies each, and each infantry company was divided into a company headquarters section of 18 men and four platoons of 58 men each commanded by either a first or second lieutenant. Each platoon was divided in squads or groups of hand-bombers, chau-chat rifle teams, grenadiers and riflemen. The machine gun company was divided into three platoons of six guns each, and the headquarters company consisted of a company headquarters section, enlisted staff personnel, band section, orderly section, pioneer platoon, signal platoon, trench mortar platoon and a one-pound cannon platoon; only the two latter platoons were classed as combatant troops. The supply company and sanitary detachment were classed as non- combatants. With the reorganization thus effected the new 126th Infantry, National Guard, was officered as follows: Commander, Col. Joseph B. Westnedge; second in command, Lieut. Col. Eli V. R. Falardeau; Adjutant, Captain John P. DeRight; Chaplain, Captain Patrick R. Dunnigan. First Battalion, Major Jay C. McCullough, commander; 1st Lieut. Edward W. Minier, adjutant. Company A, Capt. Roscoe L. Graves; Company B, Capt, John Benner; Company C, Capt. Robert L. Wright; Company D, Capt. George R. Hogarth. Sec- ond Battalion, Major Albert C. Wilson, Ann Arbor; 1st Lieut. Lewis J. Armstrong, Detroit, adjutant. Company E, Capt, Arthur Volland, Ann Arbor; Company F, Capt, Richard F. Smith, Jackson; Company G, Capt. James 0. Cathcart, Detroit; Company H, Capt. Fred W. Beaudry, Detroit. Third Battalion, Major Earl R. Stewart, commander; 1st Lieut. Walter L. Cornell, Grand Rapids, adjutant. Company I, Capt. Charles L. McCormick; Company K, Capt. James Sinke; Company L, Capt. George L. Olson; Company M, Capt. Emil B. Gansser. Machine gun company, Capt. William Haze; Headquarters company, Capt. Jess W. Clark; Supply company, Capt. Walter N. Burgess, and Sanitary detachment, Major Ernest G. Lee. No change occurred in any of the commands until after the regi- ment reached France, with the exception that Lieutenant Colonel Eli V. R. Falardeau was relieved, December 28, 1917, from service with the regiment on account of physical unfitness for overseas service and was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel George C. Waldo, who became a surplus officer on the disbandment of the 31st Michigan regiment. This reorgan- ization caused days and days of labor on the part of officers and the enlisted regimental and company staff, as the records of every officer and man in the regiment had to be changed to properly record the transfers made and was entirely a matter of paper work, and there was a sigh of relief as it was finally completed. The training was again taken up the third day after our arrival 28 REPLACEMENTS FROM CUSTER under drill schedules which had been prepared by General Parker's staff, and the first hour consisted of a march with constantly increasing cadency which reached one hundred and forty steps per minute during the last ten minutes; the remainder of the schedule was a repetition of our training at Grayling, and the work continued regardless of the re- organization which was going on at the same time. However, this schedule was soon changed and intensive training was begun in accord- ance with instructions contained in "Infantry Training," which pamph- let prescribed a course of sixteen weeks. An infantry school of arms was established by the Division and various officers and non-commis- sioned officers of the regiment were assigned to this school for training in the new infantry specialties, and upon completing their courses they returned to the regiment to instruct companies, platoons and squads in the use of the new infantry weapons. The course included instruction in field fortifications, musketry, bayonet, chau-chat rifle, hand-grenades, gas defense, one-pound cannon, trench mortar, machine gun, and topog- raphy. The first four weeks' program was completed shortly after the reorganization had been effected; the second four weeks' period was more intensive than the first period. The companies were on the drill field at 7:30 a. m. and drilled until noon. Then from 1:30 until 4.30 p. m., leaving little time for recreation. This program was only broken on Saturday, when inspections were held in the forenoon, while the afternoon and Sundays were holidays. During this same period classes for instruction in the various infantry specialties were carried on within the regiment, which consisted mostly of non-commissioned officers who were to instruct the platoons and squads of their companies when they completed their courses. REPLACEMENTS FROM CUSTER After the reorganization it was found that the Division was short several thousand men of its required strength and during the latter part of October the first batch of replacements arrived from Camp Custer, and about a thousand of these men were assigned to the regiment. A large number of these men were foreign born, some of whom could not speak our language, and many were aliens of enemy countries. Some men were transferred to our Division while patients in the hospital at Camp Custer and many others were physically unfit for overseas ser- vice or even any other kind of service. Some had applied for exemption on valid grounds and their cases were known to the authorities at Camp Custer to be pending and they should have been discharged there. Little regard was shown by the authorities in charge at Custer for the boy physically unfit, or the man with a family of children, who found him- 29 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY self drafted and taken into the grip of a machine which was incapable of differentiation in its rough treatment of humanity. For instance, one man had a wife and three small children ; he reported to his draft board and not knowing the language, he did not understand his rights for exemption and when he learned he was drafted he sought advice and made application for exemption and while this was pending he was sent to Camp Custer and, in spite of his pending application, the granting of which was evident, he was transferred to Camp MacArthur, where he was later discharged. Another man had a broken leg which had never properly healed or functioned and he was a chronic hospital case and was in the hospital at Custer when transferred ; he was later discharged for his disability. There were innumerable other cases of a similar char- acter but their mention here is not deemed necessary. In one company alone nine of these men were alien enemies, most of whom were later interned. Their cases should have been disposed of at Custer. Nearly twenty per cent of the men received from Camp Custer were discharged at Waco mostly for physical disability and they were returned to Mich- igan at an expense of seven cents a mile, an inexcusable waste of public funds. It seems as if the authorities in charge at Camp Custer had purposely sent us all the cripples they could muster, which was later admitted by officers who were at Custer at the time; the officials there must have known that our Division would see actual fighting before their troops could be ready and that the task of giving each man the consideration his case deserved at this time would consume much of the limited time at our disposal for preparing ourselves for the ordeal of battle. It looked like a case of the old army game of "passing the buck," but it seems incredable that so little regard could be shown for individuals and we are rather inclined to accept the more charitable view that efficiency at Custer was at fault. Those replacements who were found physically fit and remained with the regiment soon absorbed the spirit and esprit de corps prevailing in the regiment, and under the superior training received with our troops, they developed into most excellent soldiers and many were promoted or decorated for heroism in action. After the weeding out process was completed, the regiment was still short over two hundred men. Later, in November, another batch of replacements was received from Camp Custer, and what was said regarding the first batch can be said of this second batch; however, there was a sufficient number found fit so that the regiment, for the time being, had its required strength of 3,652 enlisted men. It should be remembered that our regiment was not housed in barracks like at National Army camps, but that they lived under canvas during the entire period at Camp MacArthur. At the head of each 30 TRAINING AT WACO company street was a mess hall large enough to accommodate 250 men at one time ; in the forward end a kitchen and refrigerator rooms were installed. A row of thirty-three pyramidal tents extended from the mess halls, and a short distance from the end of this row a bath house was installed. As our stay here would take us into the winter months, floors were issued for each tent and a sufficient amount of lumber to build a frame and sidewalls three feet high. In order to make the quarters more comfortable, additional lumber was bought from com- pany funds to build a frame to support the tents without a center pole and to increase the height of the sidewalls to five feet, and a tight- fitting door was also installed with a device for adequate ventilation. This work was completed in November and stoves for each tent were issued and every man had a cot and every tent was equipped with an electric light, so that, after all, the men were very comfortably situated. The officers likewise built small huts for themselves. Toward the latter part of November the second four weeks' train- ing period was completed and work under new schedules for the third training period was taken up. This period included instruction in the new infantry weapons and specialties for all troops. The platoons were organized into squads and teams to specialize in the new weapons and these were given special instructions in the praticular specialty for each. New attack formations were taught to bring these new weapons into play and were the same as those employed on the battlefields of France. The platoon was divided into two sections with each specialty function- ing in harmony with the others. The new formations used varied con- siderably from our old tactics in extended order, and provided for a much greater interval between men and for greater dispositions in depth. Every man was given the new instruction in bayonet work and target practice on the rifle range, which had just been completed. The mechanism of hand-grenades and how to use them was explained and all practiced how to throw them in accordance with the method used by the French. A certain number of gas masks were available for in- struction purposes and every man passed through the gas chamber wearing a mask, a small building being used for this purpose, and with the doors and windows closed the building was filled with deadly gas fumes. Part of the instruction included digging trenches and a trench system was constructed about three miles from camp. This was done by battalions according to an arranged schedule, each battalion work- ing a day at a time. This training was taken up vigorously by every- one, the men seeming to realize fully the seriousness of the task they were preparing for. The results of this intensive training was soon apparent, and the "sick lists" kept dwindling from day to day, until 31 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY sick call was made up almost entirely of men who would sooner or later be transferred to the casuals for physical unfitness. Another feature of the training for this period consisted of marching; drilling on Wednes- day afternoons was dispensed with and instead night marches of about nine miles with full packs was made by battalions. These marches were made over the roads outside of camp and usually conducted in strict silence ; the purpose of this instruction was to accustom the troops to marching at night, which was the usual thing in the war zone, as we later learned from experience. The schedule also called for a four- hour march with full packs every Saturday forenoon and the usual inspections were held in the afternoon. The training of the entire divi- sion was closely watched and observed by the Division Commander, Brigadier General Wm. G. Haan, and in order to better see the progress being made, he reviewed the Division on several occasions and after the review he announced in orders the troops making the best appear- ance, which honors a majority of the times went to one or the other of the battalions of our regiment, our strongest competitor being the 125th Infantry, and the contest between these two regiments for the coveted honors was always spirited. This training surely was a severe test on one's physical endurance and one physical examination after another was held, weeding out those who could not withstand the contemplated hardships of the service on which the regiment had started, taking from us a number of officers who had spent many years with the National Guard — officers who had proven themselves up to every standard of gentlemen, soldiers and officers, with the one exception of physical fitness which had come upon them since joining the service. After all these rigid examinations it was believed that the officers and men who successfully passed all required examinations were perfect specimens of physical manhood. As time went on the results of the thorough training became more apparent daily. The drills and marches were executed in almost perfect unison and rhythm and with clocklike precision; the companies maneuvered like one machine. Accordingly, a composite battalion of the regiment was selected to give an exhibition drill in the Butt's Manual under the direction of Major Earl R. Stewart as a feature of the noted Waco Cotton Palace Fair, October 4th to 18th, 1917. The exhibition was received with enthusiasm by the thousands of spectators, and won for the 126th Infantry a name of respect with the people of Waco and vicinity. In fact, the people of this city followed the doings of the Division in France with great interest and took as much pride in its achievements as the folks in Michigan and Wisconsin. The regimental band also helped during the fair to win fame and favor for the regi- 32 TRAINING AT WACO ment. No band in the Division played any better and when they played "Hiram Walker" every officer and man in the regiment was on his toes with the same alacrity with which he came to "Attention" at the first note of "The Star-Spangled Banner." With all the hours spent in intensive training there was still some time given over to athletics. The football season brought forth a great deal of enthusiasm and a regimental team was formed which included a number of the players of the former team which won the champion- ship during the Mexican border service and the team easily defeated all other regimental teams. After a short time a 32nd Division team was organized and the regimental team was broken up due to the fact that most of the players had been drafted into the Division team, and their hours for practice left no time for regimental team practice. However, before the team was broken up a game was played between the Divi- sion and Regimental teams which resulted in a tie without either team scoring, which was the only time the Division team was unable to score on its opponents. With the added strength, the Division team finished its schedule by winning all its games with teams representing other soldier camps. Toward the latter part of December the fourth phase of the "Infantry Training Schedule" was begun. The holiday season saw no let up in the intensive training, except that Christmas and New Year's day were holidays, and the training was carried on as before. During the entire four months' stay at Camp MacArthur only four days of drill were lost on account of inclement weather. One of these was be- cause of rain, and one because of an unusual snow storm for this part of Texas called a "Texas Norther;" the other two occasions were caused by terrific wind storms which carried the light soil in clouds and caused large drifts of dirt to form and we were reminded of the sand storms of the western Texas region around El Paso. Also the mud had a similar tendency to become slippery and stick to the feet in large clods when- ever it rained; this soil was known as "gumbo mud." A portion of the fourth phase of the training period included practice in making a trench relief; that is, how to relieve troops holding front line trenches by fresh troops. This training was performed by the regiment just before the holidays, and each battalion did a twenty-four-hour trick in the Bos- queville trench sector. Elaborate orders were previously prepared which provided for every detail of the march and for making the relief, and the battalion marched to a given point where guides were met and the different platoons led to their several positions. Every phase of this duty as carried on in France was simulated as near as possible, except that the relief was carried out in daylight instead of at night. Later on, 33 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY however, this phase of the training was carried on at night. On Janu- ary 5th, the entire regiment, with the exception of the Machine Gun Company, began a two-days' tour of trench duty. Regimental head- quarters and the headquarters company preceded the regiment and established headquarters by 4:00 p. m. Saturday. At dark the battalions began the march from camp, each battalion and company moving out on the minute prescribed in the orders and marched in single file with fifty yards interval between companies and 25 yards between platoons, and took over the entire trench system from the 125th Infantry. The 1st and 2nd battalions were in the advance and took over the front line; the 3rd battalion was to be in support but secret orders were issued to this battalion and instead it occupied a trench system opposite the other battalions and unknown to them, and for the purpose of obtaining some idea of real conditions, the 3rd battalion staged a sur- prise trench raid during the night against the other battalions. Accord- ingly, at 2:30 a. m., the enemy raiding party went over the top and across No Man's Land and reached the opposite trenches before they were detected and then, with the use of rockets and improvised bombs, an exciting little battle followed which developed into a real scrap, so earnest were the boys in their work. The raiders having secured a few prisoners, returned to their trenches with the booty but almost lost their own commander who was saved by several of his men pulling him away from the enemy. The raiders made their escape just in time, as the noise woke up the whole command and reinforcements were rushed to the aid of the raided. Excitement of the greatest intensity prevailed for a time, but outside of a few black eyes, gory noses and sprained ankles, the casualties were negligible and no one went to the hospital. This little maneuver had a tendency to make the troops on both sides more vigilant and alert, and further raids were not attempted on account of the vigilance of the sentries. At midnight on Monday the regiment was relieved by the 127th Infantry and returned to camp. During the latter part of November and early in December, the entire Division was inspected by officers representing the General Staff at Washington, who were making a tour of inspection of all Divisions training in southern camps to determine the order in which they were to be sent to France, and it was said that the Division making the best showing on this tour of inspection would be the first to go. Nothing was heard from this inspection and toward the latter part of December rumors invaded the camp spreading the information that the 33rd Divi- sion, composed of Illinois National Guard troops and training at Hous- ton, Texas, had orders to proceed to a port of embarkation about Janu- ary 1st, and that it was receiving complete equipment for overseas 34 LEAVING CAMP MACARTHUR service. Again the skeptics came to the front and prophesied that we would never see France. About this time the news of the results of the inspections was received in camp, which reported our Division as the most advanced in its training and more completely equipped than any other division in the United States. It is needless to say that everyone felt very proud of this report and rejoiced still more when notice was given that we would be sent to France at the earliest practicable date. About this time Brig. Gen. William G. Haan was placed permanently in command of the Division, which was very pleasing to the entire Divi- sion, as officers and men alike had learned to love and respect him. He appeared daily upon the drill field and watched the progress made and the success of the Division in its training is largely due to his tact- ful command and supervision. Being a National Guard unit, some doubt existed as to how the troops would fare under the command of a Regular Army officer, but General Haan soon dispelled this doubt and gained the utmost confidence of every soldier in the Division. He was a true soldier and a man of sound judgment and much common sense, and his troops were justly proud of him, and his subsequent promotion to the rank of Major General was as gratifying to the Division as it must have been to him. MOVEMENT TO PORT OF EMBARKATION After the holidays the training continued without any let up and the weather was very cold. There were frequent flurries of snow, which usually disappeared by mid-day, but on one occasion the snow re- mained for three days and a thick ice formed, causing considerable dif- ficulty in keeping the pipes in the bath houses from freezing, as the boys used the showers daily. Early in the month the word was passed out that the Division had received orders to move to a Port of Embarka- tion, and we did not learn until shortly before leaving that we were to go to the embarkation port at Hoboken, N. J. An advance party, made up of officers from the various units in the Division, left Waco the latter part of December. In this party was Lieut. Col. George C. Waldo and 1st Lieut. Edward W. Minier of the 126th Infantry. Their mission was to precede the regiment to France and to arrange for the billeting of the regiment in the area assigned to it. On January 2nd, the first troops left Waco. Of the Infantry, the 125th regiment was the first scheduled to leave and they began leaving Waco January 15th. The following day the regiment practiced rolling packs so that all would be uniformly rolled; also all equipment that was not to be taken on the journey was collected and turned in. This included the stoves, and as the weather was freezing, living in tents was rather uncomfortable. By January 35 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY 17th the 125th Infantry had left Waco, so on the following day, January 18th, the regiment began leaving Camp MacArthur for the third lap of its journey to France. It required seven train sections to move the entire regiment and these sections were routed over different roads enroute to Camp Merritt, N. J. Regimental headquarters, the head- quarters and machine gun companies and the 1st battalion left Waco on the 18th, and the 2nd battalion and supply company left on the 19th, and on Sunday, January 20th, the 3rd battalion left Waco. Some extremely cold weather was encountered by most of the trains which made it necessary to make frequent and long stops to thaw out the steam pipes on the trains, but finally on Saturday, January 26th, the entire regiment had arrived at their new camp and were comfortably housed in well-heated barracks. One soldier contracted a case of measles the last day on the train, with the result that his company was placed under quarantine as soon as it arrived. The balance of the day was spent in getting located in the new quarters, and as the bath houses afforded both hot and cold water, due advantage was taken of this luxury and after a good hot meal and with spring cots and mat- tresses, everyone turned in early and had a good night's rest. WINTER SCENE IN WACO 36 CHAPTER III STAY AT PORT OF EMBARKATION AND TRANSPORTATION OF REGIMENT OVERSEAS CAMP MERRITT CAMP MERRITT was situated about fifteen miles from Times Square, New York City, and near the suburban town of Dumont, N. J. This camp was established for the purpose of housing troops assigned for embarkation through the port of Hoboken, and the accommodations provided were the best we had up to this time, but the food furnished was not so good. Some complaints were heard in the treatment accorded the troops by the authorities in charge but such as there was were thrust aside with the thought that those responsible had not yet measured up to the big task ahead of Uncle Sam. During prac- tically the entire three weeks of our stay here the weather was beastly cold and the thermometer hovered around zero most of the time, so further drilling and training was dispensed with. After the long railroad journey some exercise was essential to keep in condition and so the forenoons were devoted to taking hikes of six to ten miles over the many roads which existed in these parts. After plodding through deep snow, with ice underneath, the men returned to their barracks with ruddy cheeks and a ravenous appetite. While these hikes were strenuous, they were also very interesting. These roads were as old as the United States itself, and as we marched along and surveyed the landscape, the rolling hills and the woods covered with snow, our thoughts were carried back to the days of Washington and his army during the days of the Revolution. The hike to the Pallisades, on the shores of the Hudson, was especially interesting and the sight of the beautiful scenery, even in winter time, more than repaid us for our effort. The afternoons were usually devoted to inspections of quarters and equipment, and also to schools in tactics and the French language, although the boys made nowhere near the progress in the latter subject that they did when parleying with the mademoiselles in France. The regiment underwent a siege of measles, scarlet fever and mumps, and, in fact, there was more sickness in its ranks of this kind than at either Grayling or Camp MacArthur, and this necessitated most of the com- 37 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY panies to be in quarantine a good share of the time and the opportunity to visit the metropolis, which every soldier desired to see, was denied to many, and neither were the camp authorities very liberal with passes. The only entertainment in camp was that provided by the Y. M. C. A., which organization had two excellent huts and they were freely visited and very much appreciated. A mail censorship existed during our stay at Camp Merritt and no one was permitted to mention or write of our location, and also the camp was guarded by a line of sentries and no one was permitted to enter without a pass from Camp Headquarters. The visitors from home were few, and while some of the folks knew that we were scheduled to sail for overseas in a brief time, not a newspaper in Michigan or elsewhere published the fact, as our movements were now under strict secret orders. While at Camp Merritt, news was received of the sinking of the American transport Tuscania by an enemy sub- marine, on February 5th, and that thirteen men of the 107th Sanitary Train, 32nd Division, had lost their lives, they being the division's first war casualties. While the troops were eager to go to France to avenge the outrages upon civilization, this news made them more eager than ever. New clothing, gas masks and arms were issued to the regiment and every man was completely equipped for overseas service. Every officer had, by order, supplied himself from his own means with enough equip- ment to last for an indefinite war. Someone in authority, with a mind for elaborate detail and foresight, had somehow acquired knowledge, either by instinct or subterranean sources, that all this equipment would be necessary and must have labored under the impression that troops would go over the top with trunks and at nightfall open their ward- robes and enjoy the luxury of garrison life. The order called for white collars and cuffs and other similar useless articles of like kind, and how combat officers were going to fight with this regalia was a problem to them. Perhaps they had a wrong idea of war, and believed this was to be a pink tea affair after all. Whatever thoughts they may have had, the order governed and there was nothing to do but comply. When France was reached, the officers soon learned that a good proportion of this elaborate equipment was by order prohibited to be worn in the A. E. F. by combat troops, and they were carefully packed away and stored, and in many cases never seen again. About February 10th, the 125th Infantry had embarked and, toward the middle of the month, orders were received to complete appli- cations for war risk insurance, to prepare sailing lists and pack barrack bags, all of which signified that we would receive sailing orders very soon, and at last the order to embark was received. The long days of 38 BOARDING THE "PRESIDENT GRANT" preparation were over and a long, heavy sigh was cast and all con- cerned were heartily glad that the time had come for the regiment to move. The long wait at Camp Merritt, with its close confinement, had wearied the regiment and the order to embark caused a feeling of joy and relief to possess everyone. On Friday, February 15, 1918, an order was received designating Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge, Commanding Officer of the 126th Infantry, as Commander of Troops aboard the trans- port which was to take the regiment to the other side of the Atlantic. It was necessary to establish troop headquarters aboard ship in advance and Colonel Westnedge, Captain John P. DeRight, Regimental Adju- tant, and Regimental Sergeant Major John W. Kramb proceeded to the port of embarkation at Hoboken, N. J., on the above date and arrived aboard the U. S. S. President Grant at 11 : 00 a. m. An "advance party," consisting of one officer from each battalion, one officer, four non- commissioned officers and eight privates from each company boarded the ship about the same time. When Colonel W T estnedge was designated as troop commander aboard ship, Major Earl R. Stewart assumed com- mand of the 126th Infantry enroute, with 1st Lieut. Walter L. Cornell as acting adjutant. BOARDING THE U. S. TRANSPORT "PRESIDENT GRANT" On Saturday, February 16th, the regiment marched from camp to Dumont, N. J., where they entrained by battalions; baggage and barrack bags were hauled to the trains by trucks. The trains left Dumont at scheduled hours for Hoboken, where the troops unloaded and marched through the principal streets of the city under the eyes of the inhabitants, who were mostly of German extraction, to the pier of the Hamburg-American Steamship Company, where a short wait was made before boarding ship, and while the troops were waiting the Red Cross ladies served hot coffee and buns to them. The last troops of the regiment went aboard the President Grant at 3:00 p. m., and as each man went up the gang plank he received the number of his berth. Shortly before the regiment left Camp Merritt, all men sick in hospital and unable to travel, were transferred to the various hospitals and dropped from the rolls and, unfortunately, some platoons in sev- eral of the companies were held in quarantine and these had to be left behind, and when the regiment boarded the transport its strength had dwindled to 99 officers and 2,836 enlisted men. During the day other troops came aboard our ship as follows: The 107th Trench Mortar Battery of 3 officers and 175 enlisted men; the 107th Sanitary Train, composed of Field Hospital Companies Nos. 127 and 128, with 10 officers and 147 enlisted men (these organizations were units of the 39 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY 32nd Division) ; a Metrological Service Battalion, with 2 officers and 50 enlisted men; Headquarters Detachment, A. E. F., consisting of 4 officers and 356 enlisted men; 509th Engineers, Service Battalion, with 17 officers (white), 101 non-commissioned officers (white) and 798 privates (colored) ; 8 casual officers and 27 husky army field clerks, which made the total number of troops aboard 143 officers and 4,463 enlisted men, and the officers and crew of the ship brought the total number of persons aboard over 5,300. The President Grant was a semi-passenger and freight vessel and was one of the largest ships used by the government in transporting troops and supplies to France. It was formerly the property of the Hamburg-American Steamship Company, a German corporation, and at the outbreak of the war it was interned at its docks in Hoboken and later, when the United States entered the war, it was taken over by our government and put in the transport service. As soon as the troops came aboard they were assigned to their sections and after all were located in their new quarters a survey was made of the ship which was to be our home for the next three weeks, and as no one was allowed to go ashore, we began to realize that we had left out native soil and naturally we began to meditate over our present situation. Going to France was no longer a dream — it was now becoming an actual reality and the war assumed a more personal aspect. It is doubtful if any regiment ever boarded a transport bound for a battlefield four thou- sand miles away with a greater degree of confidence than the 126th Infantry. A large percentage of the outfit had seen more or less service in the National Guard and had the first nervousness of soldiers worn off before they embarked, and yet there was not that feeling of battle-worn veterans ; it was more that of seasoned hopefuls, anxious to engage in a struggle they all felt themselves to be equal to. The regiment knew its Colonel, and had that confidence in him that later reflected so much of true soldierly quality and glory on him and on themselves. The men knew their immediate officers, and that from almost boyhood, and in them recognized qualities they would be willing to follow and if neces- sary sacrifice their lives for. They knew each other and felt that their spirits were of closer kin than is customary in any other outfit save that one which comes from free spirit and from long acquaintance. They loved their homes and those who lived close to their hearts, but each knew he could not love those dear ones half so much did he not also love the honor of his country. To spur them on, they had the solid support of those who remained behind; those at home knew that some would not return and if much can be said for the men of the 126th Infantry for their valor, courage and devotion to country, as much can be said for 40 ON THE TRANSPORT the parents, wives and sweethearts who, in their true American loyalty, sent them on their way, realizing that such a parting is truly the sweetest sorrow. The men spent the remainder of the day promenading the decks of the ship and gazing in wonderment at the imposing skyline of New York's skyscrapers, and the constant shipping activity in the harbor, and on the river Hudson, until late into the night, when all retired to their bunks for the first night's sleep on an ocean liner. Bunks in tiers three high, for the sleeping quarters of the troops, had been erected in every available space on the two decks below the main deck, while the hold below was set aside for baggage and freight, which was being loaded on the ship. The next day, Sunday, was a repetition of the previous afternoon and the deck of the ship resembled a kakhi-colored blanket. A short distance away from the pier was the Jersey terminal of some Hudson River ferry lines to Manhattan, and the ferry boats were con- stantly crossing back and forth in plain view, and each time crowded with passengers who bid us farewell by the waving of arms, hats and handkerchiefs, which greetings were returned by our men. It was no secret to these people that this particular boat was loaded with Amer- ican troops preparatory to sailing for overseas. Shortly after noon the loading of baggage and freight was completed and at 3 o'clock in the afternoon a small tug pulled us out of the slip and into the center of the river, where the ship proceeded under its own steam out into New York bay. As soon as the ship began to move away from its pier all troops were ordered below decks and as we passed down the river not a soldier appeared anywhere on the decks, the only sign of life being the blue- jackets. This was in line with the secrecy surrounding troop movements and, of course, we did not see anything of New York on our trip down the river. Arriving in the bay, the ship dropped anchor several miles from shore and the freedom of the decks was again permitted. Several other transports and one U. S. cruiser were also anchored here and were to be a part of our convoy. All of them were painted in every con- ceivable fashion and color to camouflage their appearance and make it more difficult for submarines to recognize them. This was also true of nearly every ship which passed up and down the bay, and the various schemes of camouflage was a source of interest and amusement. The following morning a heavy mist overhung the bay, which cleared some by noon, and enabled us to see the "Statue of Liberty" in the distance. Its outline was barely visible, but every one strained their eyes and gazed long and wistfully at it and wondered if they would ever see it again. Somehow this statue now took on a different and more serious significance to us than ever before; it appeared like the last thread 41 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY which tied us to our native land and homes, and this was soon to be broken, as that night, Monday, February 18, 1918, at 11:45 p. m., anchors were lifted and the transport began to move out to sea and we were once more on our way over there, this being the fourth lap of our journey. The three-mile boundary limit was not passed until after mid- night and so our foreign service dates from February 19, 1918. Upon arising next morning, we found to our surprise that we were well out to sea and land was nowhere in sight. We also discovered, for the first time, the ships which made up our convoy. These were the transports Covington, Manchuria, Pastores, Susquehanna, El Sol, and our own transport. The U. S. cruiser Huntington was the only escort for the convoy, and it was to accompany the convoy across the Atlantic as far as the danger zone. Its mission was not so much to protect the convoy from submarines, but more especially to protect it from any surface German raider that might be roaming the high seas. The ships were a miscellaneous group, some looking like rusty old trampers, while others were up-to-date liners. The disparity was just as great as to size, the smallest ship being a two-thousand ton vessel, while the Covington and President Grant were ships of over twenty-thousand tons. The speed of the convoy was regulated by the speed of the slowest ship, and as our transport was about the slowest, we did not make more than nine to ten knots an hour during the entire trip. The convoy sailed in two lines, each line consisting of three ships abreast of each other and about one-half mile apart, and about a half-mile be- tween lines. LIFE ON BOARD THE TRANSPORT A rough sea was encountered on this, our first day out, and many men succumbed to a touch of seasickness before night and the number increased the following day when the waves still continued to roll unabated, causing our ship, which was heavily loaded, to pitch about in an uncomfortable manner. But regardless of the seasickness, everyone had to take some training for coping with the submarine, as someone conceived the notion that we might become one of their victims, and so we must indulge in a game called "Abandon ship drill." It might be said in all fairness that there were some aboard who by this time arrived at that point of human happiness when they did not care if the ship was torpedoed, and if they could not get off the ship and walk, they preferred to stick to their bunks. In fact, life had lost all charms for them. We had the first of the "Abandon ship drills" the very first day out. First of all, every officer and man was issued a life belt, which 42 LIFE ON BOARD TRANSPORT he had to wear at all times when away from his bunk. Life boats were assigned to certain groups, each under an officer. There were not enough of these boats and more than half the troops were assigned to rafts, each set of rafts being under an infantry officer. The drill con- sisted in each group going to its station when the siren rang. When assembled, roll was called, and after about fifteen minutes standing to, the boatswain's mate hornpiped us down and the drill was over. This drill seemed merely a trifle to us, but later we found that this little drill could be done at any time of the day or night, for after the fifth day out the alarm for "Abandon ship" was sounded every morning before daylight, and we stood at our stations until daylight, and every evening as soon as it started to get dark the alarm sounded. Suffice to say that none of us fell in love with the early morning drill but as someone in- sisted on sounding the alarm every morning we had something to look forward to. There were also other orders and regulations to which we had to accustom ourselves, which were prescribed as further measures of safety. All transports maintained a system of lookouts for sighting submarines. On our transport sentry boxes were erected in various parts of the ship, which were connected with the bridge by telephones. The lookouts were selected from among the sergeants of the regiment and they worked in pairs; the lookouts in each sentry box had a definite sector of the horizon and surface of the sea for observation, with instruc- tions to keep these under close observation all the time, no matter what may be going on in any other sector. Each lookout was furnished with field glasses and the tour of watch was limited to an hour at a time. One of the forward masts contained a basket for a lookout station and the lookouts for this station were selected from among the lieutenants of the regiment, among whom their sprung a spirited contest for the honor to be assigned to this duty. Experience had shown that the most dangerous time for submarine attack was at break of day and just before sunset, and the lookouts were instructed to keep a sharp lookout and to report quickly any unusual occurrence, as the safety of the ship de- pended upon quick maneuvering as soon as a periscope, or the track of an approaching torpedo is sighted. Other rules prohibited smoking on decks between sunset and sun- rise, and officers only were allowed to carry matches and none were per- mitted to light a match on an open deck after sunset. All lights were extinguished at sunset, except lights in places that could not be seen from the outside, and the sailing at night was made in utter darkness. By Thursday morning the sea had moderated considerably and almost a calm prevailed; also, the weather had changed and it was much warmer. This we found was due to the course we took after leaving 43 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY New York, which was southeast, and we had now arrived in the Gulf Stream and were sailing due east. This was known as the southern course and our latitude was practically that of Madrid, Spain. But few vessels were met on this course and the first one sighted was a French steamer with the most weird camouflage seen so far, and as it was headed for the United States, many men cast longing glances after her. The following morning, which was Saturday, February 23rd, two more trans- ports caught up with us and joined the convoy. They were the George Washington and the De Kalb. The first ship was almost a sister ship of the Covington. It was a little larger and had excellent quarters and staterooms, so we were informed. Our Division Commander, General Haan, was aboard with other troops of our division. Later this trans- port was used by President Woodrow Wilson on his two trips to France. The other transport excited our curiosity, as she was none other than the famous German raider Prince Eitel Friedrich, which made such a re- markable record and one day appeared in Newport News, where it was interned. She looked to be built for speed and it was claimed she was capable of making thirty knots per hour. With the arrival of these two vessels, the order of formation of the convoy was changed and the four speediest boats, the George Washington, Covington, De Kalb and Pastores, were placed in the first line and the remainder of the ships were in the second line. The cruiser Huntington lead the column. Our convoy now consisted of eight transports with about 17,000 troops, all on the three larger ships. This was the largest convoy sent across the Atlantic up to this time. The meals served were quite up to the stand- ard. The officers were served three times a day in the ship officers' wardroom, and the enlisted men were served a late breakfast and a late dinner in the mess halls below the main deck. The food was well cooked and each man had all he desired. The work of feeding the large number of men aboard was quite a problem and was well done; some balancing and juggling was necessary to keep one's food on the army meat can when the ship was rolling, especially when slum was served. For entertainment, the band played during the afternoon; and in the evening, moving pictures were shown in the mess halls and music was furnished by the band. SUBMARINE SCARE On the eighth day out, the convoy almost stopped still, and as the ships floated lazily in a calm sea for about four hours, the various gun crews engaged in a little target practice, which elicited consider- able interest on the part of the troops. While it was not known to us why the convoy stopped, it was surmised that it was part of the Navy 44 SUBMARINE SCARE plan for transporting troops and done to deceive some waiting sub- marine which may have information of the convoy, its rate of progress and course, and selecting a point from which it could attack it. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon of Friday, March 1st, while the regimental band was giving one of its daily concerts on deck, the boom of a gun was heard coming from the cruiser, which at the same time blew its whistle and immediately followed by more cannon fire and the shrill shriek of the siren sounded, followed by the sounding of the alarm on our ship. This happened so quickly and without warning that every one was taken by surprise, and as the troops hurried to their abandon ship stations, visions of a plunge in the ocean was in everyone's mind. Taking an occasional glance at the other ships in the convoy while hustling to our stations, told us something was astir, as they scattered in different directions with clouds of black smoke pouring from the funnels and their guns firing at some object in the water, which could be nothing else but the periscope of a dreaded submarine. By the time our ship arrived abreast of the object all the other ships had made good their escape and were quickly increasing the distance between us, and we believed we were to be the victim. As our gun crews were training their guns on the object, a close examination revealed it to be a barrel and the suspense was lifted, to the great relief of everyone. This incident created considerable excitement for a few moments, but excellent dis- cipline prevailed and there was no confusion in going to our stations, except that some of the colored troops, who were below decks at the time, fell on their knees and implored their creator to save them, and they had to be brought on deck by force. After remaining at our stations some minutes, the boatswain's mate sounded his "canary" and the scare was over. This scare had all the elements of reality in it and many a soldier aboard will stoutly affirm that a real submarine was the cause of it all. This experience revealed another bit of the Navy plan against submarine attack, and that was that every ship in the convoy in case of attack was to make its own get away as best it can, without regard to its sister ships, and no aid would be rendered any ship which may be attacked, on the principle that the loss of one ship was better than the loss of two or more, which may be the case if the more fortunate ones loitered in the vicinity of the submarine. We knew from this experience that our ship was too slow to get away, and this bit of information was very consoling to us to say the least. It goes without saying that this scare made us more alert than ever. We were now approaching the danger zone and word was passed out that a destroyer fleet would meet us by morning, and sure enough, early the next morning the little destroyers were sighted and in a very 45 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY short time ten of them surrounded the convoy, and a little later four more appeared. These little craft were built on long and slender lines and in sailing the tempestuous waters of the Bay of Biscay, which we were now entering, they fairly jumped from wave to wave, sometimes showing daylight beneath their keels, their bows frequently pointing skyward, or plunging deeply into heavy seas, and their sides occa- sionally plowing along under the foamy waves. They darted hither and thither with marvelous speed, and when the sunlight fell upon their graceful sides and steel decks, they appeared like brilliant objects upon the water and gained the admiration of every doughboy. Their business- like appearance gave us all a feeling of security with them as our escorts. Upon their arrival the cruiser Huntington left the convoy and returned to the United States. During the remainder of the trip, as we were now traversing the submarine zone, the convoy sailed in a zig- zagged course, every ship changing direction at the same time. The next day, March 3rd, we had rough weather with a strong wind accompanied by a heavy mist, which continued throughout the night. The usual abandon ship drill was held just before daylight and at dusk. As we stood at our stations we realized that we were now in the most dangerous part of our voyage and, looking down into the cold water, which appeared black and uninviting in the darkness, all expressed a silent wish that there would be no occasion to take to the life rafts. At 6 o'clock in the afternoon the convoy split; the George Washington, Covington and President Grant, which carried troops, continuing on to Brest, while the remainder of the ships which carried only freight, headed for St. Nazaire. Six of the destroyers went with the latter group and eight continued as our escort. As darkness came on, the wind became stronger and it began to rain. The night was so dark that the sentries walking their beats along the decks could not see each other and frequently collided. Neither could the other ships be seen, although they were not over eight hundred yards away, and it seemed as if they must become separated in the darkness and mist. Most everyone was anxious, and sleep was impossible for many. The usual boat drill, our last one, was had just before daylight, and as dawn broke, everyone felt relieved and, as it was expected to make port within a few hours, we looked anxiously eastward for the sight of land. At about 8 a. m., March 4th, fourteen days since we left New York Bay, a lighthouse was sighted some twenty miles straight ahead, and as we approached nearer, the welcome sight of land could be made out; it was a happy moment for us. That we had passed in close proximity to submarines on our voyage was known. While we were still two days out, an S. 0. S. message was received on board ship from a tanker that had been 46 ARRIVAL IN FRANCE torpedoed about fifty miles ahead of us, and the course of the convoy was changed to go around the spot where the submarine had been. ARRIVAL IN FRANCE By 10 o'clock we approached the narrow entrance to the channel which led to the landlocked harbor of Brest. We were met just out- side the entrance by three hydroplanes acting as a patrol in search of hidden submarines. A little later the first dirigible airship was seen, which was engaged in a similar duty. The ships, in single file, steamed up the channel at reduced speed. The tension of the past few days had lifted and we again felt at ease and enjoyed the scenery spread out before our eyes. Less than twenty days before we were living in winter's icy blast and now everything had changed to beautiful spring. The hills bordering the channel were green, and patches of new crops appeared here and there, and fruit trees were already in bloom. Small fishing smacks were heading out to sea to gather the day's catch. Soon the town itself came in view and we entered a bay of considerable size almost surrounded by land. On the shores of the bay lay the town of Brest, with its quaint walls and buildings, which gave it a most pictur- esque appearance. The bay was lined with vessels of every description, coasting vessels predominating. At exactly 11:30 a. m., March 4, 1918, the anchors were dropped in the bay about two miles from the town. Our sea voyage over there had come to an end. The customary cour- tesies between the army commander of troops and the naval officer commanding the ship were extended, as we expected to make land in a few hours, but in this we were disappointed. At 2 o'clock in the after- noon, anchors were lifted and we were taken inside the breakwater, where the ship was made fast to a concrete buoy. Hardly had this been done when U. S. army officers came on board, some to take charge of the unloading of the ship, and others in connection with different branches of the "paper work," so necessary and unending in the army. Lighters also began to pull alongside, and very soon the work of unload- ing the vast cargo of freight and supplies was under way. This work continued uninterruptedly until the task was completed, and it was surprising the number of lighters and how much work was actually necessary to get the baggage of the troops and the freight out of the hold of the ship. Later, when this baggage was received, we discovered that the Navy crew had gone through our baggage and helped them- selves to what they wanted, and left the contents scattered about the hold, which conduct on the part of the crew lessened our estimation of them. The next morning the American Consul at Brest visited the ship 47 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY and during the evening representatives of the Y. M. C. A. came aboard with French entertainers and gave an entertainment in the mess room. During the day 1st Lieut. Ford Gilleo, of Company B, together with 81 enlisted men, 36 of whom were members of the 126th Infantry, were taken from the ship and transferred to the Base Hospital at Brest for treatment for various ailments. Some amusement was furnished by natives, mostly girls, who rowed out to the ship and asked for pennies and cigarettes, holding out their aprons to catch the coins which were tossed at them. The regiment did not begin to go ashore until Wednes- day, March 6th, when at 7:00 a. m., the Headquarters Company and 1st Battalion went aboard lighters and were taken to the docks at Brest. The 2nd Battalion and sanitary detachment debarked in the afternoon and the 3rd Battalion and Machine Gun Company went ashore the following morning, March 7th. A. E. F. orders specified that after debarking, incoming troops should proceed to the rest camp at Brest for a few days before going to their assigned training areas. This was not the case with the greater part of the 32nd Division, how- ever, as the 125th, which preceded us in France by a week, and the 126th and 127th Infantry regiments were assigned as temporary labor troops in the Service of Supply known as the S. 0. S., while the 128th Infantry and remaining elements of the Division, less the artillery brigade and the 107th Engineers, were assigned to the 10th Training Area, When the different battalions of the regiment arrived on shore they marched direct to waiting trains and after a brief halt, boarded the trains and were taken to St. Nazaire. These French trains were a revelation, and the locomotive and cars afforded no end of amusement and jokes on account of their miniature size as compared to the engines and coaches in the United States. The engines are about one-fourth the size of an American engine ; the largest box cars are twenty feet long by eight feet wide, and each are stenciled with the now familiar phrase, "40 Hommes et 8 Cheveaux" (40 men or 8 horses) . Most of the passenger coaches are small affairs compared to our Pullmans, and all are divided into compartments with side entrances. All the cars have only four wheels. While waiting to entrain, one humorous Michigan boy instituted a search for the key to wind it up, while the officers were busy preventing the boys from purloining the cars for watch-charms or souvenirs. 48 CHAPTER IV LABORING IN THE SERVICE OF SUPPLY AND TRAINING IN FRANCE WITH a shrill shriek from the tiny engines, the miniature trains pulled out of Brest on the journey to St. Nazaire, which lay through the ancient province of Brittany. For the first part of the trip the route followed closely the shores of the bay, which formed the landlocked harbor of Brest, and ran along between hills and through towns and villages where were located many plants in which war munitions was being manufactured for the use of the armies. The majority of workers in these factories were women, dressed in bloomer overalls. At every station they stopped their work and gave us a hearty cheer as we passed through. The hills and valleys were clothed in the green of new growing crops, and sprouting fruit trees dotted the landscape. It was only the first week in March and feasting upon this scenery, with memories of the frigid weather in the states still fresh in our minds, the country presented a most delightful appearance to us. While it rains almost incessantly in France during the spring months, it seemed to add to Nature's beauty. The well- kept roads appeared like white ribbons against the green background as they wound their way through the ever-winding valleys and up and down gentle sloping hills. The towns and villages either nestled in the valleys or were perched on the top of a hill. These villages were mostly inhabited by the farmer population of the country, and con- sisted of a cluster of houses grouped together into small communities and surrounded by open fields. There were no isolated farm houses, like we are accustomed to in the states. The whole scene presented a beautiful picture and the difference in the customs of the people exacted no end of interest to us, who were seeing a European country for the first time. On closer scrutiny we could see that the houses were built of stone and cement, with roofs of red or green tile, and some of them appeared to be centuries old. The streets were narrow and ran through the villages like cow-paths. The quaint dress worn by the natives added to the picturesqueness of the scenery. Among the larger towns through which we passed were Rennes, Angers and Nantes. The journey to St. Nazaire required about eighteen hours, which necessitated spending a night on the trains. The soldiers' box car Pull- 49 50 ST. NAZAIRE mans were so small that only a few of the men could lie down at a time, and the officers' cars were no better; on account of the crowded condi- tion, sleep could only be secured while in a sitting position. The four trains arrived at St. Nazaire between Thursday morning, March 7th, and Friday morning, March 8th, where the troops, stiff and sore after the night's ride in a cramped position, unloaded and marched about four miles to Camp No. One. This camp was established by the French early in the war and was used for housing their Colonial troops while in transit to the front. The French barrack buildings were built out of wood and without floors, and were old and leaky ; in them two rows of wooden bunks were erected three tiers high. Two fairly good "Y" huts were also located in camp. St. Nazaire was the chief American Supply Base, while Brest was the principal port for landing troops for the American Expeditionary Forces. The Princess Pat's Regiment of Canadians landed at this camp and a regiment of the 41st American Division (National Guard) had been here. The 15th New York National Guard Infantry Regiment (colored) was here when we arrived. Those mentioned and the 126th Infantry were the only American combat troops that passed through this camp up to this time, the camp being used mostly to house troops of the S. 0. S. and labor battalions working at this base. Fishing and coastwise trading was the principal industry of St. Nazaire and when we arrived many of the shop windows were boarded up and business was about at a standstill. The town itself was beautifully located where the "Loire River" emptied into the ocean, and one of the principal thoroughfares of the town, the "Rue de la Oceon," ran parallel with the ocean front. The early spring crops seemed farther advanced than in the vicinity of Brest, and garden vegetables were already being sold on the public market. The weather throughout the month of March was warm, with little rain, and much like the month of June in the States. The waters of the river formed a basin near the heart of the city and this was being rapidly converted into a completely equipped harbor, with docks and warehouses capable of handling the large quantity of supplies for the American Army coming through this port. An Amer- ican locomotive assembling plant was located here, and miles of new railroad track and switching yards were being constructed. The 32nd Division was the sixth division to join the American Expeditionary Forces in France, and upon our arrival orders were received organizing the First American Army Corps. This corps con- sisted of six Divisions, the 1st, 26th, 2nd and 42nd Divisions as combat divisions, and the 41st as a training division, and the 32nd Division, which was designated a replacement organization for the First Corps. 51 HISTORY OF THE 126 th INFANTRY The Division functioned as a replacement organization for four weeks, during which time nine captains and nearly all the privates 1st class and privates of the 128th Infantry Regiment, which had gone to the Divisional Training Area near Prouthoy, were assigned to the 1st Division as replacements. The other infantry regiments of the Divi- sion continued to labor in the S. 0. S'. for four weeks. The day fol- lowing our arrival at St. Nazaire, the first work details were drawn from the regiment. The 17th Engineer Regiment was in charge of the work to be done in and around St. Nazaire, and they were not a bit backward about asking for details to help with the work of Americanizing France. The men worked in day and night shifts and seven days a week. Sun- day was stricken from the calendar as a day of rest. Some of the details worked at unloading transports; others worked on new roads, new railroad yards and dock facilities. Warehouses were constructed at Montoir, and a concrete warehouse four hundred feet long was con- structed in two weeks. Before it was jealized, practically the entire regiment was on detail, here and there, helping with the work in the same spirit as that displayed during the training period at Waco. This work assisted in putting the troops through a "hardening process," which had become necessary after the trip across the ocean. On March 11th, a detail of one hundred men took out an animal train to La Valdahon, a town near the Switzerland border, and within thirty miles of the front. Thereafter many more details were sent to various points in France, mostly to guard the supplies being shipped to American bases in the interior, from being stolen by the citizens along the route. The men on these details returned with a grist of stories of the activity going on in the interior of France, and these stories were listened to with much interest by those who had not yet got any farther than the coast. March 20th was the beginning of officers and non-commissioned officers going to the various army and corps schools. On this day one officer and two sergeants went to the 1st Army Corps School, at Gondre- court. Two days later, another officer and nine non-commissioned officers went to the Infantry Specialty School, at Langres. March 24th, thirty-two non-commissioned officers from the regiment went to Langres to attend the Army Candidates School to study for commissions as second lieutenants. The following day more officers and non-commis- sioned officers were sent to the 1st Army Corps School. Every com- pany officer was required to attend one of these army schools, where a month of instruction in new formations and the use of new weapons was received. The Corps Schools were mainly for the infantry branch of the service, and while some of the instruction applied to this branch, 52 ST. NAZAIRE other instruction did not and was of little account. The instructors generally were officers who never had active service at the front and their theories were sometimes complexing to the veterans just in from the line. One thing we doughboys did learn, however, was that the varioys technical branches of the service existed mostly to assist every other branch except the infantry and that, when in the line, the infantry had to provide its own protection and to construct its own trenches, dugouts, camouflage, or the like, and that no aid was to be expected from the troops specially trained in these technical branches. On the whole the instruction was beneficial, but one month of it suf- ficed. These schools were continued during hostilities and long after the armistice; officers were detailed every month to attend these schools, being taken away from their companies while engaged in battle and when they could least be spared, notwithstanding that a great shortage in officers always existed in line companies, and when officer instruc- tors could have rendered a greater service by being utilized at the front where they were so badly needed. Many officers attended two or three terms at these schools. If a non-commissioned officer attend- ing a candidates school was unfortunate enough to displease one of these safety zone Looeys, his chances for a commission was doomed, regard- less of his previous good service and record. On March 14th, Secretary of War Baker and General Pershing visited St. Nazaire and our camp on a tour of inspection. Although our band, and an honor guard from the regiment, had marched all the way to the station to appropriately meet the distinguished guests and escort them to the camp, our guests had not the time for these formalities and hurriedly drove to camp by automobile and departed long before the procession reached camp. While at St. Nazaire we saw our first "boche prisoners." They were mostly big, strapping men and appeared well fed, and to all appearances not a bit displeased to be prisoners of war. However, the French kept them busy doing all sorts of the most menial labor. About the latter part of March the news reached camp that on March 21st the Germans had begun their long heralded Spring push. The daily communiques of this offensive were eagerly sought and read, and as the progress made by the Germans against the English 5th Army grew from day to day, a crisis developed and considerable anxiety pre- vailed among the French people. When announcement of General Pershing's offer of American troops to the Allies, to help stem the Hun tide, reached camp, it put a new phase on the war and accordingly raised the hopes of the regiment for early service at the front, which was much more preferable than service in the S. 0: S. While the labor duty required of the regiment was unfortunate in that it took some of 53 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY the edge off discipline, the work which it accomplished in the S. 0. S. was of great importance to the A. E. F. The 32nd Division arrived in France at a time when the completion of warehouses, depots and the like was imperative in order to supply the increasing flow of American troops. Owing to the high state of discipline acquired by its previous training and the possession of the requisite ability, the regiment was able to complete its work quickly and in a satisfactory manner and for which it was highly commended. TRAINING IN TENTH TRAINING AREA Upon recommendation of the Division Commander, the 125th, 126th and 127th Infantry Regiments were ordered relieved from labor in the S'. 0. S. and sent to the Divisional Training Area, This order, no doubt, was influenced by the enemy offensive of March 21, 1918, which made it imperative that all the available American troops in France be used for combat duty, and accordingly the 32nd Division was made a temporary combat division. In pursuance of the above decision Company E was ordered to Is sur Tille, on March 27th, for a tour of Guard Duty. When the company reached there its orders were changed and it proceeded on foot to Champlitte, covering a dis- tance of twenty-eight miles. In compliance with orders from Division Headquarters the regiment began its movement in four sections to the tenth training area on April 5th. The Regimental Headquarters and auxiliary companies, making up the first train section, and each battalion following in separate trains in the order of their number, the last to leave being the 3rd Battalion, which left St. Nazaire at 8:00 p. m. on April 7th. The route followed ran in a general easterly direc- tion toward the eastern part of France. This route was the main American railroad line from the coast to its interior supply base near Dijon, and the General Army Headquarters in Chaumont. Later, American passenger trains were run daily over this line. Important cities passed were Nantes, Tours, which was headquarters of the S. 0. S., and Bourges. Several large aviation fields were passed and as many as a dozen planes could be seen in the air at one time, performing all the stunts a student aviator is required to know before he can obtain the coveted commission as an army flyer. On this trip we observed our first real evidence of war, when several trainloads of wounded French soldiers were passed on their way to hospitals in southern France. Some French and Belgium refugees were met. In a few towns they, as well as the native inhabitants, had made habitations by cutting into the solid rock on the hillsides, where they lived like the ancient cave dwellers. The Regimental Headquarters and auxiliary companies 54 TENTH TRAINING AREA reached Champlitte on Sunday at noon, April 7th, where headquarters was established; the 1st and 2nd Battalions arrived the following day. All these organizations were billeted in Champlitte, except the Machine Gun Company, which billeted at Boussenois, where all the Divisional Machine Gun units were assembled for special instruction. The 3rd Battalion reached Champlitte in the morning, April 9th, and Com- panies L and M proceeded to the village of Orain, about four miles west of Champlitte, and Battalion Headquarters and Companies I and K were billeted at Percy le Grand, two miles west of Orain. Champlitte was a town of some importance, being the county seat. It had achieved considerable fame during the early history of this sec- tion of France. At one time the Romans governed the town and built a stout stone wall around it, part of which still stands. Way back in the 16th century, so the inhabitants told us, the Spaniards overran this section and the French peasantry, becoming incensed at their over- bearing conduct, drove them out of the country. One building with ten-foot walls of solid stone, still stands, being the only building that withstood the rage of the populace. The Hotel de la Center, which is the principal hostelry in the town, and covers a considerable area of ground, was first built by the Spaniards as a castle about the time of this raid, and fell a victim to the fury of the people and later it was rebuilt. A Spanish nobleman had his residence here and some of the old furniture is still in daily use. The village folk point with pride to a room in this hotel, which they claim was frequently occupied by Henry the IV of England. There is still standing, in a good state of preservation, the chateau of the Count de Champlitte, the founder of the town, besides other buildings bearing a date mark of 1578. The citizens proudly relate that this section of France has been the scene of more battles down through history than any other section of France. These facts may be interesting to the historian, but to a doughboy who crossed the ocean to fight for democracy and world peace, it made no great appeal, yet these tales of ancient conflicts were indeed interesting. Orain and Percy le Grand were small peasant villages with noth- ing to distinguish them. The general terrain of this region was rolling; the valleys were under cultivation and woods and open fields covered the hill tops. The hills were mostly formed by rock, covered by a thin turf, and made trench digging, which was a part of our instruc- tion, a long and tedious task. The rainy season was on and hardly a day passed that the clouds did not let down their floodgates. The continual rains made roads and fields wet and muddy, but this did not 55 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY interfere with the intensive training schedule which was carried out day after day, rain or shine. The week following our arrival, a number of officers from other Divisions of the 1st Army Corps, with previous school instruction, reported to the regiment as instructors in the new specialty weapons. About the same time the new weapons and equipment was issued to the regiment, and April 15th the four weeks' training schedule commenced. The march from billets to drill fields, usually a distance of over two miles, was made with the full packs, including 100 rounds of rifle ammunition, two gas masks, and helmets, which were worn. Practice in wearing gas masks was had while on these hikes. The drills con- sisted of bayonet practice in the English method, the French attack formations; the French method of throwing hand-grenades and shoot- ing rifle grenades. During the latter part of the training period, small trenches were dug and live hand and rifle grenades were used. Rifle ranges were constructed and target practice had with the American rifle and the French automatic rifle, known as the "chau-chat" gun, making the vicinity sound like a section of the battle line. French infantry companies gave exhibition drills in attack and patrol forma- tions. Six hours every day, except Sundays, was devoted to this kind of work, in addition to the hike to and from the drill field. Running up and down hill while carrying the full field equipment, with some one warning "gas" every now and then, made every day a strenuous one, and when night came everyone sought their bunks early. The weekly inspections were held Sunday forenoons, and the remainder of the day was given over to rest. Some men from each organization attended Divisional schools, where special instruction in gas warfare, liaison, intelligence and scout duty was received. New equipment and weapons were received for the specialty platoons in the Headquarters Company and the pioneer and signal platoons, the 37 mm. cannon and trench mortar platoons followed a special schedule of training in their par- ticular branches. The Machine Gun Company was also equipped with new guns, carts and animals and had a three weeks' special course of training with other Machine Gun units of the Division, and on May 5th, it joined the regiment at Champlitte. As stated, when the Division was first designated a replacement division, all the privates 1st class and privates of the 128th Infantry were transferred as replacements to the 1st Division, practically fur- nishing one-fourth of the combat troops in that organization which later made such a good record in the battles that followed. This left the 128th with only its non-commissioned personnel and cooks, and when the status of the 32nd was changed to a combat division it be- 56 THE WAR HOPELESS FOR ALLIES came necessary to equalize the strength of the regiments, which was done by transferring men from the other three regiments to the 128th Infantry, and April 17th, 124 1st class privates and 248 privates were transferred to it from the 126th. While the necessity of this transfer was regretted by all, it could not be helped. The men transferred from the 125th were assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 128th, and those from the 126th were assigned to the 3rd Battalion. This transfer made the combat infantry troops in the Division two-thirds Michigan and one-third Wisconsin, with an average strength of 140 men per com- pany. A week later about 550 replacements were received for the regi- ment, bringing the average strength per company up to about 200 men per company. These replacements represented nearly every state in the Union, and most of them were inducted into the military service the first of 1918, and they had received very little training before they arrived. They soon absorbed the Esprit de Corps existing in the regi- ment and proved themselves most excellent soldiers and pals. A very few replacements came from the 41st Division, nearly all of them having been sent to the 1st and 2nd Divisions. About this time a rumor which caused some uneasiness, spread that G. H. Q. contemplated transferring troops of National Guard Divisions to National Army Divisions. The men in the regiment preferred to fight with men they had come to know as intimate pals and had acquired confidence in each other, and their effectiveness as combat units would have suffered accordingly by a separation. Agreeable to all, this rumor, like many others, did not materialize. About the 20th of April the Allied cause had reached a crisis and officers from G. H. Q. inspected the 32nd Division with a view of rush- ing it to a quiet sector to relieve French troops for service on the active fronts and orders to be ready to move April 25th were received at Divi- sion Headquarters, but before the time to move came, the conditions at the front had improved and the orders to move were canceled; the regiment continued its four weeks' training schedule as at first planned. THE WAR HOPELESS FOR ALLIES We were the first Americans billeted in this section of France and the local citizens gave us a very friendly and cordial welcome, and were exceptionally kind to us. Ever since our arrival in France, there was a desire to know the exact conditions at the front — what the state of war was and if the Allies were holding their own or losing. Advan- tage was taken of every opportunity for conversation with officers of our Allies to get some definite information of the true status of the war. Many Allied officers frankly admitted, in response to questions 57 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY on the subject, that so far as the Allies were concerned, the war could not be won without the help of the United States. That the Allies had long since exhausted all their resources in manpower, while the Ger- mans now had available all the troops released by the Russian debacle on the Eastern front. That the Allied cause was hopeless and that it was but a matter of time when their defense would collapse, as their troops were disheartened. Some of the citizens, while greeting us cor- dially, in frank statements stated they wished we had not come, as our aid could not change the result, but would only prolong the agony. These people were thoroughly convinced that the "Boche" was unbeat- able, and after four long years of hardship with nearly every home recording a sacrifice on the battlefield, they were discouraged and had reached a stage where they had little interest in the final result of the war and prayed for its end. However, all the people had not yet lost their patriotism for France, and a majority expressed different senti- ments and looked upon the Americans as their saviours from the despised Hun. READING SHIRTS FOR COOTIES WHILE HOLDING FRONT LINE IN CHATEAU -THIERRY. (Pen sketch by a soldier who was there.) 58 CHAPTER V MOVING FROM TRAINING AREA TO THE FRONT, AND SERVICE IN THE TRENCHES IN THE ALSACE DEFENSE SECTOR JOURNEY TO BELFORT ON MAY 14, 1918, the training of the regiment came to an abrupt end and the regiment prepared to take its place in the long battle line extending from the English Channel to the borders of Switzerland, where it was destined to stay until the end of the war, except for a brief ten days in the month of September. In the early hours of May 15th, the movement from the 10th Training Area to the front was begun. The first detachment, consisting of the Machine Gun, Headquarters and Supply Companies, and the First Bat- talion, left Champlitte at 2:30 o'clock in the morning and, carrying full field equipment, marched to the entraining point at the village of Vaux, a distance of thirteen and one-half miles. Here dinner was served and the Regimental Headquarters and auxiliary companies entrained at 4:00 p. m., and the First Battalion entrained four hours later. The Second Battalion left Champlitte at 8:00 a. m., and entrained at Vaux at midnight, while the Third Battalion assembled at the village of Percy le Grand, which village this detachment left at 1 o'clock on the morning of May 16th and entrained at Vaux at 6:30 a. m. The inhabitants of the towns in which the regiment had been billeted had become our fast friends, and they lined the roads as the troops marched away and bid us a most affectionate farewell. They regretted our going and some marched along with us for a short dis- tance. The conduct of the men toward the inhabitants was always courteous and respectful and they won the hearts of the people of these communities who appeared to take as much pride in the regiment as if we were their own folks. While the troops hated to part with their newly-made friends, yet they rejoiced in the fact that they were soon to take their place alongside of our Allied comrades to help turn the tide of battle, and make the world safe for democracy. As usual, our destination was a secret, but rumor had it that we were to take over a sector of the front line trenches in a quiet sector, to acquire some front line experience before going into an active front. This rumor proved 59 w =V • /I = mmvmo>^j^,. la m m ' >-:* ^^ <•■ '&;:.•/, . "., - •/:'"',-•''" C •'7' ;k> jS /* , *'"''■_£. Je'T'^w- :~p4,o' ll^ : M' %t,v^ '-'<■-$*£&££$■ I °fe :,v v v'AX-: :' > = £-; ^ . .':'■;' -.- ~"' "' L '' \ : ' r : .^:- .sSfU'-IV .^ '_ .v- 60 JOURNEY TO BELFORT to be correct and we soon found ourselves heading for Belfort, which is near the border of Alsace. The trains consisted of the usual spring- less box cars, labeled "40 Hommes or 8 Cheveaux," but as there were not enough of these, some flat cars were added. The journey took us through a beautiful section of France and as we neared the eastern border, the countryside fairly breathed of historical romance and mem- ories of centuries past. The landscape was a panorama of green meadows and growing crops, and the orchards were loaded with fruit. It was a peaceful scene which met our eyes, as the ravages of war had not touched this region. Not until Belfort was reached did we see any evidence indicating the presence of war, for here a few buildings near the railroad station were partially wrecked by bombs dropped by enemy aircraft in an attempt to blow up the station. The first detachment reached Belfort at midnight, May 15th, from where the Regimental Headquarters, and the Headquarters, Supply and Machine Gun Companies marched to the village of Etueffont- Haut, a distance of fifteen kilometers, while the First Battalion, upon arrival, marched twelve kilometers to Rougegoutte. The Second Bat- talion arrived at Belfort about 10:00 a. m., May 16th, and marched to the village of Grosmagny, a distance of twelve kilometers. The Third Battalion passed through Belfort and detrained at Fontaine, the rail- head of the Division, at 9:00 p. m., May 16th, from where it was to march to Guevenatten, which was eight kilometers distant, but in leav- ing Vauthiermont in the darkness, the wrong road was taken and after marching fifteen kilometers this detachment reached its destination about 3:00 a. m. the following morning. The little village of Gueve- natten is located in Alsace, then a German province, and this battalion was the first American troops to enter German territory. The plans of the High Command provided for the 32nd Division to take over this sector of the front from the French, thereby relieving their experienced troops for duty on active fronts where they were so badly needed, and also to give our troops actual trench experience before entering the lines on active fronts. The sector the 32nd Division was to take over, was the only portion of the battle line which was within German territory. In the first few weeks of the war considerable heavy fighting occurred in this region. Within a few days after war was de- clared the French massed an army here and on August 9, 1914, attacked the Alsacian city of Mulhouse, which was opposite the trenches we were taking over and thirteen kilometers distant. The city fell to the French, who held it for a day, when they were driven out by the Germans. Again in September, 1914, the French took the town and this time held it for two days, when they were again driven out and 61 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY forced back to a line a few kilometers inside the Alsacian border, where the line remained with but slight change to the end of the war. This part of the front was used by both sides, ever since 1914, as a rest sector for troops engaged in the big battles on other parts of the line, and it had become a quiet sector by common consent. The Alsacian city of Mulhouse and the French city of Belfort are known to the natives as the sister cities. They are connected by an international railroad and highway, and also by a canal which runs from the River Rhone to the River Rhine. In peace times, extensive commercial trading was carried on between them. The city of Belfort is a his- torical, as well as a beautiful city. It is situated in the center of an open and rolling stretch of country separating the Alps and the Vosges Mountain ranges. This stretch is some twenty miles wide and over 3,000 feet above sea level, and is known as the pass between southern Germany and France. Several high and rocky hills surround the city and these are all fortified, making it one of the strongest positions of defense on the French frontier. Some centuries before, the city withstood a siege of several months against invading Teuton tribes, which is commemorated by a huge lion cut out of the solid rock of the hill overlooking the city. Napoleon used this pass on his sev- eral invasions and expeditions into southern Germany and Austria, and long before his day the Romans and Teutons also passed through here on their trips of conquests in the land of the Gauls, and many a sanguinary battle was fought in this historical region, and now, for the first time in history, American soldiers camped upon these ancient battlefields. The orders provided for a tour of instruction in trench service in conjunction with French troops, consisting of. twelve days' duty for each battalion in the front line trenches. The Third Battalion was the first designated for this duty and therefore it was billeted close to the support position, being only six kilometers back of the front line. The villages occupied by the remainder of the regiment were about twenty kilometers back of the front, which permitted them to receive further training without interruption from hostile observation or artillery fire while waiting for their first tour in the trenches. On the following day, May 17th, the men in the regiment had their first opportunity to hear the sound of cannon at the front, and to see some- thing of the conflict of which they had heard and talked about so much. French and German planes were battling in the air behind the Allied line. This battle lasted for some time and it was very interesting to watch them as each maneuvered for positions from which they could train their machine guns upon their antagonist. When more French 62 IN ALSACE planes appeared, the Boche plane made for his side of the line and the battle was over without damage to either side. French batteries of artillery were located near the front and these fired many shots during the day. Beginning early in the morning, the sound of the guns send- ing their shells of high explosives behind the German lines impressed all with the seriousness of war. Some enemy shells fell near to the town where the Third Battalion was billeted and gave these men a still greater realization of what was in store for them. During the night of May 17th, Regimental Headquarters and the Headquarters Company moved from Etueffont-Haut to Soppe-le-Bas, arriving there early on the morning of May 18th. This town was three kilometers behind the front line and close up to the front line sector to be occupied by the regiment, and here the Regimental Post of Com- mand was established. The following day the First Battalion moved from Rougegoutte to Etueffont-Haut, occupying the billets evacuated by the Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Company. On the afternoon of May 19th, the Machine Gun Company moved from Etueffont-Haut to Guevenatten preparatory to going into the line with the Third Battalion. The following day the Supply Company moved from Etueffont-Haut to Lariviere. During these few days the troops not designated for immediate trench duty perfected themselves in the many new things relating to trench warfare under French instructors. The usual aerial activities attracted no end of attention and whenever •an enemy plane appeared in sight, the troops took cover under trees or stood still to avoid being observed. The enemy planes flew over our lines every day, and sometimes they flew over us several times during the day. These were mostly observation planes seeking information of what was going on in the rear of the Allied front. They came over singly or in pairs and every time they hove in sight the French anti- aircraft guns opened fire on them from every direction in an endeavor to hit them or drive them back to their own lines. When these guns commenced firing the planes would rise or dip, according to how good the gunner's range was, and at times they were up over two miles, from which height observation of the ground was almost out of the question. The shells from these anti-aircraft guns were either shrapnel or high explosive, the burst of the shell emitting either a white or black smoke indicating the kind of shell used. The explosion of the shells in the air resembled a small puff of smoke, and sometimes they went so high that the sound of the shell exploding could not be heard on the ground. As these little puffs of smoke appeared all around the hostile plane, we looked intently heavenward at this new thing in warfare, every moment expecting to see the shell reach its mark and send the 63 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY unlucky avion crashing to earth. While we watched similar battles almost every day while in this sector, no shell ever found its mark, and our only consolation was the development of the muscles of our necks by the extra work put upon them. The boys soon had a name for these anti-aircraft guns and dubbed them "archies." The artillery on both sides did some firing every day and night, and the ominous sound of the boom of the guns in the distance always tended to make us hark and think during these first days near the front. ENTERING THE TRENCHES The time for our troops to enter the front line trenches, the event that we had trained for so earnestly and diligently, and which marked the beginning of our long and almost unbroken service at the front, was now close at hand. The sector of the trenches in which the regi- ment was to receive its initial experience in modern warfare was held by troops of the 9th French Infantry Division, to which organization the regiment was temporarily attached. On May 19th, the company commanders and platoon sergeants of Companies I and L made a reconnaissance of the trenches occupied by companies of the 329th French Infantry Regiment, which these two companies were to relieve the following night. The next day, May 20th, the headquarters of the Third Battalion, Major Earl R. Stewart commanding, was moved to the little village of Hecken, which was close to the front. During the day orders were issued to Company I to relieve a company of French troops in the line during the night of May 20th-21st, and accord- ingly this company, Captain Charles L. McCormick commanding, which was the first company in the regiment to see front line service, left Guevenatten at 11:00 p. m. and marched by way of Hecken to Gildwiller, where guides met the different platoons and guided them to their platoon sectors in the front line. The men carried full field equip- ment, with gas masks at the alert position. This precaution was taken as the road followed passed through woods occupied by French artil- lery, and the Germans had a habit of throwing gas shells into these woods, as well as in the woods where the front line trenches were located. The company marched with a distance of one hundred meters between platoons, until Gildwiller was passed, when each platoon marched in single file. The sensations and thoughts which possessed these men on this first march to the front line, as they trudged along in deep silence, with nothing to disturb the stillness of the night except the steady "crunch, crunch, crunch" as the feet struck the gravel pave- ment and an occasional gun shot or the deep boom of a cannon, were sensations and thoughts which every man experienced on his first hike 64 ENTERING THE TRENCHES ¥' -*M tiff />/ 65 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY at night to the front line. During our service here, there were nights that were so dark that men passing each other on opposite sides of the road did not see each other. On other nights the moon and stars would shine brightly, and on this night the moon and stars were out in all their splendor, throwing their soft light on the green fields and meadows and causing the trees in the woods to cast ghostly shadows upon the ground. It all sent a thrill through every man, and as he marched onward to a place from which he might not return, his thoughts would turn, in spite of himself, to other equally beautiful spring nights with loved ones at home, and where the joys of peace reigned. These moments were short lived. The sound of a shot, or exploding grenade, or the light of a flare floating high in the air, caused his thoughts to revert to the present mission at hand and thus reminded, each took a silent oath to do his best in this grim business to eradicate the cause which threatened the world. On the eastern outskirts of Gildwiller, the company was met by the French guides who led the different platoons into the southern end of "Biich-Wald" (Beech-Forest). The way led through the woods toward the front, part of it taking the platoons designated to take over the front line, through barbed wire entanglements and trenches. After stumbling about in the darkness for an hour or so, the front positions were reached and here the standing orders were transmitted, through an interpreter, from the officers of the French company being relieved to the company and platoon commanders of I company. The neces- sary details to occupy the night outpost positions were sent out to relieve the French outpost, and the relief was completed by 4 o'clock a. m., May 21st, and the French company moved out. The standing trench orders required the troops to stand-to during the hour preceding daylight to guard against an early morning surprise attack or trench raid, and the platoons took up their various positions designed for the defense of the position and stood on the fire step peering over the parapet into the darkness in the direction of the enemy until daylight, without anything happening. During the day of May 20th, the Head- quarters of the Machine Gun Company, Captain William Haze com- manding, was established at Hecken and the Second Platoon accom- panied Company I into the trenches, relieving a platoon of the French Machine Gun Company. The relieving of troops in front line trenches at night is always a more or less confusing operation to the soldier, and this is especially true when the relief is made by green troops, or by troops unfamiliar with the lay of the ground. In the darkness all appears to be confusion, as little can be seen of ones immediate sur- roundings. The system of trenches is most mistifying, to say the least. 66 ENTERING THE TRENCHES One can't tell where they lead to, nor whether they parallel the enemy line, or how far away his line is. The trees and posts of the barbed wire entanglements are strange to the newcomer, and soon he feels as if he had lost all bearing of his location, and a strange feeling steals over one as to what would happen if the enemy should decide to attack in the darkness. In this state of affairs, daylight is always welcome, and so it was with the men of Company I and the Machine Gun Platoon. Some of the officers and non-commissioned officers of the French company relieved, remained in the trenches for the purpose of assisting in the instruction of the company in trench duty. After day- light, these instructors pointed out the various duties required. The officers and men inspected the trench system for the purpose of be- coming familiar with their location, and the location of the different company and platoon posts of command and the day and night obser- vation posts. Life in the trenches not only means constant observation of the enemy, but continued improvement of the trenches, outposts and dugouts, with the view of constantly strengthening the defensive posi- tions. During the day a few men were on watch while the others obtained rest and sleep in the dugouts so they would be fresh for the many duties connected with trench service, which was habitually per- formed during the night. Guards were continually on duty at every dugout to give the occupants warning against poisonous gas attacks, and at each company and platoon headquarters, and day and night observation posts, men were stationed to relay rocket signals from the front to the rear in emergencies. With all these details made and posted, those men not required for day duty were given an opportunity to obtain some sleep. The sector taken over by this company extended from the southern end of "Biich-Wald" forest north about a half mile. The defensive system consisted of a trench running across the sector and about fifty yards inside the eastern edge of the woods. It was seven feet deep, with a fire step on the side nearest the enemy, so its defenders could fire from the top of the parapet. The trench was constructed with traverses every twenty feet for protection against flanking fire, and the spaces between were called "fire bays," and duck-board walks were laid along the bottom its entire length. This trench was the first line of resistance and from it, and about four to six hundred yards apart, two zigzagging communicating trenches ran out into No Man's Land toward the German lines. The end of these were occupied during the day by a few men as observation and listening posts. These advance observation posts, together with that portion of the resistance trench from which they extended, were called "Petty Posts," and 67 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY were numbered from right to left, and the petty posts occupied by- Company I were numbered 8 and 9. The company was disposed with one platoon occupying each petty post, one platoon slightly in rear in support, and one platoon in reserve near the company post of com- mand. Each company sector was called a "Post of Action," or "P. A.," and likewise numbered from right to left. Company I occupied "P. A." 1. The Battalion sector was known as "Center of Resistance, Gild- wilier," or "C. R. G." Machine gun emplacements were established in the company sector, and these were also numbered and one gun was in position in each emplacement. During the afternoon, May 21st, the Trench Mortar Platoon of the Headquarters Company occupied their position in the sector. At midnight on the night of May 21st to 22nd, Company L, Captain George L. Olsen commanding, and one platoon of the Machine Gun Company, left Guevenatten to relieve another French company in the trenches and to take its place alongside of and to the left of Company I. These troops marched by way of Sternen- berg to Dieffmatten, where guides were met who conducted the platoons into the woods to the trenches to be taken over, and the relief was completed by 4 o'clock a. m., May 22nd. The same procedure was followed by this company and Machine Gun platoon as was followed by the troops preceding them into the trenches. The company sector occupied was numbered P. A. 2 and P. P. 10 and 11. Outside of some aerial activity, which caused the anti-aircraft guns to expend consid- erable ammunition without results, and some intermittent enemy shell- fire, the day passed quietly. During the day the Machine Gun Com- pany moved its headquarters to Hecken, and a first aid dressing station was established at Hecken by the Sanitary Detachment, some members of which accompanied the companies into the front line. The three 37 millimeter guns of the cannon platoon of the Headquarters Com- pany, occupied positions in the front line during May 23rd. FIRST CASUALTY The advance observation posts extended into No Man's Land from four to seven hundred yards, and because of their isolated posi- tions, the troops occupying them during the daytime were withdrawn after dark to positions nearer the line of resistance, where they re- mained as outposts during the night. It was about midnight on the 24th of May that the first casualty in the regiment occurred, which was also the first casualty in the 32nd Division. Private Joseph W. Guyton, of Company I, was one of the group in the night outpost posi- tion in Petty Post 9. He was an automatic gunner and his instructions were to fire his gun intermittently, and while discharging his duties, the Germans sent over a machine gun barrage and a bullet struck him 68 FIRST CASUALTY in the temple and killed him instantly. He was the first American soldier to fall in action on German territory. This incident caused the Commanding General of the 9th French Infantry Division, to which our regiment was attached, to issue the following order: "9th Division of Infantry. The 25th of May, 1918. Divisional Order No. 297. General Gamelin, commanding the 9th Infantry Divi- sion, cites in the Divisional Order: The soldier, Joseph W. Guyton, of the 126th American Infantry Regiment, 'on guard in the first line was killed by a machine gun bullet. He is the first soldier of the 32nd American Division to fall fighting for the cause of right and liberty, on Alsacian soil, beside his French comrades.' General Gamelin, commanding the 9th Infantry Division." (Signed) Gamelin. The Commanding General of the 9th French Infantry Division conferred the "Croix de Guerre" upon Private Joseph W. Guyton, which was forwarded to his wife by our Division Commander, Major General William G. Haan, and a duplicate of this, the first decoration awarded to any member of the 32nd Division, was furnished to the regiment and accepted in its behalf by Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge. Private Guyton was buried with full military honors by his comrades in the little churchyard in the village of Gildwiller, Alsace, less than a mile from where he fell. The first tour of duty for each company in the front line lasted five days, and so at midnight, May 24th-25th, Company K, Captain James Sinke commanding, left Guevenatten by way of Sternenberg-Hecken and Gildwiller to relieve Company I in P. A. 1. The relief was com- pleted by 3:30 a. m. and Company I moved back to the village of Gildwiller, where it was held in support. At midnight of May 25th- 26th, Company M, First Lieut. Edward B. Strom commanding, left its billets in Guevenatten and marched by the south road to Hecken and Gildwiller to relieve Company L in P. A. 2, which was completed at 3:50 a. m. and Company L moved back to Hecken in support. As the American troops went into the line, the hostilities in this sector became more active. The boche must have suspected that a change was taking place in the Allied line, or perhaps he had already received information from the inhabitants, who were distinctly German, of our presence. At any rate the firing from our lines into the enemy position had increased, and the "boche" was retaliating, as during the day of May 26th there was considerable rifle fire from enemy snipers, and one French soldier, who remained on duty with our troops, was shot in 69 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY 1ST LT. CARL A. JOHNSON, CO. M First officer of 32nd Div. killed in action June 23, 1918 PVT. JOSEPH W. GUYTON, CO. I First soldier of 32nd Div. killed in action May 24, 1918 the arm. Also enemy planes flew low over our lines in the hopes of gaining some definite information. The numbers of the Petty Posts were changed so that Company K was occupying 1 and 2, and Com- pany M occupied 3 and 4. About 4:30 o'clock in the morning of May 27th, the detachment from Company K designated to occupy the advance day position in P. P. 2, was proceeding along the communi- cating trench to its post with Sergeant Charles E. Cunningham, the detachment commander, in the lead. As the detachment neared the day post, Sergeant Cunningham was separated from his detachment by some Germans, who were members of an enemy raiding party, and concealed in a recess in the trench. They attempted to make him prisoner, but Sergeant Cunningham opened fire on the enemy, who returned the fire, knocked him down and rushed along the trench. The first shot struck the sergeant in the chest, severely wounding him, but despite his wound, he climbed upon the parapet and, single-handed, attacked the enemy raiding party, fired six shots at them from his pistol and drove them off, but not before he had received two more gunshot wounds and fell unconscious in the trench. Sergeant Cunning- ham was immediately given first aid and taken to a hospital, but the wounds he received in this early morning encounter proved fatal, and he died on the afternoon of July 3, 1918. For his exceptional bravery, Sergeant Cunningham was cited in Divisional orders and awarded the French "Croix de Guerre." The order is as follows: "Order of the Division No. 302. General Gamelin, commanding the 9th Infantry Division, 70 A COMPANY LOG BOOK mentions in the Orders of the Division: Sergeant Charles E. Cunningham, "K" Company, of the 126th Infantry Regiment, U. S., 'Has bravely conducted himself at the head of a patrol, who, meeting an enemy detachment placed in ambush, has succeeded in making it take to flight. Although gravely wounded twice, earned the admiration of all by continuing to fire on the enemy until, exhausted, he fell unconscious in the trench.' General Gamelin, commanding the 9th I. D." (Signed) Gamelin. This decoration was conferred upon Sergeant Cunningham by Major General Haan, of the 32nd Division, while he was in hopsital, and the sergeant's only comment on the engagement was a fear that, when he recovered, he might not get back to his own company. When this enemy patrol reported back to their own lines they satisfied the German Command that American troops were in the trenches opposite them, and the boche no doubt had in mind to "straff" us, as during the remainder of the day, and the day follow- ing, he was very active and sent many shells of different caliber, and some of gas, into our lines. The enemy activity was unusual for a quiet sector and is best shown by the record from the log book taken from one of the companies in the line for the 28th day of May: "At 5:00 a. m. one enemy observation balloon appeared and at 5:30 a. m. two more appeared. At 6:45 a. m. two boche planes flew over our lines, and about a half-hour later a French plane was seen flying toward the enemy lines. During early morning, there was some machine gun firing by both sides. 7:00 to 8:00 a. m., very little activ- ity by either infantry, artillery or air service. No gas. 8:00 a. m. until noon, artillery very active on both sides. 11:30 a. m., two French planes observed flying low over our company sector. 12:05 p. m., twenty-nine high explosive shells fired at Company Headquarters. No casualties or damage done. Enemy artillery fire continues on our right. Some gas shells. Several shells struck within a few yards of 'line of resistance trench,' and on road in rear. Between 9:00 and 10:00 a. m., our artillery destroyed some buildings in Burnhaupt-le- Bas. At 1:50 p. m., one high explosive shell burst in the air directly over the Company P. C. At 3:50 p. m., 43 high explosive shells and 3 duds fell from 5 to 50 yards of P. C. At 2:10 p. m., a shrapnel shell exploded 20 yards from day post in P. P., slightly damaging com- munication trench. Enemy has correct range on P. C. and P. P. — a shell exploding 5 yards to right. Other shells exploded directly over them. Telephone wires broken by bombardment and immediately re- 71 1. Sentry Post in Hecken, Alsace. American and French sentinels on duty. Note road screen on left of picture. 2. Soldiers sleeping on fire-step in front line trench. Alsace trench sector. June 2, 1918. 3. Church at Gildwiller, Alsace, partially destroyed by German artillery fire. The grave of Pvt. J. W. Guyton, the first soldier in regiment killed in action, is shown by plain wooden cross in lower left-hand corner. 72 A COMPANY LOG BOOK paired by Sergeant . Enemy sniper's post observed in a bush 500 yards away, 135 degrees N. E. of P. P. Message received at 12:55 p. m. from P. C. on right, stating gas shells exploded on right of their sector. Plane seen directly over P. C. at 1:50 p. m., at same time enemy shell exploded in vicinity; believed to be enemy plane in dis- guise. At 5:28 p. m., 62 enemy shells landed within 100 yards of P. C. sector on right, heavily shelled at same time. 6:00 to 7:00 p. m., heavy shelling to right and left of sector. 7:00 to 8:00 p. m., shelling by friendly and hostile artillery. "P. P. and P. P. day positions occupied during night per order. 8:45 p. m., large caliber hostile shells began falling to left of sector. At 8:30 p. m., a working party of one sergeant, three cor- porals and twenty-four privates went out in wire and erected 75 yards of new wire entanglement. At 8:50 p. m., a patrol of one American platoon, and French sergeant, five French corporals and five French privates, proceeded to point between 55.16 and 56.15 with orders to attack enemy patrols and take prisoners. At 9:00 p. m., another patrol of one American platoon, and one sergeant, one corporal and three privates (French) proceeded to intersection Spechbach Creek and Gild- willer-Burnhaupt road, with same orders. No enemy encountered by either patrol and both patrols returned at 3:30 a. m. by way of P. P. . No casualties." The foregoing is fairly descriptive of the daily experiences of every organization in the regiment while in the front line trenches, and also some shells fell in the support positions to the rear. On May 27th, a piece of an enemy anti-aircraft shell went through the roof of the dug- out occupied as headquarters for the Machine Gun Company, striking Lieut. Clark H. Apted in the leg and inflicting a severe wound which required him to be taken to the hospital. He was the first officer in the Division to be wounded. On the night of May 29th, Company K was relieved by Company I in P. A. 1 and moved into a support posi- tion at Gildwiller, and on the next night, May 30th, Company M was relieved by Company L and went into support in the village of Hecken. On the night of May 29th, the First Battalion, Major J. C. McCullough commanding, which was to relieve the Third Battalion in the front line, left their billets in Etueffont-Haut and marched to Guevenatten, arriv- ing at the latter village the next morning about daylight. On the night of June 1st, a raid was carried out by a company of the 4th French Infantry Regiment, on the German lines in the village of Ammerttzwiller. Twelve American soldiers, detailed from the 125th and 126th regiments, accompanied the raiding party, whose mission was to secure information and enemy prisoners. At 9:00 p. m., five 73 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY French planes flew toward the enemy lines and upon a given light signal, sent up by a rocket from the French lines, they separated and immediately American and French artillery began bombarding the enemy trenches in an area about 600 yards square. The barrage, which was the most intensive shelling we had heard up to this time, lasted about five minutes, and then a curtain of shell-fire preceded the raid- ing party as it went over the top and advanced toward the German lines. The "boche" troops caught in the barrage signaled frantically for help, sending a number of rockets of various kinds and colors. The distance across No Man's Land at this point was about six hundred yards and rapid progress could not be made on account of the great quantity of wire entanglements, through which the troops had to pass. No hostile fire was encountered on the way across and no sooner were the enemy trenches reached when the various groups entered them at different points according to a prearranged plan, and its work com- pleted, the raiding party returned to its own lines, bringing three Ger- man prisoners with them. The casualties on our side were two French privates killed by the enemy counter barrage, which began to fall as the party reached its own lines. For their part in this raid, 1st Lieut. Sidney Eleveld and Sergeant Edgar C. Taylor, Company K; Sergeant Edward Horrigan, Company I, and Sergeant Daniel Gerber, Company M, were each decorated with a Croix de Guerre and cited in French Divisional orders, which read as follows: "On the 1st day of June they took part in a raid with troops from the 4th Infantry Regiment (French). They have shown, to the admiration of their comrades, fearlessness of danger when under fire for the first time." During the day of June 2nd, which was on Sunday, reconnoitering parties from Companies A and B visited the sectors held by the Third Battalion, preparatory for their first hitch in the trenches. In the first part of the night of June 2nd-3rd, Company M, in support at Hecken, and Company K, in support at Gildwiller, were relieved by two com- panies of the 329th French Infantry Regiment, and marched to Guevenatten, where they went into billets. At 12:30 a. m., Company B, Captain John Benner commanding, left Guevenatten, accompanied by a part of Company D of the 120th Machine Gun Battalion, and marched through Hecken to Gildwiller, where guides were met and Company B relieved Company I in P. A. 1, and the Machine Gun units relieved two platoons of the 126th Machine Gun Company. The relief was completed at 4:15 a. m. The Headquarters of the First Battalion moved from Guevenatten to Hecken on the night of June 2nd, where 74 BATTALION RELIEF it relieved Third Battalion Headquarters, Major Stewart remaining with Major McCullough, commanding First Battalion, until 10:00 a. m., June 3rd. On night of June 3rd-4th, Company A, Captain Roscoe L. Graves commanding, and one platoon of Company D, 120th Machine Gun Battalion, left Guevenatten and marching by way of Dieffmatten- Chemin des Disque road, relieved Company L in P. A. 2, and the re- maining platoon of the 126th Machine Gun Company, the relief being accomplished by 4:30 a. m. Similar reliefs were made by the Sanitary Detachments attached to each battalion. As soon as relieved, Com- panies I and L moved to Guevenatten. On June 3rd, the 2nd Bat- talion moved from Grosmagny to Etueffont-Haut and occupied the billets vacated by the 1st Battalion. Early on the morning of June 4th the 3rd Battalion and 126th Machine Gun Company moved from Guevenatten to Rougegoutte, a distance of eighteen miles, for further training and work on the positions in the rear. On June 5th, the Supply Company moved from Lariviere to Bellemagny, where it was stationed during the remainder of our stay in this sector. Pursuant to orders issued by the French Commander, dated June 5th, a change was made in the trench sector to be held by the regiment from the "Center of Resistance, Gildwiller," to the "Center of Resist- ance, Buchwald," which was immediately north of our first sector. Three companies were to hold the front line, while one company re- mained in support at the town of Soppe-le-Bas. Accordingly, on the night of June 6th-7th, Companies C and D left Guevenatten by way of Dieffmatten, and Company C, First Lieut. Otto K. Buder commanding, relieved that part of Company A occupying P. P. 4, and the French company occupying P. P. 5 just to the north. This company sector was called P. A. 1, C. R. Buchwald. At the same time, Company B was relieved in part by a company of French troops and in part by portions of Company A, this latter company occupying P. P. 2 and 3, and B company, when relieved, moving to Soppe-le-Bas in battalion support. Company D, First Lieut. Edward W. Minier commanding, relieved a French company in a new company sector farther to the north and located in the Schwebelhurst woods and southern end of Langlittenhag Forest. This new company sector was designated P. A. 3, C. R. Buchwald, under the new dispositions of the regiment. All these reliefs were completed before daylight. First Battalion Hear- quarters was moved from Hecken to Soppe-le-Bas on the night of June 6th to 7th. On the night of June 7th to 8th, Company A was relieved by a company of French troops and moved to Soppe-le-Bas, and on the night of June 8th to 9th, Company B relieved a company of 75 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY ADVANCED OBSERVATION POST IN PETTY POST No. 4 NEAR DIEFFMATTEN, ALSACE, JUNE 27, 1918. LOOKING ACROSS NO-MAN'S-LAND. French troops in the company sector between Companies C and D, which sector was designated P. A. 2, containing P. P. 6 and 7, and P. P. 8 and 9 were occupied by Company D. The first aid station was established in the vicinity of Dieffmatten. The one-pound cannon platoon and Stokes mortar platoon of the Headquarters Company, changed their positions on the night of June 6th-7th to conform to the new dispositions, except that one cannon was moved back to Soppe-le- Bas, while the Machine Gun Company changed position on June 9th and Company Headquarters was moved from Hecken to Dieffmatten. Regimental Headquarters and the band were moved, on June 9th, from Soppe-le-Bas to La Chapelle, which was some distance to the rear, and here the office force was much more able to function, as it was not necessary for them to spend so much of their time watching airplane battles and barrages, and ducking artillery fire. The re- mainder of the Headquarters Company remained at Soppe-le-Bas. During the night of June 9th, the 2nd Battalion moved from Etueffont- Haut to Guevenatten, preparatory to entering the trenches. At 11:00 p. m., on June 11th, Company E, First Lieut. Joseph L. Backus commanding, left Guevenatten and relieved the 5th Company, 4th Regiment of Infantry (French) in the Gildwiller Center of Resist- ance vacated by the 1st Battalion, occupying the middle P. A., while Company F, Captain Richard F. Smith commanding, left Guevenatten a half-hour later and relieved the 9th Company in support at Hecken. 76 TRENCH SECTOR ENLARGED On the same day 2nd Battalion Headquarters, Major Albert C. Wil- son commanding, moved from Guevenatten to Hecken. At 11:00 p. m. the following night, June 12th, Company G, Captain James Cathcart commanding, left Guevenatten and relieved the 7th Company in Gild- wilier Center of Resistance, occupying the front to the right of Com- pany E. A half-hour later the same night, Company H, Captain Fred W. Beaudry commanding, left Guevenatten and relieved the 6th Com- pany in the P. A. between Company E and Company C. Company C, 120th Machine Gun Battalion, took over the machine gun emplace- ments in the Battalion sector. All the reliefs were made in good order and without incident. During the night of June 12th to 13th, Com- pany A moved from the support position in Soppe-le-Bas and relieved Company B in P. A. 2, Center of Resistance, Buchwald, while Com- pany B moved back to Soppe-le-Bas. At 6:00 p. m., June 12th, the 3rd Battalion and 126th Machine Gun Company and Sanitary Detach- ment left Rougegoutte and Company K, First Lieut. Sidney Eleveld taking command when Capt. Sinke was detailed to the 1st Corps School, and Company L and Machine Gun Company and Sanitary Detachment, marched to La Chapelle, and Company I and Company M, Captain Emil B. Gansser, who returned from school, commanding, marched to Angeot, where this battalion was billeted in the front sup- port position of the regimental sector. With these moves and new dispositions made, the regiment occupied a complete regimental sector with six companies holding nearly seven kilometers of the front line, two companies in battalion supports and one battalion in regimental support. Regimental Headquarters remained at La Chapelle and the 3rd Battalion Headquarters was also established there. While the original plan contemplated a thirty-five days' course of instruction for each regiment in the Division, each battalion to remain in the line twelve days, the success of the several German spring offensives caused a speeding up of the training, resulting in a shift of previous plans in each infantry regiment of the Division, and by June 15th eight battalions were placed in the front line with four battalions in support, the Division thus taking over a front of twenty-seven kilo- meters, from Aspach-le-Bas to the Swiss border. Upon recommenda- tion of General Pershing, the French undertook to rush the training of the 32nd Division so that it could be placed on the active battle line without delay. Up to June 15th the Division Commander and his staff had not functioned in command of the Divisional troops, and after an investigation the 7th French Army Commander ordered General Haan be placed in tactical control and command of the 32nd and also of the 9th French Division occupying a part of the same sector, from Aspach- 77 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY le-Bas to the Rhine-Rhone Canal, with all the troops therein, both American and French, the latter forming the major portion of the second line and reserve. On June 16th the regiment was again placed under the immediate command of Colonel Westnedge, without any supervision or control by the French commanders, but training was con- tinued with French officers and non-commissioned officers. On the night of June 16th, Company F relieved Company H in P. A. 3, Center of Resistance, Gildwiller, and Company H moved back to Hecken in support, and five days later relieved Company E in P. A. 2, which company in turn relieved Company G in P. A. 1. The plan of relief in the battalions in the line provided for a tour of five days in support for each company, and this plan was followed in the 1st Battalion also. In the early morning hours of June 19th the Ger- mans sent over a heavy bombardment on P. A. 3, Center of Resistance, Buchwald, occupied by Company D. The shelling lasted about twenty minutes and included a number of gas shells, besides heavy explosive and shrapnel shells. One shell entered the dugout in one of the platoon Petty Posts, where it exploded and killed two privates and wounded or gassed one officer and seven enlisted men, one of whom, Corporal I. V. Boursaw, died four days later from the wounds he received. Company A also had two men wounded by this bombardment. On the night of June 20th the 3rd Battalion and Machine Gun Company relieved the 1st Battalion and Company D, 120th Machine Gun Bat- talion in the Center of Resistance, Buchwald. M company went into P. A. 1, Company I in P. A. 2, and Company K in P. A. 3, while L company went into support at Soppe-le-Bas. The 1st Battalion went back into regimental support at La Chapelle and Angeot. On this same day, June 20th, Lieut.-Col. George C. Waldo was placed in temporary command of the 2nd Battalion. HOSTILE RAID ON OUR LINES The first raid in force against our lines was made by the Germans in the early morning hours of June 23rd. The hostile raid was directed against the advance observation post in P. P. 5 occupied by the 4th platoon of Company M. The enemy raiding party had come over in the night and lay in waiting in the trench composing the observation post, and in shell-holes nearby. This advance post was occupied by our troops in the daytime only, and at 5:30 a. m. and as the day relief with the platoon commander, First Lieutenant Carl A. Johnson, in the lead, approached its post, Lieutenant Johnson was shot in the abdomen and fell. The report of the pistol shot was the signal for the enemy to open the attack. The enemy were camouflaged with grass 78 ENEMY RAID ON OUR LINES covering their helmets and bodies, and resembled the turf as they lay- in ambush along the top of the trench parapet, and as they stood up it looked to the men in the trenches as if the whole parapet was lifted up. The enemy at once commenced throwing grenades (German potato- mashers) at the bend in the trench as a sort of a barrage, and cut off Sergeant Dewey F. Slocum, Private Newton Bell and Corporal John C. Phillips, who were following in single file behind Lieutenant Johnson in the order named, from the rest of the detail, who were driven back to the night post by enemy following on parapet and throwing grenades at them. The men cut off were surrounded and their surrender de- manded, but instead, they fought the enemy with grenades and rifle fire, firing upon a "boche" every time he showed himself and throw- ing grenades over the parapet in their direction, all the time sustain- ing a fusilade of enemy grenades. This heroic trio obtained four casualties in the enemy raiding party. One big German fell from the parapet into the trench when hit by a rifle bullet which killed him instantly. Another threw his hands in the air and fell backward from the parapet dead. Two others were wounded, how seriously was not known. The fight put up by these three Yanks, attacked from all sides, from the parapet and from in the trench, caused confusion and extreme excitement among the enemy raiding party, who were in turn sur- prised by this unexpected show of resistance, and shouting all kinds of commands. The three Americans finally managed to fight their way -back through the trench to the night post, which was still on duty, but in so doing they had to pass over the body of the dead boche stretched out full length in the bottom of the trench and Private Bell, who be- lieved he saw some signs of life still remaining, made liberal use of his iron rifle grenade discharger, the only weapon he had, upon the skull of this boche to make certain that he would be a good Hun soldier forever after. This particular advance day post extended six hundred yards from the main line of resistance into No Man's Land, and the night post was three hundred and fifty yards back. Immediately after the attack began, the enemy dropped a heavy box barrage on the line of resistance and to the rear in the entire sector held by Company M, which began about 5:30 a. m. and lasted thirty- five minutes. That the Germans had mastered the art of warfare down to the finest details, is best illustrated by a description of the mechanism and plan of this attack, which was a small enemy raid, and made for the purpose of obtaining prisoners for information. Their 77 mm. artillery guns dropped shrapnel shells on the night position in P. P. 5, and along the entire line of resistance, and on a perpendicular line on both sides of the communicating trench leading to the day post, form- 79 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY ing a box with three sides, from which the name of a "box barrage" is derived. At the same time, high explosive shells were dropped in the company sector in rear of the line of resistance, and the day posts in the P. P.'s on both sides of P. P. 5 was subjected to a machine gun barrage from the enemy trenches; the. whole plan being to prevent re- inforcements from the rear, or aid from the posts on the flanks going to the relief of the troops attacked. When the day party started for their post, the platoon in the front line were in their positions in the line of resistance "standing to," and while the shells fell thick and fast on this line, not a man was injured. Signal rockets calling for a night counter barrage were sent up from the night post and relayed to the rear as soon as the shelling commenced, but no barrage was delivered by our artillery until nearly two hours later. Runners were sent to the Company Post of Command through all this shelling with messages from the front, and a small counter attack from the night post advanced along the trench and on both sides of the parapet, but the enemy had gone. The day relief in P. P. 4, which was 400 yards to the right of P. P. 5, were advancing to their post about the same time, and the men in this relief saw the enemy raiding party which numbered from 30 to 50 men, as they were leaving, and fired upon them until they disap- peared in a sunken road about one hundred yards in front and to the left of P. P. 5. They were observed dragging two bodies and carrying two more, and two more enemy soldiers were seen to fall as if hit from the fire from P. P. 4. When the counter attacking party reached the place where Lieutenant Johnson fell, they found him lying on his back, but no trace of any dead enemy was found, they having taken all their dead and wounded with them. Besides being shot in the stomach, Lieutenant Johnson had received another- shot in the forehead. All sorts of explosives, including grenades and dynamite, were attached to his body with cords in such a manner that if his body was lifted, fuses would be ignited and all blown to atoms. The sides of the trench were similarly wired with explosives, but fortunately it was noticed in time and all explosive removed. The lieutenant's uniform was stripped of articles of indentification and his leather leggins taken, presumably as proof to secure the bonus which it was understood German soldiers received for killing an Allied officer. Some enemy articles of identifi- cation was left in the trench, and were turned over to the regimental intelligence officer. Lieutenant Johnson was the first officer in the Division to be killed, and his death was mourned by all, as no officer in the regiment was more popular and respected than he, and the officers and men of his own company who knew him best admired and idolized him and 80 ENEMY RAID ON OUR LINES to them his death was like a personal loss. He was prepared for burial by men of Company L, and men of Headquarters Company made a concrete vault for him. The pine box containing his body was covered with an American flag and placed on a one-pound gun carriage and drawn through the streets of S'oppe-le-Bas to the little burial ground on the side of a hill on the outskirts of the town and laid to rest beside the graves of a French and German aviator. Chaplain Dunnigan officiated at the ceremony at the grave, which was conducted while enemy shells were whizzing and whining through the air just overhead and exploding on the hill top a hundred yards away. Brother officers were his pall bearers, and among them was Colonel Westnedge. Another life sacri- ficed so that democracy and freedom may not perish from the earth. The defense made by the three soldiers in this raid against an enemy ten times their number, was an inspiration to the men of the regiment. Their refusal to surrender, when it would have insured their safety, showed the stuff the Yanks were made of. Their conduct in- creased the morale and confidence of the regiment and demonstrated that the "boche" was not invincible. These brave men who made such a gallant fight, were thrice recommended by their officers in the regi- ment for the coveted cross for heroism in action, but the best the powers that were deemed they deserved was a "citation" by the Com- manding General of the A. E. F. A regretable procedure when "Croix de Guerres" were awarded for work which never brought the recip- ients within the danger zone. But such is the fortunes of war. During this period an epidemic of trench fever, called by the French the "three-day fever," broke out among the troops in the line, placing nearly half of them temporarily out of action. Also, about this time, scout units were formed in each battalion, the personnel being drawn from the infantry companies, which reduced their strength to about 160 men per company. This was a serious situation when it is remembered that some companies were holding nearly a mile of front, and it necessitated all available troops being used in the front positions continuously during the company's tour of duty. That the enemy did not relish the reception handed to his elaborately planned raid on P. P. 5, was shown when a few days later he attempted to "straff" American impudence for not following the rules of combat as laid down by him. During the morning of June 26th, three enemy planes could be seen flying over No Man's Land in front of "Center of Resistance, Biich-Wald." After circling about a few times, the leader was seen to glide down from the sky straight toward the day post in P. P. 5, and when within a few hundred yards of it he opened fire on the men in the post with his machine gun and then glided up and away to his 81 HISTOEY OF THE 126th INFANTRY own line. The other two followed him and repeated the performance. Company L was occupying the post, having relieved Company M, which moved into support for five days. No casualties were caused. On the night of June 30th to July 1st, the 1st Battalion relieved the 2nd Battalion in the Center of Resistance, Gildwiller, the 2nd Bat- talion moving back to the regimental support position in La Chapelle and Angeot. About 9 p. m., on June 30th, the 125th Infantry made a raid on the German lines near Burnhaupt le Haut, and at 3 a. m., on the morning of July 1st, and just as the 1st Battalion had completed the relief of the 2nd, the enemy attempted a raid on the right of the bat- talion sector and sent over a terrific barrage of 8-inch minnenwerfer shells, boxing in our extreme right and a portion of the French line on our right, at the same time shelling our line to the right and left. A counter barrage was signaled for immediately and this time it came without delay, and it was more terrific than the enemy's and their raid- ing party did not reach our line, nor were any casualties sustained by our men. On the night of July 10th to 11th the 3rd Battalion was relieved in Center of Resistance, Biich-Wald, by the 2nd Battalion and moved back to the support position. During the morning of July 8th there was considerable activity by airplanes on both sides, and one enemy plane flying at a great height, was seen to burst in flame. He was heading for his own line with a French plane in pursuit. Sud- denly the enemy aviator, all aflame, was seen to jump from his machine and he came crashing to earth. A moment after he jumped, an explosion occurred, and the machinery, with a trail of black smoke, came down with the frame of the plane wobbling after. The aviator and plane fell in No Man's Land near the enemy line. This was the first aerial combat witnessed that had any result. On the night of July 8th, Second Lieutenant James M. Wilson, Battalion Scout Officer, led a patrol to the enemy line to ascertain if his front line trenches were occupied at night. The mission accomplished, the patrol re- turned to our line, when it was discovered two members of the patrol were missing. The lieutenant, with two members of the patrol, re- turned across No Man's Land and found a missing member taking refuge in a shell-hole near the enemy wire, and as he crept over to the shell-hole he was wounded by two rifle bullets; a third shot went through his canteen cover in which he carried hand grenades, but luckily none exploded. He brought this man back with him, for which act of gallantry he was awarded a distinguished service cross and made a member of the "Legion of Honor." On the night of July 15th, the enemy's front line trenches were heavily shelled by our artillery with gas shells,, to which the enemy retaliated by a heavy counter barrage 82 1 French 37 mm. gun, or one-pound cannon, in firing position on trench parapet. Gun crew of Headquarters Co. Near Dieffmatten, Alsace, June 25, 1918. 2. French chau-chat, or automatic rifle, in firing position on parapet of an advanced observation post. Near Dieffmatten, Alsace. 3 Platoon Petty Post, Co. E. Dugout and first line trench near Gildwiller, Alsace, June 27, 1918. HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY upon most of the regimental sector. One enemy shell burst directly- over a dugout occupied by a squad of Company C, killing Privates Walter R. Miller, Jessie D. S'tegall and Ernest Williams, and seriously wounding six other men. SPIES It was during the early summer months that the regiment was in the lines in Alsace, when all the land in rear of the lines was under cultivation. The inhabitants were German citizens, and most of them German sympathizers, and consequently their villages were immune from enemy shells. Our front line was on the eastern edge of a wood, almost a mile deep east and west, and the land was tilled right up to its western edge. The villagers could be seen daily working in the fields, giving no apparent concern to the shells continuously landing in our woods or flying overhead to artillery positions a mile to the rear. Schools were conducted as before the war and little tots walked to school carrying their books and also a gas mask. It was here, without a doubt, that some enemy spies went through the lines and delivered their information to their masters. Unfortunately, it was difficult to prevent it, as our line, over four miles long and held by six companies with reduced strength, was too thinly held. For safety against sur- prise attack, men were required to be placed in groups sufficiently strong to offer some resistance, and this left wide gaps which were covered by patrols. That this spy activity existed was evident from events that transpired during our service here, some of which we will relate. A large German police dog was kept by a family in Dieff- matten. He was an ugly brute and frowned upon all efforts at friend- ship made by our men, who offered him huge chunks of meat and other dog delicacies, but without success. During the day they kept him chained, but at night he was turned loose and daylight always found him chained to his accustomed place. On several occasions he was detected going through our lines over to the enemy's line. He was a cunning brute and seldom went through the lines at the same place twice, and cleverly evaded our guards and patrols. He was fired at several times, but always got away unscathed. It was believed he carried messages to the enemy, and guards were stationed to watch him and his masters in an endeavor to catch them with the goods. This effort brought no results during our tour in the sector and the information and suspicion was passed on to the new troops who relieved us. All the local inhabitants were required to be in their homes at dark, and any civilian caught on the streets after dark was closely questioned. A man in civilian clothes was discovered a few times after 84 SPIES hours going through the back yards of the town and to disappear in the darkness before he could be overhauled. One night guards heard a man moving through the brush near a company P. C., and an imme- diate combing of the vicinity revealed nothing. On another night, during a severe electrical storm, a flash of lightning disclosed the figure of a man in civilian clothes near a platoon headquarters, and when commanded to halt by the guard, he vanished in the inky darkness. A half-hour later his presence was again disclosed approaching the headquarters, and when fired upon he could be heard running away. A search for him was unsuccessful. Early in July an American battery of large caliber guns was moved into the woods held by the front line companies and began bombarding an enemy battery of large guns located near Mulhouse. The enemy tried in vain for several days to locate its position. One afternoon two German officers dressed in the uniform of French officers accosted a detail of men carrying supper to the men in the front line, and in broken English, nervously inquired the location of this American battery, without obtaining the desired in- formation. The entire sector was immediately scoured, but these spies had vanished as if swallowed by the earth. Similar occurrences as above related were frequent during our service in the trenches of Alsace and added spice to the daily activities on this front. Opposing the 32nd Division in this sector were three German Divi- sions — the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division, the 44th Landwehr, and the 25th Landwehr Divisions. The 30th Bavarian Reserve Division occupied the trenches opposite the 126th Infantry, and it was com- posed of the 4th Irsatz (new draft) Regiment on the north, the 8th Landwehr Regiment in the center, and the 15th Landwehr Regiment on the south. The German Spy and Intelligence Service was most highly organized and trained. They knew, as we afterwards learned, what organizations composed the 32nd Division, and the names of all the officers down to and including company commanders of infantry and machine gun units. They also had advance information of changes in the higher command of the Division and Brigades, and of troop move- ments long before it was generally known in the Division. After a week of effort, the Germans very nearly spotted the location of the American battery and began dropping large shells just behind it, one of which hit a house in Dieffmatten, almost wrecking it. Battalion Headquarters in Soppe-le-Bas and Hecken were known to them, and toward the latter part of our tour in this sector, the enemy shelled the 3rd Battalion Headquarters in Soppe-le-Bas and also dropped some in the village of Hecken, several striking the house in which Captain Robert Spear, of the Medical Detachment, was billeted, completely destroying 85 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY his domicile. Fortunately for the Captain, he was absent at the time. This was the first time in three years that the Germans dropped any shells in the Alsacian villages behind our lines, and no doubt it was actuated by the Yankee activity, which picked up from the time the Yanks entered the sector and changed to a fairly active one by the time we left it. LIFE IN THE TRENCHES' The regiment entered the Alsace sector in high spirits, every sol- dier being anxious to see real trenches and No Man's Land. They were diligent students of trench warfare, and made rapid progress. While in the sector, no pretentious operations were undertaken, and few offensive raids of any size were attempted by either side, yet there was plenty of action, and patrols went out into No Man's Land almost- nightly. The narrow strip of ground lying between the enemy's line and ours, called "No Man's Land," had been without cultivation almost four long years, and had grown into a desolate territory of weeds, bushes and other wild vegetation, where formerly fields of fine growing crops stood. Hard stone roads crossed No Man's Land in every direction, being the links that connected the villages on both sides of it, but now they were overgrown with grass and weeds and entirely disappeared, except that the cuts and fills remaining showed where the road grade used to be. No Man's Land was literally pox- marked with shell-holes, and old abandoned and caved-in trenches cut up the ground in front of the occupied trenches. Band after band of barbed wire entanglement stretched everywhere, almost coming to- gether where the opposing lines were closest. The stillness of the night was like the silence of the grave, broken now and then by an occa- sional put-put-put of a machine gun, or a lone rifle shot, or the distant boom of a cannon, or the explosion of a hand grenade thrown by a nervous sentinel, every shot or explosion sounding ten times louder than normal in the awful stillness. When at night the sentinel, for the first time, stood his lonely watch and peered out into No Man's Land, trying to penetrate the darkness before him, his imagination made things, after a brief time, look uncanny. Every object took on the shape of men, and in a few minutes more they were moving, and soon a whole regiment was on the move. To assure himself that his eyes were not deceiving him, over would go a grenade and when the object did not move, he knew it was nervousness, and the army he had imagined was but the weeds, bushes and wire entanglement posts. Listening with all intensity for the slightest sound, something moving in the grass brought a shot from his rifle, and a rat would scamper away into the tall weeds. Suddenly a rocket is sent up from the 86 LIFE IN THE TRENCHES enemy's line, leaving a bright light floating high in the air, lighting up No Man's Land. A nervous boche has sent up a flare. After two hours of this a kick awakened his buddy who continued the silent vigil for two hours more. The patrols who went out into No Man's Land on missions of ambuscade, or to secure information, lay out in the night for hours without moving a limb. Sometimes they met an enemy patrol, who scampered away in the darkness before they could come to grips ; other times while in the enemy wire, a flare would light up the ground as bright as day and not a muscle was moved from the instant the flare burned until it went out, or all would be lost. After lying still for hours and chilled to the bone, the return to our lines was welcome. Sometimes these patrols penetrated far into the enemy lines and re- turned with valuable information. Daylight was always welcome for the relief it brought to the mental strain which grew during the night. Such was a doughboy's first experience of life in the trenches. By the time our tour had ended in this sector, every man had fired at least one shot in the direction of the boche line, whether he saw anything or not; just so he could truthfully say that he had shot at the Huns. The boche was always busy and many mornings his planes circled low over our lines an hour before daylight, and not a day or night went by without the enemy dropped shells in our sector, many of which were duds. Besides the Germans, we encountered other enemies in the trenches, namely, the rats and cooties. The former were not molested much by the French, as they looked upon them as instruments of warning against the presence of poisonous gas, for a slight dose made them turn up their toes. As a consequence, they were quite numerous and some nearly attained the size of a cat. They were not welcomed by our men and were disposed of at every opportunity. The cooties were a pest that hung on almost up to the time we started on our return journey to the states. They made life miserable and shirt reading was a daily routine. Incidentally, our great holidays, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, were spent in the trenches by the greater part of the regiment. In this service the regiment acquired confidence in its ability to cope with the enemy, and now that the tour of duty in Alsace was nearing its completion, the officers and men of all ranks felt certain that they could give a good account of themselves anywhere. On July 18th, preparations began for the withdrawal of the 32nd Division from the Alsace sector. On the night of July 18th to 19th, the 1st Battalion was relieved in the Center of Resistance, Gildwiller, by a Battalion of the 319th Infantry Regiment (French) and moved in billets in Bellemagny and St. Cosme. On the night of July 20th to 87 HISTORY OF THE 12 6 th INFANTRY 21st, the 2nd Battalion was relieved in the Center of Resistance, Biich- wald, by a Battalion of the 205th French Infantry Regiment and moved to Eteimbes and Bretten. On the night of July 19th, the 3rd Battalion moved to the woods near Vauthiermont and the Machine Gun Com- pany moved to La Riviere. That part of the Headquarters Company stationed at Soppe-le-Bas also moved to Vauthiermont, where French barracks were occupied. These shifts were preparatory to the removal of the regiment to some other front, and it was assembled in the vicin- ity of Vauthiermont, where it was to entrain, and at the same time to make room for the French troops who were to take over the sector, and which was soon to be taken over by the 29th National Guard Divi- sion, advance units of which were beginning to arrive. The casualties of the regiment while in the Alsace sector was one officer and eight men killed, and three officers and 27 men wounded. On July 22, 1918, just after the 63rd Brigade was withdrawn from the Alsace sector, Brig- adier General Louis C. Covell was ordered to a Field and General Officers' School and Brigadier General William D. Connor (formerly Colonel Connor, Chief of Staff of the 32nd Division) , was assigned to command the Brigade. The loss of General Covell was very keenly felt by every man in the Brigade. He was the former Colonel of the old 32nd Michigan Infantry Regiment, and had an attachment and interest in the welfare and good of the organization, which was well known to every member of the regiment. General Covell was the victim of that army machine, which decreed that none but generals of the regular army should command troops in the line. IN FRONT LINE NEAR THE VESLE RIVER. (Pencil Sketch.) CHAPTER VI FROM THE ALSACE DEFENSIVE SECTOR TO CHATEAU- THIERRY "JOURNEY TO VERBERIE" DURING the early morning hours of July 24, 1918, the regi- ment began to entrain at Vauthiermont for a secret destina- tion, but the French Poilies were kind enough to inform us secretly that we were going to the active front at Chateau-Thierry. Four trains were required to move the regiment, Headquarters and the Auxiliary companies going on the first train, which started on its journey at 3:00 a. m. with the usual complement of "40 Hommes or 8 Cheveaux." The three battalions followed in order of number, the 3rd Battalion, the last to leave, moving at 9:00 a. m. Flat cars were added to each train and machine guns were mounted on them with a section of the machine gun company to man them. This precaution was taken to guard against possible attack by some overzealous enemy avion when the trains neared the fighting zone. The route traveled extended from eastern France across the country to north of Paris, passing through Belfort, Langres, Chaumont, Troyes, Sens, Monte- reau and Paris. At the latter city the trains pulled part way into the railroad yards, and then were switched over to another track which led out of the city to the north, just giving us a glimpse of the ancient walls surrounding the city, the Eiffel tower and other prominent build- ings. The people of Paris were in high spirits at the news from the Marne front, where the great counter offensive was driving the Hun away from their back doors, and handkerchiefs and flags were waved from every window and doorway as our trains sped through the city. From Paris the route was northeast to Verberie, where the regiment detrained the morning and afternoon of July 25, 1918. This town was about 40 kilometers from Paris and in the rear of the Compiegne front, and was one of the railheads for General Mangin's Tenth French Army. It was less than 15 kilometers from the front line and many French observation balloons could be seen. Upon detraining, the Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters and Supply Companies, and 1st Battalion marched to Villeneuve-sur-Verberie, the 2nd Battalion 89 ' 90 JOURNEY TO CHATEAU- THIERRY to a woods three kilometers south of Villeneuve, the Machine Gun Company to Noel-St. Martin, and the 3rd Battalion to Villers-St. Frambourg, at which places the various organizations were billeted or bivouacked. As we settled in our new billets everyone expected that we would have a nice rest for at least a week before going to the front, although we knew that we were destined to enter the great battle going on in the Marne salient, where the American soldiers were forcing the "Boche" to backstep for the first time in many months. However, our rest proved to be very brief, for on the night of July 26th-27th, runners were out with orders to prepare to move in the morning, and after a hasty breakfast, which turned out to be our last warm meal for seven days for most of the organizations and longer for others, the regiment assembled along the Senlis road south of Villeneuve-sur-Verberie, and were loaded into French trucks with twenty-five men per truck, and at 12 o'clock sharp the entire regiment, except the Supply Company, Company kitchen personnel, kitchens and ration carts, machine gun and one-pound cannon carts, and regimental wagon train, was moved to Chateau-Thierry. Our destination at the start was still unknown to us, and our knowledge of what was going on in the Second Battle of the Marne was vague and indefinite. The distance was over sixty kilo- meters and our journey took us through Villers-Cotterets and La Ferte Milon. At the latter town we saw many German artillery pieces of all calibers, captured during the Allied counter offensive then in progress. These pieces were assembled in the town square and numbered close to a hundred. Beyond La Ferte Milon, the route passed through terri- tory within the battle zone of the present counter offensive, and the evidence of recent fighting had not yet been cleared away. Battered villages and shell-holes covered the landscape, and the fox holes used by the combatants could be seen, as well as abandoned war material, chief among which were German helmets. A few dead Germans still remained unburied. The worst shelled town we passed was the little village of Vaux, about four kilometers west of Chateau-Thierry. While many walls remained standing, the houses not completely demolished were roofless and windowless. Every hundred square feet of the yards and ground adjacent to the village had at least one large shell-hole, the result of American artillery fire, and it is a safe conclusion that no German came out of it unscathed. The now famous town of Chateau- Thierry was reached at 7:00 p. m., July 27th, where the regiment de- trained in the square on the north side of the Marne River, and 91 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY marched through Brasles to the Bois de Barbillon, about three kilo- meters northeast of Chateau-Thierry, where we rested for the night. CHATEAU-THIERRY Chateau-Thierry was a city of considerable importance and prom- inence in the history of France. In 1914 the Germans' rapid advance into France carried them to the town and the Marne River, from where they were forced to retire to the Aisne River by the admirable counter attack of General Joffrey's French army. Again, in June, 1918, the Germans occupied the town, but were unable to cross the Marne. During their short stay in the town, the Germans ransacked every building and house, and everything of value, including priceless art treasures, was either removed or destroyed. The interior of houses, unharmed by shell-fire, were complete wrecks. The Hun had torn to shreds the bedding, clothing and carpets, and furniture and dishes were broken to bits. The streets were littered with the debris of fallen walls, and the southern arch of the ancient bridge was blown up by the Huns when they evacuated the town as a result of the Allied counter offensive of July 18, 1918. Our temporary home in the Bois de Barbillon gave us plenty of evidence that we were nearing the scene of actual conflict, as these woods had been subjected to considerable shelling. Shell-holes ap- peared in all directions, and many trees were shattered, leaving only stumps of what was once full-grown oaks and maple trees. These woods had been drenched with gas, much of which in liquid form was still standing in shell-holes. These places were appropriately marked with danger signs. The odor from human corpses filled the woods, and upon investigation it was found that some of the enemy dead had been only partially buried, so a burial detail was organized and the dead given a more decent burial. We rested here just one night, as on the next day, which was Sunday, July 28th, orders came at 3:00 p. m. to be ready to move, and at 6 o'clock in the afternoon the regiment pro- ceeded toward the front. As no wagon transportation was available, all company baggage and records were left behind, and the march made on foot, the troops carrying all their equipment. The route was through Mont St. Pere and Beuvardes to the Foret de Fere, a distance of eleven kilometers. FIRST NIGHT MARCH TO ACTIVE FRONT After passing Mont St. Pere the road followed ran almost due north and always nearer the front. The night was cloudy and very dark, which made the flashes from the big guns in the distance appear 92 UNDER SHELL-FIRE more vivid against the black skyline, as our batteries sent shell after shell into the German positions. Still farther in the distance the flashes of light from the German guns appeared like distant lightning flashes. Toward this scene the troops marched in deep silence, thinking hard to penetrate this veil of mystery which was before them and which they were slowly approaching. After a few hours we arrived within our own artillery positions, and all of a sudden and without warning, out of the darkness alongside of the road, our heavy batteries boomed forth a salvo of shots which almost threw us off our feet. Then the warning of "gas," given by the leading elements, was passed down through the column, and gas masks were quickly adjusted. After a few minutes of this it was discovered that the gas alarm was due to some nervous soldier, who whiffed the burning powder of our own cannons, and the masks were removed. As we neared the front, these false gas alarms became more frequent, but as the thoughts of cloud gas was always present, these alarms were always heeded until the gas officers were satisfied there was no gas. Also, progress of the march became more and more interrupted as the road congestion increased. The road we were on was also being used for wagon and truck transportation of ammunition and supplies, and the column was forced to make repeated halts. On approaching Beuvardes, the first American dead soldier was passed. He was on a litter, and died while being carried to the field hospital. A little farther on, the dead body of a doughboy was lying in the gutter, his head having been blown off by a shell. It goes with- out saying that this night's march, the regiment's first experience in going to a front where a battle was raging, made a deep impression on everyone, and brought home to all more vividly the hazard and serious- ness of war. UNDER SHELL-FIRE In passing through Beuvardes the column swung into single file, with intervals between companies and platoons, as this village was well within the range of the enemy's artillery. This • formation was maintained as the regiment marched two kilometers farther on the Beuvardes-Fresnes Road into the Foret de Fere, where it arrived at 3:00 a. m., July 29th, and bivouacked the remainder of the night. In general, the troops were in ignorance of their position, and we did not know where the front line was until daylight, when we learned we were within three kilometers of it. Hardly had packs been unrolled when the Germans commenced to shell the woods. The woods contained considerable undergrowth and bushes, and in the darkness one could not see beyond a few feet; neither was there any cover against shell- 93 94 UNDER SHELL- FIRE fire, and as the shells fell and exploded among us, there was nothing to do but lie still and take the bombardment. This shelling lasted until daylight and resulted in four men being killed and fifteen wounded, as follows: Company D, 3 men wounded; Company E, 3 men killed and 5 men wounded; Company F, 1 man wounded; Company G, 2 men wounded; Company H, 1 man killed and 3 men wounded; Company M, 1 man wounded. Total casualties, 19. As soon as the regiment arrived in its place in the woods, one gas guard to each platoon was posted with orders to relay all gas alarm signals, which was three rifle shots. Considerable nervousness was manifested by the gas guards, as not less than nine alarms were sounded between 3:00 a. m. and daylight, and these alarms, together with the bombardment, made sleep out of the question, in spite of our fatigue after being on our feet nine hours and carrying heavy packs. Our present situation made all realize that we were now under fire in one of the great battles of the war, but still inexperienced in facing bayonets and bullets from rifles and machine guns. The vision of this ordeal caused all to hope that our courage would remain steadfast in the trial soon to come, and not a few silent- battles, of mind over body, was fought as we lay in these woods. When daylight came, it was deemed advisable to move the regi- ment to a safer part of the woods, and at 7:00 a. m. the regiment moved back two kilometers in a southernly direction just west of the Croix Rouge Farm and in the Bois de Beuvardes, which was a part of the Foret de Fere, where we remained until the next evening. The 42nd Division had fought through these woods and the American and Ger- man dead had not yet been buried. Some ghastly sights met our eyes. One American doughboy was killed while firing his rifle from a kneel- ing position. His head was split in two, one-half remaining erect and the other falling on his raised arm, while his body remained in its former kneeling position. The woods were full of American and French artillery and during the day and night kept up a constant fire on the enemy, and conse- quently drew enemy artillery fire, many shells being gas shells, and our slumber was repeatedly disturbed by gas alarms as on the pre- vious night. During the day of July 30th, orders to take over the front line that night were issued to the regiment. The Supply Company and Regimental Wagon Train, which came overland from the Verberie sector, did not arrive until towards evening. We had been separated from our kitchens almost four days now, and had no warm meal since the break- fast on the morning of July 27th, and their arrival was surely welcome and it was hoped we would be able to get another warm and cooked meal before moving up to the front. In this we were disappointed, as 95 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY the kitchens were stalled on the road about a kilometer away on account of the traffic congestion, and were unable to move up to our position before the regiment marched away to the front. All this time we had been living on field rations, which consisted of canned corned beef, canned baked beans and hard bread, which were carried in the haversacks, and as only two days' rations are carried by each man, this supply was about exhausted. ^*$^Mt, Village of Vaux after its destruction by American and French artillery. Road leads to Chateau-Thierry, four kilometers away. Stretcher bearers carrying wounded to first aid dressing station of 1st Battalion, 126th Infantry, near Courmont, Aug. 1, 1918. 96 CHAPTER VII THE AISNE-MARNE OFFENSIVE A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN THE SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE BEFORE entering upon a statement of the part taken by the 126th Infantry in the now historically great Aisne-Marne offensive, it may be opportune to give a brief account of the part taken in this offensive by the American Divisions which participated in the first allied counter-offensive in many months, and which turned the tide of war in the Allies' favor. On July 15th, the date of the last German offensive, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 26th Divisions, were on the Chateau-Thierry front, with the 4th and 28th in support; the 42nd Division was in support of the French east of Rheims. The enemy had encouraged his soldiers to believe that the July 15th attack would conclude the war with a German peace. Although he made elaborate plans for the operation, he failed to conceal fully his intentions, and the front of attack was suspected at least one week ahead. On the Champagne front the actual hour for the assault was known and the enemy was checked with heavy losses. The 42nd Division entered the line near Somme Py immediately. Southwest of Rheims and along the Marne to the east of Chateau- Thierry the Germans were at first somewhat successful, a penetration of eight kilometers south of the Marne being effected against the French immediately to the right of our 3rd Division. The initial plan for the counter-attack involved the entire western face of the Marne salient, from Chateau-Thierry to west of Soissons. The 1st and 2nd American Divisions, with the 1st French Moroccan Division between them, attacked eastward to the heights south of Soissons. The advance began on July 18th and broke through the enemy's infantry defenses and overran his artillery, interrupting the German communications leading into the salient. A general with- drawal from the Marne was immediately begun by the enemy. The 1st Division in four days advanced eleven kilometers and captured the heights south of Soissons, when it was relieved by a British Division. The 2nd Division in two days advanced ten kilometers and was facing 97 '■-. - ^^^ •' " - ~'' 98 4\* : - :; tif\i ! ^-f^g^'^ X^cJ-'r'"---"^ t yl IS'f Mvfp _y~~^'^,4lH #£• 1?:-..= i>f ♦« X-_XX $f£** =^2 99 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY Tigny when it was relieved the night of the 19th by a French Division. A little to the south of the 2nd Division, the 4th Division was in line with the French and was engaged until July 22nd. The 1st American Corps, consisting of the 26th American Division and a French Division, acted as pivot of the movement toward S'oissons, capturing Torcy on the 18th, and reaching the Chateau-Thierry-Soissons road on the 21st, having advanced twelve kilometers. At the same time the 3rd Divi- sion crossed the Marne east of Chateau-Thierry and took the heights of Mont Saint Peter and the villages of Charteves and Jaulgonne. In the 1st Corps, the 42nd Division relieved the 26th Division on July 25th and extended its front on the 26th, relieving the French division. From this time until August 2nd, it fought its way through the Foret-de-Fere and across the Ourcq, advancing toward the Vesle until relieved by the 4th Division on August 3rd. Early in this period elements of the 28th Division participated in the advance. Further to the east the 3rd Division forced the enemy back to Roncheres Wood, where it was relieved, on July 30th, by the 32nd Division. The 32nd, after relieving the 3rd and some elements of the 28th Division on the line of the Ourcq River, advanced abreast of the 42nd toward the Vesles. On August 3rd it passed under control of our 3rd Corps, which made its first appearance in battle at this time, while the 4th Division took up the task of the 42nd and advanced with the 32nd to the Vesles River, where, on August 6th, the operations for the reduction of the Marne salient terminated. GOING INTO THE FRONT LINE When the enemy was driven from the positions he held at Chateau- Thierry and the Marne River, he determined to make a stand along the Ourcq River. The 3rd and elements of the 28th Divisions had fol- lowed him to the river, and were constantly engaged with his rear-guard elements. On July 30th, the American troops reached a line extending from Fere-en-Tardenois to Roncheres. That part of the river from Sergy to Courmont was still within the German line. It was here that the 32nd Division first met the enemy in a major battle. The Ourcq River has its source near the southern outskirts of the little village of Roncheres, and winds its way in a northwesterly direction, passing to the south of the villages of Cierges and Sergy, until it reaches Fere-en- Tardenois, where it turns in a westerly direction. The American sector covered the center of the salient from west of Fere-en-Tardenois to southeast of Roncheres, and stretched out in a sort of semi-circle. The Ourcq River, near its source, is a small stream and drains the surround- ing high lands. In the vicinity of Cierges and Sergy it is not over eight 100 GOING INTO THE FRONT LINE feet wide, with steep banks. At Fere-en-Tardenois it becomes con- siderably wider, and beyond that town it blossoms into a river of some size. Wooded hills lined the northern bank of the river, and Hill 212 lay east of Sergy, with Jomplets Woods east of this hill and north of Cierges. Planchett Woods and the Pelger Woods lay directly north. The country south and west of the river was rolling and open ground and under direct observation of the high ground and woods north of the river. On the morning of July 30th, a conference of all unit commanders of the 63rd Infantry Brigade was held and orders and instructions issued for relieving the 28th Division during the night and covering the dispositions of the battalions of the two regiments. In the after- noon the battalion and company commanders made a personal recon- naissance of the positions to be taken over, and at 7:30 p. m. the regi- ment marched from its reserve position in the Bois de Beuvardes in the following order: 1st Battalion, Machine Gun Company, 3rd and 2nd Battalions went by paths and trails through the eastern portion of the Foret de Fere until the road to Fresnes was reached, and at the latter village the 1st Battalion turned east and passed through Courmont, while the Machine Gun Company halted south of Fresnes and con- tinued to Courmont in the morning. The 3rd Battalion went through Fresnes and took up a support position northeast of the town, while the 2nd Battalion, which was in reserve, halted south of Fresnes. The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 125th Infantry and the 1st Battalion of the 126th relieved the 109th Infantry, and the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 126th Infantry and the 3rd Battalion of the 125th relieved the 110th Infantry, the several reliefs being accomplished before daylight. At the time of making this relief, one battalion of the 109th Infantry was holding a position along the left bank of the Ourcq River and facing east, with its right flank near the northern limits of Courmont. Another battalion extended the line on its left in a north- erly direction. The 110th Infantry had two battalions in line and to the left of the 109th Infantry, extending the front in a northwesterly direction, so that the left battalion of the 110th Infantry was facing northeast, with its left just southeast of Sergy. The 42nd Division was in line to the left, holding the village of Sergy, at which point the Ourcq had been crossed. Two battalions of the 125th held the front on the right of the brigade sector, with the 1st Battalion of the 126th in sup- port and temporarily assigned to the 125th Infantry. The 3rd Battalion of the 125th held the left of the brigade sector, with the 3rd Battalion of the 126th in support near the Chateau de Fresnes, and the 2nd Battalion of the 126th in Brigade reserve near the town of Fresnes. The 101 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY front held by the Brigade was three and one-half kilometers in length. THE FIRST ATTACK The following day, July 31st, an attack in the brigade sector was ordered. The zero hour for the attack was 2 o'clock in the afternoon, but some battalion commanders did not receive the attack orders until after the zero hour. The plan of attack was to cross the Ourcq River and take Hill 212, the village of Cierges, and Jomblets Woods. This plan required the right flank to execute a turning movement toward the north. The attack was carried out by the three battalions of the 125th Infantry, with the 1st and 3rd Battalions, 126th Infantry, in support, and the 2nd Battalion in Brigade reserve. The attack was made with- out artillery preparation. On the right, the attacking troops moved east and crossed the Ourcq River at a point just north of Courmont. The right battalion moved through the northern half of Grimpettes Woods, and when the left battalion reached the top of the hill north- west of these woods, the direction of advance was changed to north, and its left became a pivot on which the line swung to the left, and the attack continued north toward the village of Cierges, which town was taken. When the advance on this part of the brigade sector halted for the night, the 1st Battalion of the 125th Infantry was in line along the east and west road leading east out of Cierges, with its left in the center of the town and its right extending beyond the village limits. The left battalion of the 125th had advanced about 400 yards farther and halted on the Cierges-S'ergy road, its right resting at the fork of the road which leads to Chamery. The 1st Battalion, 126th Infantry, which was in support, advanced with the front line with Company C on right and D on left as battalion first line, and Companies A and B in support, and by dark had moved on a line with the right battalion of the 125th Infantry and halted on the Cierges-Fere en Tardenois road, its right in the center of Cierges and its left extending about 300 yards beyond the western edge of the town. During the first half of the night the 2nd Battalion of the 125th Infantry, which was in advance, withdrew to the rear to reorganize and later took up a support position. While going down the northern slope of the hill north of Cierges, Company A passed through a heavy artillery barrage, which passed over the troops in advance, and as a consequence suffered many casualties. Company B, which was the right company of the battalion support line, instead of turning to the north with the remainder of the line, continued to advance east and 102 IN FIRST ATTACK lost connection with the battalion and halted for the night in the northern edge of Grimpettes Woods. The enemy had placed a large Red Cross flag in the steeple of the church in Cierges, indicating the location of a first-aid dressing station, and as the line approached the town, it was discovered that enemy snipers were located in the church steeple and causing many casualties to our troops. These snipers were soon brought to account when our troops entered the town, no quarter being asked and none given to these enemies. The road occupied by Companies C and D had a high bank on the side toward the enemy and afforded excellent cover. Company A was not so fortunate. It was slightly in rear in support and had to seek cover behind the banks of a small creek which emptied into the Ourcq a little further west, where the men stood in the water all night and suffered many casualties during the night from the enemy shells which exploded in their midst. In the left brigade sector the 3rd Battalion, 125th Infantry, made the attack, with the 3rd Battalion, 126th Infantry, supporting the attack. At the jump off the attacking battalion was in line on the northern slope of the hill just east of the La Mott farm. The direction of attack was northeast and the objective was Hill 212. The attack was made over exposed ground covered by enemy fire from this hill, Jomblets Woods, and the town of Cierges. The Ourcq was crossed and the line nearly reached the crest of Hill 212, finally halting on a line facing northeast on the southern slope near the hill crest, while the enemy still occupied the top of the hill. The 3rd Battalion, 126th Infantry, followed the advancing battalion with Companies I and K in the first line, and Companies M and L in support. In passing over the open ground south of the Ourcq, the battalion was in plain view of the enemy, with only shell-holes for cover. The last kilometer was made through a heavy artillery fire, which was densest at the Ourcq River, and while some casualties were had, they were remarkably few considering the density of the shelling and lack of cover. It is need- less to say that shell-holes were in great demand and, in fact, the advance was made from shell-hole to shell-hole. The 3rd Battalion crossed the river just before dusk and found some shelter from the enemy's artillery fire behind the high bank on the Cierges-Fere en Tardenois road, where it halted for the night, its right connecting with Company D's left, and the left with troops of the 42nd Division, which was on the left of the American front. The 2nd Battalion advanced in reserve and halted for the night a kilometer northeast of Fresnes. The 1st and 3rd Battalions were shelled all night long and sleep 103 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY was out of the question for most of us. An old mill, called "Min. Caranda," was located to the rear of our front position and on the banks of the Ourcq River. The 125th Infantry used this mill as a first-aid dressing station and while it was filled with wounded men, it was wrecked by a direct hit by a shell, and two medical officers and fourteen wounded men were killed. This was the regiment's first experience in a battle. It was the first time it came under the direct fire of the enemy in battle, and while thus far we had only been acting in support, yet a sufficient initiation into the fury and hell of modern warfare was received from this day's action to convince all that this affair was no church picnic. As we endured the shock and crash of the everlasting screaming shells throughout the night, always with a feeling that the next shell would be your last, many a brave heart prayed for the morning dawn for relief from this dreadful nightmare. The distance gained in the advance for the day averaged two kilo- meters, and the casualties of the regiment were 5 killed and 53 wounded, as follows: Company A, 3 killed and 9 wounded; Company B, 6 wounded; Company D, 2 wounded; Company G, 3 wounded; Company H, 6 wounded; Company I, 1 wounded; Company K, 8 wounded; Com- pany L, 2 killed and 8 wounded; Company M, 7 wounded; Machine Gun Company, 2 wounded, and 1 officer in Headquarters Company wounded. OVER THE TOP THE FIRST TIME August 1. This day is one of the most memorable days in the history of the regiment. It was the first time that the regiment had the advance in an attack, and the events of the day brought forth that it was to be the hottest scrap the regiment had during the entire war; its casualties was the greatest for any one day — nearly one-fifth of its personnel actually engaged in the battle were either killed or wounded. About 1 o'clock a. m., word was received that orders would be issued for a renewal of the attack of the previous day, and in due time orders were received that the 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 126th Infantry were to attack the enemy and drive them out of Jomblets Woods. The plan of attack provided for the 1st Battalion to advance due north from its positions and attack the woods from the south. The 3rd Battalion was to move toward Sergy and advance from this position across the southern slope of Hill 212 and attack the woods from the west. Maps were furnished to the battalion commanders concerned, but they availed little for the reason that there was no place where the maps could be studied by candlelight for fear of exposing our position to the enemy ; coats were thrown over a fox hole for protection against 104 2g 2 « o d ■ f CM CD Oh Sh o3- •■• Second Battalion, 126th Infantry, forming in field near Courmont on Aug. 1st, preparatory to advancing in support. Looking toward Cierges. Note shell exploding at extreme left. German ammunition dump, near Cierges, destroyed by retreating enemy. A kitchen of 1st Battalion, near Mont St. Martin, serving first warm meal in eleven days to men of 32nd, 28th and 4th Divisions. Aug. 6, 1918. Ill HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY one machine gun company was assigned to each attacking battalion and half the guns supported or accompanied the attacking companies, the others being held in reserve. This allowed for only one to two guns for each company in the front of the attack, while the Germans had from six to ten guns per company. It should be remembered, however, that machine guns are more extensively used in rear-guard actions to cover the retreat than they are in an attack. It can readily be seen what great advantage the enemy had in the use of this weapon. Our men, equipped only with a rifle and bayonet, with no grenades to mention, or signal rockets or flares, were forced to advance upon the many enemy machine gun nests in the face of their murderous fire, until they were able to close upon them and put them out of action with the bayonet and many a brave American boy gave his life in these attempts, as the line could not advance until these hornets' nests were cleared out of the way, and all the while our Ordnance Department was experimenting with various machine gun models to more effectively combat with the superior weapon of the enemy. While the Browning gun was finally adopted, its arrival in France, about the time of the armistice, was too late to be of much use to our forces in this war. The responsibility for the loss of some lives by this delay rests somewhere. As individual fighters the German was inferior to our men, but in experience, after fighting four years, he was superior, but this superi- ority did not avail him long, as our boys soon learned the tricks of the game; as one German remarked, "At first the American soldiers advanced upright and in the open and were easy targets, but after once or twice, they became more cunning and covered up well and were hard to see." While the distance gained on this day's battle was slight, being about 500 yards, the ground taken and held was most important and rendered the enemy's positions untenable and compelled him to soon give them up along the north bank of the Ourcq River, where he had intended to make a strong and lasting resistance. First Lieutenant Ray E. Bostwick, Company C; First Lieutenant Thomas E. M. Hefferan, Company M, and Second Lieutenant Arthur I. Keller, Company I, were killed in action in the battle for Jomblets Woods after valiently leading their platoons, and Second Lieutenant Otis B. Thomas, Company A, received wounds from which he died on August 4th. The total casualties for the day was 82 killed and 378 wounded and one man taken prisoner, as follows: Company A, 1 officer and 21 men killed, and 2 officers and 44 men wounded and 1 man taken prisoner; Company B, 22 men wounded; Company C, 1 officer and 12 men killed and 55 men wounded; Company D, 15 men killed and 2 112 SECOND BATTLE OF MARNE officers and 63 men wounded; Company E, 4 men killed and 2 officers and 26 men wounded; Company F, 1 man killed and 2 men wounded; Company G, 1 man wounded; Company H, 1 officer and 11 men wounded; Company I, 1 officer and 5 men killed and 41 men wounded; Company K, 1 officer wounded; Company L, 2 men killed and 22 men wounded; Company M, 1 officer and 14 men killed and 46 men wounded; Machine Gun Company, 4 men killed and 28 men wounded; Headquarters Company, 5 men wounded; Sanitary Detachment, 1 man wounded; Field and Staff, Chaplain Patrick R. Dunnigan, gassed. Many prisoners and much booty were captured. During the remainder of the day the 1st and 3rd Battalions lay in shell and fox holes under a constant enemy artillery fire, waiting for orders to renew the attack. At dark the 2nd Battalion moved up to a position near the northern edge of the village of Sergy. Our troops on the left became intermingled with the right of the 42nd Division (-Rainbow Division composed of National Guard troops). First aid dressing stations had been established immediately in our rear and all day long there was a constant stream of wounded men being carried on litters to the stations and from there to waiting ambulances further in the rear. This work was carried on during all of the hostile artillery fire, and German prisoners were made to help in this work. During the afternoon an incident occurred which showed the spirit and mental attitude of the American soldier while under fire. The boys were watching the effect of the shells falling all around us, and making light of the efforts of the Boche artillerymen. One doughboy got out of his shelter and while running across the field, a shell burst directly upon him and threw him twenty feet in the air. At this sight a yell went up from a thousand throats, which sounded much like a yell at a ball game, but it had somewhat a different ring. It was a mixture of both surprise and anger. It was but the psychology of the moment. The troops were laboring under a peculiar and unusual mental stress and excitement, and the yell just came out involuntary. The day, like many others, passed without any warm food to eat. It was now seven days since we had any cooked food from our own kitchens, part of this time subsisting upon corned beef and hard bread, and when the corned beef gave out, we kept soul and body together on our own hard bread and French brown bread, a load of which had been dumped on the ground during the night and individual soldiers could be seen carrying seven or eight loaves strung on a wire and hung over the muzzle of their rifles. These men were carrying a loaf for each man of their squads. Some food was obtained by taking the reserve rations from soldiers who had been killed, both from our own dead and those 113 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY of the enemy. The enemy also suffered from want of food and collected it in the same manner, and one dead Boche had garnered twelve Amer- ican rations. From our positions it was apparent that the enemy had control of the air, as his planes were flying over all of our positions. Now and then a single Allied aviator made his appearance, but none of them offered any challenge to the Hun aviators, except one, a French flyer, who forced down an enemy plane near the town of Fere-en-Tardenois, about five kilometers to the west of us. During the night the enemy bombing squadrons dropped bombs upon us, and his artillery continued active all night long, dropping hundreds of high explosive, shrapnel and gas shells in our midst, rendering sleep and rest almost impossible. The official report of the German staff speaks of this day's engage- ments as follows: "On August 1st our Allied enemies began a new and terrific great attack upon our lines. With the arrival of fresh troops they simultaneously stormed the whole front of the four western corps of our 7th Army." The Corps referred to were the 8th Reserve Corps directly on our front, the 8th Corps on the front occupied by the 42nd Division, and the two German Corps to the west. August 2. During the night of August 1st and 2nd, orders were received by the battalion commanders for a renewal of the attack begun on the preceding day. The task assigned to the regiment was the capture of the Jomblets, Planchette and Pelger Woods, and to advance to the Nesles-Coulonges Road, about one kilometer north of the Pelger Woods. During the day and early evening of August 1st our artillery moved into position about four kilometers in rear of the front line, from where they were able to shell all the woods mentioned. All the battalions were to attack simultaneously at the zero hour, which was set for 5 a. m. Shortly after midnight our artillery opened up on the enemy and sent shells of all calibers and gas shells into the ranks of the enemy, and their own guns, after a while, ceased their fire on us. This was the first time that we had real artillery support and the thunder and roar of our guns was like music to us, and as each shell went screaming and shrieking toward the Hun lines, they received a bountiful blessing from all of us and admonishments to do their work well. The sky was fairly lit up by the flash from the cannons and the explosions of the bursting shells. For the first time the tables were turned and the enemy was getting a taste of what we had endured during the past thirty-six hours. At 5 a. m., our artillery ceased firing and the 1st Battalion on the right, with Companies A and B in the first line, and C and D in sup- port, the 3rd Battalion in the center, with Companies K and L in the 114 CAPTURE OF HILL 212 AND JOMBLETS WOODS first line and I and M in support, advanced to their objectives, which was to capture all of Hill 212, Jomblets and Du Pelger Woods. The 2nd Battalion on the left, with Companies G and H in the first line and E and F in support, had for its objective the Planchette and Pelger Woods and the Nesles-Coulonges Road. All battalions started forward simultaneously and, meeting with but slight resistance, cap- tured all of the objectives assigned to them, and the 2nd Battalion reached the Nesles-Coulonges Road by 8 a. m. Here the line halted and a new attack was ordered for 2 o'clock p. m., the first objective being the cross-road at Party Farm, the second objective a line through the Du Faux Woods, and the Chenet Woods was the third and final objective. New dispositions were made and each regiment of the 63rd Infantry Brigade were given a separate sector with one battalion occu- pying the front of attack. The 126th Regiment was on the left and the 125th on the right. In our sector the 2nd Battalion was the attack- ing battalion, with the 3rd in support and the 1st in brigade reserve. The advance from the Pelger Woods was in a northeasterly direc- tion and the axis of march was toward the town of Fismes (Femes) and skirted the eastern edge of the Du Faux Woods. The country in front of us resembled a plateau above the Ourcq River valley and was one great and almost level field of growing grain, much of which had already been harvested by the Germans. The attack began on the hour without artillery preparation, as the artillery was now busy moving forward to new positions in order to keep up with the advance. The only resistance met with was enemy shell-fire just before the 2nd Battalion reached the Chenet Woods, which it reached just before dark, where the front line halted for the night. The 3rd Battalion halted near the cross-road at Party Farm, while the 1st Battalion remained in support in the Pelger Woods. About dark, Companies K and I were ordered to assist the 2nd Battalion and moved forward to join it. During the advance Captain Fred W. Beaudry, commanding Company H, was struck by a shell fragment and died two hours later, and 1st Lieutenant John R. DeVall took command of the Company. About the same time 1st Lieutenant Donald C. McMillan, of Company G, also received wounds from shell- fire, from which he died on August 5th. The slight resistance offered by the Germans during this day's advance made it obvious that they were falling back to the vicinity of the Vesle River and left only small combat detachments and patrols to slow up our advance, which during the day went forward rapidly, but also cautiously. The advance made during the day was seven and a half kilo- 115 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY meters, and our casualties were two officers and eight men killed and 38 men wounded, as follows: Company B, 2 men wounded; Company D, 1 man wounded; Company E, 1 man killed and 3 men wounded; Company F, 1 man killed ; Company G, 1 officer and 3 men killed and 13 men wounded; Company H, 1 officer and 3 men killed and 9 men wounded; Company I, 4 men wounded; Company K, 2 men wounded, and Company L, 4 men wounded. Near Party Farm the Germans had constructed temporary dug- outs in the bank on the side of the road. These were filled with all sorts of furniture ruthlessly taken from the farm houses. The night was quiet and also quite cool and sleeping on the ground was very uncomfortable. At daylight a few companies obtained some food which had been brought up during the night, and it was the first warm food received from our kitchens since leaving the Verberie sector on the morning of July 27th. August 3. Early dawn on August 3rd found the support and reserve battalions on the move to join the 2nd Battalion in the Chenet Woods, and as the enemy had retired during the night, a general advance of the whole American line was ordered. The American front covered about eight kilometers. French cavalry troops, equipped with carbines and long lances, were sent ahead to reconnoiter and gain con- tact with the enemy. Every brigade front had about a platoon of these troops and to us they were rather an unusual sight, as this was the first and only time during the war that we saw any cavalry along the front. The 125th Infantry acted as advance guard in our brigade, and our regiment constituted the main body. As the line emerged north of Chenet Woods, one of the prettiest and fascinating war scenes lay before our eyes. It was a picture that would have pleased the most enthu- siastic artist. As we passed the woods our line of advance took us over the highest point of ground from where we could view the whole line as it advanced. Fields of growing crops stretched out before us and to the right and left as far as the eye could reach. While the early morning had been misty, by the middle of the forenoon the sky was clear and the sun was shining on the landscape in all its splendor. The terrain was a maize of gentle sloping hills, cut up here and there by deep valleys and gullies, and covered with many patches of woods. To the right and left could be seen the American doughboys in olive drab advancing in thin lines along the whole front, followed by more dough- boys in column formation. The Germans were in full retreat and de- stroying vast stores of war material which they could not carry with them across the Vesle, with the result that the horizon was streaked 116 GENERAL ATTACK OF AUGUST 3 with columns of smoke rising in the air from the many large fires. To our right, near Dravegny, several German airplane hangars were burn- ing. To the northeast two large fires were visible, one appearing to be an enemy ammunition dump, and the other a town or warehouses in the direction of Courville. At a distance to our front, a volume of flame and smoke shot high into the air followed by a loud report, indicating another ammunition dump being blown up ; smoke could be seen to our left from three other large fires. It all was a sight to behold and a living picture of war's lust for destruction and waste. The 125th Infantry advanced as far as the heights about two kilo- meters south of the Vesle River, which formed a deep valley. The Ger- mans had established another position for defense on these heights, in a vain effort to retain control of the river crossings. They opened upon the advancing lines with machine guns and artillery, and our troops were forced to halt and dig in on a line to the east of Mont St. Martin. This resistance required new dispositions for our regiment and when the 2nd Battalion, which was the leading battalion, reached the top of the hill north of the deep gulley two kilometers south of Mont St. Martin, it was deployed and moved forward until it reached the cross- road east of this town, where it established the advance position and dug in under heavy machine gun and artillery fire, suffering some casualties while doing so. The 1st Battalion followed in support as far as the Resson Farm, and the 3rd Battalion, which was in reserve, halted in the deep gulley a kilometer south of the farm. Companies I and K became separated from the 3rd Battalion and halted at Resson Farm, but rejoined the battalion during the night. The Machine Gun Com- pany halted in the little patch of woods south of Mont St. Martin. While in these positions the troops were under constant artillery bom- bardment throughout the night and cover was taken behind banks, in ditches and hastily-constructed fox holes. To make matters worse, it began to rain about midnight and continued in a steady and heavy downpour until daylight, and the fox holes and ditches soon became miniature lakes of mud and water, but it was the only cover available and the troops were soaking wet by morning. Our artillery moved up during the day and shortly after dark some were in position to fire upon the enemy, and by morning most of our artillery was in action, with the heavier guns firing on the German artillery positions on the heights north of the river. The artillery had its trouble keeping up with the rapid advance of the doughboys. One unit had set up its guns three different times, and each time and before 117 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY it could fire a shot, it was ordered to move up to a new position further in advance. The Germans had an abundance of observation balloons watching our movements from across the river, and airplanes flew continually over our lines without any interference from our planes, of which there were none on our part of the front. With this superiority of observa- tion, his artillery was able to deliver a most effective fire upon our troops, and, in fact, his 77 and 88 milimeter guns were shooting point blank at our first line from the heights across the river, forcing everyone to stay concealed below the surface of the ground. The town of Fismes, which was the most important town between Rheims and Soissons, and the principal objective of the attack on the American front, was in plain view about three kilometers northeast of our first line. The nearest point of the river was but two kilometers away. During the night an amusing experience happened to two medical officers, unsophisticated in the mysteries of a battle front. They were ordered to establish a dressing station near Fismes and started for the front in a small ambulance. They drove through our front line, and not seeing any troops, believed the front to be some distance ahead and continued on into Fismes. Soon they were halted by a strange voice and to their surprise found themselves surrounded by Germans who quickly made the officers and chauffeur prisoners and confiscated the ambulance. The day's advance netted about five and a half kilometers more, and the total casualties were 4 men killed and 49 wounded, as follows : Company C, 1 man killed and 3 men wounded; Company D, 1 man killed and 2 men wounded; Company E, 8 men wounded; Company F, 4 men wounded; Company G, 2 men killed and 11 men wounded; Com- pany H, 13 men wounded ; Company I, 4 men wounded ; Company K, 2 men wounded; Company L, 1 man wounded, and Headquarters Com- pany, 1 man wounded. August 4. During the night of August 3rd-4th, the regiment re- ceived orders to make an attack and drive through to the Vesle River. The attack was made by the 2nd Battalion and the zero hour was 4 a. m. A brief artillery preparation preceded the attack. At the appointed hour the 2nd Battalion, with Company H on the right and Company F on the left in the first line, and Companies G and E in the second line, jumped out of their fox holes and moved forward in the rain over open ground, which sloped gently towards the enemy lines. The troops were in plain view of the enemy, but the rain somewhat obscured his vision. As soon as our troops started forward, the Ger- mans opened up with a terrific fire from countless machine guns and 118 RUNNING THE ENEMY ACROSS THE VESLE direct fire from their smaller cannons upon the advancing line, which moved so fast that the Huns soon were in full retreat and fell back through the woods on the steep hillsides next to the river, and across the swampy river bottom to the other side of the river, with our men close on their heels. Our boys had virtually run the enemy across the river, and themselves halted near the southern shore, where Companies E and G took positions abreast of the first line, which was extended along a spur railroad track previously constructed by the Germans and which does not show on the map. This advance took our line to the final objective on our part of the front, with our right resting but a few hundred yards west of Fismes. The final objective on our right and left had not yet been reached, and no sooner had the battalion reached the railroad, which was close to the river shore, when the enemy threw an intense artillery and machine gun barrage upon our men and cover was taken behind the railroad embankment, which was raised about three feet. The narrow river valley on our side was studded with woods and brush and an ideal place for retaining deadly gas, which the Boche used freely. The gas sent into these woods and brush was so intense that the uniforms became odorized and discolored and caused us many casualties from this source. There were no woods on that part of the line held by Company H, and after an hour or two of this deadly hail of steel and gas, this company was forced to fall back about 300 yards to some dugouts and caves for shelter. The battalion held its position all day and until it was relieved at daylight the next morning. Captain Richard F. Smith, commanding Company F, and 2nd Lieut. Richard E. Cook, Company H, were killed by shell fire soon after their companies had reached the railroad. The 3rd Battalion was ordered up from reserve to support the attack by the 2nd Battalion, and at daylight on August 4th, moved up from its position in the gulley to the fox holes along the road from which the 2nd Battalion made its attack, while the 1st Battalion became reserve and remained in posi- tion near Resson Farm. Colonel Westnedge had his advance post of command at the road-fork east of Mont St. Martin. Company I was on the left near Mont St. Martin, and Company L was on the right near the road-forks, with Company K in the center, and Company M slightly to the rear in battalion support. In the afternoon Companies I and K were ordered to advance toward Villesavoye and occupy the town, but they no more than reached the open hillside in front of their position when the Germans opened direct artillery fire upon them from the hills north of the stream, and both companies were forced to return; a little later Company I made another attempt, and as most of the enemy artillery fire fell upon the two right platoons, forcing them to 119 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY fall back again, the two platoons on the left succeeded in advancing half way to the town, where they dug in. In the meantime Company L was ordered forward to strengthen the line held by the 2nd Battalion and by sending a few men forward at a time, succeeded in filtering through to the 2nd Battalion, where it remained until dark, when it was withdrawn to its original position. Still later in the afternoon Com- pany K was again sent forward with orders to go through Villesavoye and on to the river, and after a good start, succeeded to advance some distance before the Germans opened upon them with their artillery, but the shells went over. and dropped behind them, and as they advanced the Germans shortened their range, but by moving fast, the lines man- aged to keep ahead of the shell fire and reached the steep wooded slopes on the northeastern edge of the town, which is situated in a deep and narrow ravine. The company was greatly assisted in its advance by the appearance at a most opportune time of a battalion of the 4th Divi- sion, which had relieved the 42nd Division on August 3rd and was ad- vancing on our left. This battalion attacked in open order in the direc- tion of Villesavoye, and as it reached the open ground south of the town, the Germans turned their artillery upon it and thus enabled Company K to continue the advance to the town unmolested. After scouring the town and finding no Germans in it, the company continued its advance to the river and took cover in the brush lining the southern shore. The opposite side of the river was full of the enemy, who kept the company under constant machine gun fire. The positions occupied by the com- panies of the 2nd Battalion offered only slight concealment and pro- tection and during the night this battalion was withdrawn to the top of the hill and towards morning it was relieved by the 3rd Battalion and went into reserve to the rear of Mont St. Martin. The Machine Gun Company was held in reserve and remained in the patch of woods the entire day. The 128th Infantry, which was on our right, succeeded in occupy- ing the town of Fismes during the day, so that the final objective of the great Allied Offensive in the Second Battle of the Marne, which was the Vesle River and the town of Fismes, was reached on this day on the front of the 32nd Division, but on other portions of the front the final objective had not yet been reached, and the Division was held in the line until this was accomplished. The advance for the day was three kilometers, making a total advance for the regiment of eighteen and one-half kilometers (eleven and one-half miles) since July 31st, or in five days. Second Lieutenant William 0. Stark, of Company B, received wounds from shell fire from which he died a few hours later. Our total 120 AT FINAL OBJECTIVE casualties for the day were 3 officers and 23 men killed, and 7 officers and 146 men wounded, as follows: Company B, 1 officer killed and 1 man wounded; Company D, 1 man wounded; Company E, 1 man killed and 22 men wounded; Company F, 1 officer and 7 men killed and 25 men wounded; Company G, 3 men killed and 1 officer and 39 men wounded ; Company H, 1 officer and 6 men killed and 2 officers and 33 men wounded; Company I, 1 man killed and 7 men wounded; Company K, 4 men killed and 1 officer and 11 men wounded; Company L, 1 man killed and 1 officer and 7 men wounded; Company M, 1 officer wounded, and Field and Staff, 1 officer wounded. August 5. Early on the morning of August 5th, Companies I, L and M moved forward from their positions along the road, and part of them filtering over the hill and part advancing through Villesavoye, they reached the Vesle River by daylight and extended the line estab- lished by Company K to the right, taking up the positions along the railroad held the previous day by the 2nd Battalion, where the troops were subjected all day long to a heavy fusilade of lead from Boche machine guns, Minnenwerfers and 77 and 88 milimeter cannon, much of the shell fire being gas. During the day patrols reconnoitered the river in search of places to cross in case orders to cross the river were received, and some actually crossed the river and found the woods and brush on the opposite shore filled with Germans. The banks of the river was principally muck land and the river itself, which was 25 feet wide and 6 feet deep at this point, was filled with strand after strand of barbed wire. The afternoon previous, Companies C and D moved up to the cross-road west of Mont St. Martin in support of the 3rd Battalion, and Companies A and B moved up in the early morning of August 5th and occupied the positions vacated by the 3rd Battalion along the road east of the town. The latter battalion held on to its position along the river front all day and at night was relieved by the 1st Battalion and moved back to a stone quarry just south of Mont St. Martin, where it remained in support of the 1st Battalion until the Division was relieved. The Machine Gun Company still remained in its position of the previous day. No advance or forward movement was attempted during the day, as the line was to be stabilized along the river for the present. Our casualties on this day were 2 killed and 38 wounded, as follows: Com- pany B, 1 man wounded; Company D, 2 men wounded; Company I, 1 man wounded; Company K, 1 man killed and 1 man wounded; Com- pany L, 1 man killed and 23 men wounded; Company M, 7 men wounded, and Headquarters Company, 3 men wounded. During the previous night and the morning of August 5th, our 121 H ISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY %* U 5TTI On road nea, Resson ^.^ -C, = ----- f ^ Ves, e an, no, res^ * 122 AT FINAL OBJECTIVE artillery moved forward again and shelled the enemy in the river bottom and on the heights beyond. This artillery assistance was greatly appreciated, as it helped to hold down the enemy fire on our troops. The two hostile lines were very close, only the river and a narrow strip of ground on either side separating them, and some of our shells fell short on this account and caused us a few casualties, but this was soon corrected. August 6. The day's experience of the 1st Battalion along the river front was a repetition of that of the other two battalions that preceded it. It seems that when our drive reached the Vesle, the Ger- mans expected it would continue until it reached Berlin, and while he had prepared to put up a stiff resistance on the heights north of the river, he was also providing for a further retreat and his main body of troops had retired some distance from the river. But all these troops came back when they discovered that our drive ended at the river, and while no immediate counter-attack appeared imminent, yet the Ger- mans harassed our lines throughout the day with the usual offerings and caused some casualties, two being killed and 15 wounded, as fol- lows: Company A, 3 men wounded; Company B, 1 man killed and 2 men wounded; Company C, 3 men wounded; Company D, 1 man killed and 5 men wounded, and Sanitary Detachment, 1 officer and 1 man wounded. At dark the regiment received the most welcome news it had ever received up to this time. It was like a message from heaven. The regi- ment was to be relieved that night. These words had a deep significance to the fighting soldiers in the front line. It meant a little longer lease on life to those who had survived the onslaught of battle. They were to us like a reprieve to a condemned man. We had little conception at the beginning of this battle what a real battle actually was. It was the common belief that troops who had been engaged in battle for a day or two, would be withdrawn to rest up a few days and reorganize before going into battle again. Some military text books expound the prin- ciple that when troops have suffered a ten per cent casualty in battle their effectiveness is impaired and their withdrawal becomes neces- sary. This principle was buried during this war, at least so far as our Division was concerned. We had been fighting constantly for eight days, and after the second day were expecting to be relieved, but as the days went on and no relief came, we began to wonder if there was such a thing, and to make matters worse, a rumor was afloat, as rumors in an army always are and originating from where no one knows, that the regiment would not be relieved so long as twenty-five per cent effectives remained, and when at last the order came for withdrawing the regi- 123 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY ment, the joy and relief of the troops was beyond words of expression. The regiment was relieved about midnight of August 6th-7th, by the 112th Infantry of the 28th Division, and the three battalions, de- tachments of the Headquarters Company and Sanitary Detachment moved back to the Chenet Woods, where they arrived about 4 o'clock in the morning of August 7th. The Machine Gun Company received orders at 6 p. m., August 6th, to move forward and support a battalion of the 112th Infantry, and at 7:30 o'clock was on its way when the order was countermanded and the company joined the regiment in Chenet Woods. During the forenoon of August 7th, the regiment moved back to the Du Pelger Woods for a rest and further training, and also to warm meals once more. THE FIGHTING AT FISMES AND THE VESLE In the nights of storm and battle, when the American soldiers wrote much into the archives of Fismes, there will always remain a great deal unwritten. When the reports say our troops have "captured" a city, village or woods, it may mean one of several things. It may mean, for instance, that resolute doughboys have stormed the town or woods, bayoneted or driven out all the enemy hiding there, and then themselves withdrawn to dodge the deluge from the guns. When they next seep in among the half-pulverized houses or shattered trees, they are apt to find that Boche gunners have also filtered back, so that until the whole has pushed on beyond, the town itself, or woods, remains a sort of treacherous No Man's Land that must be mopped up again and again. When the 2nd Battalion reached the Vesle the morning of August 4th, they were on the left of Fismes and almost within a stone's throw of the houses. The town was in the sector of the 64th Brigade and some of its troops were entering the town about the same time, and not until towards dark did they gain a firm hold on the town, and then during the night troops of the 128th Infantry crossed the river from Fismes into the little town of Fismette and established a sort of bridge- head north of the Vesle, which movement was supported on the left by our regiment, and this crossing of the river was most fiercely contested by the Germans. Like many others on this battle front, it was a night of hair- trigger uncertainty. The guns on both sides were thundering without let up. The rain fell ceaselessly. The night was inky black, and only the flashes of the big guns in the distance and a burning home in Fismes served as a torch and added to the fiendishness of the situation. All the country from the Ourcq to the Vesle, with its many towns 124 THE FIGHTING AT FISMES AND THE VESLE and ravines and woods, was almost an unknown quantity, for in such a tumultuous advance as brought our troops to the Vesle there was no time for such fancy reconnaissance as prepared the attack on other points, when every man knew the land by heart and every squad leader had a map or photograph of the house that he was to clean up. Machine guns were raking our lines from across the river, and shells were falling with dreary regularity on the scene and on the open hillside to the rear. Many of them were duds, but they were not all duds. Rat-a-tat-tat, rat-a-tat-tat, zing-boom, zing-boom, put-put- put-put, zing-boom, zing-boom, through it all, runners, guides and bat- talion scouts were groping their way as best they could. Now and then they would fall flat and hope for the best. Now and then they would strike a dead man and make a detour. The service performed by the runners was most important, and their duty was at best a hazardous one. Time and again they picked their way through bullet-swept areas and delivered the message which formed the basis of the "Official Com- muniques." More often than not, when the runners bring back word from the battlefield that a town has been taken and the communiques flash the tidings to a waiting world, it does not mean that a specially stubborn citadel has fallen. The town is named specifically so that anxious watchers from afar may know how considerable the advance has been. The town is singled out not necessarily because its capture meant the toughest job of the advance, but just because it has a name. So you hear much of the regiment that took Sergy, the brigade that took Cierges, the men that took Fismes. You do not hear so much of those who took Hill 212 or Hill 230, of those who stormed this gun- bristling woods or that ominous river bank, who stormed and held yonder railroad embankment which proved no less forbidding a fortress because it was nameless. Neither do the communiques tell of the many carefully concealed Boche machine gun nests and the toll they exacted, and how they were reduced by our men, often by one heroic soldier alone crawling out and attacking it; nor of the hand-to-hand fighting, and of the numerous Boche snipers to be overcome. Throughout the whole week it was the same story, the treachery and untrustworthiness of the Germans. Boche snipers and machine gunners were killed who wore a Red Cross on their arms. Groups of Huns would hold up their hands and cry "Kamerad" on the approach of an American, only to shoot him down with pistols artfully concealed in the palms of their hands. Our men soon learned their tricks and the number of German dead increased daily. It would be a fatal mistake to judge the morale of the Kaiser's 125 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY battalions by any capture made from them. Today you would get a cocky young Prussian who thought it would not be long before the Allies collapsed from sheer panic. Yesterday you would have found a low- spirited Hun convinced the war could not last another week, and so on. CITED IN ORDERS For their part in the Second Battle of the Marne, the 32nd Divi- sion and other Divisions engaged in this battle were cited in general orders by the Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces, as follows: "It fills me with pride to record in General Orders a tribute to the service and achievement of the First and Third Corps, comprising the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Twenty- sixth, Twenty-eighth, Thirty-second and Forty-second Divi- sions of the American Expeditionary Forces. "You came to the battlefield at the crucial hour of the Allied cause. For almost four years the most formidable army the world had as yet seen had pressed its invasion of France, and stood threatening its capital. "At no time had that army been more powerful or men- acing than when, on July 15th, it struck again to destroy in one great battle the brave men opposed to it and to enforce its brutal will upon the world and civilization. "Three days later, in conjunction with our Allies, you counter-attacked. The Allied Armies gained a brilliant vic- tory that marks the turning point of the war. You did more than give our brave Allies support, to which, as a nation, our faith was pledged. You proved that our altruism, our pacific spirit, our sense of justice had not blunted our virility or our courage. "You have shown that America's initiative and energy are as fit for the tests of war as for the pursuits of peace. You have justly won the unstinted praise of our Allies and the eternal gratitude of our countrymen. "We have paid for our success in the lives of many of our brave comrades. We shall cherish their memory always, and claim for history and our literature their bravery, achieve- ments and sacrifices. "This order will be read to all organizations at the first assembly formation after its receipt." John J. Pershing, August 27, 1918. General, Commander-in-Chief. 126 SUMMARY OF THE MARNE OFFENSIVE SUMMARY OF THE MARNE OFFENSIVE When the great Allied counter- offensive was launched on the morning of July 18, 1918, against the western flank of the German Marne salient, the enemy was surprised. No counter-offensive had been undertaken by the Allied Forces for more than a year, and the Germans were not expecting one at this time, and much less so when he himself was engaged in one of his carefully-planned pushes which he confidently hoped would bring him to Paris and thus end the war in his favor before the American forces could be effectively used. He expected that the Allies would be obliged to use all their available re- serves to stop his advance south of the Marne, where he himself was using the bulk of his troops, holding the western face of the salient with a thin line of troops. He had but four corps on this flank of the salient, while the Germans used five corps on that portion of the salient from Chateau-Thierry to Rheims, which was little over half as long as the flank from Chateau-Thierry to Soissons. This situation and the fact that he was taken by surprise, enabled our forces attacking his right flank to gain considerable ground at the very outset, and to cap- ture thousands of prisoners and a great quantity of war material. The success of this attack made it imperative for the Germans to fall back to the north bank of the Marne, and as the pressure continued on his right flank, and also being hard pressed on his southern front from Chateau-Thierry east, he was compelled to withdraw. still farther away from the Marne to avoid having his troops in the salient cut off and captured. By July 27th the German line had been pushed back as far as the Ourcq River region, his line extending at this time through Ville- montaire, Fere-en-Tardenois, Roncheres, Bligny. On July 29th, the 42nd Division advanced to the middle of Fere- en-Tardenois and took the town of Seringes and Sergy, and some ground was gained on July 30th southwest of Cierges by troops of the 28th Division. Thus the line stood at the time the 32nd Division relieved the 3rd and 28th Divisions. A glance at the map will show that the Germans farthest front south was in the vicinity of Roncheres. The American sector, with two Divisions in line, covered about ten kilometers in the center of the Allied front. The forced retirement of the Germans shortened their lines, and their corps fronts were now about one-half of their original front at the Marne. This shortening of the line also permitted them to withdraw worn-out divisions for a short rest and then replacing them in line again, and consequently, the German defense had stiffened materially at the Ourcq. The 32nd Division had opposite it one whole German corps, the 8th Reserve, and part of the 4th Reserve Corps. The regiment was 127 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY opposed by a large part of the 8th Reserve Corps, and enemy units engaged by the regiment during this offensive consisted of the 216th and the 4th Prussian Guard Divisions. During the advance to the Vesle the American sector remained the same with two divisions in line, the 32nd on the right, and the 42nd on the left, until August 3rd, when it was relieved by the 4th, which advanced abreast of the 32nd until the Vesle was reached. The German armies engaged were the 7th, 1st and part of the 9th. The 7th Army was in the center and had seven corps. On the Allies' side three French armies were engaged. The 10th, under General Mangin, was on the west; the 6th, under General Duchene, of which the 32nd Division was a part, was in the center, and the 5th, under General Berthelet, was on the east. The official operations report of the German staff of the German High Command, in referring to the Allied counter-offensive in the Second Battle of the Marne, and the German failure of their July 15th offensive and subsequent loss of the salient, has this to say: "The German July offensive was to be carried out simultaneously by the 7th, 1st and 3rd Armies. The object was to straighten out the corner at Rheims and to push our lines beyond the Foret de Rheims (Forest south of Rheims). To this end the 7th Army was to attack between Gland, east of Chateau-Thierry, and Chambrecy, which is east of Ville en Tardenois, and advance upstream on both sides of the Marne River to Epernay. This operation required a crossing of the Marne by the 8th Reserve, 23rd Reserve and 4th Reserve Corps, which composed the right half of the 7th Army. The most careful prepara- tions were made for this crossing. "The 1st Army was to attack on the front Prunay-Auberive (east of Rheims) . Its task was to advance straight south and then to turn to the west toward the Foret de Rheims and j oin up with the 7th Army at Epernay. The 3rd Army, farther to the east, was to cover the attack by the 1st Army. The offensive was ordered for July 15th and a heavy artillery preparation was laid down during the night along the whole front of the offensive. Had this plan succeeded, Rheims would have been cut off. "The Marne was crossed by the 7th Army according to plan. As our artillery preparation did not succeed in shattering the enemy artillery, the advance of our shock troops was soon held up by enemy artillery fire from the flanks. "During the forenoon, the 7th Army realized, from the progress of the operations thus far, that the enemy was prepared for the attack and had withdrawn his main body of troops to his second positions, 128 SUMMARY OF THE MARNE OFFENSIVE and that the success of our attack would be decided by the stand he made there; by night we had broken through this position in some places. "The day was different with the two eastern armies. Also, here the same artillery preparation preceded the attack, and yet the enemy was only slightly affected. Our artillery had great difficulty in fol- lowing the attacking infantry on account of the hostile artillery fire, and the day's advance was only nominal and by night was completely stopped. "By evening of July 15th, the lack of progress of our offensive brought certain convictions. The enemy had previous information of our offensive and placed his troops accordingly and caused our offen- sive to fail. "The Allied Commander obtained knowledge in the first week of July, at the latest, of our intentions, and he had information not only of our plans, front of attack and day of attack, but also of details which in their correctness could not have been improved upon. He knew how much material was to be used to effect the crossing of the Marne, where pontoons were located and where bridges were to be thrown across. He knew what units were going to make the attack and where our artillery positions were. He knew the very moment the attack was to begin." The German High Command admitted it did not know how the Allied Commanders obtained this information but offered several sur- mises, among which it believed the most probable one to be, the excel- lent espionage service of the Allies. In the same operations report the entry of the Americans into the fighting is alluded to as follows: "The situation favored the Commander of the Entente troops by certain advantageous events. To these belonged, first of all, the large number of re-enforcements received through American troops. While these still lacked some in their tactical training, yet they availed at least, by taking over the lines in quiet sectors and thereby releasing fresh divisions. But they also appeared on the main fighting front and took part, in ever increasing numbers, in attack and defense operations." It was related in a previous chapter how our kitchens became sep- arated from their organizations on the morning of July 27th, and how the regiment went into the line the night of July 30th and before the kitchens could rejoin it. At that time we had been four days without any warm or cooked food, and we were destined to endure eight days longer before proper food could be had. On only two occasions, during 129 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY these eight days, did some cooked rations come forward, and these reached only a few of our troops. Every man had been supplied with two reserve rations and while in Beauvardes Woods another two days' supply was received, which was exhausted by the night of August 1st. For very obvious reasons fires to cook food could not be built, and what food we had had to be eaten cold and raw. After subsisting a day or two on raw reserve rations, one's appetite spleens against the army corn-willie and hard- tack, and the stomach enters upon a vigorous campaign for some- thing warm and more palatable, and a fight between mental and phy- sical endurance ensues with the mental forces holding their own for six days longer, and the physical being compelled to endure on French brown bread in chunks as large and hard as bricks. Canteens were filled with water from creeks and no questions asked about its source. Most men carried two French canteens besides their own, and kept all of them filled with water for possible emer- gencies. The men preferred the French canteen over our own, because it held about twice as much water. The practice of carrying a bounti- ful supply of water was the result of our experience in our first day's battle. The pitiful cries of the wounded for water to quench the burn- ing fever raking their bodies, made every one mindful of the importance to have the canteens always filled in order to furnish some relief to those in distress, if for no other reason. The wounded were also aided to forget their condition, by giving them lighted cigars or cigarettes. This practice quieted them while waiting for the first aid men to come and dress their wounds and send them back to blighty. During the first few days the men carried their packs, but laid them aside before going into action, on July 31st, to permit more free- dom of movement. It was expected that later in the day we would be able to obtain our equipment left behind, but this proved to be wrong, as very little of it was ever seen again. We left our packs in a woods near where our attack started and a guard placed over them. The regiment was hardly on its way before French and American soldiers were going through them, purloining such things as they wanted and scattering the remainder over the ground. Even letters from the home folks and little personal trinkets were ruthlessly ransacked and scat- tered about. Some days later the salvage units finished the job, and stacks of war material and equipment of every description, both enemy and our own, was collected and piled up in the town of Fresnes. When the troops first went into action, the equipment they carried was the rifle, bayonet, cartridge belt, mess kit, canteen and the entrench- ing shovel. The entrenching shovel, we found, was a very important 130 SUMMARY OF THE MARNE OFFENSIVE weapon, and our shovel is a small affair, the handle and blade being eighteen inches long, and it is made so it can be carried on the pack. Its size didn't meet the approval of the doughboys, who found out that when he had to dig in for cover, the faster he did so, the better it was for him. Now, the Germans were equipped with a real shovel. It was a regular size shovel, except that the handle was cut down to about three feet in length. These shovels could be picked up almost any- where on the battlefield, and nearly every soldier discarded his own and equipped himself with a German shovel. It made no difference how long or awkward it was to carry, so long as it gave the service. Even the officers had them. Company commanders could be seen going into action carrying one of these shovels over their shoulders looking for all the world like a member of a ditching crew. It was hinted that officers were readily recognized because of having the longest-handled shovels, especially the battalion commanders. However, to the credit of the officers, this was strenuously disputed, and no prisoners remained in our midst long enough to prove this. The men obtained very little rest during these fighting days, and the officers secured hardly any. During the day the officers were engaged with their units and when night came, the time for rest was used in going over plans for the morrow, or receiving and transmitting messages and reports from the patrols always sent ahead of the lines at night to reconnoiter the enemy positions, and the consequent strain, both mental and physical, was tremendous, and the limit of human endurance seemed to have been exhausted long before the Vesle was reached. Many men fell out from sheer exhaustion, but the splendid spirit of the regiment prevailed and helped carry it through without faltering, until the task assigned to it was finished. The pursuit of the Germans from the Ourcq to the Vesle was another cause for a terrific strain on the American army because the villages captured were so hard to pronounce. S'ergy (Ser-gee) is served up with either a hard or soft g. Cierges (See-airge) is pronounced as if it were the same village as Sergy and cause some confusion as they are several kilometers apart. Saint Gilles (Son Gee-lay) is called either Saint Giles, Saint Gillus, or Saint Gilhooley. Fismes (Feem) emerges from Yankee lips as Fis-mus or Fizzums. All the roads leading out of the towns had sign-boards put up by the Germans, indicating direction, such as "nach Fismes," or "nach Cierges." Throughout the ten days of our drive toward Fismes, the conduct of our beloved regimental commander, Colonel "Joe" Westnedge, was an inspiration to all. He shared all the hardships of the officers and men and was always near the front line, with- little food, and such rest 131 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY as he could get by crouching in shell-holes. His spirit and courage passed on to the regiment and the able manner in which he conducted his command won for him the confidence and respect of every officer and man in the regiment. The terrific mental strain that he endured would have caused the collapse of men of ordinary character and physique. AFTER THE BATTLE The doughboy swung back from the fight, The hard-fought battle won; And in his eyes a shining light, Outgleamed the noonday sun; Did he then boast about the fray And tell each "why" and "how"? The only thing I heard him say Was, "Where the hell's the chow?" - ~:' : { .£'-. : -~* ' ■; — . -"■ - ' * W~ Looking east from Valpriez Farm. Troops of the 32nd Division in shell-holes while in support of first line during the drive on Juvigny. August 29, 1918. 132 CHAPTER VIII REST PERIOD AFTER AISNE-MARNE OFFENSIVE A FTER the regiment had reached its reserve position in the Du /-\ Pelger Woods, on August 7th, the troops proceeded to make -*- -^- themselves as comfortable as one could in a shell-torn woods. Shelters were constructed of boughs and limbs of trees and tied together with wire used by the Boche for telephone lines and trip wire, and which he left behind in his hurried retreat. Some shelters were con- structed with German shell baskets, and with corrugated sheet iron, which was lying about. Most anything that could be found was used in addition to the regular shelter tents to house the troops and by dark everyone had some sort of a home. During the night the enemy bombing fleets could be heard flying overhead in the direction of Chateau-Thierry ; they had not yet located us and made no attempt to disturb our first night in these woods. The next day was a day of rest and the first bath in over two weeks was the program for every one. No both tubs were available, so Boche helmets, of which there were a plenty lying around, were used as miniature tubs. These were filled with nice cold water and answered the purpose. The razors were again brought into use and a two-weeks-old beard scraped off. Clothing and blankets were infested with vermin and they were given a most thorough search to rid them of the bothersome pests. On this day a check of the personnel of each company was taken. During the early period of this offensive, on July 27th, the regiment had a strength of 87 officers and 3,289 men. Each infantry company had an average of 5 officers and 200 men, including the men detailed with the three battalions as scouts and intelligence groups. The Machine Gun Company had 6 officers and 166 men and the Sanitary Detachment had 6 officers and 52 men; the Stokes mortar platoon and cannon platoon of the Headquarters Company had 2 officers and 85 men. The signal and pioneer platoons of this company, who are non- combatant troops, were distributed among the regimental and battalion headquarters. Each organization had a part of its personnel in the rear with the kitchens, which were with the Supply Company. This reduced the combat strength below the actual strength of the regiment, so that the actual combat strength on July 30th was 75 officers and approx- imately 2,550 men. The signal men, pioneers and orderlies attached 133 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY to the Battalion Headquarters and the advanced Regimental Post of Command, and also the men of the Sanitary Detachment assigned to the companies to render first aid and to the advanced dressing stations, while not counted fighting troops, were required to be with or near the fighting line and risked all the dangers of the fighting men. The check on this day, August 8th, showed present for duty 55 officers and 2,295 enlisted men in the entire regiment. The casualties from July 30th to August 7th were as follows: Company A, 1 officer and 24 men killed and 2 officers and 56 men wounded, total 83 ; Com- pany B, 1 officer and 1 man killed and 34 men wounded, total 36; Com- pany C, 1 officer and 13 men killed and 61 wounded, total 75; Com- pany D, 17 men killed and 2 officers and 76 men wounded, total 95; Company E, 6 men killed and 2 officers and 59 men wounded, total 68; Company F, 1 officer and 9 men killed and 31 men wounded, total 41 ; Company G, 1 officer and 8 men killed and 1 officer and 67 men wounded, total 77; Company H, 2 officers and 9 men killed and 3 officers and 72 men wounded, total 86; Company I, 1 officer and 6 men killed and 58 men wounded, total 65 ; Company K, 5 men killed and 2 officers and 24 men wounded, total 31 ; Company L, 6 men killed and 1 officer and 65 men wounded, total 72; Company M, 1 officer and 14 men killed and 1 officer and 60 men wounded, total 76 ; Machine Gun Com- pany, 4 men killed and 30 wounded, total 34; Headquarters Company, 1 officer and 9 men wounded, total 10; Sanitary Detachment, 1 officer and 2 men wounded, total 3, and Field and Staff, 2 officers wounded. The total for the regiment being 9 officers and 122 men killed and 18 officers and 704 wounded and 10 missing, or a grand total of 863 casualties. In addition to these, five officers and 139 men were injured or taken sick and evacuated to hospitals. To the casualty total of the regiment for the Aisne-Marne Offensive should be added the 4 men killed and 15 men wounded in the Beauvardes Woods, July 29th, which brings the total up to 882. The Regimental Headquarters was established at the little village of le Montcel, about half a kilometer from the du Pelger Woods. As a further measure of comfort the construction of shower baths were commenced and completed on the following day. The du Pelger Woods lay directly north and within 400 yards of the Jomblets Woods and northeast of Hill 212, where the savage fighting on August 1st and 2nd took place and many of our fallen men had not yet been buried, and many dead Germans were still lying on the ground, so burial details were organized and our dead comrades laid to rest where they fell and their graves marked with a little wooden cross to which was attached the identification tag of each dead soldier for future identification. 134 AFTER AISNE-MARNE OFFENSIVE The German dead were also buried and their graves marked with a stick, upon which was placed a German helmet, with no further mark of identification, and the name of the dead lying in these graves will never be known and will be forever counted among the missing. These graves, each marking the resting place of a fallen soldier, were relig- iously respected by friend and foe alike, and all refrained from dis- turbing them in any way or from removing any helmets. The Supply Company and the company kitchens were close at hand and the army ration was again served hot and without limit, which made all feel happy once more. At night the men gathered about in groups, but without camp fires or lights, as we were still close enough to the front to be observed by the enemy night air prowlers. While gathered about, the events and personal experiences of the past two weeks were talked about and the folks at home were in the minds of every one and mail was eagerly anticipated on the morrow. At taps every one, except a few guards, rolled up in their blankets and slept as only soldiers can. The night went by without molestation from enemy aerial bombing planes. The following day, August 9th, was also a day of rest, except that the work of cleaning up the woods and surrounding fields and the work on the shower baths continued, and by night the work was finished. On the 10th the regiment was inspected by General Haan, our Division Commander, who also made a brief talk in which he commended the regiment very highly for its work during the past twelve days. By this time it became apparent that if the enemy aerial observation had not discovered our camp, the flies surely had, and the camp was loaded with them. They were attracted by the dead bodies of men and horses and as these had all been buried, they gave special attention to us; they lit upon every particle of food in sight, and even while eating, they clung to every spoonful and had to be brushed aside from every mouthful before it was eaten. They made a slice of bread look like a piece of coal. All known means were taken to get rid of them, but only partially succeeded. August 11th was another day of rest and on the 12th a schedule of training was begun. New formations in modern warfare were prac- ticed and special instruction given in the use of new weapons produced by this war, such as grenades, automatic rifles, and machine guns, and also how to use captured enemy machine guns. Also open warfare tactics were practiced, as the situation indicated that trench warfare was soon to be replaced by a war of movement. A little of the time for training was employed each day in company close order drill. On the following day an epidemic of dysentery attacked the regi- 135 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY ment and almost prevented carrying out the drill schedule, and it was several days before the epidemic was entirely brought to an end. How- ever, the drill schedule was carried out every day. Somehow, the Ger- mans discovered our location and that night, shortly after taps, his aerial bombers cut loose on us and dropped bombs in the woods and vicinity for the first time, and after that he repeated this every night during the remainder of our stay in the woods, but good fortune was with us and not a casualty was caused by these enemy raids, but they did interfere somewhat with our sleep. August 14th and 15th were devoted to carrying out the drill sched- ule and on the afternoon of the latter day the regimental band gave a concert to the regiment. August 16th was a day of rest. The follow- ing day clothing and equipment was inspected for shortage, and a few days later the shortage was supplied and the regiment was once more thoroughly equipped, and as the Division was in reserve of the Amer- ican troops holding the front along the Vesle River, we surmised that we would soon take our place in the front line again. A few days later the Germans did make an attempt to re-cross the Vesle and our troops holding the line fell back slightly and we momentarily expected to be ordered into battle again but, fortunately, the Germans did not succeed in establishing themselves on the south shore of the river and fell back to their original positions along the north bank. August 18th was Sunday. Our regimental chaplain, Rev. Patrick R. Dunnigan, held Mass at 8 o'clock in the morning, he having erected a crude little altar in the center of the woods. At 10 o'clock Rev. Acree held church services at the same altar. Immediately after church services, Rev. C. W. Merrian, of Michigan, and a Y. M. C. A. speaker, gave a very interesting talk to the regiment. The remainder of the day was spent resting and writing letters. The drill schedule was followed by the entire regiment on August 19th and 20th. In the forenoon of August 21st the drill schedule was carried out and at 8:30 p. m. the regiment started on a maneuver in which the entire division partici- pated and returned to the du Pelger Woods at 10 o'clock on the night of August 22nd. During the forenoon of August 23rd the regiment continued to carry out the drill schedule, and in the afternoon orders were received to pre- pare to move the next morning, so the rest of the day was used in policing the camp, packing equipment and writing letters to the folks at home. During the night it rained slightly. During our stay in these woods our ranks were somewhat depleted by many of our best officers and sergeants being sent back to the United States as instructors, and while the regiment had received new 136 TO A NEW FRONT equipment to replace damaged and lost equipment, no new replace- ment troops were received to make up for our losses and our effective fighting strength was but half what it should have been. GOING TO A NEW FRONT Every one was up early the morning of August 24th. The final policing was done and immediately after breakfast the kitchen stoves were taken from the wheels and loaded on trucks. This was a de- parture from the regular method of transporting kitchens. Ordinarily they would follow the regiment as part of the wagon train, but when troops move in trucks the train can not keep up and a separation of troops and their subsistence supply result with much consequent suf- fering. The regiment went through this experience when it was moved by trucks from the Verberie region to Chateau-Thierry, and profiting by that experience, it was decided to take the kitchens with the regi- ment on this trip, to the great joy of the entire regiment. At 9 o'clock in the forenoon the regiment loaded into a seemingly endless line of French camions (motor trucks) which had been lined up along the road near our camp, and the regiment was on the move once more and our destination, as usual, was unknown to us. Many rumors were current as to our destination; some were to the effect that we were going to a beautiful rest area far to the rear for three months' rest; some had it that we were going to Paris for two weeks; but the most plausible one was that we were bound to another part of the front where heavy fighting was going on, and this is exactly what happened. The camions were driven by Indo-Chinese chauffeurs. These little fellows will always be remembered by their peculiar habits and also their apparent faithfulness. They all smoked little pipes, which they filled and lighted and then, after but one or two long draws, would empty them. An extraordinary short smoke all agreed. Our route was parallel with the front and took us through Fere en Tardenois, Grand Rozoy, St. Remy, Longpont, Coeuvres, to Croutoy, near which place the regiment debarked, and the 1st and 3rd Battalions and Head- quarters Company marched to woods near the town, and the 2nd Bat- talion and Machine Gun Company went to Jaulzy. All of the terri- tory through which we traveled was within the German lines prior to the Allied counter-offensive of July 18th, and presented the same familiar sights to which we were by now accustomed. There were the same shell-riddled heaps of stone, which formerly were inhabited vil- lages, but now flattened to the ground by the artillery of both armies ; the same shell-torn fields, with traces of barbed wire entanglements and cut up by trenches; the hard gravel roads were full of shell-holes, 137 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY but were being rapidly repaired by engineers, yet they were rough enough to be remembered for some time after this trip of eight hours in springless trucks. The distance traveled was fifty-five kilometers and the little town of Croutoy was reached about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The town lays about twenty kilometers due west of Sois- sons. Regimental headquarters was established in a chateau overlook- ing the beautiful Aisne River valley and a splendid view of the sur- rounding country could be had from this building. The 1st and 3rd Battalion headquarters were also established in the town, while the 2nd Battalion headquarters was established in Jaulzy. Only one or two civilians greeted the troops on their arrival, the rest of the population having evacuated the town, several months before and had not yet re- turned to claim their former homes. PART OF THE 10th FRENCH ARMY Here we learned that we were a part of General Mangin's famous 10th French Army and were to take part in another one of the major offensives planned by the Allies and officially known as the "Oise- Aisne Offensive." It may not be amiss at this time to give a brief review of the events on the western front up to the present. It will be remembered that the Germans opened the 1918 Spring Offensive by a big push launched on March 21st, from Cambria and St. Quentin against the British 5th Army, which was not checked until the Germans had almost reached Amiens to the west of their starting point, and Noyon to the southwest. This was followed by several other big pushes, which ad- vanced the German lines to beyond Montdidier and Soissons and dangerously close to Compiegne. Thus the line stood when the Ger- mans launched their last push of the war when they attempted to cross the Marne east of Chateau-Thierry and take Epernay, on July 15th, and which ended in failure for them. When the Allied counter-offensive against the Marne salient was begun, on July 18th, the initiative of battle was once more on the side of the Allies, and as the initiative gives the advantage to the army which has gained it, the Allied High Command determined to hold its advantage and planned other successive offensives to follow the Allied victory in wiping out the Marne salient. Beginning on August 8th, the British and French armies began pounding in the head of the enemy's Amiens salient. Pressure also continued, but without much success, on the Vesle front, with the object of eventually pushing across the Aisne and recovering the old French positions on the Chemin des Dames. On August 8th, the Brit- 138 ATTACHED TO THE 10th FRENCH ARMY ish attacked on the Amiens front and two days later the French attacked on the front in the vicinity and to the south of Montdidier. Still further to the south General Mangin's 10th French Army held the front between Compiegne and Soissons and on August 20th, in order to aid the progress of both these attacks, Mangin's army began driv- ing a wedge into the German front between Soissons and the Oise River, which by the 25th, had developed a salient, the left side of which flanked the enemy's Hindenburg line near the Oise, while its right side was moving eastward squarely across the flank of the Germans' de- fensive systems between the Aisne and the Ailette Rivers. The Germans knew that if this flank attack could not be checked promptly, their Vesle, Aisne and Chemin des Dames positions were all doomed, and perhaps Laon as well, and also that any further Allied advance on this part of the front would expose their southern flank of the Amiens salient and compel them to withdraw from this salient to avoid disaster, and they fought fiercely to retain their foothold. From the vicinity of the Oise to Soissons, the 18th, 7th, 30th, 1st and 20th French Corps, constituting the 10th French Army, were pressing the attack and by August 25th the right had reached Pasly, a little village northwest of Soissons, from where the line ran in a northerly direction, passing to the east of Bieuxy, to Guny, from which place it ran north- west to Abbecourt and then west toward Noyon. Along this line the Allied eastward advance, on this part of the front, had practically come to a standstill. OVER THE TOP IN THE MEUSE-ARGONNE BATTLE. (Pencil Sketch.) 139 CHAPTER IX THE OISE-AISNE OFFENSIVE ON AUGUST 25th, the day following the arrival of the regiment at Croutoy, the companies of the 1st and 3rd Battalions moved from the woods to the valley on the northern edge of the town, where camp was made in orchards, while the Headquarters Company was billeted in the town, and the Machine Gun Company was quar- tered with the 2nd Battalion at Jaulzy. On this day the Supply Com- pany and Regimental Wagon Train, including the machine gun and one- pound cannon carts, which had driven overland, joined the regiment. In the forenoon a conference of the officers and platoon sergeants of the regiment was held, when the plan for the coming battle was gone over and explained. The 32nd Division was attached to the 30th French Corps, which was in the center of the front held by the 10th French Army, and our division was to relieve units of this corps. The 63rd Brigade was to make the initial attack, with the 64th Brigade in sup- port. The 126th Infantry was to take the right sector of the Division front and the 125th the left. It was realized by all that the forth- coming battle was to be another hard tussle, with real and strenuous fighting to be done. SHOCK TROOPS The 32nd Division was one of America's shock divisions; it having been designated as such ever since it became a combat division. While considerable glory may rightfully be claimed by any organization selected to be shock troops, such assignment usually carried with it the most severe fighting which troops were called upon to do. To shock troops fell the difficult task, every time the Huns became obstinate and refused to budge from their stronghold, to pry them loose from their positions and give them a fresh start toward the Rhine, and this was by no means an easy operation. Our experience had always been that by the time we came into the action the Germans had a few days' time in which to thoroughly organize their positions for defense and pre- pare against further attack, and as they were expecting a renewal of the attack, they took every precaution to guard against surprise and so no advantage could be had from this source, and consequently, for at least the first day or two, most fierce and desperate fighting ensued, 140 SHOCK TROOPS often hand-to-hand before the enemy was dislodged from his position and forced to retire to new positions to the rear. While heavy losses were inflicted upon the enemy in these initial encounters, they also •occasioned severe losses to our troops. As the events of the next few days proved, the forthcoming battle was no exception to the bitter fighting at the Ourcq and the Vesle. It being Sunday, the usual church services were conducted by our chaplains, and the remainder of the day was spent in rest and writing letters to the folks at home. During the night enemy airplanes were active and dropped a considerable number of bombs in the vicinity of the regiment but, luckily, no casualties resulted. The next morning, August 26th, the skies were overcast and by 10 o'clock rain began to fall. The companies went out to drill soon after breakfast but returned to their quarters on account of the rain. An inspection of equipment and ammunition was held in the afternoon and orders were received and preparations made to move up to the front. This news was received with shouts, as the regiment was itch- ing for something to do after its period of rest. It was the general feeling that the sooner the Yanks finished the job they came to do, the sooner they would return to their own beloved country and loved ones at home, and soon after dark the regiment began what proved to be a long and tiresome hike. The various units marched by different routes to Jaulzy, where the regiment was assembled. The Headquarters Company left Croutoy at 8:00 p. m., and marched to Jaulzy, where it was joined by the Machine Gun Company; the 3rd and 1st Battalions followed in the order named. From Jaulzy the road followed ran through Attichy and Bitry. The 2nd Battalion left Jaulzy about 9 o'clock and took the Soissons-Compiegne road; the Aisne River was crossed at Vic-sur- Aisne on pontoon bridges built by the French engineers. The Supply Company and Regimental Wagon Train marched separately. The rain had stopped and the moon was shining brightly. Enemy planes were constantly flying overhead trying to learn what was going on behind the Allied front. No smoking or lighting of matches was allowed and the troops marched in silence. French guides met the regiment at Vic- sur-Aisne, and, after passing through the first town beyond, the whole column, led by guides, started up a long incline, and after traveling for more than an hour, it was discovered that we were on the wrong road and it became necessary to go back down the incline to the right road, where the regiment halted for a short rest. As the regiment was now within enemy artillery range, the column continued the march in single file, with five paces between men, and passed through Riviere to Tar- 141 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY tiers, where the regiment halted in the ravine two kilometers northwest of the town at 7 o'clock in the morning of August 27th. The Machine Gun Company became separated from the regiment at Vic-sur-Aisne and it and the Supply Company and Wagon Train, which had come up, halted at Vezaponin later in the day. While the distance to Tartiers was not over twenty kilometers, the regiment actually covered about twenty-six kilometers, due to the mis- take in taking the wrong road ; and because of the frequent halts caused by the enormous road congestion, the time consumed was much more than it would be under more favorable conditions. It began to rain again towards morning and this made walking more difficult and dis- agreeable, so that the hiking continued well into daylight and enemy planes were up observing our movements. Having been on their feet almost continually for ten hours, all the while with heavy packs on their backs, the men were very fatigued and upon arriving in the woods, flung themselves upon the ground and were soon fast asleep, some being too tired to even unsling their packs. Many men were unable to stand the hard grind and fell by the wayside along the march. The place where the regiment had halted was on the line of the artillery, and the cannons were belching forth their terrific noise and sending their shells right over our heads, but the men were too exhausted to be disturbed and they slept soundly until late in the afternoon. During the afternoon the officers made a reconnaissance as far as Bieuxy, which was about two kilometers behind the foremost front line. TAKING OVER THE FRONT AT JUVIGNY About 4 o'clock in the afternoon a hot meal was served from our own kitchens and the remaining daylight, knowing that we were to move up to the line as soon as darkness set in, was devoted to clean- ing rifles and pistols, and putting an edge on bayonets, as these were the doughboys' most trusty weapons. By late in the afternoon the artil- lery on both sides had ceased firing and it was very quiet. The weather had cleared, and as darkness set in, the moon came up shining brightly, making troop movements so close to the front dangerous even at night. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions were ordered to take over the front line, with the 1st Battalion in brigade reserve. In the 2nd Battalion, to which was assigned the left of the regimental sector, Companies G and H, from left to right, were to take over the front line, with Companies E and F in support. In the 3rd Battalion, which was on the right, Companies K and L, from left to right, were to take over the front, with Companies I and M in support. At 9 o'clock, with the 3rd Bat- 142 TAKING OVER THE FRONT AT JUVIGNY talion leading, the march to the front line began. The men were arranged in single file with five paces between men and fifty paces between platoons. The column moved out of the ravine and started to go across the fields to the Tartiers-Bieuxy road, but after proceeding a short distance, ran into a mass of barbed wire entanglements in the darkness and after floundering around for a short time to find an open- ing, the head of the column went back and took the road running south to the Tartiers-Bieuxy road and then went northwest on this road and turned east at the first cross-road as far as the road fork east of Bieuxy, where guides from the companies to be relieved were met. The 1st Battalion and Machine Gun Company took up a reserve position in the trenches south of Bieuxy. Companies L and K proceeded to their positions by following the road a short distance and then cutting across the fields to the south of Valpriez Farm until the road running southeast of the farm was reached, which was followed a short dis- tance and then crossed the field to a position behind the west bank of the north and south road about a kilometer east of Valpriez Farm. L Com- pany's right was at the junction of the cross-road a kilometer south of the farm and the north and south road, and K Company's left was at the cross-road running southeast from the farm. Company I was in position in support of Company K along the bank on this east road about 500 yards back and where 3rd Battalion headquarters was estab- lished. Company M was to take up a support position in rear of Com- pany L, but instead the French guide took the company up to the front line, where it relieved a third company of the French, and ex- tended the regimental front to the right to Company L on a line about two hundred and fifty yards west of the north and south road. Com- panies G and H proceeded to their place in the front line by following the ravine around the north and east of Valpriez Farm and across the hill to the north and south road, where the right of Company H con- nected up with K Company's left, and Company G extended the regi- mental front to the left to within two hundred yards of the north cross- road leading to the farm. Company E, which was in support of Com- pany G, proceeded to a large cave about three hundred yards east of Valpriez Farm, while Company F, supporting Company H, also went to this cave and sometime later took its position behind the road bank south of the cave. The headquarters of the 2nd Battalion was in the cave, and the advanced Regimental Post of Command was also estab- lished in this cave. This cave was an excavated cavern in the side of the hill and large enough to accommodate a thousand men. It had an arched roof formed by rock about ten feet thick, and the Germans, who had previously occupied it, had made some small holes through this 143 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY ■s^p-'-" V ■'■ t^Mg CK ■• w '••■'/ t-; ~. - = * -T' — ,? ~--.. T . i .-..'3i:-*;..- ' ss 3 Xii ■'7/ ; ; i. >;\ ■■■■: f," U:n^ 144 OVER THE TOP roof for ventilation. The advanced P. C. of the 125th Infantry was also located in this cave and both regiments had their advanced dress- ing stations here. Our regiment relieved troops of the 353rd French Regiment of Infantry, which belonged to the 127th French Division. The relief was completed by 3 o'clock in the morning. Very little information of the situation and lay of the ground could be obtained from the French troops who, for some reason, exhibited a very keen desire to get out of this place as soon as possible, and the location of the advanced lines of the enemy in our front was not imparted to our troops. To our left was the 125th Infantry of our own Brigade and to its left was the 64th French Division of the 30th Corps. To our right was the 59th French Division of the 1st French Corps. The country imme- diately on our front is known as the Juvigny plateau, and consists of high open ground cut up by many ravines. The right of our line was dominated by Hill 162.8, which was directly in front of our extreme right and it was the highest point on this part of the front. A slight ridge extended from the crest of the hill in a northeasterly direction and diagonally across our front, and the ground from both the hill and the ridge sloped gently toward our line. On the other side of the ridge, at a distance of about a kilometer in front of our lines, and down a gradual, open hill slope, the embankment of the railroad from Soissons to Crecy-au-Mont crossed the Divisional sector nearly at right angles, and about a kilometer beyond the railroad, in about the middle of the sector, the solidly-built village of Juvigny nestled in the bottom of a ravine, one of whose wooded branches extended southwestward toward the right flank of our regiment and the left flank of the 59th Division. The railroad and Hill 162.8 formed a small enemy salient into the Allied line, and the enemy's position here, to which he was clinging with all his power, was holding up the Allied advance all along the 10th Army front, and our Division was brought in specifically to smash through. OVER THE TOP Shortly after relieving the French troops in the line, orders for an attack were received. The attack was to be made by our Division and the French on our right. The zero hour was 7 o'clock, and the attack was preceded by artillery preparation, which commenced at 5 a. m. and lasted a half hour. An artillery barrage was to precede the attacking line, and fifteen minutes before 7 o'clock the French artillery dropped a barrage two kilometers to the right in front of the French. No barrage dropped on the regimental front except on the extreme left, which caused a delay in the time of the attack while waiting for the 145 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY barrage to come; still no barrage came and fifteen minutes after the zero hour the regiment went forward without artillery support. The attack was made without time for previous reconnaissance and the front line companies of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions went over the top and advanced in a northeasterly direction ; Companies G and H encountered heavy machine gun fire from the trench and ridge on their front and also from the trench and woods to the left. The Boche line was not over one hundred and fifty yards from the road from which the attack started, and the companies advanced up the gradual slope so rapidly and in spite of the machine gun fire, that they reached the enemy first line almost before the Germans realized an attack was on, and they were much surprised to find Americans attacking them, and all who were not killed put up their hands and shouted "Kamerad" and were promptly taken prisoners and sent to the rear. From this point the progress was slow, as the machine guns in holes along the top of the ridge kept up a furious fire and after going forward from shell- hole to shell-hole, the ridge was finally taken and the men dug them- selves in, all the while being under heavy machine gun and rifle fire from the enemy who was in position behind the railroad embankment three hundred yards distant. In front of the 3rd Battalion the enemy had evacuated the posi- tions held by him in front of K and L companies before the attack, no doubt, because of the rifle fire our men delivered at him at early dawn, and the enemy's former position here was quickly reached; however, as the line came out in the open, it met with a severe enfilading machine gun fire from Hill 162.8 and the ridge to the front. The road bank, behind which our front line lay before the attack, afforded good protec- tion, but this bank did not extend beyond the right of L company ; here the road met the level of the adjoining ground as it continued over the crest of Hill 162.8. Company L could not proceed very far on account of the enfilading fire from the hill, but a few men filtered forward to advanced positions and partially surrounded it, and M company, which was supposed to be in support and consequently received no orders to attack, moved with the rest of the line up to the road and its right was directly in front of Hill 162.8. The men took cover in shell-holes and small trenches, as here the road was level with the surface of the ground and afforded no cover, and opened fire on the hill from the west; also a machine gun of the 120th Machine Gun Battalion attached to the 3rd Battalion fired on the hill from a northwesterly direction. All this fire converging on this hostile machine gun nest neutralized its fire so that the advancing line further to the left was able to proceed without much further hindrance from this enemy stronghold; but before 146 THE ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACK this was accomplished, the two right platoons of K company were forced to take cover in a cable trench, which ran in a straight line over the top of the ridge to the railroad, along which they continued to advance until within one hundred yards of the track, when further advance was stopped by the fire of a Hun machine gun which enfiladed the trench from the railroad, killing and wounding nearly two-thirds of the men in the two platoons and those who remained gradually fell back to their original position, carrying their wounded with them. The other platoons of this company followed the trench to the left of the cable trench and advanced beyond the top of the ridge to within one hundred and fifty yards of the railroad and scattered in pits and shell- holes along the front and to the right of the trench, which position they held until later in the afternoon. Companies G and H were in position along the top of the ridge and back of K company. After concentrating our fire on the enemy strongpoint on Hill 162.8 for about an hour, a white rag was raised on a stick and nine Germans came over to our lines and surrendered, and a little later the remainder of the enemy in this nest, about sixty in number, ran over and surren- dered to Company M and to the French, a few of whom had moved up in the meantime to the right of Company M. Nine machine guns were captured in this nest and a few more were picked up in the immediate vicinity. Company M then advanced to trenches fifty yards north of the road and a platoon occupied an advance position on the crest of the hill and ridge and within three hundred yards of the railroad, which position the company held until morning. When the first line went forward Companies E and F left their support positions and advanced to the road from which the attack was made, and a little later moved forward up the hill and reinforced the leading companies of the 2nd Battalion. Company I also went forward about the same time to reinforce K company and dug in along the top of the ridge between K and M companies. All the support companies were obliged to advance through heavy shell-fire, which the Germans were dropping in rear of our front line to prevent reinforcements going forward. The 1st Battalion moved up soon after the attack began and took up a support position along the road running south from Valpriez Farm. While passing over the hill just west of the road, they were showered with high explosive shells, but fortunately no casualties were suffered. The Machine Gun Company advanced at the same time and halted at the farm. THE ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACK The enemy was forced back to the railroad and the ridge and hill 147 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY was now entirely in our hands. The new positions were organized and prepared to resist any counter-attack the enemy may start and which was momentarily expected. Hill 162.8 and the ridge were of great mili- tary importance, as they dominated the military situation in either direction. From them a view of the surrounding country could be had for several kilometers. The railroad and the town of Juvigny were in plain view, as well as the country for some distance to the east. The French had previously made three attempts to take this hill and ridge and failed each time. While the railroad embankment and the ravines to the east of it offered positions to the enemy from which he could still offer stiff resistance, yet it was obvious that he could not remain here long without having possession of the hill and ridge occupied by our troops. So about 3:00 p. m. the Germans commenced a terrific shell- ing of our advance and support positions. High explosive and shrapnel shells burst among our men in rapid succession and dropped in such a way as to form walls of flying metal on the sides and rear of our front lines and in this way prevented our men falling back or receiving re- inforcements ; the enemy was putting down what is called a box barrage as a preliminary for a counter-attack. The enemy had minnenwerfers and machine guns in place behind the east bank of the railroad and in the ravine to our right front, and the fire from these guns were directed upon our positions. E company dropped back five hundred yards and the two platoons of K company dropped back one hundred and fifty yards, where better positions to meet the coming counter-attack could be obtained. The remainder of the companies held their positions. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon the Germans counter-attacked to regain the hill and ridge. They advanced from the ravine to the south- east of our line, and came in a massed line formation. As soon as they were within easy range our line opened on them with a deadly rifle fire and while their lines became thinner, they kept on coming and the nearer they approached the more violent our fire became. They reached the railroad but got no farther, as our fire was too hot for them and they broke and retreated in disorder, leaving a trail of dead and wounded behind them, all of the latter being made prisoners by our men. The enemy casualties in this counter-attack was many times more than ours, and while another counter-attack was expected, it did not come and it was surmised that the Hun had enough with one try against our defense. After things had again become quiet our artillery shelled the enemy positions in the ravines and woods east of the railroad. Toward dark the two platoons of K company retired to their original position, where the company was reorganized and took up a position along the top of the ridge with the other companies of the 3rd Battalion. No 148 ATTACK ON AUGUST 28th further change was made in the line held and it remained the same throughout the night. About 7 : 00 p. m. it began to rain and it continued to rain until 4:00 the next morning, and the holes and trenches occupied by the men quickly filled with water and became regular mud holes, making our positions miserable; and to make matters worse, the men could not move from their mud holes because the Hun was "straffing" us by dropping high explosive and shrapnel shells in our midst the greater part of the night. While the distance advanced during the day was not great, the ground gained was important. The French on our right had made no progress. The day's operation was primarily to straighten out the dent in the line preparatory to a general attack, with the result that this was accomplished and the line advanced one kilometer. On the morn- ing of this day, 1st Lieut. William J. Beal, of Company L, received a mortal wound from a machine gun bullet and died two hours later, and 2nd Lieut. Carl Thompson, of Company E, was killed in action. The total casualties for the day were 2 officers and 65 men killed and 120 men wounded, as follows: Company E, 1 officer and 3 men killed and 9 men wounded; Company F, 7 men killed and 7 men wounded; Com- pany G, 14 men killed and 14 men wounded; Company H, 15 men killed and 23 men wounded; Company I, 10 men wounded; Company K, 19 men killed and 28 men wounded; Company L, 1 officer and 7 men killed and 19 men wounded ; Company M, 10 men wounded. This day's action was a lively affair in which nearly every means known to modern warfare was employed by the enemy to stay the de- termined attack made by our troops, and the sensations and thoughts of a soldier in battle is well described in a letter written by one of our men to his folks, and from which we quote as follows: "At 7:15 we went over the top with about half a company and advanced across a big open field that was swept by machine gun fire and rained on by bursting shrapnel. As we went over, our platoon sergeant fell, and as I had most of my squad organized, the platoon used my squad as a base unit to form around and follow. O, boy! It was some sight. Men fell all around me, but I did not worry about being hit, for I was a real wild man. I had blood in my eyes and just wanted to kill. A Boche machine gun emplacement in front of me was spitting fire until we got fifty yards from it. When we swept down on it (two privates and I), three Bodies lay flat on the ground, terrorized. The fourth was on his knees with his hands clutching his jaw, trembling like a dope fiend and his eyes bulging. "I yelled to one private to turn the machine gun around and at the same time I took care of three Boches. The din was great and the 149 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY cries horrible. The battlefield was covered with gas, smoke, equipment, munition carts and men lying prone. But I went on to our objective, a railroad, and started to dig in. "On my right a man went down, for the snipers were busy and the machine gun bullets seemed to be bursting my ear drums as they cracked. Then I started to fire my own rifle. If I had had a machine gun I could have gotten more of them. The private had turned the machine gun and now had it about ten feet away on my left. He was a good scout with a lot of nerve. As he lay there I looked over and smiled to see him jump at every shot his gun fired, but the smile faded and he went down before he could speak. I had fired five clips (25 rounds) and felt two pills hit my pack. "I threw the pack off in front of me and then a barrel hit me. I thought it was a piece of dirt until my rifle became heavy and I wanted a drink, and felt a sharp pain in my left shoulder. I dropped the rifle and drew my pistol and said to myself, 'You're a goner; fight for it.' I expected a counter-attack and waited for it. I've waited for food, pay, girls and lots of other things, but this had all the other kinds of waiting beat. But the Boche had had all they wanted and didn't come back." Orders were issued for an attack by the entire 10th French Army in the morning of August 29th. The plan of attack provided for the use of tanks, smoke screens and artillery support. The part to be taken by the regiment provided for an attack on its front with the railroad as the objective. The tanks assigned to the regiment were to be supported by details from the 1st Battalion. The zero hour for the attack was 5:00 a. m. The 1st Battalion was to move up to a position along the road bank immediately behind our front line, and the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were to make the attack upon the railroad as soon as the tanks and their escorting groups passed through their lines. ATTACK ON RAILROAD The attack was preceded by artillery preparation, which began shortly after midnight, and our shells went whizzing and shrieking over our heads and into the Boche lines, and everyone felt happy, as the Huns were now getting their share of the constant shelling which prevailed during this battle. It was still raining and the night was very dark, but the sky was fairly ablaze with the flashes of bursting shells and the noise was deafening, making conversation in an ordinary voice impos- sible. The German machine gun emplacements behind the railroad embankment and in the ravines were so well covered that the artillery fire did little damage to them and they kept up an incessant rat-a- tat-tat on our front line. When daylight came, it found all safe and 150 : -.-':-% - % - -;-i q^r "'■ - v -♦1 * * view 4S>- 11 Upper picture : : German machine gun nests behind railroad embankment near Juvigny. They could not be reached by artillery fire. Lower picture : French tanks returning after assisting American attack on Aug. 29th near Juvigny. 151 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY sound and soon the sun came up and helped dry the ground. During the night volunteers were asked from Companies A and B to go with the tanks, and these and the 1st Battalion Scouts were sent to report to the tank commanders. At 5:00 a. m. the tanks started up the road bank, behind which they had been concealed, and proceeded up the hill slope toward the top of the ridge. There were three of them in our regimental sector and they appeared on the extreme left. As the tanks advanced they were fol- lowed by the details from Companies A and B and the 1st Battalion Scouts. Behind them came waves of doughboys of the 1st Battalion and Machine Gun Company, who started from the vicinity of Valpriez Farm, to which place they had moved during the night. Our artillery activity during the night convinced the Germans that a renewal of the previous day's attack was impending and when they saw the tanks and doughboys coming they opened a terrific artillery fire on them and shells were bursting thick and fast in their ranks. Many fell during this advance, but those unhurt never faltered and kept on going. When the 1st Battalion reached the road they halted and took cover behind the bank and waited for further orders. The Machine Gun Company had moved too far to the left and became separated from the 1st Battalion and followed a battalion of the 125th Infantry, which was advancing on the left of the regiment. The company advanced as far as the ridge and later in the day returned to its place with the 1st Battalion. When the tanks had passed through our front line, the companies on the left moved forward and followed them at one hundred yards distance. The remainder of the line to the right moved forward at the same time with- out supporting tanks. The enemy's fire was sweeping the ground, but nevertheless small groups seized the railroad along the regimental front and captured many machine guns, which were turned on the Germans. However, the troops were so exposed to the enemy's raking fire from machine guns and trench mortars, which were unharmed by our artil- lery fire, that they fell back to the hill crest, leaving a few men dis- tributed along the whole front in shell-holes and pits within one hundred yards of the railroad, from which positions a harassing rifle and machine gun fire was maintained on the enemy during the remainder of the day. An attempt was made to assist the frontal attack by a flank attack on our right, and Companies A and D, under Captain Graves, followed a trench around the regimental right with the object of getting in rear of the enemy in the wooded ravine, but they could get no farther than the railroad track and returned to their original position. Soon after the attack began, a fleet of about a hundred Allied planes appeared over the divisional front flying at a low altitude toward 152 CAPTURE OF JUVIGNY the enemy lines. They were in battle formation and a most welcome sight to the doughboys and assured us of good support in the air. This was the first time we had seen such an Allied demonstration in the air and it added most materially to the. confidence of the troops. About 4:00 p. m. an order for another attack upon the railroad was received. The attack was to be made at 5:30 p. m. After two days of battle the troops were pretty well exhausted and the effective strength of the regiment had been reduced to less than a thousand men. What was left of Companies G and H was consolidated with Companies E and F, and the other battalions were not in much better condition. Shortly before the time to attack arrived, the order for the attack was countermanded and the troops held their positions until shortly after midnight, when the regiment was relieved by the 127th Infantry of our division. While the general advance during the day's battle did not exceed two hundred yards, the enemy had received a severe trouncing, and as darkness came, his artillery and machine gun fire slackened considerably and finally ceased altogether, which was proof to us that the Germans were evacuating their positions in our front and the troops relieving us were able to capture Juvigny the following afternoon with little difficulty. The French on the right and left made no progress during the day. During the day 2nd Lieut. Arthur K. Atkins, of Company C, re- ceived wounds from which he died two days later. The casualties of the regiment for the day was one officer and 36 men killed and 12 officers and 155 men wounded, as follows: Company A, 1 man killed and 2 officers and 11 men wounded; Company B, 4 men killed and 1 officer and 14 men wounded; Company C, 1 officer and 4 men killed and 22 men wounded; Company D, 2 men killed and 2 officers and 5 men wounded; Company E, 4 men killed and 14 men wounded; Company F, 5 men killed and 2 officers and 14 men wounded ; Company G, 1 man killed and 2 officers and 3 men wounded ; Company H, 3 men killed and 2 officers and 3 men wounded ; Company I, 4 men killed and 5 men wounded; Company K, 3 men killed and 9 men wounded; Company L, 1 man killed and 7 men wounded; Company M, 20 men wounded; Machine Gun Company, 3 men killed and 1 officer and 20 men wounded, and Headquarters Company, 1 man killed and 5 men wounded; Sani- tary Detachment, 3 men wounded. CAPTURE OF JUVIGNY August 30th. When the regiment was relieved in the front line shortly after midnight, the Regimental P. C. moved back from the cave to Bieuxy and the three battalions and the Machine Gun Company 153 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY moved back to the vicinity of Valpriez Farm, where the regiment was in support of the 127th Infantry until late in the afternoon. Before noon the 59th French Division began pushing ahead slowly against Chavigny and the ravines in its front, and at 3:30 p. m. a general advance of the 32nd Division commenced, the 127th Infantry, pressing northeast through the ravines toward Juvigny, reached the southern, then the western, and the 128th Infantry finally reached the northern edges of the village. With the place thus surrounded, the town was captured about 7:00 p. m., and soon after, except on the left, the north and south road just east of Juvigny was the Division front line, where it remained during the night. After dark the regiment followed the advance made during the day and moved forward to the railroad. The 2nd Battalion was temporarily attached to the 127th Infantry and advanced to a position in the ravine south of Juvigny in support of that regiment. In the morning of August 31st our artillery and the artillery of the 1st Moroccan Division opened a terrific artillery preparation of four hours' duration, covering all the ground from the road occupied by the front line of our Division, eastward for about three kilometers along the plateau to the village of Terny-Sorny. At 4 p. m. the artillery fire, whose intensity may be judged from the fact that it involved about one gun to each twelve meters of the 2,000 meter front, dropped back and formed a triple barrage in front of the 127th and 128th Infantry, which at the same moment advanced, supported on the front line by tanks and by two sniping batteries of the 147th Field Artillery. Resistance to such an attack was simply impossible. Dazed and shaken, the enemy generally fled or surrendered, for, as one of the prisoners said, "No matter where you turned, you were met with the fire of the artillery. The Americans were shooting all over the terrain. Their fire was certainly crazy." Although in spots, as at Beaumont Farm and in the Bois d'Alsace, some spirited opposition had to be overcome, the advance of the infantry was rapid, and before 8 p. m. the troops were in Terny-Sorny, and observers reported that everywhere to the eastward German artillery and transport was fleeing toward Margival and other remote hamlets. In the ravines and network of trenches and wire beyond the limits of the barrage the enemy at length made a stand, chiefly to protect his arrangements for further retreat. When the front line began its advance to Terny-Sorny, the 2nd Battalion followed immediately in rear as far as the eastern slope of the ravine southeast of Juvigny and halted in the Bois d'Alsace and the remainder of the regiment moved up at the same time to a position 154 THE "LES TERRIBLES" near the 2nd Battalion, where the regiment lay expecting to relieve the 127th Infantry the following night. As no attack by our division was planned for the next day, the regiment was ordered to withdraw and moved back during the night to a support position near Valpriez Farm and Bieuxy. The following day, September 1st, was spent by the 32nd Division in cleaning out remaining machine gun nests and in improv- ing the positions won, the front line occupying approximately the north and south road just west of Terny-Sorny, with patrols covering the ground in front of it. During the early morning hours of September 2nd, the 32nd Division was relieved by the 1st French Moroccan Divi- sion, and our regiment, being relieved at 4:30 a. m., moved back to the ravine just west of the Tartiers-Vezaponin Road, where the rear echelon troops of the regiment were stationed during the entire engagement on this front. Here the 32nd Division remained for the next few days as Corps Reserve. The total distance advanced by the 32nd Division in this offensive was five and one-half kilometers, and in capturing the strong German positions on the Juvigny plateau west of the town, the strongest props of the German defenses between the Aisne and the Ailette was broken, which contributed to an important extent to the success of the French in outflanking the German line on the Chemin des Dames. Twelve men were killed and 31 wounded on August 30th and 31st, principally from shell-fire. The casualties for these two days were as follows: Company D, 3 men killed and 1 man wounded; Company E, 2 men killed and 5 men wounded; Company F, 4 men wounded; Company G, 1 man killed and 4 men wounded ; Company H, 4 men killed and 6 men wounded; Company I, 1 man wounded; Company K, 1 man killed and 2 men wounded; Headquarters Company, 1 man killed and 7 men wounded, and Sanitary Detachment, 1 man wounded. The total casual- ties for the regiment during this entire engagement was 3 officers and 113 men killed and 12 officers and 306 men wounded and 2 men missing, making a grand total of 436. The 32nd Division was opposed on this front by five German Divisions, the 7th, the 7th Reserve, the 223rd, the 237th and the 238th. Prisoners were taken by the regiment from the first three divisions. No count was kept of the number of prisoners taken, but there were more than two hundred taken by our regiment. THE "LES TERRIBLES" The 32nd Division was the only American Division which took part in the Oise-Aisne Offensive and while it was brought into this sector primarily to smash the strong German resistance which was hold- ing up the entire offensive operation, it also served another purpose; 155 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY the appearance of American troops on this front was a complete sur- prise to the Germans. The Seventh Prussian Division had just entered the lines when our men attacked on the morning of August 28th and were astonished to find Americans facing them, and this surprise affected their morale to some extent. As American troops suddenly appeared at different points on the west front, the German soldier began to doubt the statements of his officers that the Yanks were not yet in France in large numbers, as he was beginning to learn otherwise by his actual- contact with them, and naturally this element had some discouraging influence upon him. Exactly the opposite effect was produced upon the French soldier, many of whom had not seen an American soldier, and his morale and spirit began to rise. By its work in this offensive, the 32nd Division had bestowed upon it the highest honors an American doughboy could wish. While the many American Divisions were straining their mental recesses to find a suitable and appropriate name to extoll their prowess as fighting men, the French Poilles fighting with us in this offensive did that for us and our Division was named by them the "Les Terribles," which, translated into our language, means "The Terribles." No other American Divi- sion in France was similarly honored and our troops have every reason to be proud to be thus recognized by the French soldiers who were veterans of four years' fighting. The Division was later cited in French Army Orders by General Mangin for its fighting ability, as demon- strated in this Offensive, and it was the first American Division in France to have the colors of its infantry and artillery regiments and machine gun battalions decorated with the "Croix de Guerre with Palm," which was the highest French cross of war. PINNING THE CROIX DE GUERRE TO THE COLORS The "Croix de Guerre with Palm" was presented to the regiment April 13, 1920, on the fields in the vicinity of Dierdorf, Germany, and while the regiment was serving in the Coblenz Bridgehead as part of the American Army of Occupation. General Mangin personally pinned the "French war cross" on the colors of the regiment and referred to the association of the 32nd Division with the 10th French Army in his speech of presentation in the following words: "I am very glad to be with you once more, and especially to meet you on the other side of the Rhine. I shall always cherish deeply my remembrance of the Thirty-second Division, which gave so splendid an account of itself in some of the great battles of the war. The name of 'Juvigny' will enter not only into the history of this war, but into the history of your country. 156 DECORATING THE COLORS "You are going back home and when you get back I want you to tell everyone that you bring with you the gratitude and friendship of France." General Mangin's citation grouped the troops of the Division as two Infantry Brigades and other troops. The citation referring to our brigade reads as follows: "Sixty-third Infantry Brigade. Composed of the 125th and 126th Infantry Regiments, and the 120th Machine Gun Battalion, acquired the most splendid titles of glory in battles on August 28th in the vicin- ity of Juvigny. Scarcely having entered the lines, it dashed forward into the assault. The enemy, surprised, became demoralized by the rapidity and vigor of the attack. It proved its superiority in a fierce hand-to-hand struggle where the 125th and 126th Regiments and the 120th Machine Gun Battalion emerged victorious despite counter- attacks by the enemy. It drove back the beaten enemy as far as the approach to Terny-Sorny, while efficaciously supporting neighboring French troops during the attack from August 31st to September 1st, 1918." DIVISION RELIEVED The balance of the day, September 2nd, was devoted to resting and cleaning up. While meals were few and irregularly served during the last few days, we were now getting two meals a day. The enemy planes were quite active on this and the following day and dropped bombs in the vicinity, but did no damage; one French observation balloon near our position was brought down by an enemy plane, but the observer made a safe landing with his parachute. At 4:00 p. m., September 4th, orders were issued to roll packs and prepare to move and relieve troops on the front during the night and while the troops were waiting for the order to march, an order came shortly after 4:00 a. m. informing the regiment that it was relieved from further service on this front and at 4:30 a. m. the march back to Croutoy began, which place was reached at noon on September 5th. The different units billeted and bivouacked in the same localities that they occupied before going to the front. The Supply Company and the Wagon Train accom- panied the regiment. After arriving at our new quarters everything was made as comfortable as could be under the circumstances and a good night's rest was obtained, the first in several days. The following morning an inspection of equipment was held and shortages noted. The regiment, as well as the whole division, had now been in two major offensives and had been greatly reduced in numbers by casualties and sickness, so that the entire strength of the regiment was now down to 35 officers and 1,750 men, from a normal strength of 103 officers 157 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY and 3,680 men. The effective fighting strength was below 100 men per company and some companies had as low as 50 men, and the belief prevailed that before we went into another battle we would be sent back to a training area in the quiet section of France to reorganize and receive replacements, and this prospect was received with much delight. During the day about 340 replacement troops were received for the regiment, which were divided among the different units to bring each up to an equal strength. During the remainder of the day the troops rested. LOVE, MY THOUGHTS GO BACK TO YOU When it's morning in the trenches And the sun is breaking through, And the ground begins to glisten, Like the good old home-town dew, I look across the bob-wire And it makes me kind of blue, When it is morning in the trenches Love, my thoughts go back to you. When the sun is in the heavens, And the air is mighty hot, And it is hard to breathe and sniff, And your throat is dry as rot, I've got to grin and bear it, I've got to see it through, To make the burden lighter, Love, my thoughts go back to you. When the sun has passed the trenches And the after-glow is red, And the silver moon is shining On the silent earthy bed, I'm feeling kind of lonely-like, "And" I know you're lonely, too, When the sun has passed the trenches, Love, my thoughts go back to you. When the sniper stops his sniping, And skulking behind his line ; When the raider hides himself Away beyond the Rhine, And the German dofs his sombrero To the old Red, White and Blue, And it is calm along the trenches, Love, then I'll come back to you. — Paul Baumgartner, Better known as "Bummy, the Cook.' 158 CHAPTER X PERIOD BETWEEN THE OISE-AISNE AND ARGONNE OFFENSIVES A FTER resting for two days in the vicinity of Croutoy, orders were /~\ received to prepare to move to another locality. It was re- ported that the Division was to be rushed to the St. Mihiel sector and again placed in the battle line in the American offensive, which was to wipe out this salient held by the Germans since Septem- ber, 1914, and which threatened the entire region between Verdun and Nancy, and interrupted the main rail line from Paris to the east. The effective fighting strength per company at this time was below 100 men, and the High Command finally decided to send the Division to a quiet billeting area for reorganization and replacements, which we were so badly in need of. Accordingly, on September 8th, the regiment moved to Mortefontaine and camped in the town and vicinity, and the following day moved to the railhead at Morienval, the troops camp- ing in the fields adjacent to the town. Early next morning, Septem- ber 10th, the regiment entrained on four trains, the Regimental Head- quarters and Auxiliary Units leaving on the first train at 7:30 a. m., and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions leaving in order, the 3rd Battalion get- ting away about 10:00 a. m. The destination of the regiment was in the vicinity of Joinville, where Division Headquarters was to be estab- lished, and the journey led through Noisy-le-Sec, near Paris, Coulom- miers and St. Dizier. The regiment detrained the same day at Rupt, about two kilometers from Joinville, and the Regimental Headquar- ters and Headquarters Company were billeted at Autigny-le-Petit, while the Machine Gun and Supply Companies were billeted at Autigny-le-Grand, and the three battalions were billeted at Ones- le-Val. While the Division rested in this area it was held under orders as Army reserve for the American Army attacking in the St. Mihiel Offensive. IN JOINVILLE REST AREA This was the first time since the regiment entered the Alsace trench sector, in May, 1918, that it was billeted in a region where civ- 159 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY ilization still existed, and the change was most agreeable. Coming from the war devastated region, where woods, trenches and wrecked buildings were our habitual abode, it was a day or two before we again became accustomed to living in billets and with the civil popu- lation. Our former life during the training period in the States and in France was recalled, and our daily life became more regular, in that we now had regular hours for reveille, mess, retreat and taps. While in this area about 1,100 new replacements were received for the regi- ment, who arrived in two detachments on September 15th and 19th. Some of these replacements were inducted into the military service in the States as late as the first week in July, 1918, and had had only two weeks' training before reaching the regiment; others had about two months of training. The remainder of the time they had been travel- ing and arrived in France about September 1st. These new replace- ments brought the infantry companies up to within 50 men of their authorized strength, with only three officers per company. A daily schedule of training was begun immediately, especially for the benefit of the new men. This schedule was vigorously carried out, and in- cluded disciplinary drills, open warfare formations, and special instruc- tion in hand and rifle grenades and the use and employment of the infantry specialty weapons. Inspection and instruction in the use of the gas mask was also included, as well as rifle practice for the new men on an improvised target range. Some new clothing and equipment was issued to the regiment, and after a few days it began to look like the old regiment once more. The regimental band gave concerts nearly every evening, which was enjoyed by the civil population, as well as the troops. On Sunday, September 20th, church services were held, and on the day before, the Division Commander reviewed the Division. TO THE FRONT AGAIN During the night of September 17-18, 1918, under instructions from Division Headquarters, the Supply Company and the entire Field and Combat Train of the regiment, including all animal-drawn elements, began to march toward the front in the Verdun sector. Rumors began to circulate that our stay in this area was to be short, and that a new offensive was to start soon in which the Division was to participate. A special order of the 2nd French Army, dated September 19, 1918, placed the Division at the disposal of the 5th U. S. Corps, and on the morning of September 22nd, the regiment left their billets and assem- bled at a place north of Joinville, and in the afternoon climbed into French camions (trucks) driven by Chinese drivers, and after an all- night's ride in a pouring rain, arrived at the village of Lavoye between 160 TO THE FRONT AGAIN 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning of September 23rd. Regimental Head- quarters was established in the village, while the remainder of the regiment bivouacked in woods nearby. Upon arrival, orders were re- ceived designating the 32nd Division as Corps Reserve for the 5th Corps. As it was now definitely known that a new American offensive was imminent, further training was begun immediately upon arrival, and new drill schedules prepared and temporary rifle ranges provided. On September 24th, Company K was detailed from the regiment for Corps Ammunition Service and was engaged in sending and transport- ing ammunition to the front line Divisions of the 5th Corps until October 11th, when it returned to the regiment. On September 25th, orders were received to move forward and be in readiness to support the divisions in our front, and at 8 o'clock p. m. the regiment proceeded by marching to a woods a kilometer northeast of Brabant-en-Argonne, where it arrived about 2 o'clock in the morn- ing of September 26th, and went into bivouac. At 5:30 that morning the First American Army went over the top on a front extending from the Meuse River to the Argonne Forest, with the 5th Corps in the center. The artillery fire which preceded this attack was the greatest and most terrific which we had ever heard. The attack having made good progress at the beginning, the Division was ordered to follow in close support, and at 1:00 p. m. packs were rolled and the regiment moved forward to the Bois de Marre, which was a few kilometers south of Avocourt, and just in rear of the front line trenches from which the attacking elements of the 5th Corps jumped off that morning. A SECTION OF WIRE ENTANGLEMENTS ON SOUTHERN EDGE OF ROMAGNE. 161 CHAPTER XI MEUSE-ARGONNE OFFENSIVE FIRST PHASE THE Meuse-Argonne battle, fought by the First Army, was the largest battle in American history. The plan of Marshal Foch, the Allied Commander, was for the British Army to break through the German lines between Cambrai and St. Quentin and push eastward, and for the French Fourth Army and the American First Army to drive northward on either side of the Argonne Forest. All the German armies in France and Belgium were supplied by two trunk railway systems ; the one on the north extending through Belgium, and the southern line extending westward from Loraine and Luxemburg, and using a common route from Longuyon through Sedan to Mezieres, beyond which it spread out and served the front from Laon to Verdun. These two lines were the arteries connecting his armies with his base of supplies. The Germans could not hope, in case of retreat, to get either the enormous concentration of troops and materials out of Western Belgium and Northern France by the northern line alone. If the southern line were cut on the Longuyon-Sedan sector, then a disaster to the Germans would be inevitable, because it would be impossible to get out of Belgium without abandoning great stores of material and losing heavy artillery and men. Nor would it be possible to remain, after the southern artery was cut, because the northern line was inadequate to supply and maintain the armies in Belgium and France. The general plan for the First American Army was to advance due north on a front between the Meuse River and the Argonne Forest, with its northern extension, the Forest of Bourgoyne, and to cut this vital railway line in the vicinity of Sedan. While the Americans were attacking on this front, the German was successfully attacked by the British, French and Belgiums, with the assistance of some • American Divisions, and forced to retire out of France and away from the Belgium coast, which he did in good order, and he could afford to surrender the territory thus lost, because it did not affect his line of communications which were perpendicular to the fighting front. On the other hand, if Sedan was reached, he 162 THE ARGONNE REGION lost his line of communications, and consequently the German was compelled to defend this sector to the utmost limit of his capacity against the Americans, just as he was bound to fortify this section with extreme care in advance of any such attack. The line from which the First American Army attacked on the morning of September 26, 1918, extended from the village of La Hara- zee in the Argonne Forest, east to the Meuse River at the mouth of Forges Brook. The distance between these points is less than twenty miles in a straight line, although the actual front, curving and bend- ing as it did, was about forty kilometers (twenty-five miles) long. THE ARGONNE REGION This region had been frequently fought over. The Valmy cam- paign was fought about the Argonne, and the region around Sedan saw the defeat of the French by the Germans in 1870-71. In 1914 the Army of the Crown Prince crossed the Meuse between Sedan and Stenay, and reached the present line in September of that year, since when this line had been practically stabilized. The most memorable fighting in this war-scarred region had been the struggle for the hills south of Forges Brook, Hill 304 and Dead Man's Hill, in the spring of 1916, during the great Battle of Verdun, both of which hills were just within the American line. The terrain of the country was the most difficult for military operations on the whole western front. The Argonne Forest itself, is a long clayey eminence with a crest of some 800 feet above the general level of the country, ten miles long and heavily wooded. East of the Argonne and running along the base of the slope of its hills, is the little Aire River, flowing north through a narrow and open valley. Between the Aire River and the Meuse River, is a ten-mile stretch of country, incomparable as a defensive region. It is a maze of densely wooded and rugged heights, the highest about 1,000 feet, with some of the intervening valleys wooded and some of them open. The forests on hill and in valley supplied perfect cover for machine gun nests and effectively prevented their observation by us, while the hills gave the Germans almost direct observation upon our movements. Many little valleys leading eastward into the Meuse are commanded by the abrupt hills on the east bank of this stream. These heights not only protected the enemy's left, but they dominated the terrain west of the river, and gave him positions from which he delivered a powerful artillery fire on the American troops. Batteries located in the fortified Argonne Forest covered his right flank, and crossed their fire with that of the 163 I \ \J f MAP OF VERDUN SECTOR 164 ATTACK BY FIRST AMERICAN ARMY guns on the east bank of the Meuse. From the Meuse-Argonne front, the perpendicular distance to Sedan was fifty kilometers. Nowhere on the western front were the German defenses so formid- able as between the Argonne and the Meuse. The net result of the four years' struggle on this ground was a German defensive system of unusual depth and strength. It was against this bristling mass of fortified positions — the first Hindenburg line, the Hagen Stellung, Volker Stellung, Kriemhilde Stellung (the real Hindenburg line), and the Freya Stellung — that the First American Army attacked. All these lines of defense followed the heights, depending on the natural strength of the positions on which they were built. The first Hinden- burg, Hagen and Kriemhilde lines were the principal defenses; the others were local lines. The whole defense system consisted of practi- cally a continuous series of positions twenty kilometers or more in depth. The Army was to break through this defense zone to include the Kriemhilde Stellung, a penetration of fourteen kilometers, on the front Brieulles-Romagne-Grand Pre. ATTACK BY FIRST AMERICAN ARMY The battle of the Meuse-Argonne opened on the morning of Sep- tember 26, 1918, after a preliminary artillery preparation of three hours. The Fifth German Army, commanded by General Von Mar- witz, faced the Americans. West of the Meuse the Germans had five divisions and numbered around 60,000 men. A single guard division was the only first-rate unit in line at this time. The American Army in line facing the Fifth German Army consisted of nine divisions, organized as three corps. The American Divisions were at this time at least three times as strong as the German Divisions opposing them. The position of the American troops at the jump-off from east to west was as follows: The 33rd, 80th and 4th Divisions, constituting the Third Corps, held the right flank from the left bank of the Meuse to Forges Brook, just north of Hill 304. The 79th, 37th and 91st Divi- sions, constituting the Fifth Corps, held the center of the line from Forges Brook to Vauquois. Finally the 35th, 28th and 77th Divisions, constituting the First Corps, held the left flank from Vauquois to La- Harazee in the Argonne Forest. Each Corps had one division in reserve and three divisions were held as a general reserve for the First Army. The axis of the attack was. the line Montfaucon-Romagne- Buzancy, the purpose being to make the deepest penetration in the center, which, with the Fourth French Army advancing west of the Argonne, would force the enemy to evacuate that forest without an 165 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY attack in that region. The infantry advanced at 5:30 a. m., accom- panied by tanks. During the first two days of the attack, and before the enemy was able to bring up his reserves, the line made steady progress through the net-work of defenses, Montfaucon being captured at noon of the second day. It was expected that the three corps would break through the first three of the German defense systems and by September 27th arrive before the Kriemhilde Line, and there make a brief halt, and then push through this last obstacle to Sedan. The First Corps was to reach Apremont and Exermont. The Fifth Corps was to pass through Montfaucon and arrive at Romagne and Cunel. The Third Corps was to cover the flank of the general advance and hold the left bank of the Meuse River as the front narrowed, while the 4th Division of this Corps was to take Brieulles. Before September 29th the enemy threw six new divisions into the first line, and he developed a powerful machine gun defense supported by heavy artillery fire, and made frequent counter-attacks. By this time manoeuvre, for the pinching out of a salient, had passed, and the American troops were now committed to a direct frontal attack against strong positions fully manned by a determined enemy. By night- fall of the 29th the American line was approximately Bois de la Cote Lemont-Nantillois-Apremont southwest across the Argonne. Many divisions, especially those in the center, were subjected to cross-fire of artillery and suffered heavily from this cause. On September 26, 1918, the 32nd Division received instructions to occupy the lines originally held by the Fifth Corps and from which it jumped off that morning, and the two Infantry Brigades were placed in advantageous positions ; the 126th Infantry Regiment moving up at 1:00 p. m. from the woods near Brabent to the Bois de Marre about two and a half kilometers south of the Village of Avocourt. This village, through which ran the foremost French lines, after four years of bombardment was virtually flattened to the ground. A road form- erly ran from Avocourt across No Man's Land to Malancourt, but the violent artillery fire of the previous period of the war had destroyed it, and the engineers used the stone from the ruins of Avocourt to re- store communication across No Man's Land; the inability of the artillery to cross this zone was seriously retarding the general advance, but the engineers and pioneers soon made possible the forward move- ment of troops, artillery and supplies most needed. On the afternoon of September 27th, the 63rd Brigade was ordered to prepare to relieve the 37th Division in the line that night, and just as the two regiments 166 ENTERING THE MEUSE-ARGONNE BATTLE were formed up and ready to move forward the order was counter- manded. ENTERING THE MEUSE-ARGONNE BATTLE During the day on September 29th, part of the regiment assisted the 107th Engineers in building and improving roads across No Man's Land. In the afternoon advance information was received that the Division would relieve the 37th Division in the vicinity of Ivoiry as far as possible that night, and later in the day the orders for the movement were issued which designated the 63rd Brigade to occupy the front line with the 64th Brigade in support. At dusk the regiment moved forward ; it was a rainy night and the roads and paths were quag- mires of mud, and after marching all night, partly by roads and partly across country, the regiment halted at daylight in the northern part of Montfaucon Woods. Only one road was available across No Man's Land to supply the needs of the divisions of the Fifth Corps, and the traffic congestion on this road was the worst the regiment ever encountered. On account of the fearful congestion and the bad con- dition of the road, the only wheeled transportation of the regiment able to get through was the machine gun carts. The ground on either side of this road had become virtual swamps from the continual shell- ing of the past four years, and made it almost impassable for foot soldiers and, in the darkness, it required an hour to travel a kilometer. During the day, September 30th, the positions occupied by the troops to be relieved were reconnoitered, and at dark the regiment moved up into these positions. On this part of the American front the line had been advanced to within a kilometer south of Cierges. The 125th Infantry went in on the right of the Division sector and the 126th on the left. Our regiment relieved the 147th and the 148th Infantry of the 37th Division and their front line elements were relieved by the 2nd Battalion, with Company H on the right, E in the center and G Company on the left, with Company F in Battalion support. As thus disposed the regimental front line ran approximately through the center of the de Emont Woods and into the northern part of the Cierges Woods with the right flank extending slightly beyond the eastern edge of the Emont Woods. The 3rd Battalion was in support on the north- eastern edge of the village of Ivoiry, and the 1st Battalion was in reserve in the deep valley two kilometers south of this village. The relief of the 37th Division was completed by 10:00 o'clock on the night of September 30th, and after the 37th had gone, many of its wounded soldiers were picked up by our troops and taken back to first aid dressing stations. Before dawn, October 1, 1918, the front line companies sent small 167 168 T- '\ : X-«\ ^VcP^v'VS, fSl ^s^r-i 2g is 15 x«r.-'i.-0 =: ^- : 169 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY patrols forward for the purpose of securing contact with the enemy, and by daylight these patrols reached the northern edge of the Emont Woods without meeting any resistance, and the front was advanced to this new line. The American front still contained three corps, each with three divisions in the line. The right of the Fifth Corps sector was now held by the 3rd Division, which had relieved the 79th on the night of September 30th. The general axis for the advance of the First Army was slightly northwest, and the Fifth Corps was to form the wedge of the attack which was to drive the enemy out of his defensive positions in this sector, the strongest on the western front. The first phase of the great American offensive had spent itself with- out reaching its first objective and with the enemy's strongest defensive positions still unconquered. The German was fully alive to the gravity of his situation and poured in a continual stream of fresh troops which were hastily withdrawn from the British and French fronts farther to the west and north, and for the next twenty days there ensued a most bitter and gruelling conflict. The territory to the front, as seen from our advance line, presented a terrain with obstacles so formidable that the surmounting of them seemed almost impossible. Six hundred yards to the north of our right flank was the village of Cierges, from it a road ran in a north by northwesterly direction, skirting the western slope of open and low hills, to the town of Romagne, which lay about five kilometers due north of our front line. On our left another road, called the center road, ran due north to Romagne. About two kilo- meters to the northwest lay the little village of Gesnes, and a third road ran from this place northeasterly to Romagne. A sunken road ran southwesterly from Cierges to the La Grange Farm on the center road. A kilometer to the north from here another cross-road ran west from the center road to Gesnes. The country between these three north and south roads was open and rolling and crossed by several low ridges, the highest being Hills 239 and 235, which were about 200 yards to the left of the center road and north 500 and 1,000 yards, respec- tively, of the Gesnes cross-road. A mile west of Gesnes were the small woods De la Morine and due Chene Sec. A kilometer northwest of Gesnes was Hill 255, and a little farther to the northeast of this hill was Hill 243. The Gesnes-Romagne road crossed Hill 242, about mid- way between these towns, and north and west of this road where it crossed the hill, was the Bois de Valoup. A kilometer to the west of Hill 242 was Hill 258, which was the beginning of a high ridge which extended two kilometers in a northwesterly direction. This ridge was over a 100 feet above the highest point on this part of the front and was heavily wooded. Along its top rose four humps, known from 170 ENTERING THE MEUSE-ARGONNE BATTLE right to left as Hills 258, 287 or Cote Dame Marie, 286 and 288. The southern slope of this ridge was almost perpendicular for 50 feet from its top, and this ridge was the center around which the enemy's resist- ance between the Meuse and Argonne was constructed. Along its crest ran the Germans' last defensive trench system, amply protected by barbed wire entanglement. This trench system continued eastward along the heights to the southern outskirts of Romagne and Cunel. From these different hills, crowned with woods, the enemy had almost perfect observation as far south as Montfaucon. All the forests and hills combined to supply exactly the requirements of machine gun war- fare and the German defense rested beyond all else upon this weapon. It required nearly twenty days to wrest this territory from the Ger- mans, and the supreme praise earned by the troops of the Division was in surmounting these machine gun obstacles and enduring terrific losses. During the morning of October 1st, the regiment was severely shelled by the enemy, the shelling including a considerable number of gas shells which necessitated wearing gas masks. Through recon- naissance carried out during the forenoon it was found that the ground in the immediate front of the Division sector had been evacuated by the Germans ; during the afternoon a few men at a time filtered forward from shell hole to shell hole and advanced the right of our line to the sunken road trail running southwest from Cierges to south of the La Grange Farm. The enemy had direct observation upon the move- ments of our men as they advanced and poured a withering artillery fire among them, which forced E Company to fall back to the woods until dark, when it moved forward to its position in the new line. Two small combat patrols from Company G reconnoitered the La Grange Farm and found it occupied by the enemy. The casualties during the day were mostly caused by the enemy artillery and con- sisted of 10 enlisted men killed and 97 wounded as follows: Company E, 1 man killed and 33 wounded; Company F, 2 men killed and 13 wounded; Company G, 3 men killed and 22 wounded; Company H, 2 men killed and 20 wounded; Company I, 1 man killed; Company L, 1 man killed and 5 wounded; Company M, 2 men wounded, and Head- quarters Company, 1 man wounded. The following day, October 2nd, the line was organized for defense and gains of the previous day consolidated. Small patrols and out- posts were sent forward and close contact with the enemy maintained. Early in the morning and again in the evening the Germans delivered a heavy artillery fire on our lines, which extended as far back as the regimental reserve positions, and between these bursts of hate, our lines were subjected to a constant harassing artillery fire. This fire 171 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY t'::' i' . . £-- ~ Ivoiry, Meuse, France. October 10th. Little village situated between Epinonville and Mont- faucon still in fair condition after four years of bombardment. Montfaucon can be seen in the left background. German prisoners captured by troops of 63rd Brigade. Near Montfaucon, October 10, 1918. 172 ENTERING THE MEUSE-ARGONNE BATTLE appeared to be due to nervousness on the part of the enemy and in anticipation of a renewal of the American attack; it was intended to have a demoralizing effect upon our troops, but the Second Battle of the Marne and the battle near Juvigny had made veterans of the men who survived those conflicts, and this harassing fire had little effect upon them. However, more than half the men had joined the regiment after those battles and were now under fire for the first time and it was very trying to them. Many of our new men had hardly any previous training in modern warfare and as they took their places in the line alongside of the older and experienced soldiers, they stood the ordeal splendidly and soon acquired that confidence which made them veterans within a very short time. Late in the afternoon enemy aircraft flew over our positions and fired with machine guns upon the troops in the reserve positions, killing a private of the Machine Gun Company. On the night of October 2nd-3rd, the 2nd Battalion was relieved in the front line by the 1st Battalion, the relief being com- pleted by 1:00 a. m. and the 2nd Battalion moved back to the reserve position in the valley south of Ivoiry. The Machine Gun Company was attached to the 1st Battalion and went into the line with this battalion. Company D, on the. right of the regimental sector was in position along the sunken road west of Cierges and between this town and the La Grange Farm, and Company C was on the left and in the northern edge of the Bois Communal de Cierges west of the center road. Company B on the left and Company A on the right, were in battalion support along the northern edge of the Emont Woods. One platoon of the Machine Gun Company was attached to each supporting company. The casualties for the day were 11 enlisted men killed, and 1 officer and 18 men wounded, as follows: Company F, 3 men killed and 2 men wounded; Company G, 2 men killed and 1 officer and 10 men wounded; Company H, 1 man wounded; Company I, 1 man killed; Companies L and M, each 1 man wounded; Machine Gun Company, 1 man killed, and Headquarters Company, 4 men killed and 3 men wounded. Several days had passed since the last American attack, and the Germans took no chances and were constantly on the alert for its renewal, and engaged in considerable artillery activity in the early morning hours. Between 3:30 to 5:00 a. m., October 3rd, our lines were heavily shelled by the enemy, including the reserve positions. A number of the shells were of large caliber and gas shells, and also many duds. Considerable aerial activity, both our own and by the enemy, occurred during the morning. Instructions were received to prepare the positions held for a resumption of the offensive, and our patrols 173 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY and outposts pushed as far forward as possible, where our line was established and from which an attack was made the following morning. During the day a platoon of Company A moved forward from the northwest corner of the Emont Woods to take the La Grange Farm, but found it strongly held by the enemy and was unable to take it. During the night of October 3rd-4th, the Corps front was readjusted, the 3rd and 32nd Divisions taking over the entire Corps sector. The 125th Infantry was withdrawn to a position in reserve, being relieved by the 7th Infantry of the 3rd Division. The 127th Infantry of the 64th Brigade relieved the 91st Division on our left. The left boundary of the Divisional sector became the left boundary of the Corps; the right boundary of the Division sector being a line extending from a point just west of Cierges, northwest to and including Romagne. Dur- ing this same night the 3rd Battalion, 126th Infantry, less Company K, which was on duty at the Corps ammunition dump, moved up on the left of the 1st Battalion to fill the gap caused by the readjustment of the front, and was disposed in depth with Company I in the first line in the northern edge of the Communal de Cierges Woods. Com- pany L was in support and Company M in battalion reserve. The 2nd Battalion moved up to the support position near Ivoiry. As a result of this readjustment, the two brigades of the Division were side by side, with one regiment in the front line, each regiment having two battalions in the line and one in support. As thus extended to the left, the Division sector was about five kilometers wide. The right of the line held by the regiment on the night of October 3rd, was on the cross road and about 500 yards west of Cierges, and the left was at the north- ern edge of the Bois Communal de Cierges. This line from right to left was held by Companies D, C and I. The casualties on this day were 2 men killed and 42 men wounded, as follows: Company A, 8 men wounded; Companies B and I, each 1 man wounded; Companies C, H and L, each 2 men wounded; Com- pany D, 1 man killed and 5 men wounded; Company G, 3 men wounded; Company M, 1 man killed and 12 men wounded, and Machine Gun Company, 6 men wounded and 2 men taken prisoners. SECOND PHASE— ATTACK OF OCTOBER 4th On the morning of October 4th, the second phase of the American offensive began by a general attack along the entire line, with veteran divisions, the 3rd and 32nd Divisions of the 5th Corps, and the 1st Division of the 1st Corps, which was on the left of the 32nd, holding the center and the 42nd in support. Following his practice of the previous days, the German began shelling our positions about 2:00 174 ATTACK OF OCTOBER 4th a. m. and kept it up until 4:00 a. m. A large concentration of gas was put into the Woods de Emont and Communal de Cierges, which were occupied by our supporting troops, and they were required to use gas masks the greater part of the night, as well as to do some shifting of positions in order to escape the terrific shelling, which was causing many casualties. A brief artillery preparation preceded the attack and at 5:25 the front line companies advanced behind an artillery barrage in a northwesterly direction with the Hill 255 the objective for the 3rd Battalion, and Hill 239 the objective for the 1st Battalion. The mission for the Division was the capture of Gesnes and the heights west of Romagne, and to assist the 1st Division to capture the Bois de Money. Our barrage was the signal for the Boche to let loose all the artillery he had on our front and rear echelons, and as our troops came out into the open they were exposed to a terrific fire from machine guns and minnenwerfers, but in spite of this, the heaviest resistance the regiment had met up to this time, the front line slowly forged ahead behind the barrage, taking advantage of such cover as could be found. The Germans had some of their best divisions in the line and their resistance was desperate in the extreme. Enemy machine guns and minnenwerfers fired upon our advancing lines from Hill 239, directly in our front, and Hill 255, which was on our left, and the many patches of woods between these two hills, and also from the town of Gesnes. Tanks assisted materially in this advance, passing through our lines on several occassions and reducing machine gun nests, which were hindering our progress. Company D advanced as far as the southern slope of Hill 239 twice and each time was forced to fall back. The enemy was too strongly entrenched and the hill was not taken, and the Company came back and established a line on the Gesnes cross-road. Company C reached this same cross-road and was to the left of Company D, and a little later Companies A and B moved up to the road and filled in the gap between C and D. Company L on the right and Company I on the left, had reached this same cross-road, the left of Company I being near the eastern outskirts of Gesnes. In the meantime the 2nd Battalion had moved up to a position about a kilometer in rear of the 1st Battalion, which it was supporting. M Company, in support of I and L, was in position near the center road and 200 yards north of the La Grange Farm. No further attack was made on this day and the Companies dug in and organized and con- solidated their new positions. There was a great deal of aerial activity during the day, with the enemy outnumbering our own. The enemy planes swooped down on our troops and attacked them with machine gun fire and also regulated the fire of their artillery. Many aerial 175 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY combats took place during the day and one of our planes fell within our lines and three enemy planes were brought down, two of them by machine gun fire and one by anti-aircraft guns. The enemy artillery fire during the day and night was almost constant, and it was evident that he did not intend to withdraw his lines just yet. In the afternoon the 2nd Battalion with Companies F and H in the first wave and E and G in support, advanced through the right of the 1st Battalion and took over a part of the front line to fill a gap. By the end of the day the line was advanced on an average of a kilometer on the regimental front. While this gain was small, yet it was a very material one in the face of the strong opposition met with, and crowded the enemy just that much nearer to his last line of defensive works, the Kriemhilde S'tel- lung. The gain made by the regiment since it entered the front line in this sector was approximately two kilometers. The casualties on this day was one officer, 2nd Lieut, Charles R. Wilber, Company B, and 31 enlisted men killed, and 7 officers and 166 men wounded, as follows: Company A, 3 men killed and 4 officers and 14 men wounded; Company B, 1 officer and 3 men killed, and 16 men wounded; Company C, 1 man killed and 18 men wounded; Com- pany D, 9 men killed and 29 men wounded; Company E, 3 men killed and 11 men wounded; Company F, 3 men killed and 6 men wounded; Company G, 1 officer and 8 men wounded; Company H, 8 men wounded; Company I, 1 man killed and 1 officer and 18 men wounded; Company L, 11 men wounded; Company M, 6 men killed and 1 officer and 17 men wounded; Machine Gun Company, 5 men wounded, and Headquarters Company, 2 men killed and 5 men wounded. Total casualties, 205. During the night of October 4th, orders were received for a con- tinuation of the attack the following morning. The orders directed that the attack be pushed with all possible vigor and continued to the limit of endurance. The 127th Infantry, on our left, was to capture the Woods De la Morine and Du Chene Sec, while the 3rd Battalion of our regiment was to attack Hill 255, and the 1st and 2nd Battalions were to take Hills 235 and 240 and the five intervening small patches of woods. The attack was renewed at 6:30 the next morning, October 5th. Preceded by a rolling barrage the front line companies jumped out of their holes and began to advance upon their respective objec- tives. The right of our line moved toward Hill 235, which was strongly held by both machine guns and artillery, and the line advanced through a hail of machine gun bullets and shells. When the advance wave reached the crest of Hill 239, it was exposed to the enemy on Hill 235, and in the small patches of woods to the left, who opened a fire that 176 ATTACK OF OCTOBER 4th cut the grass along the crest and it was forced to halt and dig in. In the center, the companies of the 1st Battalion jumped off from the Gesnes cross-road in a northerly direction, but this attack was repulsed and the first line fell back to the cross-road. In the afternoon the attack was renewed and, with the aid of tanks which had arrived in the meantime, Companies D and C advanced the front line to the unimproved road running east of the Gesnes-Romagne road and about 400 yards north of the Gesnes cross-road. This unimproved road fol- lowed a slight ravine and D Company was along the road in front of the little L-shaped patch of woods and C Company was along the road and to the left. The Germans were along the north side of the road and in these woods, which was mostly small brush ; here the two oppos- ing lines were so close that hand grenades were freely used by both sides throughout the night. On the left of the line the 3rd Battalion, assisted by two sections of the Machine Gun Company on either flank, attacked northwesterly along the eastern edge of Gesnes village, but this attack was also repulsed. Later in the day the machine guns were placed along the edge of the woods near the southeastern out- skirts of Gesnes and the attack was renewed and this time it was suc- cessful, the first line of the 3rd Battalion reaching the Gesnes- Romagne road and taking position behind its western bank, about 300 yards north of Gesnes, after passing through a terrific fire from machine guns and minnenwerfers located in the small U-shaped woods northwest of Gesnes and on Hills 255 and 243, and shell fire from the heights farther to the rear. Up to this time the fighting in this sector was most desperate, the enemy fighting back fiercely and tenaciously, holding to every little knoll and every little patch of woods; he was contesting every foot of ground and the going was most difficult and slow, and we had to count our gains in yards instead of kilometers. The advance of Com- pany I was greatly assisted by the individual efforts of Corporal Clarence L. Hinkle, of that company, who led his squad 200 yards ahead of the front line, and finding his squad in an exposed position and unable to advance farther on account of machine gun nests, alone crawled ahead another 100 yards and "sniped" the Boche machine gun- ners one at a time until he bagged the whole six. It was just such acts as this by many individual soldiers in the regiment that made progress possible against the Huns in this sector, who were all the time becoming more numerous and fighting in defense of the famous "Kriemhilde Stellung" as they had never fought before. The Germans were continually throwing additional troops in the line and if they did not outnumber our troops, they at least had as many troops in line as 177 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY we did. They had orders to hold this part of the front at all costs, as its loss would mean the cutting of the main Carrignan-Sedan-Mezieres Railway line and force the collapse of the German Army. During these memorable days the enemy planes were exceedingly active and bold, taking observations or signalling their artillery or machine gunning our troops. When they became too daring, Private Noel S. Vance, Machine Gun Company, set up his machine gun in the open field for anti-aircraft firing, and time after time, his accurate fire drove them off. Several days later, a particularly daring pilot flew low and into the machine gun fire from Private Vance's gun, and escaping unhurt, signalled to the German artillery gunners and in a few minutes shells began falling about him and a direct hit scattered Vance and his gun. Private 1st Class Maurice J. Bush, Company B, lost his life by a sniper's bullet on this day, while trying to save a wounded comrade who was out in No Man's Land, helpless and exposed to enemy machine gun fire. The day's operations scarcely averaged a gain of 500 yards, but it was that much nearer to the last goal, which was a bare two kilo- meters away. The front line ran approximately from Hill 239 on the right, to the Gesnes-Romagne road about 300 yards north of Gesnes, from where it ran southwesterly around the south of the town, which was still held by the enemy, although the town had been taken by our troops during the day and then evacuated when the enemy deluged it with high explosive shells. The casualties on October 5th were 1 officer, Captain John F. Girard, commanding Company D, and 45 enlisted men killed, and 3 officers and 164 men wounded, as follows: Company A, 5 men killed and 21 wounded; Company B, 4 men killed and 9 men wounded; Company C, 14 men killed and 1 officer and 27 men wounded; Company D, 1 officer and 4 men killed and 17 men wounded; Company E, 6 men wounded; Company F, 11 men wounded; Company G, 7 men killed and 17 men wounded; Company H, 2 men killed and 18 men wounded; Company I, 6 men killed and 19 men wounded; Company L, 1 man killed and 10 men wounded; Company M, 5 men wounded; Machine Gun Company, 1 man killed and 2 officers wounded; Headquarters Company, 1 man killed and 2 men wounded, and Sanitary Detachment, 2 men wounded. Total casual- ties, 213. After being in the front continuously for five days the regiment was relieved by the 125th Infantry, about midnight, October 5th, and withdrew to a position in support of that regiment. The 1st Battalion moved into the Emont Woods, the 3rd Battalion to its former position at Ivoiry, and the 2nd Battalion moved back to the valley two kilo- 178 SECTOR SHIFTED meters south of Ivoiry. The normal Regimental P. C. was located in the valley as were also the company kitchens and the Supply Company, while the advance Regimental P. C. was at Ivoiry. The Machine Gun Company remained in line in support of a battalion of the 125th Infantry. During the next two days there was no activity by the regiment, however, there was spasmodic enemy shelling of our lines. The nights were cool and the weather was rainy. During the 6th and 7th of October no advance was undertaken in the Division sector, but close contact with the enemy was maintained by constant patrolling, and the positions held were consolidated and organized for further attack. During these two days the 125th Infantry made strong efforts to capture the "U"-shaped woods northwest of Gesnes and the five small patches of woods northeast of this village. After considerable effort most of these organized enemy strong points were taken so that on the night of October 7th, the front line of the 125th Infantry extended due west from the center road near Hill 235, to the northern edge of the "U"-shaped woods northwest of Gesnes, the line passing just south of the two northern patches of woods. On the night of October 7th, another shift was made in the sector front, the 32nd Division taking over the sector extending from the western edge of the Bois de Beuge, on the right, to Hill 255 on the left. One brigade of the 91st Division was temporarily attached to the 32nd, and the 361st Infantry relieved the 64th Infantry Brigade on the front, from Hill 255 (inclusive) to the western boundary of the Divisional sector. The 64th Brigade, upon relief, moved to a position in Division reserve in the Woods Communal de Cierges and de Baulny. The 126th Infantry moved to the right of the sector to relieve the 7th Infantry of the 3rd Division which, owing to the readjustment, remained in our sector. Upon arriving to make the relief it was found that the 38th Infantry had made the relief through a misunderstanding in their own orders, and the 126th returned to its former bivouac near Ivoiry. On the following night, October 8th, the regiment relieved the elements of the 3rd Division, which remained within our new sector, the regi- mental front extending from the right of the 125th Infantry near Hill 235 east, to 400 yards east of the Cierges-Romagne road. The 2nd Bat- talion with Company E on the right and Company G on the left as the front line, held the right of the Regimental sector, while Companies F and H were in battalion support. The 3rd Battalion held the left sector, with Company L on the right and Company M on the left, in the front line, and Company I in battalion support. The 1st Battalion took up a position in support in the vicinity of Cierges. The night of October 8th-9th was a dark and chilly night ?nd the ground was 179 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY covered with frost ; the cold was such that no rest was obtained during the night. The night of October 8th ended the second phase of the American Offensive, which began on October 4th, as related to the action by the 32nd Division, and the third phase began on the morning of the 9th. The casualties suffered by the regiment on October 6th to 8th inclusive, were 1 officer, 1st Lieutenant Iden E. Chatterton, 2nd Battalion Scout Officer, and 6 enlisted men killed, and 30 men wounded, as follows: October 6th, Companies A and M, each 1 man wounded; Company B, 1 man killed; Company D, 5 men wounded; Company G, 3 men wounded; Company H, 1 officer (Lieut. Chatterton) killed, and 3 men wounded; Company I, 1 man killed and 6 men wounded; Company L, 3 men killed; and Headquarters Company, 7 men wounded. October 8th, Company E, 1 man wounded; Company H, 1 man wounded; Com^ pany M, 2 men wounded; and Headquarters Company, 1 man killed. Total casualties, 37. ATTACK OF OCTOBER 9th In compliance with Field Orders No. 75, 32nd Division, prepara- tions for an attack on the morning of October 9th were made. The Division was to capture the Bois de Valoup, Trench de Dantrise, and the portion of the Trench de la Mamelle within the Division sector, and to seize and hold the heights north and west of Romagne by envelop- ment from the east and southeast. The 361st Infantry was to attack Hill 255 in conjunction with the Division. The artillery preparation for the attack began at 1:30 p. m., October 8th, and continued until the attack was launched at 8:30 a. m., October 9, 1918. The 1st Divi- sion was assigned to the 5th Corps and was on the left of the 32nd. The 42nd Division was also assigned to the 5th Corps and was desig- nated as Corps reserve. Field Order No. 64, 5th Corps, was the Corps order for the attack and the 3rd, 32nd and 1st Divisions were to attack simultaneously in a final effort to drive through the Kriemhilde Stellung. OVER THE TOP IN THE FOG When dawn arrived on the morning of October 9th, a heavy fog prevailed and visibility was limited to a few feet ; this was in our favor and when the first waves advanced at 8:30 a. m. behind a rolling bar- rage, the fog had lifted but slightly and objects beyond 25 yards were not visible, especially in the low places. The axis of the advance for the 126th was slightly northwest and the objective of the 3rd Battalion was the trenches south of Romagne from the Cierges-Romagne road 180 OVER THE TOP" Supporting troops advancing in open formation. Near Cierges (Meuse-Argonne Offensive), October 14. Supporting troops in position in second line. Near Cierges (Meuse-Argonne Offensive), October 14. Soldiers of 32nd Division asleep on improvised hammocks suspended across shell-holes to rest and avoid the mud. October 18-, 1918. 181 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY to the left where the trenches intersected the Gesnes-Romagne road; the objective for the 2nd Battalion was the Mamelle trench to the east of the Cierges-Romagne road. The poor visibility that prevailed made it difficult to follow the barrage, as the point where our shells hit the ground in front of our advance could not be seen, and the forward movement had to be guided by the sound of the exploding shells. The fog also made it difficult to follow the general direction of the advance. While the enemy could not see, he soon realized that something was going on as our artillery barrage crept closer to his lines, and the advancing waves did not proceed so very far before they encountered machine gun fire; fortunately, the enemy's aim was not as accurate as it would have been with better visibility. The forward movement pro- ceeded slowly, following the barrage as closely as possible under the conditions, and as the minutes wore on the fog began to lift. After advancing a kilometer in this manner and capturing many prisoners, the fog had lifted sufficiently to permit visibility several hundred yards and the line was forced to halt on account of enemy machine gun nests in advanced positions in front of their trenches. Company M on the left of the 3rd Battalion had crossed to the left side of the center road, with L Company on the right of the road ; Company I had moved into the front line on the right of Company L. Companies G and E were in line on the right of the Cierges-Romagne road, creating a gap between the two battalions. In the fog, Company F, which was the right supporting company, lost direction and moved to the right and into the 3rd Division sector. After advancing about a kilometer this company ran into the wire entanglement of a Boche trench system located on the hill, about a kilometer southwest of the Bois de Cunel. They reached the trenches occupied by enemy troops without either see- ing the other, but as soon as their presence was discovered the Boche fired upon our troops at close range and 2nd Lieutenant Erk M. Cot- trell, who was commanding the company, and several men were killed in the action that followed before cover could be taken. The center road leading to Romagne slopes gradually downward for the last mile south of the town, following a natural ravine, and the ground on either side of the road and the town slopes upward. This ravine was exposed to fire from the whole length of the enemy trenches within the Regimental sector, as well as from the high ground on either side and to the north which commanded it. This ravine lay directly in the course of the 3rd Battalion, while the course followed by the 2nd Battalion lay along the western slopes of the hills, east of the Cierges- Romagne road, and both battalions were exposed to a sweeping machine gun fire from the nests, which infested the hills on all sides. The Divi- 182 ARRIVAL AT GERMANS' LAST DEFENSE LINE sion on our right failed to keep abreast of our advance, thus permitting the enemy to rake our troops with machine gun and artillery fire from that side. After some delay a further advance toward the enemy trenches was attempted. The ground in front of our troops was open and clear and when the advance wave of the 2nd Battalion, which was without the aid of tanks, reached the crest on the western slope of the hill on its front, it was met by fire from the Mamelle trench located on the southern crest of the ridge opposite them; the two ridges were separated by a valley a kilometer wide and extending in a westerly direction. This valley was swept by machine gun and artillery fire from the Bois de Cunel and was impassable, so the companies dug in on the western slope of the hill, while the Battalion P. C. was estab- lished in the draw some 800 yards north of Cierges. ARRIVAL AT ENEMY WIRE On the front of the 3rd Battalion, machine gun nests in the ravine were holding up its advance. When I Company's commanding officer was wounded, 1st Sergeant William Sack, assumed command and he and Sergeant Archie M. Zavitz of the same company, crawled forward a hundred yards and fired rifle grenades into the enemy machine gun nests and cleared the front of these obstacles, after which the company moved forward with the other two companies who were aided by French tanks. Company M advanced to within 100 yards of the enemy trenches on the left of the center road, while Company L was slightly to the rear and straddle of the road, with Company I in line to the right. The 3rd Battalion was now in a precarious position, receiving a deadly fire from all directions and further penetration at this point was impossible without further artillery preparation, and the com- panies withdrew to covering positions a half-kilometer back and to the left of the center road. The 3rd Battalion of the 125th Infantry, which was on the left of the Divisional sector, advanced northerly from Gesnes until it reached the Bois de Valoup, then sweeping through these woods in a north- westerly direction, surprised and captured over 200 prisoners in the fog, and then continued on to Hill 258, on the southeastern end of the La Cote Dame Marie ridge. At this point there appeared to be a gap in the enemy wire, and it was at first thought that the enemy's wire had been penetrated and that the Hill 287 (Cote Dame Marie) was occu- pied by our troops, and not until the fog lifted was the Battalion able to orient itself and determine its correct position, which was found to be in front of the gap in the wire. This Battalion reached its objective within an hour after it jumped off. The troops on its left did not 183 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY advance and were still a kilometer and a half to the rear, and neither did the battalion of the 125th Infantry on its right keep up with the advance so that this battalion was in danger of being surrounded. Both this battalion and the 3rd Battalion of our regiment were in advance of the line with no troops on the right or left of them. Our 1st Battalion was ordered to fill the gap on the right of the 3rd Bat- talion and towards evening moved up from its position in support and extended the line to the right from the center road to east of the Cierges-Romagne road. About the same time a battalion of the 125th Infantry was pushed up into the Valoup Woods and filled the gap on our left. Thus at the end of the day the two regiments of the 63rd Brigade were in line side by side, and within striking distance of the Germans' last and strongest organized defensive position in this region, the famous Kriemhilde Stellung and the town of Romagne, memorable hereafter as the site of the great national cemetery, where nearly 23,000 American troops, fallen in the Meuse-Argonne struggle, are now buried. The ground gained in this attack approximated nearly two kilometers on the Regimental sector. Second Lieutenant Donald M. Fielding, Company G, received wounds during this attack from which he died a few hours later. The casualties for the day were 2 officers and 64 enlisted men killed, and 9 officers and 140 men wounded, as follows: Company A, 1 man killed and 2 officers and 7 men wounded; Company B, 3 men wounded; Company C, 1 man killed and 9 men wounded; Company D, 1 officer and 9 men wounded; Company E, 7 men killed and 2 officers and 29 men wounded; Company F, 1 officer and 10 men killed and 7 men wounded; Company G, 1 officer and 5 men killed and 1 officer and 12 men wounded; Company H, 7 men killed and 1 officer and 21 men wounded; Company I, 19 men killed and 20 men wounded; Company L, 6 men killed and 1 officer and 9 men wounded; Company M, 4 men killed and 6 men wounded; Machine Gun Company, 1 man killed and 1 officer and 5 men wounded; Head- quarters Company, 3 men killed, and Sanitary Detachment, 3 men wounded. Total casualties, 215. During the day and night of October 9th, the enemy continually harassed our troops with shells of all calibers and gas shells; many of the heavy caliber shells came from the heights east of the Meuse River, from which positions the Germans delivered an enfilading artillery fire on our troops. This hostile artillery fire continued throughout the day on October 10th. The morning of the 10th found all three battalions of the regiment in the front line, and in compliance with Field Orders No. 77, 32nd Division, preparations were made to continue the advance. 184 REGIMENT RELIEVED The artillery preparation started at 7 o'clock in the morning, but at the time the attack was to be launched, namely at 2:00 p. m., no artillery support was received and the troops attempted to advance without the barrage. The attack was carried out by the 1st and 3rd Battalions with the utmost vigor, but the enemy, with all the advantage on his side, fought desperately and the pop-pop-pop of his machine guns was furious and continuous, and after several unsuccessful attempts to pierce the barbed wire and trenches, the attack was abandoned and the troops stabilized in practically the same positions from which the attack started. During the 9th and 10th of October, about 200 prisoners were captured by the regiment. While reconnoitering the enemy wire and trenches south of Romagne on the night of October 10th, 1st Lieutenant Harold J. King, Company F, and 1st Battalion Scout Officer, was instantly killed by a machine gun bullet which struck him in the head. The casualties on October 10th were 1 officer and 26 enlisted men killed, and 1 officer and 100 men wounded, as follows: Company A, 3 men killed and 9 men wounded; Company B, 3 men wounded; Company C, 4 men killed and 1 officer and 17 men wounded; Company D, 14 men wounded; Company E, 1 man wounded; Company F, 3 men wounded; Company G, 2 men killed and 10 men wounded; Company H, 4 men wounded; Company I, 2 men killed and 13 men wounded; Company L, 3 men killed and 4 men wounded; Com- pany M, 9 men killed and 11 men wounded; Machine Gun Company, 4 men wounded; Headquarters Company, 2 men killed and 3 men wounded, and Sanitary Detachment, 1 man killed and 4 men wounded. Total casualties, 128. REGIMENT RELIEVED No attack was made during the day of October 11th, and except for activity by small patrols and snipers, and constant shelling of our lines by the enemy, the situation along our front remained quiet. The famous Kriemhilde Stellung was found to be naturally a very strong defensive position, and further preparation was necessary before it could be successfully attacked and penetrated. About midnight, October llth-12th, the regiment was relieved by the 128th Infantry of our Division and moved back in Division support, the 1st and 2nd Battalions in the Emont Woods and the 3rd Battalion at Ivoiry. Dur- ing this same night the 181st Brigade of the 91st Division was relieved by the 127th Infantry of our Division, by extending the Divisional sector limit to the left, thus placing three regiments of the 32nd Divi- sion in line. On this same night the 42nd Division relieved the 1st Division on our left. The casualties during October 11th were 5 men killed and 3 185 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY officers and 24 men wounded, as follows : Company A, 1 man wounded ; Company B, 1 man killed; Company C, 1 man killed and 3 men wounded; Company D, 1 man killed and 1 man wounded; Company G, 3 men wounded; Company H, 1 man killed and 1 man wounded; Company I, 1 man killed and 1 officer and 3 men wounded; Company L, 1 officer and 3 men wounded; Company M, 1 officer wounded; Machine Gun Company, 7 men wounded, and Headquarters Company, 2 men wounded. Total casualties, 32. On the night of October 12th, the 125th Infantry was relieved by the 127th Infantry, the latter regiment being relieved by elements of the 42nd Division, the 125th moving back to the Bois Communal de Cierges. On our right the 3rd Division was relieved by the 5th Divi- sion, so that on the morning of October 13th the Divisions in line from right to left in the 5th Corps sector, which held the center of the American front, was the 5th, 32nd and 42nd. There was no infantry action on our Divisional front on the 12th and 13th of October, opera- tions being confined to organizing positions and making preparations for a further advance. iSome casualties were sustained during October 12th by enemy shell-fire. Second Lieutenant Wendall A. Lindberg, Company H, was killed by a shell fragment. The other casualties were Companies B, D, and Sanitary Detachment, each 1 man wounded, and Company G, 1 man killed. Total, 5. ATTACK OF OCTOBER 14th October 13th orders were received again changing the sector limits of the Division front to the left. In order to cover properly the new sector front the regiment was once more placed in the line between the 127th and 128th Infantry. When the regiment was relieved it was thought it would have a substantial rest, for after eleven long days of almost continuous front line duty, taking a most fearful punishment from the Boche all the while, with a snatch of sleep now and then in muddy "fox holes," on one meal a night, the officers and men of the front line were worn out and fatigued to a state of near exhaustion; while their nerves were at such a tension that they were in no condition for another tussle with the enemy for some time. The strain had sent many officers and men to the hospitals and the ranks of the regiment had been depleted to less than half its strength when it first went into the line. This was a bitter disappointment to the regiment, for after but one night out of the front line, orders were received to return to the front on the night of October 13th-14th. This news surely tried the hearts of the men, but none faltered and when the time came to 186 PIERCING THE KRIEMHILDE STELLUNG attack they fought with such a grim determination that before the day was out they had accomplished the difficult task assigned to the 32nd Division in this sector. The regiment moved up during the night of the 13th and took over the right half of the 127th Infantry's sector, with one battalion in the front line, and the others echeloned in depth. The 127th adopted a similar formation. The 3rd Battalion of the 126th was the attacking unit, with Com- panies I, L and K, from left to right, in the front line, the left of which was a few yards south of where the unimproved road crosses the ridge 100 yards north of Hill 258, and extended northeasterly 400 yards in front of the enemy wire and parallel with the road, which ran between the Trench de Dantrise and the enemy wire. Company M was in battalion support about 100 yards south of the crest of Hill 258. The 2nd Battalion was in Regimental support near the junction of the Gesnes-Romagne road and trail leading northwest to the Transvaal Farm, and the 1st Battalion was in reserve just north of Gesnes. The 128th Infantry, with two battalions in line, extended the front to the right as far as Romagne. The H hour for the attack was 5:30 a. m., October 14, 1918, and the 5th Division on the right, and the 42nd on the left, were to attack simultaneously with the 32nd Division. OVER THE TOP AGAIN IN THE THIRD GENERAL ATTACK PIERCING THE KRIEMHILDE STELLUNG Due to incorrect instructions and lack of guides the front line units did not arrive in position until a few minutes after the attack began, and the barrage preceding the advance had already lifted from and moved beyond the line of enemy trenches when the front line com- panies moved forward. A gap existed in the wire in front of the extreme left of our line, which was covered by machine guns and min- nenwerfers located to the north and along the ridge between Hill 258 and Cote Dame Marie. When Companies I and L, each with only a handful of men left, attempted to move forward, they were met by a furious fire and were unable to advance. On the right, Company K, which had recently rejoined the regiment with almost full strength and was fresh, succeeded in getting through the enemy wire and unto the road on its front, but the fire from the enemy trenches on the bank above the road, and from the machine gun nests on the ridge north of Hill 258, made further frontal advance impossible; the right platoon of the company then moved about 100 yards to the right along the road and filtered across the trench through a gap in the enemy line, but could not proceed on account of the enfilading fire from the ridge on the left. Meanwhile the 2nd Battalion rroved forward at H hour 187 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY in support, and its leading elements halted on a line with the supporting platoons of the 3rd Battalion. After several unsuccessful attempts to push forward, Captain William Haze, commanding the 3rd Battalion, ordered a small patrol from Company M, this company having moved up to Hill 258 in the meantime, to clean out these nests. This patrol, consisting of Sergeant Frank H. Raymond, Corporal Albert S. Krzykwa and Privates 1st Class Charles L. Beck, William A. Edsall, Tom D. Karps, Fred W. McClemens and Albert R. Neitzel, commanded by Cap- tain Edward B. Strom, advanced along the trenches on top of the ridge from Hill 258 toward the Cote Dame Marie against a terrific machine gun fire; in its advance the patrol took cover behind trees, in the trenches and in shell-holes, from which positions it fired rifle grenades into the hostile nests, killing some of their occupants and capturing ten machine guns and some prisoners. This patrol completely cleared the ridge and la Cote Dame Marie of the enemy by 8:00 a. m. The remainder of Company M followed close behind this patrol, crossing the ridge between Hills 258 and 287, and established a line on the northern slope just below the crest of the Cote Dame Marie. As soon as this patrol had broken the enemy's point of resistance along the ridge, the leading companies of the 2nd Battalion joined the other front line companies of the 3rd Battalion, and the combined force pushed for- ward to the trenches, taking their occupants prisoners, and then moving in a semi-circle around the right of the hostile machine gun position, advanced northwesterly about 400 yards toward the crest of the ridge, where the entire line was halted until our artillery barrage, called for by the 127th Infantry, whose leading battalion was at the bottom of the southern slope of Cote Dame Marie and unable to advance, stopped falling, when the front line again pushed forward and by 9:00 a. m. had advanced the front line a kilometer north of Hill 258, the left of our line being 400 yards north of la Cote Dame Marie (or Hill 287). The 2nd Battalion halted on the ridge and later followed and extended the regimental front to the right. The 1st Battalion moved forward from its reserve position at H hour and shortly after 11 o'clock passed through the 2nd and 3rd Battalions and by noon had pushed forward to the improved road running west from Romagne and occupied a posi- tion with two companies along the north branch of the road forks, 750 meters north of Cote Dame Marie, and the other two companies in bat- talion support along the south branch of the road fork and extending west. In the afternoon the 2nd Battalion moved up to the right of the 1st Battalion along the same road, and the 3rd Battalion remained in regimental support. Communication was established with the troops holding the right of the 42nd Division by 3:00 in the afternoon. During 188 GERMANS' LAST LINE PENETRATED this operation the advance Regimental P. C. was at Gesnes. No further advance was made in the regimental sector during the day, but patrols were pushed forward well into the Bois de Romagne and the Bois de Chauvignon with a view of a probable advance in the morning. The 127th Infantry, on our left, had as its objective the Cote Dame Marie and Hill 286, while the 42nd Division had in its sector the remainder of the ridge to the north and Hill 288. The leading battalion of the 127th was held in front of Cote Dame Marie, after making repeated efforts to get to the top of the Hill and sending detachments to the left in an attempt to flank it from Hill 286, every effort being unsuccessful. This ridge, with its steep slopes, was impregnable to a frontal attack, and after sustaining heavy losses from the enemy trenches along its top, the front line was forced to dig in and remained there until dark. In the meantime the support battalion of the 127th was moved up after dark, through the opening made by our 3rd Battalion, and went into position to the left of our 1st Battalion, extending the Division front to the left. The two battalions of the 128th Infantry on our right were to take and hold the Trench du Dantrise south of Romagne until the remainder of the line to the left reached the first objective of the Division, and three hours later it was to advance with the remainder of the line from the first to the second objective. At the jump-off the battalion on the right succeeded in getting through the trench and to the southern outskirts of Romagne, where it was stopped and more artillery fire on the town asked for; under this fire this battalion again attempted to advance, but was unable to do so; it then continued the fire on the town with machine guns and artillery, moved by the left flank in the ravine just south of the town and advanced in a north- ern direction about one kilometer in the lane west of Romagne and suc- ceeded in forming a line northwest of the town by 11:30 o'clock. The artillery fire on the town was then stopped and the 1st Battalion of the 125th Infantry entered and captured Romagne and mopped it up, capturing about 200 prisoners. In the meantime the other battalion of the 128th, which was the right center battalion, worked its way for- ward and established contact with the right of the 126th Infantry about 12:30 o'clock, meeting little resistance during the last kilometer of its advance. The 5th Division, on the right of our Division, met a strong resistance from the Bois de Rappes and did not make any advance during the day. THE GERMANS' LAST FORTIFIED LINE PENETRATED The day's operations will ever be memorable in the annals of the regiment, for its attacking units were the first troops to break through 189 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY and pierce the enemy's strong Kriemhilde Stellung, his last fortified position between the Meuse and the Argonne. Here the Boche was fighting with his back to the wall and holding up the whole American Offensive. The ridge running northwest from Hill 258, and the famous Cote Dame Marie, was the key position of the German defense in this region, and the enemy troops holding this ridge and hill fought tena- ciously, the combatants being close enough to each other to almost engage in hand-to-hand fighting. When the enemy's chief resistance was broken by the action of the patrol from Company M, the attacking units were able to break through their trenches, and those of the enemy who were not killed, surrendered, and their supporting troops were forced to retreat. When the brave little patrol started forward to clear this famous hill, they seemed possessed of supernatural good for- tune, and undaunted by the shower of machine gun bullets, which greeted them as they stuck their heads above the steep ridge, they pressed doggedly forward; the very audacity of their movement seemed to excite the Boche troops, who shot wildly, which fact no doubt saved the members of this patrol from annihilation. This success rendered further resistance by the enemy on Hills 286 and 288 useless, as our line was now in their rear, and the enemy was obliged to retire from the entire length of the ridge and the 42nd Division was able to gain and occupy its hardest objective and join our line on the north side of the ridge. Every soldier in the line had a part in this success and many individuals performed spectacular feats, which contributed largely to it. Sergeant Harry Mansfield, Company I, and Corporal Frank S. Marek, Company M, crawled forward 200 yards to a machine gun nest, which was holding up the line, and killed three of its members, wounded three and took them and the remaining fifteen, prisoners, besides capturing the machine guns in the nest. About midnight the following message was received: "The Division Commander extends his hearty congratulations to all the troops on their fine work of today. I consider it the best day's work the Division had done." A captured German officer, who spoke English, in speaking of the attack of the 32nd Division on the Kriemhilde Stellung to officers at Division Head- quarters, said that the attack by this Division was well planned and executed with great dash. He said further that he regarded this Divi- sion as better than any French or British Division that he had encoun- tered with the exception of a Scotch Division. During the day of October 14th, the regiment advanced the front line about a kilometer and a half. The casualties were approximately 10 per cent of the men actually engaged, being low considering the stubborn resistance and the intensity of the enemy machine gun and 190 PHASE III artillery fire; this was due largely to the movement by the flank executed by the attacking units, and thereby avoiding the machine gun nests, which were placed to cover the natural avenues of advance with a criss-cross fire. Twelve enlisted men were killed and 2 officers and 79 men wounded, as follows: Company A, 1 man killed and 10 men wounded; Company B, 3 men killed and 5 men wounded; Com- pany C, 6 men wounded; Company D, 4 men wounded; Company E, 1 man killed and 3 men wounded; Company F, 1 man killed and 2 men wounded; Company G, 2 men killed and 1 officer and 7 men wounded; Company H, 8 men wounded; Company I, 4 men wounded; Company K, 4 men killed and 10 men wounded; Company L, 7 men wounded; Company M, 1 officer and 4 men wounded; Machine Gun Company, 5 men wounded; Headquarters Company, 3 men wounded, and Sanitary Detachment, 1 man wounded. Total casualties, 93. PHASE III The axis of advance during these operations was northwest, and that part of the Division front held by the regiment on the night of October 14th was about one kilometer in advance of the two flanks. This bulging of the center was due to the fact that this part of the sector was covered with woods, whereas the troops on the right and left flanks of the Division sector were not only exposed to flanking fire over open country, but were maintaining liaison with the divisions on our right and left, requiring echelonment to the rear to protect our flanks. During the night the two remaining battalions of the 125th Infantry were placed to the left rear of the battalions of the 128th, holding the front line in the right sub-sector, ready to relieve the left battalion when a forward movement was ordered. On the night of October 14th, orders were received for a continuation of the attack on the morning of the 15th, with instructions to reach the day's objective and exploit the front. At 7 o'clock in the morning, October 15, 1918, the regiment advanced behind a rolling barrage. The 1st Battalion was leading, the 2nd in support, and the 3rd in reserve. The front line elements followed the barrage in good shape in consequence of which little resistance was encountered and many prisoners taken, and the line of the second objective, designated in the orders for the attack of the previous day, was reached within an hour after the attack began. Patrols were sent forward from here and they found no enemy in the woods except a few isolated Boches, and the 1st Battalion pushed ahead and established the front line along the road which runs southwesterly from the Village of Banthville and separates the Bois de Chauvignon 191 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY and the Bois de Bantheville, which was our third objective line and here the line halted the rest of the day. In the afternoon the 3rd Battalion advanced to the northern edge of the Bois de Chauvignon, but went back during the night and next day returned to the woods. Patrols were sent well forward into the Bantheville Woods, and located the Germans some distance ahead of our line. While a member of one of these patrols, Private Frank P. Durkee, Company B, was returning to his own line, after he had crawled to the enemy line and obtained valuable information, when he was seriously wounded by a sniper's bullet; not- withstanding his wounds, from which he died three days later, he crawled back and delivered this information to his company com- mander. In the afternoon and during the night, the enemy heavily shelled our front line and the sector to the rear, and also kept up a persistent machine gun fire, causing many casualties in our ranks. During the day considerable aerial activity took place; towards late afternoon our planes divided into several squadrons and, flying in battle forma- tion, appeared in large numbers, but the Boche fliers did not appear. The distance advanced during the day was slightly under one and three-quarter kilometers. Our casualties were 6 men killed and 4 officers and 70 men wounded, as follows: Company A, 1 man killed and 11 men wounded; Company B, 1 man killed and 1 officer and 13 men wounded; Company C, 2 men killed and 1 officer and 13 men wounded; Company D, 11 men wounded; Companies E and F, each 1 officer and 1 man wounded; Companies G and K, each 2 men wounded; Company H, 1 man killed; Company L, 3 men wounded; Company M, 7 men wounded; Machine Gun Company, 4 men wounded; and Head- quarters Company, 1 man killed and 2 men wounded. Total casual- ties, 80. The men in the line spent a miserable night as it rained most of the time. There was no infantry action the next day, October 16th, but orders were received and carried out, to mop up the positions held and the Bois de Chauvignon, and strong combat patrols were sent out to exploit the Bantheville Woods to our front; these patrols encountered a few scattering Boche patrols in the northern edge of the woods, but no enemy troops in force. In the afternoon the regiment was re- organized in depth, the 1st Battalion retaining the front line, the 2nd Battalion going into support along the road running west from Romagne, while the 3rd Battalion was in reserve in the vicinity of the Cote Dame Marie, where our resistance line was established and this battalion worked on a defensive system. The 89th Division had come up from the rear on October 15th, with a view of relieving the 32nd 192 TAKING THE BANTHEVILLE WOODS Division when it should be withdrawn from the front, and reconnais- sance parties reconnoitered our positions almost daily. On the night of the 15th, a Lieutenant Colonel from that Division, who was its intel- ligence officer, rode his horse into the German lines where he was cap- tured by a Boche patrol. He was warned by a sergeant when he passed our front line, of his danger, but ignored the warning. He had maps which gave our positions and objectives, and with this information thus obtained, the enemy bombarded our lines with heavy shells, causing a number of casualties. It was said at the time that this incident required a change in the general plans for attack of the First Army, but it was not verified. The casualties for the day were 12 men killed and 46 wounded, as follows: Companies A and M, each 1 man killed and 1 man wounded; Companies B, G and L, each 5 men wounded; Company D, 4 men killed and 3 men wounded; Company E, 3 men wounded; Company F, 4 men wounded; Company H and Headquarters Company, each 1 man wounded; Company I and Machine Gun Company, each 1 man killed and 3 men wounded; Company K, 4 men killed and 9 men wounded, and Sanitary Detachment, 2 men wounded. Total casual- ties, 58. TAKING THE BANTHEVILLE WOODS During the night of October 16th-17th, our artillery shelled the woods on our front and in the morning of the 17th machine gun fire as well as artillery fire was delivered into the Bois de Bantheville, after which patrols were sent forward from the front line companies; they proceeded to the northern edge of the woods. These patrols returned at 11 o'clock with the information that the woods on our front was free of the enemy. The only enemy artillery fire received during the morning was from heavy caliber guns, which indicated that the enemy was withdrawing his smaller cannons. During the afternoon our front line companies, with units of the 127th Infantry, advanced to the northwestern edge of the Bois de Bantheville. Our right was slightly bent back in order to complete liaison with a battalion of the 125th Infantry, which had passed through the 128th and taken over the front line. This movement completed the entire occupation of the Bois de Bantheville in the left of the Division sector. Few casualties were sustained on this day, as follows: Companies A and G, each 1 man killed; Companies C, H, L and M, and Sanitary Detachment, each 1 man wounded, and Company E, 2 men wounded. Total casual- ties, 9. There was no infantry action by the regiment on October 18th 193 1. Troops coming out of the front line, unkempt and tired, after twenty days' continuous fighting in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. October 20, 1918. 2. Entrance to German dugout in ruins of Montfaucon. October 20, 1918. 3. Delousing station at Avocourt, where 32nd Division troops received a much-needed bath and new clothing. October 24, 1918. 194 RELIEF OF DIVISION and 19th, other than small patrols which reconnoitered the country to the front. These two days were employed in more thoroughly organizing our positions by establishing machine gun positions, con- structing emplacements, and improving the shelter for the troops. On our right the 125th Infantry kept working forward so that by the 19th the line on the Division sector front extended along the north- western edge of the Bois de Bantheville to Hill 236, from where it extended southeast in front of Hill 274, to the eastern edge of the woods; the extreme northeastern part of the woods was still held by the enemy who was in position on Hills 274 and 277 and the line between these hills. The line thus held by our troops constituted a sharp salient into the enemy's line, as the divisions on the right and left were somewhat to the rear of this line, and the village of Banthe- ville, which was in the sector of the Division on our right, was still in enemy hands. The casualties on the 18th were as follows: Company A, 3 men wounded; Company B, 2 men killed and 1 man wounded; Company C, 2 men killed and 1 officer wounded; Company D, 1 man killed; Companies E, F, H, K, and Machine Gun Company, each 1 man wounded; Companies G and M, each 2 men wounded, and Com- pany I, 1 man killed and 1 man wounded. Total casualties, 21. On the 19th of October, the casualties were as follows: Companies B and I, each 2 men wounded; Company G, 3 men wounded; Company K, 3 officers and 2 men wounded; Company L, 1 man killed, and Head- quarters Company, 1 man wounded. Total casualties, 14. RELIEF OF DIVISION On the night of October 19th-20th, the 32nd Division was relieved in the 5th Corps sector by the 89th Division and the regiment moved back to the Bois de Emont, where it remained during a part of October 20th. As will be noted the regiment entered the front line the night of September 30th. Since then three general attacks were planned for the First American Army, and participated in by the 32nd Divi- sion, namely, on October 4th, the 9th, and the 14th, and each of these attacks lasted approximately two days; the intervening days before and between attacks were devoted to work of exploitation of the front and organizing the positions gained for new attacks. The 126th Infantry was the only regiment in the Division that was in the front line and participated in all of these attacks. The 125th Infantry held a part of the front in two attacks, the 127th in two, and the 128th in one attack. The regiment was relieved from front line duty but twice during these operations, and was in Divisional reserve less than five days all told. Each time it re-entered the front, the line had not 195 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY advanced and remained the same as when the regiment was last relieved, so that the total advance of the regiment equaled the total advance of the 32nd Division, namely, approximately eight and one- half kilometers. TOTAL CASUALTIES The total casualties in the regiment from September 30th to October 20th, were 7 officers and 240 enlisted men killed, and 34 officers and 1,013 enlisted men wounded; 145 men were reported missing, and 10 officers and 219 enlisted men were evacuated sick. Total casualties, 1,617. Something over 200 prisoners were forwarded through Regi- mental headquarters, while approximately 100 more were taken by the regiment and forwarded through other headquarters. In addition much war material was captured, including 77 mm. artillery pieces, minnen- werfers, heavy and light machine guns, anti-aircraft guns, small arms equipment and ammunition of all kinds and caliber. From captured documents it was afterwards learned that the attack of September 26th had been expected for five days; just where the attack would come was not known to the Germans, but it was looked for east of Verdun. But the strengthening of his positions west of the Meuse was not overlooked, and during the five days the Ger- man expected an attack, plans were made by him to contest every advance on the line known as the Kriemhilde Stellung. In addition to the Kriemhilde Stellung, there was a covering position known as the Giselher Stellung, which the enemy had planned to use to inflict losses upon the attacking units and to attempt to delay and weaken the assault and even check it if possible. This position was on the southern slopes of the hills in the region north of Gesnes. To defend these successive positions the enemy had placed fresh divisions in line, and threatened or existing gaps in the course of the battle were filled by elements of his reserve. This filling process soon resulted in the mixture of units to such an extent that one group of only thirty-three prisoners captured in the same place represented four divisions. The enemy's determinations to hold these positions at all cost, caused him to use elements of eleven divisions against the 32nd Division, identi- fied through prisoners captured, as follows: The 13th Division, 3rd and 5th Prussian Guard Divisions. 28th Division (known as the "Kaiser's Own"), 37th Division, 39th Division, and 52nd Division, all divisions of the first class; the 41st Division, second class; the 115th, the 123rd, and the 236th Divisions, all third class. Besides these units there were also identified separate machine gun detachments, pioneers, 196 SUMMARY OF TWENTY DAYS OF FIGHTING used as infantry and minnenwerfers companies, who, unable to employ their weapons, were also used as infantry. The period just ended, October 1st to 20th, was the hardest phase of the Meuse-Argonne battle. Autumn had arrived, and the nights were penetratingly cold and the ground, where the men had to lie, was wet from the chill rains. Mist interfered with aerial and artillery observation. During this entire period, the overcast sky was in keep- ing with the character of the battle. For days there was no sign of any color in relief from the dull gray and brown, except the red, white and blue bull's-eye of a low-flying airplane. The "Kriemhilde Stel- lung" was a rough trench line with barbed wire guarded by covering positions in front, which was especially strong in the Romagne Forests. Under this name of Romagne may be grouped the series of woods which were the wilderness of this campaign. Our men in the front line dug themselves in — and so did the Germans — in little fox holes in ravines, on reverse slopes or in the edge of the woods, where they kept watch until we attacked again or repulsed countelr-attacks with machine gun fire, or crept out at night as patrols, or in the first flush of dawn made a rush to take another "bite" and gain some vantage point. Trench warfare in the old sense was now over. The opposing armies had all accepted this new system of thin outpost lines in the fox holes, while the machine gunners moved their guns skilfully about in forming criss-cross zones of fire. When the 32nd Division went into the line, facing the center of the enemy's position, it was expected to pierce the Kriemhilde Stel- lung, the great Romagne defense line. Through a gamut of shell fire and swept by machine gun fire, after two attacks the village of Gesnes was reached. Attack succeeded attack, making and holding gains, but the more machine guns captured and the more destroyed by our artillery, the more the Germans seemed to have. On October 9th, the 32nd put its back into a fresh attack and advanced the line right up to the enemy's wire. The 32nd again made a supreme effort on the 14th, and soon after the zero hour the attacking battalion of the 126th Infantry pierced this last and famous line, and a little later in the day other troops of the 32nd, on the right, drove through the town of Romagne itself and, despite the German artillery concentration on the town, mopped it up. By night the 32nd had advanced a mile, which was a long distance against those Romagne and Cote Dame Marie positions. Fifty yards counted more than a mile after the line was finally broken on November 1st. 197 CHAPTER XII PERIOD BETWEEN OCTOBER 20 AND NOVEMBER 16, 1918 RESTING IN MONTFAUCON WOODS WHEN the Division was relieved on this front it had been in line twenty days, and during this long tour the 3rd and 5th Divisions occupied the sector on our right, and the 91st, 1st and 42nd Divisions the sector on our left. Upon arrival in the Bois de Emont, Mr. Hummel, a Y. M. C. A. worker attacked to the regi- ment, served hot chocolate, cookies and cigarettes to the men, thereby gaining their everlasting gratitude. The next day, October 21, 1918, the regiment started for the rear. The 32nd Division had been in line longer than any other division (except one or two divisions of the right corps, whose mission was to hold the west bank of the Meuse River as the line moved forward), and in the very apex of the First American Army, and we believed we had earned the privilege to be sent to a quiet billet area for a period of rest and recuperation. But we were again doomed to bitter disappointment, when we found the division was to be army reserve and that the regiment was to rest in the Montf aucon Woods ; a worse place, even for a woods, could hardly have been selected for obtaining rest. Formerly the German front line trench system ran through the southern edge of this woods, and after four years of pound- ing by artillery, the woods presented a typical "No Man's Land." Everywhere was desolation and ruin; what had once been a beautiful green forest, was now a vast stretch of splintered stumps, upturned earth and mud. There were a few small dugouts, but nearly all the troops were obliged to live in their "pup tents," and shell-holes were so numerous that space could hardly be found to pitch them. The kitchens and ration carts accompanied the troops, and the entire regi- ment was together once more, except the Supply Company, which was stationed about a mile south. While many uncomplimentary remarks were passed about the individual at Army Headquarters, who assigned this place to us, himself enjoying all the comforts of home, the troops determined to make the best of it, and with very little sobbing, settled in the best manner possible under the circumstances. The Adjutant's office was set up in a truck at the side of the road; the message center 198 IN MONTFAUCON WOODS and radio station was established in a small dugout, and the Colonel and his staff had their quarters in a shack made of boards and canvas. To add to the miserable location, a cold rain fell almost continuously and the nights were cold. No fires could be built, as the Boche bomb- ing planes were out every night and dropped bombs, but without caus- ing any casualties in our regiment. As soon as the buzzing sound of the propeller on the enemy planes were heard, flashes from a dozen searchlights scoured the sky and when the enemy plane was spotted anti-aircraft guns opened a barrage on the invader. These night bat- tles were spectacular, and the dropping and explosion of the bombs always caused a shiver of fear and apprehension to run up and down one's spine until the unwelcome visitor had left. Upon our arrival in France we had been informed that all troops would be given a seven-day leave of absence every four months, which was the practice in the other Allied armies. Up to this time none had received any leave in our regiment, under the pretext that the men could not be spared, but now it was to be put in force and seven men per organization were given a seven-day leave, commencing on the 23rd day of October. During the entire time of our last tour in the line it was impossible to obtain a bath or change of clothing, with the result that everyone was filthy and covered with vermin. A delousing station was established near the ruins of Avocourt and everyone was given an opportunity to obtain a hot bath and was issued new and clean under- wear and clothing, and we felt more like human beings once more. On October 27th, about six hundred new replacements were received for the regiment and our depleted ranks were partially refilled, these addi- tions bringing the strength of the infantry companies up to about 150 men. While drilling was impossible, yet improvised rifle ranges were established and the new men given some instruction in rifle practice and also grenade throwing. PREPARATIONS FOR GENERAL ATTACK NOVEMBER 1st Preparations were made for a general attack on the morning of November 1st along the Allied front, and this attack was the begin- ning of the third phase of the offensive by the First American Army. The army orders for this attack assigned the 32nd Division and 3rd Division as corps reserve for the 3rd Corps. By October 20th the offensive period of the second phase was over. The First American Army was out of the Argonne, north of the Aire. It held Grandpre, and the Bois de Rappes was finally occupied after five attacks. The western end of the Kriemhilde line was in our hands, the center was breached, and the enemy was out of the wooded area about Banthe- 199 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY ville, but on the eastern end, near the Meuse, the supporting fire from the eastern bank enabled the Germans to maintain a precarious hold on Brieulles and control of the Meuse valley roads on either bank. On the morning of November 1st three army corps were in line between the Meuse and the Bois de Bourgogne. On the right the 3rd Corps had the 5th and 90th Divisions; the 5th Corps occupied the center of the line with the 89th and 2nd Divisions, and on the left the 1st Corps deployed the 80th, 77th and 78th Divisions. Just after mid- night, October 31st-November 1st, our artillery along the whole Amer- ican front opened a violent fire. The reports of the more than 1,700 cannon engaged, sounded like a continuous roar, and the flashes from the guns electrified the skyline on a front twenty miles wide. The attack was made by the front line divisions at 5:30 a. m., November I, 1918, after two hours of artillery preparation, which was so dense that the enemy was overwhelmed and quickly submerged by the rapid onslaught of the infantry, with the result that the German line be- tween the Meuse and the Burgogne Forest collapsed and the enemy was hastily falling back on Sedan. During the night of November 1st- 2nd, the regiment rolled packs and moved up toward the front, march- ing through Montfaucon and Romagne, and bivouacked in the Bois de Chauvignon, northwest of Romagne. Regimental Headquarters, Head- quarters and Supply Companies moved up into the Bois de Emont the morning of November 2nd, and on the morning of November 3rd, the Headquarters Company moved up and joined the regiment. During the early morning hours of November 4th, the regiment moved into the Bois de Rappes, regimental headquarters being established in the vil- lage of Aincreville, and next day the Headquarters and Supply Com- panies and Sanitary Detachment were moved into the town. This village was almost in ruins, hardly a building being untouched by our artillery fire the night of October 31st, and it was taken in the attack of the following morning without resistance. In the 3rd Corps sector, the 5th Division was on the right and was to act as a pivot until the 90th Division, on its left, reached the Meuse River, which it did, but not until November 3rd. On November 2nd, the 5th Division learned that the enemy was withdrawing and at once prepared for the difficult task of crossing the Meuse. After working around the edge of the horseshoe bluff, north of Brieulles, and taking Doulcon, an attempt was made to cross on the night of November 3rd-4th, and in the face of a heavy fire, two companies got across at Brieulles and dug in. Novem- ber 4th another attempt to cross at Clery-le-Petit failed. Meanwhile the two companies already across at Brieulles, succeeded, by a surprise attack, in crossing the canal and establishing a bridgehead. Just below 200 32nd ENTERS LINE SECOND TIME this point a battalion crossed the river on rafts, duck-boards, with poles and ropes, and by swimming, and established itself in the Bois de Chatillon. The following morning, November 5th, the Bois de Chatillon was cleared of the enemy and the left of the 5th Division was able to cross. The villages of Dun-sur-Meuse and Milly were captured, so that the net result of the day was the crossing of the river and the capture of the whole line of heights along the east bank of the river from Vilosnes to Milly-devt-Dun. On November 6th, the 128th Infantry of the 32nd Division was attached to the 5th Division and entered the front line on its left in the Dun-sur-Meuse bridgehead. The regiment remained in the Bois de Rappes and the village of Aincreville until the afternoon of November 9th. From the heights about Aincreville the efforts of the 5th Division to cross the Meuse were plainly visible. During this halt the enemy aerial bombers paid us nightly visits and left their compliments in the form of high explo- sive bombs, but no casualties occurred from this source. The weather was bad, the autumn rains being frequent and the nights cold. Many rumors began to circulate about what was happening to the Germans, one of which was that the Kaiser had abdicated. We also received some Paris editions of the Chicago Tribune and New York Herald, and the news of the progress of the war, of which we knew so little, was eagerly read. This was the first thing like news that we had seen in some time, and the favorable progress being made by the Allied armies on the western front was very cheering to us. On November 6th, Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge was obliged to go to the hospital. He had never missed a day of duty until now, when a severe cold, aggravated by gas burns of the lungs, had brought on bronchitis and kindred dis- eases that made it imperative that he receive medical attention with- out delay, but as it was, it was too late. The Colonel had remained on duty with his regiment too long, for the sickness which he had fought off so long had gained too deep a hold and he died at the base hospital at Nantes, France, November 26, 1918. Lieutenant Colonel Henry A. Meyer was transferred to the regi- ment and assigned to its command November 6, 1918, and relieved of command November 8, 1918, being succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel Elliot Caziarc, who had been assigned to the regiment as second in command November 5, 1918. 32nd ENTERS THE LINE THE SECOND TIME By November 1st the German army had been fought to a stand- still, and its power of further resistance had gone. West of the Meuse he had used over 30 divisions, several of which had been used twice 201 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY and some three times. By the second day of the offensive, commenced on November 1st, the battle had resolved itself to almost a pursuit race. West of the Meuse the Germans fled back to Sedan, opposite which town elements of the 42nd Division appeared on. November 7th. But through courtesy, the French, who arrived shortly afterwards, were the first to enter the town. Thus the Sedan-Longuyon railway was cut and the main objective of the American operation achieved. On November 6th, the 128th Infantry of our Division was attached to the 5th Division and entered the front line on its left in the Dun- sur-Meuse bridgehead. In the 3rd Corps sector east of the Meuse, the 5th Division continued its attack on November 6th and reached the villages of Louppy and Remoinville by the 9th, and the same day took Jametz. The remainder of the 32nd Division followed the advance of the 5th Division in Corps reserve, and on November 8th was ordered to take its position in the front line on the right of the 5th, and the 64th Brigade was given the advance and the 63rd Brigade in support. Accordingly, on the 9th of November, the regiment moved forward from Aincreville, crossing the Meuse River at Dun-sur-Meuse, and halted near Liny-devt-Dun. During the night some shelling from the enemy's heavy artillery was received, as well as bombs from his aerial bombing squadrons. The morning of November 10th the regiment moved forward, passing through Haraumont to Breheville. The Head- quarters Company preceded the regiment and arrived in the village of Breheville about noon, the remainder of the regiment coming up at dark and bivouacking in the Bois de Brandeville about a kilometer from Breheville. The night was freezing and when the men awoke next morning, they found the ground frozen and some men had their shoes frozen. A few days previous it had become known that the enemy had sent emissaries to the High Command of the Allied armies to arrange for an armistice, but the activity of the enemy during the night of November 10th did not indicate the imminence of a cessation of hostilities; commencing at dusk the enemy opened a heavy bom- bardment with high-caliber shells on the town of Breheville, which he continued all night long, forcing the troops in the town to temporarily evacuate it. Some of the shells fell on the hillside close to where the regiment was lying, but fortunately, no casualties resulted in these last hours of the greatest war in all history. In the early morning hours of November 10th, the 127th and 128th Infantry relieved the 15th French Colonial Division on the right of the 5th Division, and during the day the Division advanced east of Breheville in the direc- tion of Briey, the great iron and coal section of France, which had been in German hands since early in the war, and which was to be the next 202 ARMISTICE DAY American objective. During the day a new attack had been ordered for November 11th, and orders were issued to the 126th Infantry to relieve the 5th Division in the front line the night of November 11th- 12th, 1918, but the armistice, news of which came during the forenoon of November 11th, made this unnecessary. While during the last days of the struggle the German Fifth Army was staggering backwards, it was not routed. It had not lost its organ- ization. It was still fighting back in rear-guard actions, holding up the advance with machine gun fire. But it had been evicted from every fixed position of defense. It had no positions, no more concrete works or lines of trenches or wires, although some in the first stages of con- struction were seen on our subsequent march toward Longuyon. While the German army was not destroyed in these last days, there were signs of coming demoralization in its ranks. ARMISTICE DAY The morning of November 11, 1918, broke with the usual accom- paniments of battle. The boom of artillery guns and the crash of ex- ploding shells, with their clouds of smoke and dirt, were still with us. In fact, the enemy had kept up a harassing artillery fire on our rear positions during the entire night. The put-put-put of machine gun fire could be heard along the front. The immediate cessation of hostilities was not evident during the early morning hours, and no one expected such a contingency to happen so soon. While it was generally rumored that the end was not far distant, yet we at the front knew that the Germans were a long ways from their own territory, and doubted the possibility of their defeat on French and Belgian soil. About 9 o'clock in the forenoon messages were received at Regimental Headquarters that an armistice had been signed by the belligerents and that hostil- ities would cease at 11 o'clock that morning. This news was too good to be true, and after hearing so many rumors, all of which proved to be without foundation, this news was regarded as another hoax and little credence given it. However, all watches were synchronized and all anxiously awaited the hour set when fighting was to cease. At 30 minutes to 11 o'clock the Huns started to shell the little village of Ecurey, which was about three kilometers from Breheville, and con- tinued the shelling up to the last minute. Regimental Sergeant Major Percy J. Baldwin, who was in the village of Ecurey during this shell- ing, was hit by a fragment of one of these shells and severely wounded. He was the last member of the regiment to become a casualty in the war. The Boche kept sending over an occasional shell all along the line until 11 o'clock, and our artillery also sent our compliments over 203 1. Maj. Gen. Haan addressing officers and noncommissioned officers at Breheville, France, after the armistice. November 12, 1918. 2. Wrecked German airplane, containing Liberty motor, near Tellancourt, France, Nov. 19, 1918. 3. First American prisoners, released by the Germans, coming through our lines. Nov. 13, 1918. 204 THE ARMISTICE to the Huns in the form of powder and steel. At last the designated hour arrived, and as if to mock us, in our unbelief, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year 1918, as if Fate herself had set the stage and craftily planned such a denouement, the great cannons ceased their roar, and the continual put-put-put of the machine gun became silent. The scream of the flying shells and the whistle of the bullet was no more. The curtain was drawn on History's greatest and bloodiest of conflicts between man. The suddenness of the end and the quiet which prevailed after the fateful hour, created a sort of dumbness and one did not know whether to laugh or to cry. Contrary to ordinary belief, the tired "doughboy" did not cheer. He still doubted the truth of this new situation, and feared it might be another "Hun" trick, and waited until night should come and pass before he would be convinced. By 1 o'clock the remainder of the regiment had moved into the village of Breheville and billets were established in the abandoned and shell-torn houses. The kitchens were brought into the village and soon smoke was pouring skyward and a good hot meal was cooking, almost under the noses of the "Boche." The afternoon passed off quietly and as soon as night came, the Germans holding the front line began cele- brating the armistice by sending up flares and rockets. On our side of the line the night was as still as the grave. One would never have known from the conduct of the troops that any unusual great event had just transpired. The night passed quietly, with the troops sleep- ing with their weapons by their side in anticipation of possible Hun treachery. When morning came and all was quiet, we felt assured that the armistice was real and all were happy. The next day, Novem- ber 13th, General Haan addressed the officers and non-commissioned officers, and informed us that the 32nd Division had been selected as one of three divisions to lead the march into Germany, and that we were to cross the River Rhine and occupy the bridgehead, or semi- circular zone of safety thirty kilometers deep, at the German City of Coblenz. Before daybreak, November 14, 1918, the regiment was up and packs were rolled and at daylight moved forward to the front line on the left of the 128th Infantry, relieving troops of the 5th Division. The 1st Battalion and Machine Gun Company moved into Louppy, the 2nd into Jametz, and the 3rd into Remoiville. Later in the day the Headquarters Company and Supply Company moved up, the latter moving into Remoiville, and the former, together with Headquarters, moving to Louppy. Regimental Headquarters was established in a famous old chateau, which had been used as general headquarters of 205 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY the German General, Von Marwitz, commanding the German 5th Army during the Meuse-Argonne battle, and but recently vacated by him and his staff. OUTPOSTS AFTER THE ARMISTICE The towns of Louppy, Remoiville and Jametz formed a portion of the front line. Outposts were established about a kilometer beyond these towns and sentinels of both armies, with a bare hundred yards separating them, paced up and down along the front. Not many hours after the commencement of the "silence of the tombs" (for it seemed such to us who had become accustomed to the continuous thunder of the big guns), there began to straggle through our lines in a steady stream, repatriated prisoners from the French, Russian and Italian armies, as well as many French civilians; poor forlorn-looking crea- tures, clothed in rags, and unshaven, who were grateful for the smallest favors, and who had not had a proper meal in many days. All these stragglers received a hot meal at our kitchens, the first they received on their release from hostile custody. It was rather pitiful to see how eager they were to get back and away from the front line, as if they believed such a thing as peace was too good to last. German officers came into our lines in high-powered motor cars, carrying flags of truce, seeking receipts for artillery pieces left behind according to the armistice terms. The armistice also brought with it a renewal of the "paper war;" service records were checked over and corrected, after having been laid aside for many months. During the day of November 16th, orders were received to prepare for the forward march on the morning of the 17th. THE MARCH TO THE RHINE "Oh, light your pipe up, buddy, "Say, this is diff'rent, buddy, And fasten on your pack, Than just a while ago, The footing may be muddy When 'Forward' meant a bloody Along our forward track. And a damned unhealthy show. But we should worry when we see And those we've left behind us, What we are going for; Upon the fields of France, We're marching into Germany — Perhaps they'll somehow find us We've won the blooming war. And march in our advance. "There are no shells to meet us, "We've marched in wartime, buddy, And our own guns are dumb; In dark and cold and damp, No M. G. nests will greet us But now our fires are ruddy With bullets as we come. Wherever we encamp; Our hobnails rasp, our belts all creak, This the time we've fought to see, We slog past plain and hill; The thing we came here for; No H. E.'s 'crump,' no two-tens shriek — We're off, we're off to Germany — God, but the air is still! We've won the blooming war." 206 CHAPTER XIII THE MARCH TO THE RHINE WHEN the regiment woke up on the morning of November 17, 1918, it found the weather cold and crisp. In pursuance to field orders, issued the day before, preparations for the first phase of the March to the Rhine was begun early, and breakfast was served at 4:30 a. m. and the regiment moved forward an hour later on a march, which equaled the historical campaigns of the ancient and mediaeval conquerors in this same region. The 1st, 32nd and 2nd Divi- sions, from right to left, comprised the vanguard of the American Army of Occupation, with the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 42nd, 89th and 90th Divisions making up the main body in reserve. These units comprised the entire American force which was to garrison the region in the vicinity of Coblenz to guarantee the fulfillment of the terms of the armistice. The order of march was as follows: The 2nd Battalion, which formed the advance guard, and the main body, consisting of the 3rd and 1st Battalions, Machine Gun and Headquarters Companies and the 125th Infantry. The rolling kitchens, water and ration carts accompanied their battalions. The Supply Company, with the re- mainder of the Regimental Wagon Train, marched with the Brigade Field Train at the rear of the main body. The route of march was Louppy-Remoiville-Marville, thence to the various billeting areas, as follows: 1st Battalion and Machine Gun Company at Flabeuville, and the remainder of the regiment at Colmey. The column moved across what was once "No Man's Land," and soon began to leave behind the shell-marked country with which we were so familiar. While it was now the latter half of November and the weather was crispy, yet this new country seemed fresh and green and unscarred by the furries of battle. On this first day's march we passed a large German aviation field, with wonderful rustic shacks, in a deep and narrow valley, which were used as quarters for the Hun aviators. Also a few artillery pieces left behind by the Germans in their hasty retirement. Our band and colors preceded the column and played stirring march music when passing through a village or town, which brought the civilian population from all directions to see the 207 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY "Americaine Soldaten." It was, indeed, an inspiring sight to see the almost worshipful glances from those weary souls who had for four long years been separated from their own people and made to suffer the presence of the German soldiery. What a prayer of thankfulness must have been sent to the Great Father above, when they beheld the fulfillment of their pleadings in the swinging lines of brown-clad men from overseas, who seemed mere boys, and who made possible this memorable march to the Rhine. The day's march totaled 19 kilometers and our destination was reached by noon. Regimental Headquarters was very comfortably located in a small chateau at Colmey, in which were electric lights and player piano. The town itself was lighted with electricity. Surely civilization was again within reach. On this day and near this town we crossed the now famous Metz-Sedan Railroad line, which was a double-track system. The march was resumed at 5:30 the next morning, via Longuyon and Tellencourt, to Longwy. It was the general rule of the daily march orders to require the column to pass the line of observation, which was the most advanced outpost line, by 7:00 a. m. each day. This neces- sitated the troops to arise and have breakfast long before daylight. This unholy hour, no doubt, was inspired by someone who was awak- ened about 8:30 each morning, breakfasted and then rode out casually in his limousine to see whether or not the column had started on time, knowing well where the column should be at a given hour. We were given many surprises on this march. After the armistice there came from somewhere in the vicinity of Paris, or similar locality, a horde of chaps with polished shoes and leggins, white collars and cuffs, and a Sam Brown belt with buckles shining like gold, and all the trimmings, riding in luxurious limousines, to tell us how to run an army, and to see that we were marching correctly. They were a new specimen to us, as none such were ever seen during our service in the trenches or on the battle fronts. These gentlemen would have been an adornment to any parlor or ballroom. They unconcernedly raced their cars alongside the column and raised clouds of dust for the doughboy to inhale or spattered him with mud. When some exhausted soldier, bending under a ninety-pound pack, was forced to fall out, the unlucky company officer to which such soldier belonged was told an offense was com- mitted sufficient to send him into disgrace. A missing button on an overcoat was also sufficient to send the unlucky soldier to a term in the brig, in the estimation of these individuals, if their exhortations were to be heeded. And what was worse, we had to tolerate them through- out the march to the Rhine. Longuyon was a junction point on the Metz-Sedan railroad and 208 THE MARCH TO THE RHINE frequently we had read in communiques that American bombing squadrons had paid their respects to the German transportation system at this point, and as we passed through the town we noticed that some of the bombs, at least, had reached their mark by the ruins around the station. After passing Tellencourt we passed two large German avia- tion fields with several enemy planes left behind under guard of a group of Germans in command of the noted German flyer, Wolff, and the party were required to march at the head of the column. The planes were to be turned over to the Allies. The entire regiment was to billet in Longwy, as well as Division and Brigade Headquarters, and other rear echelon troops. As we neared our destination, a long column of autos and trucks carrying the rear echelon troops and baggage, passed us on the road and reached the town hours before the tired marching doughboy, and, of course, appropriated the choice billets. The regiment was required to march with an advance guard to guard against a surprise attack while the enemy was in front of us. Permit- ting the non-combatants to race ahead of the column in autos and trucks, made the precautions required of the infantry to guard against surprise appear both useless and ridiculous, but this procedure con- tinued throughout the march. Longwy was reached about 1:00 p. m., and brought us 22 kilometers nearer the Rhine. Here we tarried over one day for what the High Command is pleased to call a rest, but the opposite of Webster's interpretation of this word was our lot, for out- posts were established, wagons and equipment to be cleaned and cared for, and the troops themselves sought an opportunity to "clean-up," not that it was needed, for it was now many months since we last had a good bath. The city of Longwy is a manufacturing town and located in a deep and narrow valley. The roads leading from the surrounding high land into the town, zigzagged down the steep hillsides, and as the head of the column started down these roads, the tail end of the German col- umn was just pulling out of the town and climbing up the steep slopes on the other side of the valley. The city was one of the great fortified cities of France. At one side of the town and on top of the valley a mighty fortress was built by the Romans, and continually strength- ened in later centuries, until in 1914 it was thought impregnable, along with those of Liege and Verdun. This fortress was called the "Citadel," and it had figured in nearly every war mentioned in the history of France, and one could almost feel the silent call of adventure and romance as he stood surrounded by the heavy and moss-covered walls. The "Citadel," after a heroic but brief defense, fell before the Hun onslaught in 1914, but not until it had almost been battered to the 209 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY ground by the German artillery. Most of the civilian population had remained in the town during the German occupation, and these turned out in large numbers to greet the entering American soldiers. Our appearance was the signal for the natives to display home-made Amer- ican flags, no doubt made secretly in anticipation of this moment. The inhabitants' idea of our flag was somewhat hazy, as the red and white stripes varied in number from three to six, running either lengthwise or crosswise, and the stars ran from three to twenty. Real stores, with real supplies, were greeted with pleasure, yet it was not to be expected that they would be well stocked, and they were not. Incidentally, Fritz's favorite drink, "Schnapps," was sampled, but our troops soon renamed it "turpentine" or "rough on rats." Upon our arrival, orders were received to establish an outpost line, and the 1st Battalion immediately left and occupied this line, having its headquarters at Gorcy. The next morning the 3rd Battalion took over part of the line, with its headquarters at the Citadel. November 19, 1918, Lieutenant Colonel Caziarc, who commanded the regiment since November 9th, was relieved and Major Guy M. Wilson was placed in temporary command. MARCHING THROUGH LUXEMBURG The march from Longwy was resumed, on November 20th, with the 125th Infantry leading. Our regiment, less the 1st Battalion, which marched independently from Gorcy to the day's billeting area, formed the main body. Company B remained in Longwy guarding material and supplies turned over by the German army. The day's march was through Aubange-Messancy-Kunzich to Selange. This route took us out of France, and across the extreme southeastern corner of Belgium, just over the line into Luxemburg, then back again into Belgium to the village of Selange, where the entire regiment stopped for the night. The billeting facilities was insufficient and part of the regiment was required to bivouac outside the village. However, the weather was cool and bracing, and none complained. The distance traveled was short, being only 12 kilometers, and in each village along the march, home-made American flags of all descriptions were flung from windows, and buildings were decorated and banners stretched across the streets with the announcement, "Hearty Welcome to Our Deliverers." Similar banners and decorations were met in many towns in Luxemburg through which we passed. Early next morning the advance was continued with the 1st Bat- talion the advance guard. The route was from Selange-Gras-Bet- tingen-Kapellen-Kehlen, to the village of Keispelt, a distance of 22 210 MARCHING THROUGH LUXEMBURG kilometers, and which carried us far into Luxemburg, where the lan- guage and custom was distinctly German. The language sounded strange to us, accustomed as we were, to the nasal twang of the French language. There was no mistaking the sincerity of the welcome re- ceived from the inhabitants of this little nation, and in addition to being dressed up for the occasion, fireworks of a lesser sort popped on all sides as we made our way from village to village. In one village the Mayor rode out to greet us and escort us through his town, and upon arriving in the town, the column was halted and the Mayor de- livered an address of welcome in which he explained how much it meant to his people to see the soldiers of the great American Government pass through their streets, pressing so closely on the heels of the retiring Boche. Upon reaching the village of Keispelt, the same difficulty was experienced as at Selange in obtaining billets, and part of the regiment was again obliged to sleep in pup tents. The troops were usually bil- leted in barns which had also been used by the Germans ahead of us. Their billeting officers marked the capacity of each barn, and when we reached the town where the regiment was to halt for the night, so many barns were assigned to each battalion and auxiliary troops, and be- cause of the limited number, the barns were usually filled to double the capacity fixed by the Germans for their troops. On the 22nd, the march was resumed via Gosseldingen-Lintgen, to billet areas, which were as follows: 1st Battalion and Machine Gun Company, at Weiher; 2nd Battalion at Kedingen, and the 3rd Bat- talion, Headquarters and Supply Companies at Altlinster. The dis- tance was 15 kilometers. All these places were small and without suf- ficient billet room, and troops were again obliged to bivouac. Some of the troops were given an opportunity to visit the city of Luxemburg. We had read of this town in our history and geography, and heard of it in the commercial world, but were agreeably surprised to find in it a spirit almost typically American, and the leading hotel sporting a red sign "American Automobile Association." Many of the inhab- itants spoke English fluently and it made us feel almost at home. The street signs were printed in both French and German. In the evening we were told that there was a dance at the Casino, the principal club building, and that we would be welcome to attend. Here we witnessed the first real dance held since the Germans entered four years ago, as we were told. The town people had never held dances for the German officers, and private dances among themselves were looked upon with disfavor by the German commander. Patriotic songs were being re- 211 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY vived, and the "Marseilles" was sung with much fervor after its long period of silence. The following morning, November 23rd, we were on the road again and headed for the city of Echternach, a distance of 28 kilometers. The route was through Burglinster, Junglinster, Alttrier and Lauterborn, the 1st Battalion remaining in the latter village, and the 2nd going on through to Osweiler, and the remainder of the regiment billeting in Echternach. Although the march was long, and the roads hilly, every- one was in the best of spirits, for after reaching our destination that day, the first phase of the march to the Rhine would be completed and opportunity had for a few days' rest. Echternach is a city of about 3,500 inhabitants and we were somewhat astonished to be allowed to billet there instead of Brigade or Division Headquarters, as the poorest villages were usually our lot. Our advance billeting party was much surprised to find the Mayor and members of the city council, in full dress suits, waiting to receive them. It was the Mayor's desire to have the troops received by himself and council at the edge of the town. The population lined the streets, and when the column reached the edge of the town, they were met by a band, the gendarmes, firemen and boy scouts, who escorted the regiment into the city, after the Mayor wel- comed us in French. The procession marched through the town amidst the shouts of the populace and the music of first their band and then ours. The little children carried flowers, which they showered upon us. Echternach is located on the boundary of Germany, being sep- arated from it by the River Sauer. On the opposite shore of the river, abrupt cliffs rose and looked frowningly down upon the smaller coun- try, like a great giant looks down upon his lesser foe. Our outposts stretched along the frontier, covering the bridges leading into Germany. For a week we held these posts and the stop-over was much appreciated, and the generous and royal treatment accorded us by the town people will ever hold a place in our memories. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions maintained the line of outposts and bridge guards. November 25th, the 1st Battalion moved into the city, and shortly afterwards, Company B arrived. A brief training schedule was prepared and followed, which took up particularly close order and disciplinary drills. It was at Echternach that Thanksgiving Day was spent and we received the only issue of pork, as a change from beef, that we had during our service. We also received, during our stay here, a two-day issue of German rations, which included canned horsemeat and cab- bage. The Commander-in-Chief took the opportunity, from the spirit of the day, to acquaint both officers and men of the expectations he 212 126th Infantry arriving in the public square at Longwy, November 18, 1918. Public demonstration when 126th Infantry entered Longwy, November 18, 1918. Troops of 32nd Division crossing the International Bridge at Echternach, Luxemburg, into Germany, December 1, 1918. 213 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY entertained as to their conduct upon entering German territory. In orders he stated it was the "intention of this order to appeal directly to our pride in our position as representatives of a powerful but righteous nation, and that we came, not as despoilers or oppressors, but simply as the instruments of a strong, free government, whose purposes towards the people of Germany are beneficient ; and that during our occupation, the civil population would be under the special safeguard of the faith and honor of the American army." CROSSING INTO GERMANY So it was with this thought uppermost in our minds that we de- parted from the borders of Luxemburg in the early morning hours on December 1st, reluctantly, perhaps, and with much the same spirit as the proverbial school boy returns to his studies after a long vacation. After crossing the River Sauer we were in Prussia, which of all the Kingdoms of the German Empire, was the most fervent hater of the Allies. We were not long in noticing it, for instead of the accustomed joyous welcome of the civilians, we were greeted by cold stares, and the frightened children peered at us from behind half-closed shutters. Our first night's halt was in the village of Meckel, except the 1st Battalion, which halted at Esslingen. This battalion immediately established an outpost line, this being necessary every day from now on, as we were now in the enemy territory. The day's march was 16 kilometers and was via the Echternacher Bruck-Minden-Menningen-Eisenach. From here on our march was routed through a country of a most rugged and hilly nature, and over which the hiking was very difficult. The roads, too, were different than those over which we had come, and the winter rains were beginning to set in, making the roads muddy and disagreeable, and the poorer roads were almost impassable. By this time the men's shoes were giving out, and but few new shoes were re- ceived because no trucks could be spared to bring them up. This con- dition added to the difficulties of the hike, but regardless of this, the splendid spirit of the regiment which had carried it on to victory on hard-fought battlefields, now stood it in good stead, and officers and men determined to reach the "Rhine or Bust," even though it was neces- sary to do so on practically bare feet, rather than have it said of them that they were carried in an ambulance. On December 2nd, the 3rd Battalion led the advance and marched to the general line Metterich-Merforts, where the usual outposts were established, and the battalion billeted in Dudeldorf. The 2nd Bat- talion was billeted at Huttingen, and the remainder of the regiment at Moetsch. The day's march covered approximately 12 to 16 kilometers. 214 COLONEL WILLIAM T. MOLLISON Commanded Regiment from December 5, 1918, to date of its muster out. 215 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY The 2nd Battalion had the advance guard on the 3rd, and led us over one of the hardest day's hikes on the entire trip. The route of march was via Huttingen, Gondorf, Dudeldorf, Spangdahlen, Grandst, Schwarzenborn, Eisenschmitt, to Grosslittgen, where the entire regi- ment was billeted, except Company H, which went on to Minderlittgen and established the outpost line. The march started at 6:00 a. m. and our destination was reached at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The day's march was 28 kilometers and was over many long and high hills, making it necessary for the wagon trains to double over them. We remained at Grosslittgen until the morning of December 5th, and during our halt in this town, Colonel William T. Mollison, of the 34th Divi- sion, joined the regiment and took command. The march was resumed on December 5th, with the little city of Daun as our destination, a distance of 30 kilometers. The line of march was through Manderscheid and Blickheusen. The 1st Battalion was the advance guard and passed through Daun to Darscheid, where it was billeted, while the Machine Gun Company billeted in Wald- koningen. When the remainder of the regiment reached Daun, it found the place already filled up with Division and Brigade Head- quarters and Rear Echelon troops, and great difficulty was had in obtaining quarters for the infantry, but by dark all were set for the night. The hike was again taken up at 7:30 the next morning via Rengen, Neichen, Boxberg, Kelberg, Hunerbach, to billeting areas, the 2nd Battalion going to Welcherath, the 3rd to Reimerath, and the Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters, Machine Gun, and Supply Companies to Bruck. The 1st Battalion marched as an independent unit to Mosbruck. The average distance covered was 22 kilometers. These little towns afforded practically no billeting accommodations and we were all glad to be on our way the next morning. The regiment, except the 1st Battalion, concentrated at Boos and marched to Mayen, a distance of about 30 kilometers. While the march was rather long, yet it was not as hard as the previous ones, for the roads ran over more level country, and the last five kilometers into May en were practically down hill. The 3rd Battalion had the advance and passed through Mayen to Allenz, where it established the outposts. The 1st Battalion marched under separate Brigade orders to Kurrenberg, where it was billeted, and the remainder of the regiment billeted in the city of Mayen. This place was a typical German city of about 15,000 inhab- itants, and with its numerous "Wirtschafts" and business places, seemed very much alive and thriving. It was a clean town, and seemed much more modern and industrious than French cities of similar size. The streets seemed full of able-bodied young men, from which it appeared 216 CROSSING THE RHINE evident that Germany had not thrown up her hands on account of lack of man-power or supplies, but because she had been beaten, and did not want the war to be brought to her own country. On December 8th, the 125th Infantry took over all outposts and the 3rd Battalion moved into Mayen. On the morning of the 9th, the march was resumed, with the 125th Infantry having the advance and our regiment following. The distance marched was short, being from three kilometers for some units, and eight kilometers for others. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions were billeted at Ober-Mendig, and the re- mainder of the regiment at Kottenheim, and the next morning, Decem- ber 10th, the march was continued, the regiment forming in column at Thur, and marching via Kruft to Plaidt, where the 1st Battalion and auxiliary companies were billeted, and the 2nd and 3rd Battalions being billeted at Miesenheim, except one company of the 2nd Battalion, which was billeted in Nettehammer, where it established outposts in support of the 125th Infantry, which held the front along the west bank of the Rhine River. The next morning the 3rd Battalion moved from Miessenheim to Kettig. We were now within sight of the famous Rhine and waited rather impatiently until we should cross the river. At this point the river ran through a wide valley, filled with little in- dustrial centers, and we had our first opportunity to see some of Ger- many's industries. CROSSING THE RHINE The 13th of December, 1918, dawned cold and gray. A drizzling rain beat down upon the slowly-moving columns as they made their way towards the town of Urmitz and the "Rhein Briicke" (Rhine Bridge). The leading elements of the three American Divisions desig- nated to occupy the right bank of the Rhine River, crossed simul- taneously, and at different points. While the 126th Infantry led the Brigade across the German boundary, the 125th Infantry had the honor to lead the Brigade across this historic stream, and our regiment followed. The column arrived at the bridge and proceeded across without changing the steady marching cadence, and without any fan fare of trumpets, or show of ceremony, though it was a big moment in our lives. After all we had heard of this famous river, it appeared no dif- ferent than other rivers and was but plain water rushing on its way to join the sea. But new history was made, for this was the first time that American soldiers ever crossed this barrier to central Germany. After crossing the river, the regiment proceeded up through Engers and Weis-Heimbach, to Gladbach, where the entire regiment was billeted 217 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY and remained over until the morning of December 15th, when the regi- ment started forward on the last leg of the march to the circle of out- posts, and the march to the Rhine was completed. Regimental Head- quarters, Company A, and the Headquarters Company and Sanitary Detachment were billeted in Kurtscheid, the Machine Gun Company at Ehlscheid, the Supply Company at Nieder-Honnefeld, Companies C and D at Ober-Honnefeld, Company B at Epgert, the 2nd Battalion at Horhausen, and the 3rd at Rengsdorf. OUR OUTERMOST GUARD [Lines written by Chaplain Claude Orear, of the 126th Infantry, suggested by John G. McCutcheon's cartoon entitled "Our Outermost Outpost," which represents a doughboy standing guard upon a castle's height — "the farthest American soldier on the road to Berlin."] When'er I close my eyes I see him yet, Aloft upon the castle old and gray, Ringed with the splendor of a golden day, My country's foremost guard in silhouette! Against that German sky, my hero stands, Framed in the arching ruin of ancient tower, Grand sentinel of Freedom's awful power, Where neutral zone and wide, his eye commands. He stands upon the tower's utmost height, That fragment of an early day that's dead; Where tyrants clothed with might and power did tread, Now, crowned at last, with Freedom's son of might. He stands the compact to enforce, laid down By men who heard the call and fought the fight ; Our doughboy stands upon the castle's height Above the hills, above the fallows brown. I see this modern Knight pace to and fro. His eye upon the road towards Berlin's gate ; To all approaching from that warring state, He says, "So far, no farther can you go." When'er I close my eyes I see him yet — The guardian of my country's "far-flung" line, A check to bold ambition's base design. My noble doughboy Knight in silhouette! 218 CHAPTER XIV IN THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION THE 125th Infantry was holding the line of outposts in the Brigade sector, and the 126th was in support. It had been planned to have each regiment hold a portion of the outpost line, but the 125th, being in the advance on the last day of the march, took over the entire line, and as all organizations in both regiments were established in their new billets, the original plan was abandoned and the 125th Infantry remained on outpost duty. No sooner were the units established in their new homes when a new drill schedule was prepared and the day following our arrival the various organizations began another period of intensive training. As the days wore on the intensive training bug became more frenzied, until it seemed as if someone in authority had a mania on this subject. It was naturally supposed that when the army that was to occupy the territory in the "Coblenz Bridgehead" had gained its objective, that the troops would be given a rest after their long and gruelling struggle, but such was not their portion. It was decreed by the High Command that there was to be no rest for either officer or soldier. Someone had the idea that we were not soldiers, and although we had never failed to gain our objec- tive, or to reflect credit on our service, we were immediately put to work doing close order drill until the majority of the troops were sick at heart with the whole affair. Then, too, we participated in maneu- vers to determine we did not know what, and those supposed to know did not tell us. CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY A shortage of food and equipment existed during the first weeks of our stay in the Army of Occupation, but this was soon remedied. December 22nd, General Pershing paid a visit to the sector held by the 32nd Division in the 30-kilometer circle, which composed the Amer- ican bridgehead, and in the course of his visit, the General inspected part of the troops of the 126th Infantry. On December 24th, the Divi- sion commander decorated members of the regiment with the "Dis- tinguished Service Cross," awarded for gallantry in action. Towards 219 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY evening it began to snow, and within a few hours six inches of snow had fallen, covering the pine and spruce trees and the ground with a white mantle and, indeed, made this country appear like a fairy "Christmas Eve," the Yuletide now being upon us. This was the first snow of the season, and as the Christmas spirit imbued everyone, our thoughts naturally drifted to the loved ones at home. Little did we ever dream that we would spend "Christmas" in the German Rhine country, and we again offered our thanks that the bloody conflict was over, and hoped that ere long we should again embrace them. On Christmas day all troops who were not on special duty attended church services conducted by our chaplains in the churches of the com- munity. Most organizations attempted to add some extra frills to the noonday meal with the scanty supplies on hand in token of the day. But no turkey nor chicken graced the menu, and the victuals were served on the mess plate in the customary army manner and eaten in the snow. One more thing we had to be thankful for, and that was because the day was declared a holiday and we did not have to drill. Bright and early next morning we wended our way to the drill fields and spent the day plodding through the wet snow, doing close order drill and the like, with the brigade commander a critical on- looker. Later in the day orders were issued to the regiment to change billeting areas. The Division Headquarters had been established at Sayne, and here the rear echelon and non-combatant troops were stationed. Part of the regiment was billeted in Rengsdorf, which was sort of a health resort, with many small family hotels equipped for the wealthy resorters of Germany. Officers of Division Headquarters con- sidered it to be an ideal place for them, and the combat troops of infantry had to get out of the first decent homes they had since they left their own fireside in the States. Early next morning, December 27th, the regiment was on the move to their new billets. Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters Company, and the 3rd Battalion went to Weis. The 1st Battalion went to Gladbach. Two companies of the 2nd Battalion went to Anhausen, and two to Thalhausen. The Machine Gun Company marched to Meinborn, and the Supply Company billeted on the cross-roads north of Gladbach. Many miles separated us from the 125th Infantry, which we were supposed to be supporting, and according to sound military principles, we should have been directly behind them. We established ourselves in our new homes, and here we remained until we started for the United States, except the Regi- mental Headquarters and Headquarters Company, which later moved to Sayne on account of the crowded condition in Weis. The drill mania was again commenced the day after our arrival in 220 ARMY OF OCCUPATION our new billeting area and continued without interruption, except that New Year's day was declared a holiday. The snow had disappeared but the weather was cold and the ground froze hard every night, and during the day, when the sun did shine, it became soggy and muddy, making the work most disagreeable. The daily drill monotony was varied by "Alert" movements and practice for "Divisional Reviews." The "alert" exercise was based upon the supposition that the Germans might suddenly make an attack on our lines, in which case the "alert" was to be sounded and the troops were to gather their equipment and march to positions previously assigned to them for such an event. We had several such exercises, and each time packs were rolled and put on the back and the several units marched to their assumed positions, and when these were reached, the troops stood around in the cold for hours, until the order to return was received, when the troops marched back to their billets. These exercises were timed, and after it was over and a good record believed to have been made, we were informed we were too slow, and should have done it in half the time. This exer- cise always reminded one of the game of "hare and hounds," except that usually the hounds in this game came out in a Cadillac. The weather during the months of January, February and March, 1919, was anything but suitable for outdoor drilling, for it was cold and a drizzling rain, which usually turned into snow, fell nearly every day. During this time the troops were required to follow out an in- door or hot weather drill schedule out of doors. This schedule per- mitted of very little moving around and in consequence much suffering resulted from the cold. The drill hours were from 7 o'clock in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon, practically consuming every hour of daylight. In February, every company had rifle practice on impro- vised rifle ranges, and this training was also carried out according to an arranged schedule. This work required the troops to lie on the cold ground, and many a severe cold was thus contracted. But there was no way of avoiding this mania for intensive outdoor training in winter time, as it was ordered by higher authority and had to be endured. The drill schedule provided for indoor instruction in the nature of lec- tures, on days when the weather was inclement, but this was always a difficult matter to determine, for if it did not rain or snow at the precise moment the General appeared at the drill field, he insisted on the troops being there, notwithstanding it may have been pouring rain for hours before and up to within five minutes before his arrival, and in spite of the fact that the drill field would be a mile or more from company headquarters. Then, too, we never lacked company in our daily work. Every 221 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY time we turned around we were greeted by gentlemen who were called "inspectors." No one knew where they came from, but they arrived in swarms and always in a limousine. What these gentlemen didn't know wasn't worth mentioning. None of them were seen during the recent engagements on the fighting fronts, and it was the general conclusion that they acquired their skill around the vicinity of Paris or inspecting conditions around Nice during those bloody days. One of these, after graduating with honor from Princeton, acknowledged he was par ex- cellence at inspecting garbage cans, for hadn't that been his occupation for the past year and a half? No medical officer knew as much as he, according to his own words. It was generally understood that these gentlemen were especially instructed to always find fault, and if they ever made a favorable report, their soft berth was in jeopardy. One company commander was unfavorably reported by one of these so- called "inspectors," because his records disclosed only three court- martials of men in his command during its entire service. Something was wrong with that unfortunate company commander in the estima- tion of the inspector. These individuals became so obnoxious that we almost preferred service on the battlefield, where we were never bothered by them, than to this service in the Army of Occupation after the Armistice. During our service here, the troops were kept strictly within the bounds of the little villages in which they were billeted; no one being allowed to go beyond these limits without a pass and, in fact, when evening came the men were tired and had little desire to go anywhere. We learned that the French troops occupying the Bridgehead on our right, did no drilling of any kind and only maintained their outpost line. The English, on our left, only drilled about four hours each week. However, our strenuous duties were somewhat aleviated by granting leaves from one day to two weeks to the soldiers, the number of leaves thus granted being limited, but every man had an opportunity to visit Coblenz and enjoy a trip up or down the Rhine River, which in this vicinity is the most interesting and beautiful part of this famous stream. A great many were fortunate in obtaining leaves to Paris, but their pleasure was usually spoiled by the constant demand of the Mili- tary Police to explain their right to be there to the Provost Marshal. During this time troops were continually being transported home, and everyone was anxiously awaiting the time when our turn to start for home should come. Orders were received stating that men court- martialed would be required to remain in France for duty with labor battalions after their organization left for the States. And the fear of being left behind put all the men on their good behavior, and little 222 COLONEL WESTNEDGE grumbling was heard of the strenuous work; but notwithstanding the morale was on the decline. In March, the hours for drilling was modi- fied. The afternoon drill was replaced by at least one hour of athletics, and a schedule of athletic contests was provided. These included con- tests between the organizations in the regiment and between indi- viduals. Baseball and football teams were organized and a schedule of games played. A marathon race of eleven kilometers was held with entries from the entire Division, which race was won by men from the regiment. Boxing shows and entertainments were given about one or two evenings each week, the talent being supplied from among the soldiers, which helped to relieve our thoughts from the daily grind. It was not until late in January that the regiment first learned that Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge died in the Base Hospital, No. 11, at Nantes, France, and on February 2, 1919, the entire regiment assem- bled in a field north of Gladbach, where memorial services were held for our beloved Colonel. Chaplain Patrick R. Dunnigan, who was now Chief Chaplain for the 3rd Army Corps, made the principal address. COLONEL JOSEPH B. WESTNEDGE Death at last must close the story of every life. But of that life the good that we do lives after us rather than the evil. When it is a life spent in the pursuit of happiness, or in selfish ambition, it assumes a solemn hue. But when it is the result of a life worn to shreds for the service of others, it becomes magnificent in its splendor. It could not be that all would return, for the prize to be gained could only be purchased by the sacrifice of life and energy. Those of our number who are not privileged to return, become our most precious contribu- tion to the onward march of democracy. They become, too, a heritage for those yet unborn ; an inspiration for them to serve as they served, to make this world what God would have it be. Though no longer to contribute in the flesh, their deeds will form a chapter in the book of ideals that nourishes those who would be great. It is in the memory of our glorious dead that we find those impulses that urge us on to better and more noble men. Some rest behind the trenches of Alsace, some from the Ourcq to the Vesles. Some with the gallant French in the region of Soissons. Some, yes many, in the now quiet woods of the Argonne, and yet some near the hospitals in the rear, and some in German soil at Coblenz. The most notable of our number was Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge. It is, however, as a military man that we are most interested in Colonel Westnedge, and it is here that he finds his true element. A soldier by nature, yet disinclined to enter the service as a life work, 223 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY because of his mother's wishes. Captain of a company during the Spanish-American War, Lieutenant Colonel in the Mexican Border Service, and a Colonel of a regiment in the World War. His was not an artificial military nature, the growth and training of stern and rigid discipline, but that of the natural born fighter and leader of men. Tactics he knew, but his chief asset was his indomitable spirit, which carried him through what seemed to be impossible situations. His was not the nature to reckon the cost; his was to gain objectives, for he knew no danger himself and would lay down his life unhesitatingly for the success of his country's cause. He reckoned the regiment to be of the same stuff, and because every officer and man in the regiment knew he put that confidence in them, they did what he would have them do. Discipline that is the result of training, has its legitimate place and cannot be dispensed with, but when the line is reached and death stares in the face, the machine type of discipline breaks down, and then it is that the stuff of real leadership shows itself. This was repeatedly demonstrated in the war we so recently passed through, when companies stayed in the front line for weeks at a time, when it seemed that the stoutest heart must break from sheer mental and physical exhaustion. It is only self-respect that keeps men there and Colonel Westnedge made every officer and man in the regiment feel that the success of the battle depended upon their individual efforts. It is largely due to the fighting spirit that he had instilled in the regi- ment from the beginning, that made the battle record of the 126th Infantry what it is. November 6, 1918, just five days before the Armistice, he was forced to leave his regiment just when the first grey lights of the day that was to dawn could be seen, when the curtain would be drawn after four years of the most bitter strife in history. He stayed too long. Prudence would have dictated that he go sooner, but his nature would not give in. He would not leave his regiment in the front line, he said, and clung on, hoping the little sickness would wear off. He loved his men and would have no comfort they could not have, and shared their hardships with them. No position was too dangerous for him if he thought his duty was there. Time and again he was cautioned by higher officers not to expose himself to needless danger, for his services to the regiment as a whole would far outweigh any advantage that might be derived from his being at an advanced position. But he knew, some- how, how much his presence would mean to those who lived in fox holes and what an inspiration it would be to them to know that he, with his 224 PERSHING REVIEWS DIVISION indomitable will, was there to share with them their dangers. He re- newed the fighting spirit of his men by his presence. It was only through accident that his death became known to the regiment. It struck the regiment like a thunder clap. In every orderly room or billet, in officers' mess or mess line, the words, in sorrowful tones, could be heard, "Colonel Joe is dead." Each felt he had suffered a personal loss. The memory of dead comrades was still fresh in the minds of different members of the regiment, but this was a sorrow for all. His memory may some day be commemorated in some form by his fellow citizens, but no monument will ever surpass the wave of sublime sorrow that in this moment engulfed the regiment. For an officer, the test is whether or not the men under your com- mand respect you and follow out your will freely. Authority that has to be asserted is not real authority and breaks down under the vital strain. In camp it is a small matter to have a soldier disciplined for failure to carry out an order, but when the battle line is reached, it is not so easy a matter to put the "Fear of God," as it is sometimes re- ferred to, into a man. When a man sees the enemy before him, no fear that can be used from the rear will drive him forward. It is then that the honor and pride of an organization comes into play. The men of the 126th Infantry loved and respected Colonel Westnedge, because they knew he was every inch a soldier. The affection for him led them to go out of the way to do personal favors for him and to make him comfortable, and this affection and regard was mutual. His service for his country will always be cherished by those who served under him. DIVISIONAL REVIEW The Divisional Review and Inspection by the Commander-in- Chief of the A. E. F., General Pershing, on Saturday, March 15, 1919, was the first event of that nature participated in by the Division while in France. On this day the Division presented a martial display of splendor and magnificence, for it was a veteran division with an envi- able battle record, now drawn up on enemy soil it had helped to subdue. Any military ceremony is more or less impressive to witness ; we pause to watch an ordinary guard mount or company inspection, but an entire division, composed of physically clean young Americans, with hair trimmed, clean-shaven, shoes dubbined, uniform spotless, with their polished bayonets glistening in the sunlight, and the wagon trains, machine gun carts, and artillery as clean and glossy as paint and brush or soap and water could make them, is most inspiring. The inspection and review was held about a kilometer north of Dierdorf, Germany. But a few clouds were in the sky, and the air was 225 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY just cool enough to make overcoats comfortable. The bands of the division were massed on the left of the reviewing stand, all bands being present except the 126th Infantry band, it being absent on concert work. The infantry regiments were formed in column of platoons in massed formation, with the Headquarters Company, Machine Gun Company and Sanitary Detachment each attached to one of the bat- talions. Ranks were opened and, to facilitate the inspection, the front rank of each platoon about faced. General Pershing, mounted, first inspected the divisional trains and artillery, then dismounted to inspect the infantry. His keen eye scanned every one, from Colonel to private, and from head to foot. Frequently he congratulated the commanders upon the appearance of their commands. The inspection completed, ranks were closed and those to be decorated were arranged in line in front of the center of the Division, where each officer and soldier present was personally com- mended by the General. This ceremony over, the Division passed in review, the troops in the infantry regiments executing a right face and the battalions march- ing in line of platoons. Immediately following the review the entire Division was grouped as closely as possible and listened to an address by General Pershing, in which he congratulated and thanked the Divi- sion for its fine spirit and the splendid work it did on the battlefields of France. In a letter addressed to Major General William Lassiter, com- manding the 32nd Division at this time, after his visit, General Pershing expressed himself on the record of the 32nd Division as follows: AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES Office of the Commander-in-Chief France, March 24, 1919. My Dear General Lassiter: "Please extend to the officers and men of the 32nd Division my sincere com- pliments upon their appearance and upon the splendid condition of the artillery and transportation at the review and inspection on March 15th. In fact, the con- dition of your command was what would be expected of a Division with such a splendid record. "After training for several months following its arrival in February, 1918, it entered the line in Alsace and held this sector until the time of the Aisne-Marne offensive, when it moved to that active front. On July 30th, it entered the line on the Ourcq, and in the course of its action captured Cierges, Bellevue Farm and the Bois de la Planchette. The attack was resumed on August 1st, the Division pushing ahead until it crossed the Vesle, and captured the town of Fismes. On August 28th, it again entered the line and launched attacks which resulted in the capture of Juvigny at the cost of severe casualties. During the Meuse-Argonne 226 1. German woman serving hot chocolate just before our departure for the U. S. 2. On board the Luckenbach bound for home. 3. The Rhine bridge, near Engers, which the 126th crossed in taking its position in the Coblenze bridgehead. December 13, 1918. 4. Another view on board the Luckenbach. 227 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY offensive the 32nd Division entered the line on September 30th, and by its per- sistence in that sector it penetrated the Kriemhilde Stellung, taking Romagne and following the enemy to the northeastern edge of the Bois de Bantheville. On November 8th, the Division took up the pursuit of the enemy east of the Meuse until the time when hostilities were suspended. "Since the signing of the Armistice the 32nd Division has had the honor to act as a part of the Army of Occupation. For the way in which all ranks have performed their duties in this capacity, I have only the warmest praise and ap- proval. The pride of your officers and men, justified by such a record, will insure the same high morale which has been present in the Division during its stay in France. I want each man to know my appreciation of the work he has done and of the admiration in which he is held by the rest of his comrades in the Amer- ican Expeditionary Forces." Sincerely yours, JOHN J. PERSHING. DIVISIONAL REVIEW BY GENERAL MANGIN On Sunday, April 14, 1919, the Division was once more assembled on the fields north of Dierdorf, where it was reviewed by General Mangin, under whom the Division fought while with the 10th French Army in the Soissons region. General Mangin was the commander of the French troops composing the French Army of Occupation in the "Mainze Bridgehead." It was on this occasion that General Mangin pinned the French "Croix de Guerre with Palm" upon the colors of the regiment for its service before Juvigny, mention of which is made in another chapter of this history. After this ceremony the Division passed in review before General Mangin, and afterwards the troops were assembled close together and the French General addressed the Division, and in very nice words thanked the Division for the service it rendered while in France. PREPARING TO GO HOME Early in April, 1919, the regiment received word to prepare for early departure from the Army of Occupation area to a seaport for transportation across the Atlantic to "God's Country." Everyone was in high spirits at this news, and the necessary preparation for departure was begun at once. This, of course, necessitated volumes and volumes of paper work and the clerical force of the various organizations worked valiantly to have this part of the preparation complete without delay, many working until late into the nights. Also, all equipment not carried by the troops were turned in. Service records were completed and final payrolls made out, and soon the Regiment was ready for the word to move. Finally, the entraining orders were received, which pro- vided that the auxiliary troops and the 1st and 3rd Battalions shall entrain at Bendorf, and the 2nd Battalion at Neuwied, and that all 228 PREPARING TO GO HOME troops would leave their area on April 19th, and proceed to their entraining points. The sector vacated by the 32nd Division was to be taken over by the 1st and 2nd Divisions and all equipment left behind was delivered to these organizations. Before leaving our billets, everything had to be policed and cleaned, and a corps of inspectors appeared on the scene to check up on how well the work was done. With this com- pleted, the various battalions gathered their equipment and fell in line waiting for the word to march. During these last minutes the townspeople came out to bid us goodbye, and many of the gentler sect were seen to be wiping tears away from their eyes. During our stay in Germany many close acquaintanceships were formed with the inhabitants and these people hated to see us leave. While the German people generally hated the French and English, they did not have that feeling towards our troops, and these people in the American sector had considered themselves for- tunate in having American troops occupying their territory instead of the troops of the other Allies. They were thankful for it, as during our entire stay everything was quiet and peaceful in the territory the Americans occupied, while other sections of the country not so occupied, were continually contending with spasmodic outbreaks and riots against the government. ; ^ L. HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING IN THE MEUSE-ARGONNE BATTLE. (Pen Sketch) 229 CHAPTER XV DEPARTURE FOR THE UNITED STATES ON APRIL 19th, all the units of the Regiment began the first stage of the long and last journey which was to mark the finish of this war for our men. On this day the troops journeyed to their various entraining points and by night all troops had loaded into our old friends, the "40 Hommes or 8 Cheveaux." It was now over seven months since we had last seen these dear friends of ours, but in- stead of cursing them, we now gently caressed them, as they were to take us on that journey we had all so often thought about and hoped for. The floors of the side-door pullmans were covered with straw, which was some improvement over former method of travel, but the springless cars jolted the troops in the same old way, yet none com- plained, as we were going home now, and if necessary, riding in the coal- tender would not have been refused. The regiment moved in three trains, the first train leaving Bendorf at noon, April 19, 1919, and the last train, carrying the 3rd Battalion, leaving Bendorf early Sunday morning, April 20th. The route from Bendorf was through Coblenz, where the Rhine River was crossed, and Trier, Metz, then into France again, passing through Toul, Chaumont, Bourges, Tours, Le Mans, to Brest. It was a long journey and required about three days. Arriving at Brest, the troops unloaded and marched to the great American camp, Camp Pontenezen, where we were housed under canvas once more. Thousands of troops passed through this camp daily on their way back to the States. Trains were continually bringing new troops from the interior as fast as troops were taken to the harbor and loaded on waiting transports, and the number handled increased daily. The ever- increasing number of troops at this camp required continual enlarge- ment of the camp to accommodate them, and the comforts of the camp was continually being improved, and road construction work was going , on all the time. The regiment had hardly arrived in camp when de- tails for men to work on the roads came down from Camp Headquar- ters, but everyone was light-hearted and happy at the thoughts of soon 230 RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES being home and went at their work in the same spirit that character- ized the service of the regiment throughout the war. This was the first time that we had the opportunity of seeing the waters of the Atlantic and ocean steamers since we passed through this port some fourteen months before, and every man availed himself of the opportunity and hoped they would embark on the morrow. We were told that the average time for troops to remain in Brest was five days, so we did not expect to tarry long. While at Brest every man was given a bath, whole companies being under the showers at one time. After the bath the men were inspected for vermin and then given clean underwear and uniforms. This inspection was made weekly. A cold, drizzling rain fell nearly every day during our stay at Brest, and it was said by the inhabitants that this region don't have more than seven weeks of sunshine throughout the year, which statement was not disputed by us. At last orders came for the regiment to be ready to embark, but the orders only provided for the 1st and 2nd Battalions and the auxil- iary units, and the 3rd Battalion was not included. In the morning of April 28th, these troops marched to the docks and went on board the Francis J. Luckenback, a small merchant freighter. Colonel Mollison and twenty other officers embarked at the same time, the remaining officers of these organizations being left behind and temporarily at- tached to the 3rd Battalion on account of lack of accommodations aboard ship. Toward late in the afternoon the ship put out to sea and soon ran into a storm, which lasted two days and kicked up a heavy sea, driving the ship a hundred miles off its course, and the port of Boston was not reached until May 14, where the troops immediately entrained for Camp Devens. The 3rd Battalion was split up and on May 7th, Companies I and L embarked on a transport and sailed for New York, where they arrived on May 20th, while Companies K and M left Brest May 9th and embarked on the English ship Valacia and arrived in New York May 22nd, where all four companies entrained for Camp Mills. While the regiment was waiting in these debarkation camps the men were grouped according to demobilization camps at which they were to be mustered out, and on May 18th, the troops at Camp Deven assigned to Camp Custer entrained for Detroit, where a big reception was tendered to them and the troops paraded through the streets of the city. From Detroit these troops went to Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, where they also paraded and were entertained, and then went on to 231 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY Camp Custer, where they were mustered out of the military service on May 22, 1919. The officers of the regiment left behind in Brest were assigned as casuals and boarded the transport Im-perator and arrived in New York May 24th, and later were discharged at demobilization camps nearest their homes. The companies of the 3rd Battalion were kept together in groups as they had arrived in New York, and on May 26th, Com- panies I and L left Camp Mills, and going by way of Grand Rapids, where they paraded and a reception was tendered them, arriving in Camp Custer May 27th, and were mustered out of the service May 28th, while Companies K and M left Camp Mills May 28th and went direct to Camp Custer, where they arrived May 29th, and were mus- tered out of the service the following day. The remainder of the men in the regiment were sent to nineteen different demobilization camps, located from New York State to the State of Washington, and from Ohio to Arkansas, where each were honorably discharged from the service of Uncle Sam, and thus ended the service of the 126th Infantry in the greatest war of all time, with a record of achievements second to none and to which every member can always, in later years, point with pride. i ON THE MARCH TO THE RHINE. 232 CHAPTER XVI THE REGIMENTAL AUXILIARY TROOPS BEFORE closing this book a word should be said of the service of the auxiliary companies of the regiment. A complete Infantry Regiment contains, in addition to its regular composition, groups of men, who are specially instructed in the various branches and arms of the service produced for the first time by this war. Among these groups is the regimental intelligence and scout section, and to its mem- bers much credit is due for the service rendered by them. This sec- tion was habitually distributed among the regimental and battalion headquarters, so that an account of their activities is of necessity interwoven with that of the company or battalion to which they were attached. This section was a part of the Intelligence Department and it was not created until after the regiment arrived in France. While the regiment was completing its final training near the Alsace front, a part of its personnel were detailed to attend specialty schools, which were established in the A. E. F., for the purpose of receiving special instruction upon how to acquire information and intelligence concerning the enemy. The other Allies had their trained specialists in this kind of service and were using them to advan- tage. These men were instructed in the duties of scouts, snipers and observers, and together constituted the Intelligence Department. The intelligence section furnished patrols, kept the enemy under constant surveillance, and obtained information needed by the higher commands. Just previous to the laying down of a barrage for an attack, it was their duty to verify and correct the safety zone between the advance troops and the line from which the barrage would start. They also furnished guides to direct commands at night to positions in the line. A working knowledge of the requirements of their duties were quickly acquired by our men, and possessing qualities of aggressive- ness and initiative, an important essential for this kind of work, soon were able to function most efficiently, while the regiment occu- pied the front sector in Alsace, and in all the service that followed. It was reorganized after every offensive, and functioned on the march to the Rhine, and while in the area of occupation, broadened 233 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY its scope to keep constantly in touch with the economical, social and political conditions in Germany. In all the service in France, the regimental intelligence section acquitted itself in the same aggressive manner that characterized the regiment throughout, and successfully accomplished their purpose as a department of the regiment. The same must be said of all the other auxiliary branches and arms of the regiment as has been said of the intelligence section. The signal platoon carried out its part in the operations of the regiment in a highly successful manner. The principal duty of this platoon was to maintain communication by telephone line, lamp signals, carrier pigeons, and other devices, between the regimental headquarters and the battalion headquarters. Frequently it happened that the tele- phone lines would be severed by artillery fire, and then the men of this platoon would go out through the artillery fire, many times at night, to find the break in the line, and as minutes mean all during a battle, they never failed to restore the lines of communication in a minimum of time. The Stokes mortar platoon and the One-Pound Cannon platoon are known as the infantry's own artillery, and both were with the regiment constantly, ready for instant use should occasion demand. But in all our engagements the regiment was the aggressor and moving forward, so that little opportunity was had for these two valuable weapons to come into their own. During the latter part of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the one-pounders were allowed to go into action, and handled in the most credible manner by the men of this platoon, they fulfilled the highest expectations of their originators for the few days that they were permitted to become engaged. The Pioneer platoon and Orderly section were also on constant duty with the regiment and performed their work fearlessly and in the same cheerful spirit which prevailed throughout the regiment. To the band section fell the duty, in addition to those of furnishing music and entertainment for the regiment, of furnishing litter bearers and bury- ing details, whenever the regiment was in action, which work fre- quently had to be done under fire. The medical officers of the Sanitary Detachment always placed their first aid dressing stations as near the front line as possible, ever ready to give their best efforts to relieve the pain and dress the wounds of our wounded, and the enlisted personnel accompanied the attacking troops and rendered first aid on the battlefield. Wearing a red cross on their sleeves, they continually exposed themselves while 234 THE AUXILIARY TROOPS going from place to place to aid the wounded, and their conduct won the admiration of every doughboy. The Supply Company was responsible for the maintainance of supplies, equipment, ammunition and rations for the entire regiment. The duties of this organization were most important, because upon it depended, in a large measure, the success of the regiment. The troops of this unit were on duty for twenty-four hours at a time, haul- ing ammunition and rations to the front line. In all kinds of weather they carried on, over roads that seemed impassable, and which tried the spirit of both officers and men, but made of the same stuff as the remainder of the regiment, they never faltered and always had the most needed supplies where they should be. This company was fre- quently commended by higher commanders for the manner in which the animals and equipment were kept, and for the many times that the company succeeded in keeping up with the regiment over congested roads, when other similar organizations failed. TfrST^' m < it v * - jr x mfrl ; I A > :! M ' ; '-^-~0"> -" if J^3 3 ih~ W^ * A STREET SCENE AFTER ARRIVING IN ECHTERNACH, LUXEMBURG. 235 CHAPTER XVII COMMENTS BY THE DIVISION AND BRIGADE COM- MANDERS ON THE REGIMENT AND DIVISION HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH ARMY CORPS AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES GERMANY April 1, 1919. First Lieut. Geo. H. Talbott, Historian, 126th Inf., 32nd Div. Sayn, Germany. My Dear Mr. Talbott: I have your letter of March 12th, asking for a brief statement giving my views as to the worth of the 126th Infantry during the great war. You state in your letter that "Whatever may be in your heart for the 126th Infantry, will be appre- ciated by the whole regiment." Should I attempt to express what is in my heart for the 126th Infantry and for the other splendid units constituting the 32nd Division, I could not, in the first place, find adequate expressions for conveying these feelings; nor would there be sufficient space in the brief allotment for such a statement in the history of the regiment. With respect to the 126th Infantry, my feelings are those of great admiration. The forcefulness of its Commander, Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge, who com- manded the regiment from its organization until the close of its last battle, is but a part and parcel of the same spirit of forcefulness and the will to do in the 126th Infantry which has been one of the most pronounced causes for the wonderful successes of the 32nd Division as a fighting unit. Never once did I have a doubt in my mind in regard to the regiment reaching its objectives. In the fight near Juvigny, when the regiment relieved a French unit during the night, I sent the Commander of the Regiment word that an advance was to be made about day- light on his right, and that if he were ready to make an advance on his part of the line, to do so behind a barrage that would be laid down at a certain minute; but that he, as the commander on the field, must use his own judgment in the matter, because his officers had not had an opportunity to make reconnaissances. A short half-hour after the time set for this advance, I received a message from Colonel Westnedge, stating that he had reached his objective and taken a "hell of a lot of prisoners." This has been the spirit of the 126th Infantry throughout all the operations. Never did I have to hesitate about placing this regiment into difficult positions; wherever they were placed, I knew that the best that was in them would be forthcoming. It has been a great honor to me to have under my command during all of its battles such a splendid organization, and I take pleasure 236 COMMENTS BY COMMANDERS in bearing testimony to the many valiant deeds and acts of heroism performed by the individuals composing this organization, and by the regiment as a fighting unit. I desire to pay particular tribute to its Commander, Colonel Joseph West- nedge, whose loyalty to his superior officers and his energy in training his own men and preparing them for battle, were no less than his wonderful courage during all the actions in which the 32nd Division took part. I shall never forget my last conversation with him; it was just before the attack on the Kriemhilde Stellung was made. I had, on occasions, seen him farther to the front, habitually, than I thought the Regimental Commander should be. I told him before going into this action that I did not want him to expose himself to such an extent as to be caught by the enemy's bullets, for I could not afford to lose him. He smiled, and said: "They can't get me." Then, when all the fighting was over, he was taken suddenly ill, was evacuated to a hospital and there died. He is a great loss to the army as a soldier, and to the country as a citizen. W. G. HAAN, Major General, U. S. A. MAJOR GENERAL W. G. HAAN, ON THE 32nd DIVISION February 11, 1919. 1. The 32nd Division, as it went into battle, was composed of approximately two-thirds National Guard and one-third drafted men. The spirit of the Divi- sion was due entirely to the spirit that was built up in the Division when it was composed wholly of National Guard troops and before it left Camp MacArthur, Texas. In building up a Division spirit the Division Commander had most loyal support and assistance, particularly from the two Brigade Commanders of Infantry, Brigadier General C. L. Bordman, from Wisconsin, and Brigadier General L. C. Covell, from Michigan. To these two officers must also be given credit for the energetic work in training their units in accordance with the theory announced by the Division Commander and the schedules based upon War Department instruc- tions. To these officers, as well as to other National Guard officers of high grade, must also be given most loyal support on account of their conscientious assistance in eliminating officers unfit for war service. Nearly all officers that were eliminated as unfit for war service were eliminated upon the recommendations of National Guard officers and they went before Boards, where that became necessary, com- posed entirely of National Guard officers. The high spirit of the Division made itself felt even in those early days, because it seemed to me even then that the Division fully realized that we were not training merely in theory, but that we were training to actually go into battle, in consequence of which it became the more important that all officers unfit to lead men for any cause whatsoever had to be gotten rid of. Most of these officers recognized their own deficiencies and willingly quit. To their credit, it should be said that they quit with heavy hearts. Here, again, came in the spirit of loyalty in these men, which was so manifest from the beginning and which grew day by day as the training progressed. 2. Upon arrival in France, everyone knows what a heartsick feeling went through the Division when it was announced that it was to be a Replacement Division. The very heart seemed to drop out of it. Nevertheless, the two Brigade Commanders stood firmly by the Division Commander and told the men that someone had to do this work and that in order to do it well, the better trained organizations were, the better it would be for the army as a whole. With this spirit the Division began to get ready replacements and send them forward. Two thousand were sent to the First Division and I have heard it expressed by 237 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY many officers that these two thousand men, together with nine Captains that were sent were the very flower of our Division and were undoubtedly the cause of much of the success that was so soon to be credited to the First Division. 3. Not only was the Division made a Replacement Division, but three of its regiments were assigned as labor troops in the S. O. S. — perhaps the most humili- ating thing to happen to any troops who believe themselves justly to be well trained considering the period of their training. But this training in itself kept them from complaining, and when they received their orders, upon repeated in- vestigations and requests of the Division Commander, to come to the training area, a revived spirit was seen through the Division and when the hope was held out to them that they might again be made into a Combat Division, their joy really sector relieving the larger part of two French Divisions. 4. Four short weeks after assembling in the training area at Prauthoy, the Division was transported by rail to Alsace, where it was immediately placed in the had no bounds and they went to work with a will. 5. During the short period that the Division had been a Replacement Divi- sion, nearly half of its infantry had been taken away and, consequently, when it began training for a temporary combat Division again, many replacements had to be moulded into the organizations, including officers and men, but the old spirit of the Division predominated and it was but a short time — a surprisingly short time — when these new troops, many of them but little trained, not only became efficient in their work, but thej^ came to like the Division, and through a process which seemed almost contagious, never wanted to serve with any other Division. This is the spirit that has constantly existed in the 32nd Division. I have seen no such manifestation of personal liking for each other among any organization, and among men and among officers, as has always manifested itself in the 32nd Divi- sion. For these reasons, naturally, I have become greatly attached to the Divi- sion. I frequently shall feel, when the Division goes home and I stay in France, as if I were an orphan far from home and friends. 6. I have spoken above of the spirit of the Division that was manifest before it entered into any of its great battles. Its conduct in these battles has already been published, but it cannot be too highly praised. Everywhere, always, the results were greater than I had expected and in many cases equal to what I had hoped for. These successes, of course, added greatly to perhaps not the affection, but the pride among the members of the Division, and particularly so with the Division Commander and the Division Staff and the higher commanders. It was pride, together with the spirit of comradeship and liking for each other, that carried the front line troops many times into and over most difficult obstacles. It was this spirit that overcame the strong position of the Ourcq; it was this spirit that stormed Fismes and Juvigny; it was this spirit that carried the key position of the Kreimhilde-Stellung — La Cote Dame Marie. 7. My own personal liking for the Division on account of its fine response to my attempts for its training naturally grew as time passed, and grew even faster, I think, on account of the rewards that were handed to me by the higher author- ities on account of the word of the 32nd Division. I feel very certain that I owe this Division m.v promotion to a Major General (temporary grade) and Brigadier General in the Regular Army, and a Corps Commander. I have, therefore, per- sonal reasons which alone would be sufficient to make me feel grateful to the men of this Division; but which are small in comparison to a feeling of admiration and 238 COMMENTS BY COMMANDERS pride that has manifested itself throughout the entire time, from its organization until the close of its last battle, and even on its march to the Rhine. W. G. HAAN, Major General, U. S. A. GREETINGS TO THE REGIMENT FROM BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANK R. MoCOY, COMMANDER OF THE 63rd BRIGADE FROM SEPT. 2 TO NOV. 25, 1918 Tours, France, April 14, 1919. First Lieut, Geo. H. Talbott, 126th Infantry, A. E. F, Sayne, Germany. Dear Lieut. Talbott: In answer to your letter asking for a greeting to the officers and men of your fine old regiment : I find myself very full of feeling and remembrances, and hark back to my first meeting with your Colonel, the day I reported for duty with the 63rd Brigade in the Old Croutte, crowded with French and American P. C.'s in front of Juvigny. The Brigade had been relieved the night before, after its splendid effort and successful advance on Juvigny, and the 64th Brigade found itself up against that hot corner, which you all remember so well; and quite understand why General Winans was asking to have the 128th Regiment sup- ported by at least one battalion of the 126th. An entire stranger to you all, I at once felt confident, after a talk with Colonel Westnedge, and still more so when he was followed by Major Cathcart, who came in to get final instructions before moving up again with his battalion. That was significant of what happened in all the other fights in which the Division took part. If not in the front line yourselves, you were in close support of it, and no matter how gruelling the fight, Westnedge and his officers and men were ready to move forward against the Boche or relieve any other regiment in front or on either flank. But my full confidence was established after the fight, when, one dark night, the telephonic order came to withdraw from in front of Terny-Sorney, with the intimation that the Division was to leave Mangin's 10th French Army and join the 1st American Army. This order came about 3 o'clock in the morning, and the Brigade Adjutant sent out the orders for the relief by the French without waking me. In the morning I found the Brigade on the march, headed down the Aisne, and by 11 o'clock the whole show was in billets and reacting as though nothing had happened, and with nothing left behind! In spite of the fierce fight and the heavy losses, everybody was in fine fettle and ready for the next one. It is an easy thing to fight when you are put at it and full of ardor, as the Yanks always are, but it is a different game to pick up on a dark night and withdraw from the enemy without leaving anything or anybody behind, and to do it as quietly and quickly as did the 126th that night, and often later on in the gruelling fights in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Under Colonel Waldo the supply system kept up with the fighting, and our Yanks never went hungry. A very small proportion of soldier time is spent in actual fighting, but there is a lot of waiting and marching and training, and in the next few weeks I was able to size up the Regiment, got to know the younger officers, and felt proud to lead them in the great final offensive north of Montfaucon. It will take a lot of talking and thinking for us to straighten out the fighting 239 .. . .. MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM G. HA AN, U. S. Army, Commanding 32nd Div. BRIG. GEN. LOUIS C. COVELL, U. S. BRIG. GEN. FRANK McCOY, U. S. Army, Nat. Guard, Commanding 63rd Inf. Brio Commanding 63rd Inf. Brig. 240 COMMENTS BY COMMANDERS and moving during those gruelling three weeks of October, but there is one proud memory that the 126th can always have; that it was the first regiment to dent the famous Kriemhilde Stellung, when it broke through and first saw Romagne- sous-Montfaucon full in the face ; and later on the regiment, with the 3rd Battalion in the lead, took advantage of the hole which Gansser, of the 125th Infantry, had made further to the west, attacked and captured the famous LaCote Dame Marie and enabled the whole Division to work through to the north of the Bois Banthe- ville, where it was the point of the arrow for the whole army. The proud totem of the Red Arrow commemorates that. General Haan thinks that was the best day's work the Division ever did. I am sorry to say that I did not have command of the 126th that day, for you were operating with the 127th under General Winans, while I was in command of the 125th, and the 128th moving on your right by Romagne to the Bois Chauvignon. From then on it was comparatively easy going, and during the period in sup- port of the 89th and 90th Divisions, the 126th was reorganizing, training replace- ments and getting ready for the final fling. From the Bois de Montfaucon we moved northeast and were held ready to take up the pursuit of the Boche across the river, headed toward Montmedy, when we were suddenly switched to the right of the 5th Division, crossing at Dun-sur-Meuse, over the heights of the Meuse and down into the plain of the Woevre, ready for another attack, when the clock struck 11 on the 11th of Novem- ber and found us acting very strangely in the quiet and light of peace. I have never forgotten how peculiar the lighted windows and campfires looked that same night. A few days more and the regiment was following after the Boche, and made some fine marches through Longwy and across Luxemburg to the German frontier. There I was suddenly ordered away to other duty, and left the regiment with the feeling that I belonged to it. I hope to see you off at Brest, and wish you bon voyage, and some time I shall go to Michigan for the express purpose of seeing you and talking over our great times together. Faithfully yours, FRANK McCOY. ORDER ISSUED IN THE ARGONNE P. C. 64th Brigade, October 13, 1918. Hour, 14:45. ORDER OF THE DAY Soldiers of the Front Line : 32nd Division. A few hundred yards to the north of you the remnants of the decimated crack divisions of the German Army are clinging desperately to the pivotal point of their bruised and broken lines, on which the fate of their Emperor and their Empire hang. The 32nd Division was sent to this sector to shatter that line. You are shock troops— "Les Terribles," the French call you. "Fightin' Sons-of-Guns," the Amer- icans call you. You are the very flower of our army. And you who remain up there in front have been tried by fire. The skulkers have skulked— the quitters have quit. Only the men with "guts" remain. Machine Guns? You have captured thousands of them. And you have taken 241 CAPT. FRED W. BEAUDRY, Co. H CAPT. JOHN F. GIRARD, Co. D Killed in action Aug. 2, 1918, near Sergy. Killed in action Oct. 5, 1918, near Cierges. CAPT. RICHARD F. SMITH, Co. F, killed in action Aug. 4, 1918, near Fismes. 1ST LT. HAROLD J. KING, Co. F 1ST LT. IDEN E. CHATTERTON, Co. H Killed in action Oct. 10, 1918, near Romagne. Killed in action Oct. 6, 1918, near Cierges. 242 AN ORDER TO THE SOLDIERS IN THE FRONT LINE them standing up. The only way to take machine guns is to take them. No use lying down on the ground. They have plenty of ammunition and they aim low. Shells? Shell casualties are only 3 per cent of the total. Tired? You have been in the line two weeks. Your enemies have been in five weeks — prisoners say that they have gone through HELL. The 32nd Division is going ahead when the First American Army attacks. We are three regiments abreast, with one in support. Each echeloned in depth — one battalion behind the other, except the one on the extreme right. That one mops up Romagne — the others go forward. This formation will give you driving power. The Americans must succeed. It is not enough to say, "I'll try." Your resolve must be, "I will." I desire this order of the day be communicated to every man in the command before H hour. WINANS, Brig. Gen. A DOUGHBOY'S IDEA OF THE COLORS There's many flags we've fought for, Of many a varied hue, But the one we shed our blood for Was the Red, the White and Blue. Red seems the valiant color To a soldier in the lines, Kind of beckons to a feller When he's having bitter times; When the shells are bursting thickly And there's hot machine gun fire, It encourages the sickly And it never lets them tire. White are the things behind us, When we're wounded in the fray, It stops our hurts and blinds us To the pains of yesterday; Kind of speaks of white-clad nurses, And of cool and pleasant ward, And it dulls the sound of curses As the battle line sweeps forward. Blue is the haze at twilight. After the day is done, And we've battled hard for what is right And we rest at the setting sun; It stands for lots of grit, boys, To see the action through And it means we've given up our joys That's what it stands for — Blue. These are the things we've fought for, To these sentiments been true, Our comrades gave their lives for The Red, the White and Blue. — R. Norman. 243 1ST LT. DONALD C. McMILLAN, Co. G Died Aug. 5, '18, from wounds received Aug. 1,'IS. 2ND LT. ERK M. COTTRELL, Co. F Killed in action Oct. 9, 1918, near Romagne. 2ND LT. RICHARD E. COOK, Co. H Killed in action Aug. 4, 1918. 1ST LT. THOS. E. M. HEFFERAN, Co. M Killed in action Aug. 1, 1918. 2ND LT. ARTHUR I. KELLER, JR., Co. I Killed in action Aug. 1, 1918. 2ND LT. CHARLES R. WILBER, Co. B Killed in action Oct. 3, 1918, near Cierges. 244 CHAPTER XVIII EXTRACTS FROM NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES REFERRING TO THE 32nd DIVISION IN THE WAR (From the New York Herald of November 23, 1918) GALLANT 32nd HAS FOUGHT 20 GERMAN "CRACK" DIVISIONS (Special Telegram to the Herald) From Burr Price When the American Army of Occupation started its march toward the Rhine on November 17th, one of our crack divisions, the Thirty-second, was celebrating an anniversary. Just six months before, this division first planted the American flag on German soil in Alsace. On May 17th, Michigan and Wisconsin men came under enemy shell fire, and from that date to November 11th, the division has outranged the Boche guns. Only ten days after its turn in the trenches the Thirty- second Division chased the Boche from the Ourcq to the Vesle. Then it went to a sector north of Soissons and stormed Juvigny Plateau, fighting side by side with the heroic "Poilus" of General Mangin. After that victory with the French it had a rest for ten days before getting ready for the final drive. The American army's scrap north of Verdun was but three days old when the Thirty-second went in, and for the next three weeks the Michigan and Wisconsin boys battled the Boche for Kriemhilde Stellung. It was they who finally broke through the key position of "La Cote Dame Marie," from which they then pushed on to F'reya Stellung, pushing the Boche gunners out of Bantheville Wood. They carried the line up to the point where the final attack, on November 1st, was launched, and followed in support of the divisions which crossed the Meuse at Dun and captured Stenay. In the last few days of the war the Thirty-second went into line in the Meuse bridgehead sector, and with the French, were in the midst of an attack when the armistice stopped fighting. During the war the division has fought on five fronts — Alsace, the Vesle, Soissons, Argonne and the Meuse — and has fought twenty of Germany's best divisions, among them the Prussian Guards. It has never yielded a yard of ground to the enemy's counter-attacks. FOUGHT FIRST TO LAST Bore Burden of the War Nation's Thanks Due Men of 1st, 2nd, 26th, 32nd and 42nd Extracts from Article written by George Rothwell Brown Magazine Writer Five Divisions of American troops bore the brunt of all our fighting in France from our entrance into the war up to the day the armistice was signed. Other divisions played a splendid part in the hard fighting our soldiers did, but 245 MAJOR JAY C. McCULLOUGH MAJOR EARL R. STEWART LT. COL. GEORGE C. WALDO MAJOR ALBERT C. WILSON MAJOR JOHN H. SCHOUTEN 246 "HELD THE BRIDGE" FOR ARMY the war ended before most of them were in condition fit to be called combat troops. The five divisions which heroically sustained the terrible burden of the war while America gathered up her strength and prepared other troops to aid them, were the First and Second, the Twenty-sixth, the Thirty-second, and the Forty- second. Of these the first two are regular divisions. The other three are National Guard divisions from New England, from Michigan and Wisconsin, and with respect to the Forty-second, or Rainbow Division, from every part of the country. "HELD THE BRIDGE" FOR ARMY Thus three-fifths of the troops which "held the bridge" while the National Army was mobilizing, were State troops. How magnificently they upheld the traditions of America on every American front during the war is imperishably written in a record of which their countrymen may well be proud. Other divisions, both Regular, National Guard and National Army, aided materially in winning the war. They are entitled to full credit, and they will receive it. But the five divisions I have named, as is well known and gladly admitted throughout the A. E. F., are especially deserving of the thanks of the Nation. Through these heroic divisions, more men have passed than originally com- posed them, and although the other divisions that reached the front paid their toll in blood also, they suffered no such casualties as were sustained by the group of five that bore the brunt because they were ready first to go into the line. CONTINUOUSLY AT FRONT Since the time they first went into the line these five divisions fought con- tinuously on every front, in every defense and in every offensive in which Amer- icans took part. From the time the First took the initiative at Cantigny for the first time, in May, down to November 11th, they were America's only shock troops, the best we had. And they were used to the limit of human endurance, yet never faltered. These five divisions never had any rest. When their ranks were thinned by shot and shell, they were filled by replacements, and the old spirit enabled them to absorb the new men and make them veterans. These five divisions bore the brunt of the fighting at Chateau-Thierry and on the Marne, from June to August, and came out shattered in all but heart and courage. Without rest, they had to be put into the St. Mihiel offensive, in Sep- tember, where again they were the shock troops. Without rest, they were thrown into the fighting in the Argonne. It had to be done. Most of the other divisions were not yet sufficiently seasoned to fight alone. Most of them were to receive their baptism of fire in the Argonne and on the Meuse, where they were to prove that they needed only training and experience in action to become as good as the best. With the exception of the Twenty-sixth, which came out of the offensive near Verdun with only 18,000 men, these divisions were sent right off on the long march into Germany. Again, they could not be replaced. Every soldier in France is proud of his own division, and he has a right to be. But with the chivalry and modesty of soldiers who know the truth and want noth- ing but the truth, every soldier in France will bow his head at the mention of 247 MAJ. WILLIAM C. RANKIN, M. C. MAJ. EDWARD B. STROM CAPT. JESS W. CLARK MAJ. WILLIAM H. BURKE MAJ. M. W. HINGELEY CAPT. WALTER N. BURGESS 248 CONTINUOUSLY AT FRONT these five heroic divisions— three of which were composed of the once despised National Guard. I have never been a believer in the National Guard system, but I know that if these National Guard divisions had not been ready with the out- break of the war, we could not have turned the trick. We could not have helped to win the war without the selective draft and the National Army, nor could we have done what we did without the National Guard. "THE NATIONAL DEBT" OF ECHTERNACH AND HOW IT WAS PAID Their joy at meeting us was plain to see, In truth they were as glad as glad could be. They met us on the road to Echternach, They built us arches under which to walk; They shouted loud and filled us full of talk, With a "Hip! Hail! Ze Amerique! Hip! Hail! Deliverers of nations zat are weak!" But their national debt was a burden hard to bear, Still they bore it with a patience that was rare. It hung about their necks— a mighty rock; It had busted all the banks of Echternach. They owed a million marks to Kaiser Bill, They owed another million to the crown, They owed the standing army's pay, and still They owed the debts their fathers handed down. They owed for the bridge that spanned the river Sauer And the national debt was growing every hour, With a "Hip! Hail! Ze Amerique! Hip! Hail! Deliverers of nations zat are weak!" And now good fortune smiled on Echternach, For trade was getting better every day. The banks began to issue preferred stock, When Uncle Sammie's boys had drawn their pay, They bought up all the wines and snops and beers, They bought 'em out of toys and souvenirs; They paid the "gast hous" twice the sum agreed, 'Twas certain Echternach had now been freed. The citizens were looking bland, when lo! The H. Q. orders came that we must go. With a "Hip! Hail! Ze Amerique! Hip! Hail! Deliverers of nations zat are weak!" So we healed the sickly state of all her grievous wounds, As we gladly marched away to the bugle's glorious sound, They stood upon the street and shouted as before, For when "zat" nation weak had counted up her store, She found that she didn't owe a single phennig more. And what became of us she didn't give a damn For the national debt was paid by the boys of Uncle Sam. With a "Hip ! Hail ! Ze Amerique ! Hip! Hail! Deliverers of nations zat are weak!" — Claude Orear, Chaplain. 249 CAPT. EMIL B. GANSSER, Co. M CAPT. JAMES SINKE, Co. K CAPT. JOHN BENNER, Co. B CAPT. ARTHUR VOLLAND, Co. I CAPT. ROSCOE L. GRAVES, Co. A 250 CHAPTER XIX THE 126th INFANTRY'S HONOR MEN The following is a list of all officers and men in the regiment who were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the French Legion of Honor, the Croix de Guerre, and other decorations. This list is com- piled from all available information we have been able to procure, but it is believed that the list is not complete, as decorations have been received by many men since the regiment was mustered out, and these men are requested to forward information of the same to the Associa- tion's headquarters: COL. JOSEPH B. WESTNEDGE, F. & S., D. S. M. and Croix de Guerre. LT. COL. JAMES CATHCART, F. & S., D. S. C. MAJOR WILLIAM H. BURKE, F. & S., Croix de Guerre. MAJOR PATRICK R. DUNNIGAN, F. & S., Croix de Guerre. CAPT. JAMES M. WILSON, F. & S, D. S. C, Legion of Honor and C. de G. 2ND LT. DONALD E. PERRY, F. & S, Croix de Guerre. SGT. BEN F. FOGLESONG, Co. A, Croix de Guerre. CORP. GLENN GRAVES, Co. A, Croix de Guerre, SGT. WM. E. HAMILTON, Co. A, Croix de Guerre. PFC. OKEY PRICE, Co. A, Croix de Guerre. PVT. 1CL. ISIDORE VISSILLO, Co. A, Croix de Guerre. 1ST LT. LELAND E. WHEELER, Co. A, Croix de Guerre. SGT. RANCY R. KAIN, Co. C, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre. CORP. STEPHEN V. SHIPMAN, Co. C, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre. SGT. ORRIE THOMPSON, Co. C, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre. SGT. ARTHUR AAMOT, Co. D, D. S. C. SGT. HENRY D. DYE, Co. D, D. S. C. CORP. ROBERT J. KLINE, Co. D, D. S. C. SGT. MAXWELL E. SMITH, Co. D, D. S. C. CORP. GUSTAVE MICHALKA, Co. E. Croix de Guerre. 2ND LT. JAMES C. BLANEY, Co. F, Croix de Guerre. 1ST LT. HAROLD J. KING, Co. F, D. S. C. PVT. GEORGE S. DOWNING, Co. G, Croix de Guerre. SGT. GEORGE A. HOPKINS, Co. G, D. S. C. PVT. 1CL. WILLIAM E. HURST, Co. G, D. S. C. SGT. RICHARD LANDER, Co. G, Croix de Guerre. CORP. GEORGE A. POHL, Co. G, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre. PVT. HARRY C. SWIFT, Co. G, D. S. C. 1ST LT. PHILLIP TINDALL, Co. G, D. S. C. 1ST LT. JOHN R. DE VALL, Co. H, Croix de Guerre. SGT. RUDOLPH HEMMES, Co. H, Croix de Guerre. SGT. WILLIAM LUZINSKI, Co. H, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre. SGT. GEORGE RINALDI, Co. H, Croix de Guerre. PVT. JOSEPH W. GUYTON, Co. I, Croix de Guerre. CORP. CLARENCE L. HINKLE, Co. I, Croix de Guerre. SGT. EDWARD HORRIGAN, Co. I, Croix de Guerre. 251 HEADQUARTERS GROUP 1ST BATTALION Bottom row (from left to right) : 1st Lt. Shanahan, Chaplain ; Capt. Cameron, M. C. ; Major Hingeley, Bn. Commander; 1st Lt. Nettleton, Adjt. ; 1st Lt. Seitz, M. C. Second row: Pvt. lcl. Moran, Corp. Triestram, Bn. Sgt. Major Sher- man, Corp. Lennon, Pvt. lcl. Flint. Third Row: Pvt. lcl. Dean, Pvt, Hon- dorp, Pvt. DeWitt, Pvt. lcl. Reich- ert, Pvt. lcl. Dunham, Pvt. lcl. Ackerman. Top row : Pvt. lcl. Lynn, Pvt. lcl. Murley, Pvt. lcl. Garber, Pvt. De- Boer, Pvt. lcl. Donahue, Pvt. lcl. Jordan. HEADQUARTERS GROUP 2ND BATTALION Bottom row (from left to right) : Sgt. L. C. Barnett, Bn. Sgt. Maj. J. M. Lof strom, 2nd Lt. G. D. Taft, Adjt.; Major J. T. Potter, Bn. Commander ; 2nd Lt. G. F. Enders, 2nd Lt. J. J. Fox. Second row: Pvts. C. T. Hanck, lcl. H. J. Drake, lcl. W. T. Spearman, lcl. C. C. Simons, N. Hereim, Corp. A. R. Dier, Corp. C. Hamann. Third row: Pvts. lcl. J. R. Roughton, lcl. C. D. Hum- mel, Corp. H. F. Mills, Pvts. lcl. B. A. Rich, H. S. Eley. Top row: Pvt. lcl. R. M. Herron, Sgt. R. B. Waldo, Pvts. lcl. J. I. Hollahan, lcl. C. C. Hare, lcl. E. Murphy, H. G. Hermes, O. D. Haves, lcl. H. D. Corwin, Corp. W. B. Hayes. HEADQUARTERS GROUP 3RD BATTALION Bottom row (from left to right) : Capt. L. W. Chilton, M. C. ; Lt. Col. J. O. Cathcart, Bn. Commander; 1st Lt. H. A. Quirt, Adjt. ; 1st Lt. F. H. Spotts. Second row : Corp. H. J. Townley, Pvts. C. Waldbridge, F. Berry, J. Donham, Sgt. R. Hemmes, Pvt. B. Humphrey, Bn. Sgt. Major F. Pennell. Third row: Pvt. lcl. L. McMaster, Corp. J. E. Vogt, Pvts. M. Ott, H. Brier, C. W. Bischopberger, E. Pearsall, G. Rozema. Top row : Pvts. F. Redson, F. Thomp- soiij C. Pearson, F. Moore, W. Weiman, W. Hart, W. Borths. 252 THE 126th INFANTRY'S HONOR MEN SGT. WILLIAM LININGER, Co. I, D. S. C. PVT. ALBERT L. LUCE, Co. I, Croix de Guerre. SGT. HARRY MANSFIELD. Co. I, D. S. C. SGT. OSCAR A. RUNDQUIST, Co. I, D. S. C. CORP. LAUREL SHORE, Co. I, D. S. C. SGT. CARL BANKS, Co. K, D. S. C. CORP. BARNELL C. CARR, Co. K, Croix de Guerre. SGT. CHARLES CUNNINGHAM, Co. K, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre. 1ST LT. SIDNEY ELEVELD, Co. K, Croix de Guerre. SGT. ALEXANDER SALIK, Co. K, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre. SGT. NICHOLAS SMITH, Co. K, D. S. C. SGT. EDGAR C. TAYLOR, Co. K, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre. SGT. CORNELIUS VONK, Co. K, Croix de Guerre. PVT. 1CL. CHARLES F. COMISKA, Co. L, Croix de Guerre. MEC. GUTHBERT COURYNER, Co. L, Croix de Guerre. SGT LYMAN T COVELL, Co.-L, C. de G. and Chevalier of Leopold II. PVT. FRANK W. FRESSE, Co. L, Croix de Guerre. SGT. ARTHUR E. HAWKS, Co. L, Croix de Guerre. SGT. LEWIS HUDSON, Co. L, Croix de Guerre. CORP. ERNEST A. SHEER, Co. L, D. S. C. CORP. JERROLD B. THOMPSON, Co. L, Croix de Guerre. SGT. ROY WEBSTER, Co. L, Croix de Guerre. SGT. JAMES D. BABCOCK, Co. M, Croix de Guerre. 1ST LT. CHAS. E. H. BATES, Co. M, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre, 33rd Div. PVT. 1CL. CHARLES L. BECK, Co. M, D. S. C. SGT. JOHN BREMER, Co. M, Croix de Guerre. CORP. WILLIAM EDSALL, Co. M, D. S. C. SGT. DANIEL F. GERBER, Co. M, Croix de Guerre. CORP. HENRY G. GRIFFEN, Co. M, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre. CORP. ALBERT KRZYKWA, Co. M, D. S: C. PVT. 1CL. FREDERICK McCLEMMENS, Co. M, D. S. C. CORP. FRANK R. MAREK, Co. M, D. S. C. PVT. 1CL. ALBERT NEITZEL, Co. M, D. S. C. SGT. ARTHUR B. PEHRSON, Co. M, Croix de Guerre. SGT. MATHEW POST, Co. M, Croix de Guerre. SGT. FRANK H. RAYMOND, Co. M, D. S. C. SGT. WILLIAM R. SMITH, Co. M, Croix de Guerre. PVT. 1CL. JAMES A. TAYLOR, Co. M, Croix de Guerre. SGT. WALLACE W. WALTMAN, Co. M, Croix de Guerre. SGT. IRA L. WESTCOTT, Co. M, D. S. C. PVT. 1ST CL. WENDELL WILSON, Co. M, Croix de Guerre. PVT. 1CL. JOHN J. ZELDAM, Co. M, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre. SGT. DOUGALD FERGUSON, M. G. Co., D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre. SGT. BUG. THEODORE KUTSCHINSKI, Hq. Co., Croix de Guerre. 1ST LT. WALTER L. SHIRLEY, Hq. Co., Croix de Guerre. PVT. JOHN C. CASEY, San. Det., Croix de Guerre. CAPT. JACOB COHEN, San. Det., Croix de Guerre. CAPT. LEO J. CRUM, San. Det., D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre. SGT. HAROLD A. DAWSON, San. Det., D. S. C. SGT. JOHN G. FOWLE, San. Det., D. S. C. MAJOR ORRA L. NORRIS, San. Det., Croix de Guerre. MAJOR WILLIAM RANKIN, San. Det., Croix de Guerre. PVT. 1CL. HOWARD E. WAITE, San. Det., D. S. C. Many members of the regiment were cited in orders but not awarded decorations and a list of them is not available. 253 ■a 2 oS Ed & . o43 „-1 -Sod n 3 d .■SM a** Q-^ ^ o ^ - ■* fl Sill jpq ^ > M Sri w a) ►41 A^te: P. a) bo r-r S' O M) :«? T-H > ° +5 . o ■BftW = o §"3 cc ■ . .HO offl o Pi c fe 0)f> cPh . -42 H»o c? « 3 m I w w d^ «c^ Ph— "W o -3 . O s^ ■ ■• o . p.- £ T3 .O °rii c • — 254 CHAPTER XX COMPLETE ROSTER OF THE 126TH INFANTRY REGIMENT DURING THE WORLD WAR, INCLUDING ALL CASUALTIES The following pages contain rosters of the officers and men who served with the 126th Infantry during the World War. These rosters are arranged by companies and contain over 7,300 names, and are as complete as it is possible to make them with the records available. While these rosters have been prepared with great care, there may be errors in some cases due either to incomplete or no records available, and in such cases the adjutant of the association should be notified. Because of lack of space, the record of each individual soldier is pre- sented in a condensed and abbreviated form, and the following infor- mation is given to guide the reader : Each soldier in the group or company pictures is numbered and to find the name of any soldier, look for his number in the first column of his company roster, and his name is opposite such number. The * (asterisk) on the left of each name indicates the soldier is an original member of the company or regiment. The greater number of replacement troops joined in groups on five occasions, and their arrival can be determined by first battles in which soldier participated. The first replacements joined at Camp MacArthur, Waco, Texas, in October and November, 1917. The second group joined in the 10th Training Area, Champlitte, France, April 24, 1918. The third group joined in the Soissons area, the fourth in the Joinville area in Septem- ber, 1918, and the fifth joined October 24, 1918, during the Meuse- Argonne Offensive. The "rank" of each soldier appears at top of column. The "battle engagements" are indicated by letters, as follows: "A" — Alsace Defensive Sector. "CT" — Chateau-Thierry or Aisne-Marne Offensive. "S" — Soissons Sector or Oise-Aisne Offensive (Juvigny). "MA" — Meuse-Argonne Offensive. "AO" — Army of Occupation. 255 HISTORY OF THE 126th INFANTRY Casualties are indicated thus: "K"— Killed. "DW"- Died of wounds. "DS"— Died of sickness. "W"— Wounded. "G"— Gassed. "SS" — Shell shocked. "P" — Prisoner of war. The date of casualty follows in order, month, day and year. In cases where soldier died of wounds, date of death is given first, and date of wound follows in parenthesis. The following abbreviations are used: "Tr." or "Transf," for transferred; "Fr." for from; "Hosp." for hospital; "Regt." for regiment; "Assgnd." for assigned; "SOS" for service of supply; "Com." for com- missioned; "Hqrs." for headquarters; "ACS" for Army Candidate School. ROSTER OF FIELD AND STAFF COLONELS *WESTNEDGE, JOSEPH B. Com. Feb. 7, 17. Kalamazoo, Mich. Commanding regt. at its organization. Evacuated sick to Hosp. Nov. 6, 18. Died in Base Hosp. at Nantes, France, Nov. 26, 18, of pneumonia and other complications induced by gas burns. MOLLISON, WILLIAM T. Com. May 24, 16. Faribault, Minn. Arrived in France Oct. 26, 18, with 136th Inft., 34th Div. Joined regt. Dec. 5, 18, and assigned to command. LIEUTENANT COLONELS *FALARDEAU, ELI V. Com. Feb. 7, 17. Big Rapids, Mich. Lt. Col. at organization of regt. Left regiment Dec. 28, 17, at Camp MacArthur, Texas. *WALDO, GEORGE C. Com. May 21, 17. Detroit, Mich. With 31st Mich. Inft. at call into service July 15, 17. Attached to Hqrs. 32nd Div. at reorganization of Brigade. Assigned to regt. Dec. 28, 17. Transferred to U. S. Nov. 2, 18. CAZIARC, ELLIOTT. Assigned to duty with regt. Nov. 5, 18. Assigned to command of regt. Nov. 8, 18. Relieved from duty with regt Nov. 19, 18. MEYER, HENRY A. Assigned to command of regt. Nov. 6, 18. Relieved from command Nov. 8, 18, and did not rejoin. BOWMAN, EVERETT M. Com. Aug. 7, 18. Arrived in France Nov. 1, 18, with 814th Pioneer Inft. Joined regt. Dec. 22, 18. Transf. to 2nd Div. Mar. 31, 18. *CATHCART, JAMES O. Com. Mar. 18, 19. Detroit, Mich. Captain of and commanding Co. G at organization of regt. Assigned to command 2nd Bn. Aug. 16, 18. Com. Major Oct. 8, 18. Relieved from command 2nd Bn. Mar. 18, 19, and attached to Regimental Headquarters. Assigned as Lt. Col. Mar. 31, 19. MAJORS *DUNNIGAN, PATRICK R. Flint, Mich. Com. Captain and Chaplain Sept. 9, 14, and was with regt. at organization. Gassed in action Aug. 1, 18, near Cierges. Returned to duty after first aid. Detailed Divisional Burial Officer Sept. 15, 18. Detached service at Hqrs. 32nd Div. Dec. 13, 18. Transf. to Hqrs. 5th Army Corps. Com. Major and Chaplain after leaving regt. *STEWART, EARL R. Com. Aug. 14, 05. Grand Rapids, Mich. Commanding 3rd Bn. at organization of regt. Transf. to Army Staff College, Langres, France, Sept. 24, 18, and did not rejoin. *McCULLOUGH, JAY CHARLES. Com. Feb. 19, 11. Lansing, Mich. Commanding 1st Bn. at organization of regt. Transf. to 1st Army Corps Hqrs. Aug. 15, 18, and did not rejoin. *WILSON, ALBERT C. Com. May 21, 17. Ann Arbor, Mich. Commanding 2nd Bn. at organization of regt. Relieved from 2nd Bn. June 20, 18. Transf. to S. O. S. July 2, 18. *SCHOUTEN, JOHN H. Com. Feb. 7, 17. Grand Rapids, Mich. Commanding 2nd Bn., 32nd Mich. Inft. Attached to 3rd Bn. at organization of regt. Detailed as Commander Artillery Range. Camp MacArthur, Texas. Accidentally injured left shoulder at Camp MacArthur. Evacuated to Base Hosp. No. 17, May 20, 18, and did not rejoin. DAVISON, PAUL R. Com. June 7, 18. Chicago, 111. Arrived in France Mar. 28, 18, with 15th Cavalry. Joined regt. July 8, 18, and assigned to command of 2nd Bn. Slightly gassed in action Aug. 5, 18, near Fismes. Evacuated to hosp. and did not rejoin. *McCORMICK, CHARLES L. Com. Sept. 5, 18. Big Rapids, Mich. Captain and com- manding Co. I at organization of regt. Attended Army Staff School, Langres, France, June 18 to July 20, 18. Assigned to command of 1st Bn. Aug. 18, 18. Assigned to command of 3rd Bn. Sept. 24, 18. Relieved of command 3rd Bn. Oct. 11, 18, and attached to Supply Co. Detailed as Liaison Officer to 5th Div. Relieved from duty with regt. Nov. 10, 18. TAYLOR, W. H. S. Com. Aug. 15, 17. Port Huron, Mich. Joined regt. Nov. 12, 18, and assigned to command of 1st Bn. Arrived in France, Oct. 6, 18, with casuals. Relieved from command 1st Bn. Dec. 5, 18, and relieved from duty with regt. Feb. 2, 19. *MARTIN, WILLIAM H. Com. Sept. 5, 18. Saginaw, Mich. Joined regt. Nov. 16, 18, and assigned to command of 3rd Bn. *WILSON, GUY M. Flint, Mich. Assigned to temporary command of regt. Nov. 19 to Dec. 5, 18. Rejoined 125th Inft. HINGELEY, M. W. Com. July 3, 17. Los Angeles, Cal. Arrived in France with 34th Div. Joined regt. Dec. 5, 18, and assigned to command of 1st Bn. From assigned to attached March 16, 19. 256 ROSTER OF FIELD AND STAFF *BURKE, WILLIAM H. Com. Mar. 16, 19. Ionia, Mich. Second Lt., Co. D, at organiza- tion of regt. Com. 1st Lt. Dec. 4, 17. Detailed Acting Adjutant 1st Bn. June 8, 18, and Scout Officer 1st Bn. June 22, 18. Appt. Regimental Operations Officer July 30, 18. Com. Capt. Sept. 5, 18. Assigned to command of 1st Bn. Apr. 18, 19. *STROM, EDWARD B. Com. Mar. 16, 19. Grand Rapids, Mich. First Lt., Co. M, at organization of regt. Assigned to Co. I June 19, 18. Com. Capt. July 29, 18. Detailed as Regimental Adjutant Aug. 15, 18. Assigned to command of Co. M Oct. 12, 18. Assigned to command of Hqrs. Co. Dec. 9, 18. From assigned to attached to regt. Mar. 16, 19. From attached to command of 2nd Bn. Apr. 26, 19. POTTER, JAMES T. Com. Mar. 18, 19. North Adams, Mass. Arrived in France Oct. 24, 17, with 104th Inft. Joined regt. Sept. 6, 18, and assigned to Co. D. Attended Army Service School Sept. 12 to Oct. 24, 18, and attached to Co. H. Assigned to command of 2nd Bn. Mar. 18, 19. From assigned to attached to regt. Apr. 26, 19. CONNOR, M. C. Joined regt. as Captain Nov. 16, 18, and assigned to Co. K. Assigned to Field and Staff. Transf. to 26th Div. Feb. 19, 19. CAPTAINS *DE RIGHT, JOHN P. Com. Apr. 22, 15. Kalamazoo, Mich. Regimental Adjutant at organization of regt. Transf. to Army Staff School Aug. 14, 18, and did not rejoin. *MEYERS, CHARLES R. Com. Oct. 15, 18. Kalamazoo, Mich. Second Lt., Co. C, at organization of regt. Com. 1st Lt. Dec. 4, 17. Assigned to 1st Bn. as Adjt. May 12, 18, Assigned to command of Co. F Aug. 25, 18. Wounded in action Aug. 29, 18, near Juvigny, and evacuated to hosp. Returned to duty Oct. 7, 18, and assigned to Co. F. Detailed to Regimental Adjutant Oct. 12, 18. Assigned to command of 3rd Bn. Nov. 6, 18. Detailed Regimental Adjutant Nov. 14, 18. Sick in hosp. Nov. 22 to Dec. 22, 18. Returned to duty and detailed Regimental Intelligence Officer. Detailed Regimental Adjutant Jan. 6, 19. *MacDONALD, JOSEPH A. (See Captains, M. G. Co.). *HARRISON, BURTON P. Com. Nov. 8, 18. Detroit, Mich. Sgt., Co. H, at organization of regt. Com. 1st Lt. Sept. 5, 18. Detailed Regimental Liaison Officer Sept. 19, 18. Detailed Regimental Operations Officer Nov. 15, 18. Detailed Personnel Officer Dec. 14, 18. Summary Court Officer, Dec. 17, 18. PETERS, CHARLES G. Com. Mar. 16, 19. Union, W. Va. Enlisted July 31, 17. Com. 2nd Lt. Sept. 25, 18. Arrived in France Apr. 14, 18, with Supply Co, 1st Army Hqrs. Joined regt. Sept. 16, 18, and assigned as Adjt., 1st Bn. Com. 1st Lt. Nov. 9, 18. Attached to Hqrs. Co. Mar. 26, 19. WILCOX, DEY W. Com. Mar. 16, 19. Battle Creek, Mich. Com. 2nd Lt. Nov. 27, 17. Joined regt. June 6, 18, and assigned to Co. D. Gassed near Dieffmatten (Alsace Defensive Sector) June 19, 18. Returned to duty June 22, 18. Assigned to Co. F Sept. 3, 18. Detailed 2nd Bn. Munitions Officer Sept. 19, 18. Com. 1st Lt. Oct. 15, 18. Assigned to 2nd Bn. as Adjt. Oct. 28, 18. *WILSON, JAMES M. Com. Mar. 18, 19. Kalamazoo, Mioh. Sgt., Co. C, at organization of regt. Com. 2nd Lt. Dec. 4, 17. Detailed Scout Officer, 1st Bn. June 20, 18. Wounded in action July 8, 18, near Hecken (Alsace Defensive Sector) and evacuated to hosp. Returned to duty Aug. 19, 18, and assigned to 1st Bn. as Scout Officer. Com. 1st Lt. Sept. 5, 18. Wounded in action Oct. 15, 18, near Romagne. Evacuated to hosp. and returned to duty Jan. 17, 19, and assigned to Co. C. Assigned to Field & Staff Apr. 11, 19. *DONOVAN, LEWIS J. Com. Apr. 4, 17. Grand Rapids, Mich. Commanding Co. I, 32nd Mich. Inft. at call into service July 15, 17. Attached to regt. at organization of regt. Sept. 22, 17. Transf. to 107th San. Train Oct. 30, 17. *FIELD, CARL M. Com. Jan. 1913. Muskegon, Mich. Commanding Co. G, 32nd Mich. Inft. at call into service July 15, 17. Attached to regt. at organization of regt. Sept. 22, 17. Left regt. Jan. 13, 18, at Camp MacArthur, Texas. FIRST LIEUTENANTS *MINIER, EDWARD W. Com. Apr. 9, 03. Big Rapids, Mich. Adjt., 1st Bn., at organiza- tion of regt. (See 1st Lieut's, Co. D). *RIBBLE, ARTHUR E. Assigned as Adjt., 3rd Bn., Sept. 29, 18. (See 1st Lieut's, Co. I). *CORNELL, WALTER L. Com. May 2, 17. Grand Rapids, Mich. Adjt., 3rd Bn., at organization of regt. Attended 1st Corps School May 2, 18, to June 5, 18. Transf. to U. S. Aug. 15, 18, as Instructor. ♦ARMSTRONG, LEWIS J. Com. Apr. 22, 15. Saginaw, Mich. Adjt., 2nd Bn., at organiza- tion of regt. Transf. to U. S. Aug. 4, 18, as Instructor. KING, HAROLD J. (See 1st Lieut's, Co. F). * ALLEN, JOHN M. (See 1st Lieut's, Co. H). QUIRT, HOWARD A. (See 1st Lieut's, M. G. Co.). TOBIN, F. J. Com. Nov. 27, 17. Jackson, Mich. Arrived in France Jan. 24, 18, with casual detachment. Joined regt. June 30, 18, and assigned to Hqrs. Co. Assigned to Field & Staff Sept. 13, 18. Evacuated sick to hosp. Oct. 20, 18, and did not rejoin. GREGG, JOHN P. Com. Aug. 25, 17. Portland, Ore. Joined regt. Aug. 20, 18. Detailed to 63rd Brig. Hqrs. Transf. to 63rd Brig. Hqrs. Feb. 22, 19. HERRENGT, ALBERT C. Lieut., French Military Mission. Attached to regt. May 1, 18, as Instructor and Technical Advisor. Relieved Sept. 10, 18. CHAPLAINS WITH RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANTS ACREE, CLAUDE F. Com. May 29, 18. Walnut Creek, Cal. Joined regt. July 19, 18. HUDTLUFF, RUFUS. Com. — . Joined regt. Nov. 9, 18, and relieved from duty with regt. Nov. 16, 18. O'REAR, CLAUDE. Com. Sept. 26, 18. Birmingham, Ala. Arrived in France Oct. 26, 18. Joined regt. Nov. 16, 18, and assigned to 3rd Bn. SHANAHAN, JOHN J. Com. June 26, 18. Milwaukee, Wis. Joined regt. Sept. 16, 18. Transf. to Base Section, Brest, France, Apr. 23, 19. 257 o S3 H M H o o H H tf & , t3 OC OC 3C "£. 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