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 THE BATTALION STANDARDS 
 AND GUIDONS 
 
THE 
 
 FIRST BATTALION 
 
 THE STORY OF 
 
 THE 406'.!' TELEGRAPH BATTALION 
 
 SIGNAL CORPS. U. S. ARMY 
 
 'By 
 
 PETER LAMBERT SCHAUBLE 
 
 as, - • " 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 
 1921 
 
J3S70 
 335 
 
 THANKS is hereby extended to the following members 
 of the Battalion for their assistance in the preparation 
 of this book: 
 
 Major Thomas H. Griest who gathered much of the data, 
 including personal accounts, pictures and maps and pre- 
 pared a comprehensive chronology upon which the text of 
 this story is based. 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel James W. Hubbell who prepared a 
 series of memoranda on the Battalion. 
 
 Lieutenant William W. Brittain who assisted with certain 
 engineering details. 
 
 Master Signal Electrician Henry B. Cowan who laid out 
 the maps. 
 
 First Sergeants Martin H. Buehler, 2nd, and David M. 
 Hackett, 2ND, who checked the Company "D" and Com- 
 pany "E" records respectively. 
 
 P. L. S. 
 
 COPYRIGHT I92I 
 THE BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY OF PENNSYLVANIA 
 
 
 • •• 
 
 
 Redfield-Kendrick-Odell Company, Inc. 
 New York 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 THE 406th Telegraph Battalion, Signal Corps, U.S. Army, which 
 went to France as the First Telegraph Battalion, U.S. Signal 
 Reserve Corps, saw continuous service throughout the entire 
 American participation in the World War. It was organized during 
 the very month when war was declared. Four months later it was in 
 France — going over on one of the earliest convoys. To realize what 
 this means it must be understood that the Battalion was recruited 
 from telephone employees — not military men. To land a body of 
 men on foreign soil four months after they received their first military 
 training is an accomplishment of which every one associated with the 
 organization may well be proud. 
 
 From that time until the Armistice there was no let up in its activites. 
 The silver bands on the Battalion Standard tell the story. They were 
 awarded by the War Department and are engraved with the following 
 inscriptions: 
 
 1ST Telegraph Battalion 
 U. S. Signal Reserve Corps 
 
 TouL Sector, France 
 28, February to 21, March, 1918 
 
 Chateau-Thierry Sector, France 
 23, June to 14, July, 1918 
 
 Champagne-Marne Defensive, France 
 July 15 to July 18, 1918 
 
 ivil3S821 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 Aisne-Marne Offensive, France 
 July 1 8 to August 6, 1918 
 
 TouL Sector, France 
 20, August to II, September, 1918 
 
 St. MmiEL Offensive, France 
 September 12 to September 16, 191J 
 
 Verdun Sector, France 
 20, to 25 September, 1918 
 
 Meuse, Argonne Offensive, France 
 September 26 to November 11, 1918 
 
 The 406th has passed into history. It made a wonderful record. 
 It is only proper and fitting that its accomplishments should be set down 
 in permanent form. If these pages will, in the future, assist in recalling 
 memories of its participation in the greatest war the world has ever seen, 
 they will have fulfilled their purpose. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Foreword 
 
 Chapter I — From "Civies" to Khaki ii 
 
 Plans for Signal Reserve Corps. War Department turns to Bell System. 
 The Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania first to start the work. 
 S(;lection of Officers. The organization of the two Companies. Taking the 
 Oath. Designation as First Telegraph Battalion, Signal Reserve Corps. 
 A Battalion of "First's." 
 
 Chapter II — Soldiers in the Making i8 
 
 Drill begins. Difficidties in securing uniforms and equipment. Preparing 
 requisition for the War Department. Lieutenants Repp and Glaspey and 
 Sergeant Quinby accompany General Pershing to Europe. Outdoor drill. 
 Final preparations for departure for camp. 
 
 Chapter III — They're Off 24 
 
 Farewells. The two Companies meet in Philadelphia. Breakfast at Union 
 League. Mr. Kinnard presents standards and addresses the Battalion. 
 Leaving Philadelphia. 
 
 Chapter IV — Monmouth Park 29 
 
 The arrival at Monmouth Park. Briers and poison ivy. Inoculations and 
 vaccinations. Intensive training. Construction problems. "Smoke "and 
 "Bruce." Visits from Telephone officials. Final physical examinations. 
 Theodore N. Vail calls to say goodbye. Additions to the Battalion. Off 
 for "an Atlantic Port." On the "Antilles." 
 
 Chapter V — Dodging Submarines 45 
 
 Down the river. At Gravesend Bay. Out to sea under cover of darkness. 
 In the submarine zone. Safe in France. 
 
 Chapter VI— "So This Is France" 50 
 
 The landing at St. Nazaire. At base camp No. i. A detail leaves for 
 Chaimiont, soon to be General Pershing's Headquarters. An outing at La 
 Baule. Moving to Chaumont. A detail remains at St. Nazaire to assemble 
 motor trucks and drive them to Chaumont. 
 
 Chapter VII — At General Headquarters 58 
 
 Equipping General Headquarters with telephone and lighting plants. 
 Dedication of General Headquarters. Preliminaries for the construction of 
 the Chaumont-Neufchateau line. The line is started under difficulties — 
 lack of tools and equipment. Supply Officer Meigs rents a blacksmith shop 
 and hires a harness maker. "Cheddite." Company "D" moves to Liffol 
 le Grande to facilitate work on the Neuf chateau line. Part of Company 
 "E" moves to Rimacourt. Completion of the line September 27th. 
 
 Chapter VIII — Hard Work and Some Diversion 70 
 
 Repp and Glaspey become Captains and permanently detached. A wager 
 with the Second Battalion. Company "E" builds south from Chaumont. 
 Company "D" wiring training areas and made responsible for Divisional 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Areas. EquippingBourmontfortheSecond Division. Part of Company "E" 
 moves to Luzy to speed the line south. Battalion officers attend reception 
 in General Pershing's chateau in honor of his promotion to the rank of 
 General. A captured Zeppelin. Battalion Headquarters and Company "E" 
 move to Mamay. Company "D" at Neiif chateau. Hallowe'en party. 
 
 Chapter IX — Thanksgiving 82 
 
 A direct line from Langres to Neufchateau. Major Hubbell and Captain 
 Gauss transferred to General Headquarters. Captain Wattles in command 
 of the Battalion. The Bourmont detail moves to Vaucouleurs to equip the 
 area for the Forty-second Division. A line from Vaucoxileurs to Chaumont. 
 Additional Chaumont-Neufchateau circuits. Thanksgiving. Supply Offi- 
 cer Meigs secures some tires. "Hardtack" is enrolled in Company "E." 
 
 Chapter X — Lost — A Perfectly Good Name 90 
 
 The "First " Battalion becomes the "406th." More eqtiipment for General 
 Headquarters. Switchboard operating. Transportation Department and 
 Roosevelt Hospital are equipped. An artillery training school at Fort de 
 Pagny. The 406th made responsible for Headquarters of Divisions and 
 all lines north of Langres. The Chaumont line in trouble. Work on the 
 Neufchateau-Langres Line. 
 
 Chapter XI — The First Christmas 96 
 
 Preparations for Christmas celebration — started back home. Company "E" 
 celebrates at Mamay. Company "D" at Neufchateau. 
 
 Chapter XII — Nearing the Battle Line loi 
 
 Major Kelly becomes Signal Officer at Neufchateau. Company "D" con- 
 nects the First Division at Menil la Tour with the American lines. The 
 . Meuse overflows its banks. Cooties. A break at St. Blin. Mobilizing 
 the 406th for forward work. Death of Hollowell. Major Hubbell returns 
 to command the Battalion. 
 
 Chapter XIII — With the First Army Corps iii 
 
 Creation of the First Army Corps. 406th becomesFirstCorpsTelegraphBat- 
 talion. Company "E" builds a line to Void. Company "D" reports to the 
 First Division. The A. E. F. celebrates Washington's Birthday. Company 
 "D" goes to Boucq. Building lines to the Front. "Repp" construction. 
 
 Chapter XIV — One Thing After Another 120 
 
 "Corporal Leon." Company "E" builds a new line from Neufchateau to 
 Vaucouleurs, thence to Void. Equipping the Air Service Headquarters at 
 Toul. Hannam tells of operating experiences. An operators' school. A 
 line from Neufchateau to Colombey. Company "D" at Harmonville. 
 
 Chapter XV — Adventures in No Man's Land 127 
 
 The Radio Intelligence Service. Listening Posts. Maintaining the wires 
 in No Man's Land. Some interesting experiences. Peterson's story. 
 Custer tells of a trip after batteries. Leasure takes a chance. Gallo tells 
 of a German raid. 
 
 Chapter XVI— "Where Do We Go From Here?" 138 
 
 Versatility and tact. Circuits leased from the French. An Air Corps at 
 Ourches. A test station at Vaucouleurs. Maintaining the leased circuits. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Pole yards. Battalion review at Neufchateau. The end of "Smoke." 
 " D " goes to Neufchateau. Preparations for a quick move. The practice 
 move. "E" cares for British Bombing Squadrons. Memorial Day. 
 The "flu." Assistance from the 319th and 322nd Field Battalions. 
 Leaving Neufchateau. 
 
 Chapter XVII — On the Marne 152 
 
 La Ferte-sous-Jouarre. The new Headquarters. Company "E" installs 
 telephone equipment. Company " D " arrives a week later, and takes care 
 of rear areas. Dark days. Preparations for retreat. First Corps takes 
 over the Marne sector. Battalion takes over exchanges. Dickson at 
 Montreuil. Transporting troops and ammimition. Air activities. 
 Captain Wattles leaves. Preparations for the offensive completed. 
 
 Chapter XVIII — The First American Offensive 164 
 
 The attack begins. Lieutenant Price with the 26th Division. Activities 
 around Montreuil. Picardie Farm. Epaux Bezu and Buire. Operating 
 difficulties. A new line to Picardie Farm. Trugny. Corps Headquarters 
 at Epieds. Chateau Moucheton. A line to Chateau Thierry. Mess 
 difficulties. 
 
 Chapter XIX — On to the Vesle 178 
 
 The advance continues. A line to Fresnes. Company " D " moves up the 
 line. Connecting Fere-en-Tardenois. A bad night. Midnight patrols. 
 At Villeneuve-sur-Fere. Relieved by the Third Army Corps. A rest at 
 La Ferte. Meigs and some spies. 
 
 Chapter XX— St. Mihiel 187 
 
 Off for new fields under sealed orders. Through Chaimiont to Neuf- 
 chateau. Resting at Toul. Corps Headquarters at Saizerais. The anni- 
 versary of the arrival in France. Air raids at Liverdun. Major Hubbell 
 returns to United States. Captain Griest in charge. Preparing for the 
 offensive. Battalion moves to Liverdun. Daniels and his Boche shirt. 
 Survey parties. Taking over the forward exchanges. The "big show" 
 starts September 12th. Rapid advance across the sector. Off to the 
 Argonne. 
 
 Chapter XXI — The Argonne 202 
 
 Moving under strict orders. Arrival at Rarecourt. Equipping Corps 
 Headquarters. Telegraph operating. Taking over the telephone ex- 
 changes. The "high line." The offensive starts September 26th. The 
 "high line" is pushed ahead. An advance "P. C." (Post of Command) at 
 Cotes-de-Forimont — "Bonehead." Battalion Headquarters moves to 
 Locheres. Captain Griest becomes Major. 
 
 Chapter XXII — "Bonehead" 215 
 
 Switchboard operation. Life at "Bonehead." "Chubby" Johnson is lost. 
 Signal lines for the railroads in the recaptured territory. Lieutenant 
 Meigs meets the Colonel. Ready to extend the high line. Work resimied. 
 Advance P. C. moved to Chehery. Construction north of Marcq. 
 
 Chapter XXIII— "Kamerad!" 228 
 
 The offensive renewed November 2nd. Grandpre. The soda water 
 factory. Rushing the line to St. Juvin. Corps Headquarters at Harri- 
 
lo CONTENTS 
 
 court. The Battalion moves to Harricourt. Excitement on the road. 
 Piecing out Boche circuits. The Germans on the run. Building lines 
 toward Sedan. Death of Major Glaspey. 
 
 Chapter XXIV — The Armistice 236 
 
 Rumors of Armistice. The First Army Corps relieved. The Battalion 
 moves south to Pleinchamp Farm. More rumors of Armistice. Fireworks 
 in the billets. Confirmation November i ith. 
 
 Chapter XXV— "When Do We Go Home?" 241 
 
 At Chehery. Salvaging wire. The Battalion moves to Tonnerre. Thanks- 
 giving. Entertainment and athletic programs. Peniberton and Dailey 
 secure cement and bricks for a cookstove. Football games. Basketball. 
 Leaves at Aix-les-Bains. The Riviera — Monte Carlo — and Paris. Christ- 
 mas and New Year celebrations. Turning in equipment. The horse and 
 motor shows. The 406th gets the Blue Ribbons — and the Grand Prize. 
 
 Chapter XXVI — Homeward Bound 252 
 
 Transferred from the First to Fifth Corps. Preparing to leave Tonnerre. 
 The Army show at Bar-sur-Aube. Capture 3 Blue Ribbons and the Grand 
 Prize. Inspections at Courcelles. Arrival at Brest. Final inspection 
 March 28th. Major Griest returns to the United States. Delousing. 
 Captain Aleigs in command. Boarding the "Seattle" April 8th. 
 
 Chapter XXVII — From Khaki to "Civies" 261 
 
 Easter. The arrival at New York. At Camp Upton. More inspections. 
 Moving to Camp Dix. Still more inspections. The reception in Phila- 
 delphia April 2Sth. The final review on the Parkway. Standards and 
 Guidons are returned to Mr. Kinnard. The Dinner at Scottish Rite Hall. 
 Mustered out. The Pittsburgh party — a parade and banquet May 3rd. 
 The Harrisburg dinner, May 9th. Back on the job. 
 
 Appendix 279 
 
 MAPS 
 
 The Trip Across France 56 
 
 The Territory Around Chaumont and Toul 73 
 
 From the Marne to the Vesle 165 
 
 St. Mihiel, Saizerais and Surrounding Territory 190 
 
 The Argonne 210 
 
 Note — The First Telegraph Battalion was recruited from The Bell Telephone Company of 
 Pennsylvania and its Associated Companies, The Delaware and Atlantic Telegraph and Telephone 
 Company and The Diamond State Telephone Company. Whenever in these pages, therefore, The 
 Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania is mentioned, it should be understood to include the 
 Associated Companies. 
 
 In similar manner, when the Battalion is referred to as the Pennsylvania Battalion, it is to be 
 understood that some of its members were from Southern New Jersey (the territory of The Delaware 
 and Atlantic Company) and some were from Delaware (the territory of The Diamond State Company). 
 
Chapter I 
 
 From "Civies'''' to Khaki 
 
 IT WAS the month of July, 1918. The enemy had penetrated to the Marne. 
 Each day brought increasing evidence of a further rush by the Germans. 
 On the night of the fourteenth the enemy artillery became extremely 
 active. Shells began to drop like hail on the hill back of the Battalion. What 
 were the orders to be? Was there to be further retreat — or was the First 
 Corps, to which these Bell boys were attached, finally to be given a chance to 
 join in a test of strength with the oncoming Germans? 
 
 Schedules had been prepared for either eventuality. In case of retreat, 
 "E" Company was to salvage everything possible and destroy all materials 
 left. "D" Company was to hurry to a new location and establish communica- 
 tion for the Corps. Should orders be for resistance and counter-attack, the 
 men in the exchanges were to refuse all telephone service to those not on a 
 preferred list. Every human effort was to be put forth to keep every line 
 working. 
 
 The cannonading continued during the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth. 
 Major Hubbell, commanding the Battalion, received word on the seventeenth 
 that the Corps was to attack on "J" day, "H" hour. At 10 o'clock that night 
 it was learned that "J" meant the eighteenth, and "H" 4:25 a.m. Imme- 
 diately the prearranged program went into effect. 
 
 Shells continued to drop all around. At 11:30 p.m. all communication 
 to the 26th Division suddenly ceased. This meant a break. Two of the men 
 followed the line and five hundred feet away fell into a shell hole. The burst- 
 ing shell had ripped the wire to pieces. Quick repairs were made. Hardly 
 
 11 
 
12 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 had these men returned to the dugout when all lines to the rear went out of 
 service. A "gang" immediately started back and found the line almost com- 
 pletely razed by shell fire. Amid the roar of guns and the constantly explod- 
 ing shells, they continued making repair after repair. Time and again, after 
 a break was fixed, another explosion made it necessary to do the work over. 
 Not until the following night did the men get back to the Battalion. 
 
 It was the beginning of the end. All the work of stringing wires, setting 
 poles, placing switchboards, much of the time under fire, had been prepara- 
 tory to this great day, which, though little realized at the time, was the 
 high-water mark of German success. 
 
 That eighteenth of July marked the culmination of an effort which was 
 begun early in 191 7, before our country entered the war. The great im- 
 portance of the Signal Corps' work had been demonstrated in the European 
 struggle and Congressional action had provided for the organization of a 
 Signal Reserve. Because our country had not then declared war, provision 
 was made merely for the Reserves to spend fifteen days each summer in a 
 training camp. The intention was to prevent the mistake, made in Europe, 
 of allowing technical men to enter the combat forces and thus become lost to 
 their country so far as their specialized technical abilities were concerned. 
 
 It was but natural for the War Department, in organizing a Signal Reserve 
 Corps, to turn to the Bell System. This was the largest organization in the 
 world doing a communication business. It had always been in the forefront 
 in the development and improvement of means of communication. It had a 
 personnel of technical men who could be drawn upon to form the nucleus of the 
 new organization. The War Department, with the officials of the American 
 Telephone and Telegraph Company, soon developed plans by which several 
 Reserve Signal Battalions were to be organized from the employees of the 
 various Associated Bell Companies. John J. Carty, Chief Engineer of the 
 Bell System, later Vice-President, was appointed a Major and promoted 
 to Colonel in the Signal Reserve Corps. His technical ability and thor- 
 ough cooperation were to a large extent responsible for the success of the 
 movement. 
 
 Through the interest and enthusiasm of its Vice-President and General 
 Manager, L. H. Kinnard, who later became its President, The Bell Telephone 
 Company of Pennsylvania was the first company to start the work and, with 
 the help of Lieutenant Colonel Charles McK. Saltzman (later Brigadier- 
 General) from Washington, and Captain W. S. Grant (later Colonel on the 
 General Staff) of the Signal Office at New York, plans were made for recruit- 
 ing one battalion in Pennsylvania. 
 
 It was decided that of the two Companies one was to be organized in eastern 
 and central Pennsylvania, comprising the Philadelphia and Harrisburg Divi- 
 sions of the Bell Company. This became Company "D." The other, which 
 
FROM "CIVIES" TO KHAKI 
 
 13 
 
 became Company "E," was to 
 be drawn from the Pittsburgh 
 Division, embracing western 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 As the entire Battalion was 
 to be recruited from the Bell 
 ranks, the first step necessary 
 was the selection of its officers. 
 Consideration was given to 
 those men who had had mili- 
 tary training, but term of 
 service and experience in the 
 telephone business were con- 
 sidered as being of greatest 
 importance. Almost without 
 exception, those who were 
 recommended for commissions 
 had completed over twelve 
 years with the telephone or- 
 ganization. After the required 
 physical and mental examina- 
 tions, nine men were selected 
 and recommended to the War 
 Department as having the 
 qualifications required of offi- 
 cei's. They were commissioned 
 
 in the Spring of 1917. Then came the first step in the detail organi- 
 zation of the two Companies. Circulars were prepared and sent to all 
 of the Telephone Company's male employees. This was just before our 
 country entered the struggle and but little was known of what the actual 
 work of the Telegraph Battalion was to be, though in those dark 
 days it was realized that our country could not remain out of the conflict 
 much longer. Of the six thousand male employees in the Company, many 
 of whom were beyond the military age, fourteen hundred or more than 
 twenty per cent applied. This was nearly seven times as many as could 
 be selected. 
 
 War was declared before the applications were received, and it became 
 known rather definitely that those who were selected would have some work 
 more serious than the "fifteen days in a training camp each summer." The 
 applications were quickly classified, and soon a number of men had been tenta- 
 tively selected for further examination. These men, about five hundred, were 
 all personally interviewed, the fact that war had been declared put squarely 
 
 Leonard H, Kinnard 
 
At Philadelphia 
 
 At Harrisburg 
 TAKING THE OATH 
 
 14 
 
FROM "CIFIES" TO KHAKI 
 
 15 
 
 before them to make sure that, should they be selected, each would eagerly 
 serve his country to the best of his ability whenever and wherever called upon. 
 Throughout these interviews there was almost a tendency to discourage the 
 applicant — so anxious were the officers to have none but the keenest and most 
 enthusiastic men in the Battalion. Finally, those who had been interviewed 
 and had established their determination to enter the Battalion if possible, 
 were given a preliminary physical examination. Thus, when recruiting papers 
 were forwarded to New York, it was with the knowledge that a reliable and 
 physically capable group of men had been selected for this first unit. In 
 these preliminary physical examinations Dr. Macfarlan, who later became 
 the Battalion Medical Officer, spent many strenuous days. 
 
 So far, none but the officers had definitely obligated themselves to the 
 Government. True, the applicants had all agreed to many provisions, but 
 everything that is done before one finally takes the Oath seems distinctly 
 informal. "Taking the Oath" is the last step in turning one's self over to the 
 will of the Military Authorities. Company "D's" Harrisburg detachment 
 lined up on April twentieth, the remainder of "D" Company, at Philadelphia, 
 on the twenty-first, and Company "E," in Pittsburgh, on the twenty-fifth, and 
 the New Castle detachment on the twenty-sixth. These were solemn occa- 
 sions, and all hands were stretched 
 high in an effort to demonstrate 
 their zeal and earnestness as the 
 men replied, "I do." Few could 
 have then believed that, in little 
 over a month, three of these men 
 would be with General Pershing 
 — enroute to France; and that in 
 four short months this entire group 
 of raw recruits would be whipped 
 into shape as splendid soldiers, 
 landed in France, and sharing in 
 the uphill fight which on that 
 eighteenth day of July had reached 
 its crest. 
 
 On May twenty-second, 1917, 
 the War Department issued Spe- 
 cial Order 131, designating this 
 unit as the First Telegraph Bat- 
 talion, Signal Reserve Corps. That 
 this unit of the several Battalions 
 organized from the Associated Bell 
 Companies became the "First" Colonel John j. Carty 
 
3 
 
 16 
 
FROM "CIVIES" TO KHAKI 17 
 
 speaks volumes for the interest of the officials and personnel of The Bell 
 Telephone Company of Pennsylvania. 
 
 And it was not only the first Reserve unit to be organized. It was the 
 first Reserve unit to be ordered overseas; the first complete Signal unit to 
 arrive in France; the first technical unit to be attached to General Head- 
 quarters, American Expeditionary Forces; and, when the First American 
 Army Corps was formed, it was again the first technical unit designated as a 
 part of the Corps. 
 
 Mr. Kinnard called it "the Battalion of hand picked men." From the 
 method of selection, the reader may judge as to the propriety of the term! 
 The Battalion consisted of ten officers and some two hundred and fifteen 
 enlisted men. As further evidence of the quality of its personnel, it should be 
 noted that from these two hundred and twenty -five men there developed, prior 
 to the close of the war, two lieutenant colonels, five majors, three captains, 
 eight first lieutenants, nine second lieutenants, and more than a score of non- 
 commissioned officers. 
 
Chapter II 
 Soldiers in the Making 
 
 AS SOON as the officers were selected, correspondence courses in infantry 
 Z3k drill regulations were started, with weekly assignments and subsequent 
 jL JL examinations. When the noncommissioned officers had been chosen, 
 classes were organized and drills held on two evenings each week. By the 
 end of April the Companies were organized and drills were held every Saturday 
 afternoon in halls rented for the purpose. 
 
 Although by this time war had been declared, the Battalion was still sub- 
 ject to the Act of Congress which provided merely that the members were to 
 attend camp for fifteen days each summer, and that at this camp they would 
 be organized into companies ; no uniforms or other equipment were to be fur- 
 nished the men until they arrived at camp. But a state of war now existed 
 which made it necessary that the Signal Reserve Battalions be definitely 
 organized and fitted out. It was this situation that faced Lieutenant Fielding 
 P. Meigs, Supply Officer, who demonstrated now for the first time that when 
 it was necessary for his Battalion to have something, nothing could prevent him 
 from obtaining what was needed. In this case there were no regulations under 
 which it was possible to obtain any equipment for the men before they were 
 called into active service. Equipment, especially uniforms, was necessary at 
 once. Lieutenant Meigs, with the help of Lieutenant Decker, a man with 
 years of experience in dealing with Signal Corps property, finally succeeded 
 in obtaining all of the clothing required. As a matter of fact, the Battalion 
 was so well uniformed as to draw comment from the Regular Army Officers 
 when it was mobilized at Monmouth Park. The Supply Officer later had many 
 similar opportunities to display his ability in securing supplies. He kept the 
 Battalion better equipped with motor vehicles than any similar unit in France ; 
 
 18 
 
SOLDIERS IN THE MAKING 
 
 19 
 
 commandeered French shops in order to provide tools for the construction of 
 telephone lines; and kept not only his organization supplied with provisions 
 and materials but also, on occasions, other units supplied with signal equip- 
 ment. 
 
 It was not long before the Saturday afternoon drills began to show results. 
 As the raw recruits became well drilled soldiers, the subject for discussion was, 
 naturally, the work which the Battalion might be called upon to do. The 
 commanding officer of the organization was Major James W. Hubbell, who had 
 had fifteen years' experience with the Telephone Company, eleven years with 
 the New York National Guard, during three years of which he was a commis- 
 sioned officer, and two years with the Pennsylvania Cavalry. During the 
 period of weekly drills the Major made frequent trips to New York to learn all 
 that he could which would enable him to keep his Battalion ahead of the game. 
 
 On May twenty-second he was called to Washington. Colonel Russell 
 had been appointed Chief Signal Officer of the American Expeditionary 
 Forces, and expected in a few days to accompany General Pershing to France. 
 He desired a great amount of information concerning the apparatus and tools 
 required for the construction of various hypothetical lines in France and 
 wanted it immediately. Major Hubbell gathered all the data available and 
 
 Co. "D's" Detachment at Museum Field, Philadelphia 
 
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 3 
 
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 20 
 
THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 21 
 
 Harrisburg Detachment Drilling on the "Island' 
 
 returned to Philadelphia, where for two days and a night the Engineering 
 Department of The Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania worked unceas- 
 ingly on the preparation of a general requisition to cover the material. On the 
 twenty-fourth the Major took the requisition to Washington. The papers 
 called for an expenditure so far in excess of any amount of which the Signal 
 Corps had ever dreamed, that it could not be approved without investigation. 
 A cable inquiry brought information from Paris that the French systems could 
 readily furnish "all of the communication faciHties required." This caused 
 the requisition to be considerably cut down, with the result that after the 
 Battalion landed in France, Supply Officer Meigs was given many sleepless 
 nights and hard days' work getting together the tools and equipment neces- 
 sary for stringing the lines of communication. 
 
 It was while at Washington that Major Hubbell learned that his Battalion 
 was likely to land in France much earlier than any of its members then ex- 
 pected. He suggested that if it were so, it might be well to have certain 
 representatives precede the main body so that the preliminary survey work 
 might be completed in advance, and that actual construction work might 
 start immediately upon the arrival of the Battalion. The number of persons 
 to accompany the first convoy had been rigidly limited by General Pershing, 
 but on May twenty-fifth permission was secured to allow Lieutenants Repp 
 and Glaspey, and Battalion Supply Sergeant Quinby who spoke French 
 fluently, to accompany the expedition. That this was a wise selection may be 
 attested from the fact that at the signing of the Armistice, Repp was a Lieu- 
 
22 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 "Rookies" at Museum Field, Philadelphia 
 
 tenant-Colonel and had 
 been appointed Chief Sig- 
 nal Officer of the Advance 
 Section, Services of Sup- 
 ply; that at the time 
 of his most unfortunate 
 death at Toul, on Novem- 
 ber fifth, 191 8, Glaspey 
 was a Major; and that 
 Quinby, having acted as 
 interpreter for General 
 Pershing's staff, was later 
 commissioned as First 
 Lieutenant and assigned 
 to the Intelligence Sec- 
 tion of the General Staff. 
 Late in May the need for outdoor drill was sensed, and the Pittsburgh 
 company secured the use of the large field at the Pittsburgh Exposition grounds, 
 where Lieutenant Suddath put the men through their paces; the Harrisburg 
 section used the "Island," and the Philadelphia section used Museum Field 
 at the University of Pennsylvania. These week-end drills became centers of 
 interest for many telephone officials. Captain "Joe" Francis, Engineer of 
 Appraisals and a former Guardsman, helped to instruct the rookies, and his 
 patience and painstaking efforts contributed greatly to the marvelous progress 
 made at Museum Field. In an effort to take advantage of the most valuable 
 training possible, certain 
 of the more experienced 
 instrument men were 
 placed in various test 
 rooms of the Long Dis- 
 tance Company, so they 
 might gain practice in 
 handling a great variety 
 of equipment; men who 
 were familiar with tele- 
 graph codes were taken 
 into the Western Union 
 Telegraph Company op- 
 erating rooms, where they 
 were given intensive train- 
 ing; Farrington, Dailey, 
 Smithoover and Davis Capt. "Joe" Francis Gives a Lesson 
 
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SOLDIERS IN THE MAKING 
 
 23 
 
 were dispatched to 
 the School for 
 Army Cooks at 
 Fort Wood; truck 
 drivers were 
 "farmed out" to 
 various truck re- 
 pair stations; and 
 clerical men were 
 relieved from their 
 office duties and 
 put out on the 
 lines with con- 
 struction gangs. 
 
 During the sec- 
 ond week in June, 
 
 information was received that the Battalion might soon be called into service, 
 and the work of preparation became more feverish. All were excused from 
 further telephone duty and taken out into the country for daily hikes and drills. 
 
 Each man was urged to make a will, and aid was also given to each in 
 arranging his business affairs, as no one could foresee where this great adven- 
 ture might lead. 
 
 Learning to Read Wig- Wag 
 
Chapter III 
 
 They re Off! 
 
 THE time had come when home ties must be broken. It was a beautiful 
 Sunday, that seventeenth day of June, when the Company "E" men at 
 Pittsburgh said their farewells. They were dined by their Bell com- 
 rades, then marched through the streets in the fading light of the setting sun 
 to the station, and soon were speeding toward Philadelphia on their way to 
 camp in New Jersey. A stop at Greensburg gave the telephone people and 
 other friends in that city an opportunity to express their farewells and to turn 
 over to the men of the Battalion baskets filled with "eats" to help lighten the 
 journey. Lieutenant "Long John" Suddath was a military man from his hat 
 to his shoes. As the train was rounding Horseshoe Curve at 9 :3o he summoned 
 Bugler Fest: "You man, you're in the Army now! Don't you know that a 
 soldier can't go to sleep without taps? Get out that horn and get busy!" 
 
 On that same evening the Harrisburg section, too, marched to the station 
 and amid songs and cheers and surrounded by relatives and friends, started 
 on their journey to the same destination. 
 
 The Harrisburg men upon their arrival in Philadelphia were quartered 
 in the Museum Barracks over night. At 5:30 in the morning Company "E" 
 reached Philadelphia and the men were soon splashing around in a large 
 swimming pool where the fatigue of the all-night journey was quickly for- 
 gotten. 
 
 The Telephone Company's officials invited the Battalion to breakfast at 
 the Union League, and as the Pittsburgh and Harrisburg men with the Phila- 
 delphia section assembled, they had the first opportunity to see their future 
 comrades. In urging all to do their best in drills. Major Hubbell had been 
 
 24 
 
THEY'RE OFF! 
 
 25 
 
 'Good-bye, Harrisburg" 
 
 reporting to each Com- 
 pany the progress of the 
 other. It was interesting 
 that morning to watch the 
 men "sizing up" their fel- 
 lows — and at the same 
 time striving to maintain 
 a military bearing in- 
 tended to impress the 
 other members of the 
 Battalion. Any one at- 
 tending the Battalion 
 mess a few months later 
 might well come to the 
 
 conclusion that its members had become considerably better acquainted. 
 When the meal was over there was a short period of fraternizing, of getting 
 better acquainted. Telephone officials who were to run the jobs at home, 
 proudly and soberly encouraged the men who were bound for France. Assem- 
 bly was sounded and the Battalion was formed in a hollow square in the 
 historic Union League Assembly Hall. Behind the khaki-clad men were 
 groups of civilians, silent and with shining eyes. The room was so still that 
 one could almost hear the breeze which stirred, high up on the wall, the blue 
 silk standard that had been carried during the Lincoln presidential campaign 
 and with it, one which had flown over the Gettysburg encampment at the 
 semi-centennial of that great battle, when the men from the two old armies met 
 and exchanged salutes on the field where they had once been in terrible combat. 
 
 Co. "E" in Philadelphia 
 
 Entering Union League 
 
26 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Mr. Kinnard advanced to the center of the room, 
 as he spoke : 
 
 He was deeply moved 
 
 "Men of the First BattaHon, Signal Reserve Corps: This is not 
 a blue Monday; it's a Red, White and Blue Monday. I am here 
 not as an executive of your Company and mine; I am here as one 
 of the gang, please, who has climbed a pole, dug a hole, made a cable 
 splice, installed an instrument — here representing the seventeen 
 thousand odd of the men and women, boys and girls — your fellow- 
 workers. 
 
 "To be selected for this task and in this capacity is particularly 
 pleasing and gratifying to me. 
 
 "You men composing this Battalion have been chosen from those 
 of your fellows because of your particular fitness for the tasks to be 
 assigned to you in connection with the Signal Corps of the Army 
 of the United States. To be selected as you were is a very high 
 honor; a real obligation goes with this honor that I have not the 
 slightest doubt you will very creditably discharge. The training 
 you have had particularly fits you for this branch of the military 
 service; the army training you will have is going to bring you back 
 to civic life better qualified as telephone men and, I trust, even 
 better citizens. 
 
 "The good wishes, love and affection of your fellow- workers in 
 the Pennsylvania group are yours. We shall have a very real pride 
 in all that you will do ; and at no stage of your undertaking should 
 
 Breakfast at Union League 
 
THEY' RE OFF! 27 
 
 you have occasion to feel that you are not supported by the cheers 
 and prayers of the crowd who will have to stay home because you 
 were the best fitted to go. 
 
 "Military duty demands absolute obedience and discipline. You 
 have been loyal employees ; your volunteering for this service is only 
 another evidence of that loyalty. While absolute discipline would 
 be insisted upon — which is the way of the Army — I ask that it be 
 given most cheerfully and voluntarily. Conscientious thought was 
 given to the selection of your officers. It was no mean job to pick 
 men best qualified not only in a technical telephone sense, but also 
 best qualified to care for the health and welfare of this body of men 
 while in the field. Following strictly what they order and suggest 
 will mean health, happiness and honor, and I am sure a thoroughly 
 merited 'Well done!' from the citizenship of the country whom you 
 go out to serve. 
 
 "The men and women who have been associated with you, jealous 
 of the privilege of presenting your Battalion colors, have asked 
 me, in their names, to make this presentation. Unfortunately the 
 battle flags are not ready for delivery, but will catch up with you 
 in a few weeks — two silk guidons, one American flag, and your 
 Battalion standard. I have here for presentation two bunting 
 guidons and your bunting American flag — the gift of your Company 
 associates. 
 
 "I like to think that they symbolize an ideal — the high con- 
 ception which your fellow-employees, in common with you, hold of 
 your duty. In civil life it was your ideal that no service should be 
 more prompt, more efficient, more unselfishly, and more cheerfully 
 given than the service rendered to the public by your Company. 
 It has been our habit not to be content to play second to any in 
 our performance. Carry these ideals with you — always having in 
 mind the importance of the function you are performing. Let it 
 guide you in your construction of signal service lines and in their 
 maintenance so that they will, as nearly as is humanly possible, be 
 in condition to carry the messages that are so essential to the 
 successful conduct of this great campaign, always having in mind 
 that the reasons which inspired your country to engage in this con- 
 flict were of the highest type; that no self-seeking on the part of 
 your country is responsible for its participation; no extending of 
 territorial boundries; no indemnities; no seeking to increase its 
 importance among the world's nations other than for good; but 
 that our participation, as in all our previous wars, is due to the 
 real sense of duty we owe to civilization and the extending and 
 maintaining of the personal liberty which we hold to be the right 
 of each individual. 
 
 "Keeping these things in mind, acting as we know you will act, 
 our salutation to your flag will be second only to that accorded to 
 the Stars and Stripes." 
 
 Major Hubbell, accepting the standards, turned them over .to the Color 
 Guard, and the band played the National Anthem. 
 
THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Down Market Street, Philadelphia 
 
 might be encountered while the 
 
 There was no ap- 
 plause. There was a feel- 
 ing in the heart of each 
 one present which could 
 not be safely entrusted 
 to expression. The silence 
 was most impressive. 
 
 A messenger boy ad- 
 vanced toward the Major 
 with two boxes. These 
 contained sums which 
 had been contributed by 
 the employees remaining 
 at home, to provide for 
 the many emergency ex- 
 two Companies were in 
 
 penses which 
 the service. 
 
 Immediately after the assembly broke up, the Battalion formed on Broad 
 Street. Farewells had been said and few of the soldiers expected again 
 to see their relatives and friends until the big work had been finished. The 
 column swung around City Hall and down Market Street like an organization 
 of veterans. At Independt nee Hall a short stop was made so that the first 
 Battalion photograph 
 might be made in the 
 shadow of that historic 
 building. Then the march 
 to the ferry was resumed. 
 
 Well-wishers crowded 
 the narrow platform in 
 
 the Camden station as 
 
 the men entered the ^'"^^^^^^^^^-^m a 
 
 train. Outstretched 
 
 hands were gripped from 
 
 the car windows. There were few dry eyes as the band played its parting airs. 
 
 The train pulled slowly out of the station. Arms and hats were waving as a 
 
 token of farewell. The cars rounded a cur\'e and the crowd at the station 
 
 passed out of sight. The First Battalion was on its way! 
 
 They're Off! 
 
Chapter IV 
 
 Monmouth Park 
 
 IT WAS but a short ride to the camp at Monmouth Park where the 
 Battalion was to undergo intensive training for overseas service. The in- 
 spiring exercises of the morning at Union League and the cheering crowds 
 along the march and at the station seemed to have their effect on the feel- 
 ings of the men. They swung into the camp with such snap and military- 
 bearing as not only to fill their own officers with pride but to create a deep 
 impression upon the "regulars"who were waiting to receive them. 
 
 Tents had already been pitched, but in and around them was a thick tangle 
 of briers and poison ivy. As soon as cots, bed sacks, and mess equipment had 
 been furnished by the supply detachment, mess was served. After a strenuous 
 afternoon spent in cutting down the briers and ivy, the toilers were ready early 
 to try out their new sleeping quarters, vowing vengeance upon the Germans, 
 whom they held responsible for aching backs and blistered hands. A little 
 later Jones received permission to visit his home and he was eloquent in 
 describing these duties at camp. One of his friends became incensed that a 
 soldier had to do such menial labor and made the very pertinent remark: 
 "I should think the Government would hire men to do that kind of work!" 
 
 The training at this camp was under the general supervision of Lieutenants 
 Milliken and Corlett, who were, respectively, the Adjutant and Executive 
 Officer of the camp, representing the Signal Office of the Eastern Department. 
 In direct charge of the First Battalion were Captains Streider and Whitworth. 
 These men, all of whom had seen long service in the Signal Corps of the 
 Regular Army and were now holding commissions in the Reserve Corps, were 
 most helpful in completing the transition to a smoothly-working military 
 organization. Regular drills were started that first Tuesday morning bright 
 and early, the programs having been outlined at various officers' meetings on 
 Monday evening. 
 
3° 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Monmouth Park which afterward became a famous Signal Corps Camp, 
 known as Camp Alfred Vail, was originally a race course and had had very- 
 little use for probably twenty years. Portions of the track were cultivated as 
 truck patches, but the most of it was overgrown. Plans had already been com- 
 pleted for the erection of a number of barracks, and all of the available men 
 from the First and Second Reserve Telegraph Battalions (the Second Bat- 
 talion was organized from employees of the New York Telephone Company) 
 were kept at work each afternoon clearing up the grounds so that construction 
 might start. 
 
 Lumber had begun to arrive for the new barracks and one by one the 
 pyramidal tents occupied by the Telegraph Battalion acquired comfortable 
 wood floors. But the Construction Quartermaster discovered that his lumber 
 
 i'ia^liiij 
 
 piles were shrinking before any building had commenced and the "rustling" 
 process was stopped. However, the tent colony seemed quite satisfied with 
 its labors. 
 
 One after another cases of ivy-poison developed and about the time that 
 the victims were recovering, inoculations against typhoid and paratyphoid 
 and vaccinations against smallpox were heaped upon them in rapid suc- 
 cession. 
 
 Sunburn, ivy-poison, inoculations and vaccinations — these are the things 
 that stand out in the memories of those who were at Monmouth Park. "Six 
 shots in the arm and thirteen boils, while learning thirty bugle calls in two 
 lessons, 'them were the happy days,' " as Fest put it. We must not forget to 
 
MONMOUTH PARK 
 
 31 
 
 Cleaning up the Grounds 
 
 mention the camp visits of 
 that well-known product 
 of New Jersey — the mos- 
 quito. Perhaps "visits" is 
 not the right word; they 
 seemed to make their 
 home in the camp and 
 apparently, from their 
 enthusiasm, very much 
 enjoyed their feast on 
 these healthy red-blooded 
 men. 
 
 At the beginning of the second week, drills throughout the entire day were 
 called for. Immediately after morning mess, camp was thoroughly 'policed," 
 and then came the assembly call for physical exercise. A familiar sight was 
 Lieutenant Milliken, shouting his commands from the top of a large box, while 
 the men went through the muscle-stretching antics. Then there were long 
 periods of infantry drill, instruction in guard duty and military courtesy, and 
 the reading of the "Articles of War" to small groups, There were also prob- 
 lems in map reading, and regularly the First Sergeant's forces were assembled 
 in the Adjutant's tent for instructions in the intricacies of Army "paper-work." 
 
 Lieutenant Suddath was chief instructor in guard duty, and the various 
 guard details showed the effects of his instruction. He had so thoroughlj' 
 impressed the rules upon his men that one 
 dark, rainy night, upon his return to camp 
 in a Ford which had been lent to the Bat- 
 talion by the Telephone Company, the Lieu- 
 tenant was forced to "dismount and advance 
 to be recognized." In the middle of a puddle 
 and in the glare of the headlight, "Suddy" 
 straightened up his six-feet-two of indigna- 
 tion and thundered — "You, man! Who am 
 I?" "Mike" — it was Scanlon who so dis- 
 turbed the Lieutenant — did not argue with 
 his preceptor. Another time Hull was sweep- 
 ing around his tent when Lieutenant Sud- 
 dath approached. Hull brought his broom 
 to "present arms" without realizing what he 
 was doing. "What do you think this is?" 
 said Suddath. "Do you take me for an 
 
 officer in some d broom brigade? Cut 
 
 out the funny stuff!" "Smoke" 
 
32 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 At the beginning of the third week, Signal Corps construction problems 
 were started, being generally developed by Captain Hollister of Company 
 "E." Telephone lines were quickly built and as quickly recovered in all 
 parts of the camp grounds and along the neighboring roads, and at the same 
 time, the Battalion completely installed the telephone system for the camp 
 headquarters. 
 
 A number of trucks were received at the camp and those familiar with motor 
 vehicles were taken from the Battalion for a short course of instruction. At 
 about the same time certain motorcycles were also furnished, and it became 
 the duty of the motor sergeants to instruct every one in the organization in 
 the operation of these treacherous conveniences. Many trees in the region 
 surrounding the camp could tell of sudden jars due to the fact that there are 
 times when amateur motorcycle drivers are unable to think and to act with 
 stifficient rapidity to prevent collisions. 
 
 The program for training developed so rapidly that there were not enough 
 hours during the day to cover all of the work required. Evening classes were 
 started. Instructions were given in general Army practices. Still there 
 seemed some hours of waking in which profitable instruction might be received, 
 and a French class was begun. Lessons were given by Professor Nomberg 
 and his wife, of New York, who were spending the summer at a nearby town 
 and who gave each week-day evening, except Saturday, to the Signal Corps 
 men. 
 
 Who ever heard of a military organization without a mascot? A woman 
 tourist from Pittsburgh passed the camp and was interested to find that many 
 of the men were from her home town. A few days later she returned with a fine 
 little fox terrier which she presented to the Battalion. On account of a large 
 black spot on his face and his connection with the Smoky City, the pup was 
 promptly christened "Smoke." A friend from Daniels' home town one day 
 brought a little collie pup which was given the name of "Bruce." Unfor- 
 tunately, while boarding the transport, a large barracks bag fell on Brace's 
 back and the pup was so badly injured that he died. "Smoke," however, 
 accompanied the BattaUon during its work in France for over a year, but 
 under the wheels of a motorcycle he met the fate of many military mascots. 
 There were other mascots of a decidedly temporary nature at Monmouth 
 Park. A young crow adopted one of the members of Company "D," and 
 was at first a very genteel and orderly bird, but before long became a confirmed 
 collector of pipes and other small articles belonging to the soldiers. "Jim" 
 resented the punishment which was the reward for his thievery, and finally 
 left the Battalion, as did a pretty little blue sparrow-hawk which condescended 
 to live in the camp for two or three weeks. 
 
 From time to time various officials of the Telephone Company came to the 
 camp to see the boys and note the development of the Battalion. Only a few 
 
THE OFFICERS 
 Back Row-Lieut. Fielding P. Meigs; Lieut. Douglas Macfarlan; Lieut. Wm. F. Gauss; 
 
 Lieut. Leroy N. Suddath 
 Front Row-Lieut. Thomas H. Griest; Capt. Roy C. HoUister; Maj. James W. Hubbell- 
 
 Capt. Wm. P. Wattles 
 
FIRST PICTURE! 
 Independent 
 
 34 
 
HE BATTALION 
 ne 18, 1917 
 
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 36 
 
MONMOUTH PARK 
 
 31 
 
 of the more rugged of the oflficials, however, were willing to chance an over- 
 night stay with the soldiers. Upon one such occasion Mr. Kinnard, who was 
 accompanied by P. C. Staples, Publicity Manager, later Vice-President of the 
 Bell Company, and Frank Wisse, Editor of "The Telephone News," decided to 
 
 The Men were Proud 
 
 of their 
 
 " Housewives ' ' 
 
 Camp Pets 
 
 accept a very pressing invitation to spend the night in camp. Before the 
 guests retired to their beds of straw which Lieutenant Meigs had supplied, the 
 latter displayed a snake which he claimed to have found in the straw — casually 
 remarking that he did not know how many others there might be in the bed 
 sacks. Evidently Lieutenant Meigs was not taken seriously, for the guests 
 were out bright and early to follow all of the military activities. Mr. Kin- 
 nard vowed that he had had a good night's rest, but Mr. Staples and Mr. Wisse 
 were more critical of their alleged comforts. Upon another occasion, "Boss" 
 
38 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Above — A Halt for a Drink from the Water Wagon 
 Lower left — Amateur Cooks Lower right — On a Hike 
 
 Badger came in from Pittsburgh, and during that week-end no one could have 
 driven him away from his "gang." 
 
 The silk standards which had been promised were now finished, and on 
 July twenty-third Mr. Kinnard and his staff again graced the officers' mess 
 with their presence, seemingly enjoying the pork and beans which Farrington 
 and his crowd had prepared. In the party were J. C. Lynch, later Vice- 
 President and General Manager, and Mr. Staples. The Battalion was assem- 
 bled. Mr. Kinnard tried to speak, but was overcome by emotion at the 
 thought of the impending departure of his "boys." Words failed him and he 
 silently turned over the beautiful standards to Major Hubbell. 
 
 July was a rainy month and spirits were rather low, but toward the end 
 of the month the weather again became very hot. During this warm spell 
 Lieutenant Meigs obtained overcoats, winter caps, arctics, and other heavy 
 
MONMOUTH PARK 39 
 
 apparel. No one who has not done it can imagine the misery, on an extremely 
 hot day, of trying to fit overcoats, either in the boiling sun or in a hot, crowded 
 tent. "JeflF" Adams, however, seemed to take kindly to the winter equipment 
 and for a few days, except when at drills, wore his winter cap solemnly around 
 the sun-baked park. Twohig kicked about the fit of his shoes. Thorpe, 
 Meigs' right-hand man, investigated and, feeling of them, said that they 
 fitted very well. Thereupon Twohig removed one of the shoes and showed 
 that he had on his civilian shoes underneath ! Thorpe had to admit that the 
 complaint was justified. 
 
 The latter part of July brought the last physical examinations and took 
 from the Battalion eleven men, including "Big" Hollister, Company "E's" 
 Captain. This was a severe blow, both to the Battalion and to the men who 
 were forced to withdraw. Many of the latter sought afterward to enter the 
 service with other organizations, Sommers, from Atlantic City, even submitting 
 to an operation before finally being accepted for service in another signal unit. 
 The greatest loss was Captain Hollister — a telephone construction man of 
 years of experience and extremely well fitted to meet the supreme test of mili- 
 tary capacity — the test of leadership. His loss was deeply felt by all of the 
 men in the Battalion. 
 
 Captain HoUister's removal made it necessary to look for another officer. 
 Major Hubbell pleaded with the authorities to have the Company proceed 
 under Lieutenant Gauss. Permission was granted to have the Company 
 temporarily commanded by a Lieutenant but, because of serious vacancies 
 already existing in the officers' personnel, due to Lieutenants Repp and Glas- 
 pey being already in France, Major Hubbell was ordered to select a Lieutenant 
 from the training Battalion then in camp. With the help of Captains Streider 
 and Whitworth, who had by this time been permanently taken from the Bat- 
 talion and made instructors in the Officers' School, Major Hubbell selected 
 Lieutenant Cecil V. Lawrence, formerly with the New England Telephone 
 Company at Bangor, Maine. This subsequently proved a fortunate choice. 
 
 Shortly after the Officers' Instruction School had been established. Major 
 Hubbell was given permission to recommend one technical man from the 
 Battalion for a commission. Sergeant Winston of Company "D" was selected 
 and became a Lieutenant. He reached France, via England, in November, 
 191 7, with the 408th Telegraph Battalion, becoming Captain in the following 
 July and Major in April, 1919. 
 
 Throughout July there were rumors of departure for France, and as the 
 month drew toward its close many events indicated that there was fair founda- 
 tion for these reports. The officials of the American Telephone and Telegraph 
 Company had shown great interest in the camp during their numerous visits. 
 On July twenty-fifth, the President, Theodore N. Vail, with U. N. Bethell, 
 N. C. Kingsbury, N. T. Guernsey and Major J. J. Carty, all members of 
 
40 
 
MONMO UJH PARK 
 
 4I 
 
 Mr. Vail Calls and Says Good-bye 
 
 his staff, came to the camp to bid the First and Second Reserve BattaHons 
 farewell. The Battalions passed in review before Mr. Vail and Colonel Hart- 
 man, the camp commander. Then the men were formed in a square. 
 Colonel Hartman introduced Mr. Vail to the military offspring from his tele- 
 phone organization and as the venerable President advanced, his emotion was 
 quite evident. He felt the deep significance of this occasion when he was to 
 have the last word with the men before they left to take up their important 
 work on foreign soil. When he regained control of his feelings he spoke: 
 
 'Boys, I have come down to say good-bye before you go. You 
 have transferred the allegiance, intelligence and faithfulness you 
 have shown to our Company and your Company, and, in so far as 
 you put these into your service for your country and our country, 
 you will earn all the commendation any one can give you. You 
 must all do your best — not comparative, good, better, best — but 
 your very best. It is not comparative, it is relative, and relative to 
 each of you, and you must make it relative to your opportunities, 
 your abilities, your training and everything else. 
 
 "I wish you all success, and hope to meet you again in no distant 
 future, and wish you all the good things that are coming, and a safe 
 return." 
 
 Departure seemed imminent. The BattaHon still needed twenty tele- 
 graph operators, and no medical detachment had been provided. Captain 
 HoUister, who had remained at camp to render any service possible, was 
 
42 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 dispatched to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to line up the final recruiting, and 
 on August fifth the new men arrived. They were: 
 
 Edmond J. Atwood Almond D. McKay 
 
 Leon O. Bailey Herbert S. McNichol 
 
 Albert Banholzer Ralph B. Parke 
 
 John A. Dwyer Allan M. Peterson 
 
 William C. Geddling William C. Pfefferle 
 
 Frank W. Hull Vincent P. Roach 
 
 Barney Kayser John D. Ross 
 
 Jacob Kline Alvin C. Sherrill 
 
 John M. Koser John J. Smith 
 
 Charles P. Leasure William T. Smith 
 
 Joseph T. Lord Gaston Theriot 
 
 Esten C. McCrery Horace B. Welk 
 Thomas Worrall 
 
 Medical Detachment 
 
 1st Lieut. Douglas Macfarlan Pasquale J. Cagnina 
 John A. Brown Frederic H. Gloor 
 
 John Boyd Nicholas H. Kilroy 
 
 John Lister 
 
 Four others, Harry F. Devlin, Paul A. J. Henry, John K. Maxwell and 
 Emmett Moss reached the boat on the seventh, little more than an hour before 
 it left the dock. For the next two days the way for these "rookies" was a 
 hard one. During their waking hours they were either worked nigh to death 
 by Lieutenant Suddath's intense drilling, as he attempted to whip them into 
 the finest possible shape, or were rushed around the camp by Lieutenant 
 Meigs as he tried to complete their equipment. 
 
 Throughout the stay at Monmouth Park, and particularly during the 
 final rush of preparing to depart, the Supply Officer, with Magill, Thorp, 
 Gardiner, Lyons and Seymour, and ably assisted by Stille and Sebring, were 
 probably the hardest toiling men in the outfit. These assistants were well 
 advertised by having their names thundered from the Supply Officer's tent 
 almost every minute of the day. In the contest of wits with Lieutenant 
 Decker, Lieutenant Meigs met a worthy foe, but no complexity of routines 
 nor restrictions of red tape could prevent him from steadily increasing his 
 stock of supplies to fit out the new recruits. By threats, cajolings and general 
 persuasiveness he secured what he needed from Lieutenant Decker, who 
 probably spent many weary hours afterward attempting to square himself 
 with his conscience and the records. 
 
 All of the men, to their gratification, were allowed to make week-end trips 
 home, and August sixth found every one working with the knowledge that it 
 
MONMOUTH PARK 
 
 43 
 
 was to be the last day on American soil for a long time. Lieutenant Macfar- 
 lan, who had just arrived, built up his medical detachment. Major Hubbell 
 scurried everywhere to see that his orders were in proper shape. Lieutenant 
 Griest kept Sergeant Bradford busy with the reports and records. 
 
 By three o'clock the next morning mess had been finished, and all of the 
 surplus equipment turned back to the Camp Quartermaster. In the many 
 months of service which followed, there were numberless movings but none 
 such as this. Everything that was of no value was put in one huge pile and, 
 with the straw from bed-sacks, was burned, making a huge camp fire. In the 
 flickering light from the fire the Battalion formed and marched down to board 
 the train at Little Silver Station. The touch of humor in this name "Little 
 Silver" was brought home each pay day. 
 
 Above — Packing up at Monmouth Park 
 Center left — Loading up Center right — Rookies 
 
 Below — ^Flags on Board the Ferry 
 
44 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 The train was speeding toward "an Atlantic Port" and all were indulging 
 in serious thoughts as the sun began to rise over the Jersey meadows. This 
 was the real beginning of the great adventure. What would the sea trip be 
 like? Few had had the experience of ocean travel. Would the dreaded sub- 
 marines "get" the ship? How would they manage to operate in a strange 
 country, and just how much actual fighting would they see? What would 
 happen to the people at home while they were away? These reveries ended 
 as the train pulled into Jersey City, and all were quickly directed to a waiting 
 ferry boat which departed immediately for Hoboken. In these early troop 
 movements everything was done to prevent publicity, but workers on passing 
 boats readily recognized the soldiers and gave them many rousing cheers. 
 
 At the pier there was little time for thought — all was action. Up one pier 
 and down another they marched, until at last they filed up the gang plank of 
 the transport "Antilles," and the First Telegraph Battalion, Signal Reserve 
 Corps, had embarked for foreign service. 
 
Chapter V 
 
 Dodgiiig Submarines 
 
 THE "Antilles," before the war, was a Southern Pacific liner, designed 
 to carry bananas and other fruits. She was not built with an eye to 
 comfort as a troop ship. Crowded on board with the First and Second 
 Reserve Telegraph Battalions were an Ambulance Battalion, an Ammunition 
 Train, and a Trench Mortar Battery. Despite the congestion, however, the 
 troops settled down and had an opportunity to ponder over the submarine 
 situation. Many a furtive glance was cast toward the lifeboats and other 
 safety apparatus. 
 
 At 1 :30 p.m., August seventh, the good ship left the pier and started down 
 the river. All troops were ordered to keep out of sight and this rule aroused 
 little enthusiasm, for it prevented many who had never been there before from 
 enjoying a glimpse of New York Harbor and the skyline of lower Manhattan. 
 No soldiers were visible on the boat, yet passing vessels seemed to sense that 
 it was a troop ship. They blew their whistles and the band of an excursion 
 boat stopped playing its ragtime and struck up "Good-Bye, Good Luck, God 
 Bless You." 
 
 A short trip brought the"Antilles" to the rendezvous, Gravesend Bay, and 
 the troops were then allowed on deck. Other ships were gathering to form 
 the convoy. The afternoon was spent in shifting the men around and making 
 them as comfortable as their cramped quarters would permit. 
 
 It was decided that the Artillery troops would furnish the ship's guard and 
 the Signal troops the watch, this latter being the lookout and under the super- 
 
 45 
 
46 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 vision of the Navy. Captain "Bill" Wattles was made commanding officer 
 of the watch, but before he had completed his schedule for the first night, 
 darkness had settled on the bay and, as no lights were allowed, it was impos- 
 sible to locate the stateroom list of officers whom he could put on duty. As a 
 result, he had to spend most of the night acting as officer on all watches. 
 
 "I 
 
 Plowing Steadily Eastward 
 
 Daylight brought a surprise to most of the men on board. At lo o'clock 
 on the previous evening anchor had been lifted, and the convoy had stolen 
 noiselessly out of the harbor. So quietly had the departure been managed, 
 that the troops on board were unaware of it until daylight showed them the 
 sea on all sides, as the ships plowed their way steadily eastward. 
 
 Morning gave the officer of the watch an opportunity to organize his 
 forces. The horizon was divided into sixteen parts and sixteen men were 
 assigned, each to keep his eyes on his particular sector. Four men were as- 
 signed to each of the two crows' nests. These eight men divided the sea into 
 eight sectors — each man to keep his eyes on the part assigned to him. By this 
 means every visible portion of the sea was covered by two pairs of eyes. 
 
 The convoy, steaming quietly ahead, was impressively calm and business- 
 like. The big ships were in column with the "Finland" first, then the "An- 
 tilles," "Lenape," "San Jacinto" and "Henderson." Far out in the lead was 
 their watch dog, the battleship "Montana," and out on either flank the 
 destroyers "Monahan" and "Jewett." 
 
 From the beginning there was the usual grumbling about the food and 
 quarters. An'occasional entertainment in the evening behind blanketed win- 
 
DODGING SUBMARINES 47 
 
 dows helped to break the monotony. A quartet from Company "E," Hough, 
 Sebring, Stille and Williams, made a hit and Dobbie, of Company "D," with 
 his Scotch dialect stories, was the star comedian. Tom Longboat, the famous 
 Indian long distance runner, gave the audience an account of his experiences 
 with the Canadians at Ypres. 
 
 On the night of the fifteenth storm clouds began to gather, and in the inky 
 blackness every eye was strained to keep track of the other ships. About mid- 
 night the storm broke. Navy officers aboard admitted that it was quite a 
 squall. The "landlubbers," however, considered it a very real storm. Through- 
 out the next day it rained and the night again settled black and blowing and 
 raining. Clouds began to lift about midnight and a light ahead proved to be 
 on the "Montana." The convoy had become separated and the "Montana" 
 had taken a chance and displayed a small light in the hope of helping the 
 wandering vessels to reassemble. The entire convoy did not reform until 
 some time the next forenoon, all the ships having become scattered and having 
 plowed through the storm toward the rendezvous appointed for the morning 
 of the seventeenth. 
 
 At noon on the seventeenth a fleet of six destroyers came out of the East 
 to meet the convoy, and the "Montana" with the two destroyers disappeared 
 into the West. The new destroyers constantly circled the fleet, chasing in 
 every direction like terriers. When a ship appeared on the horizon one of the 
 destroyers scurried out to turn it away. That night the watch became even 
 more alert, and all of the men were warned most seriously that they were 
 now heading into the zone where the greatest vigilance was necessary. The 
 fact that all of the lives on the ship depended on this watchfulness was 
 most thoroughly impressed upon their minds. All were required to sleep in 
 their clothes, having life preservers and other paraphernalia beside them so 
 they could answer an "abandon ship" call in a moment. 
 
 The navy officers were splendid men, as was the ship's master, who had 
 been its captain when it was a peaceful freighter. All of these were particu- 
 larly proud of the construction of the "Antilles," vowing that she could not 
 possibly sink even if torpedoed. This, together with the fact that so far 
 all had gone well, fostered a feeling of confidence. At noon, Sunday the 
 nineteenth, the alarm whistle of a nearby boat suddenly was sounded and the 
 "Antilles" gave a lurch as she was turned quickly out of her course. All im- 
 mediately rushed to the decks with their life preservers. Although the 
 destroyers raced wildly around the fleet, and all of the boats zigzagged, noth- 
 ing developed. It was reported that a torpedo had passed near the bow of a 
 destroyer. Some depth bombs were dropped without apparent effect, and 
 after a time the convoy settled down into a state of semi-calm to await the 
 next excitement. Twice during the afternoon the gunners were again signaled 
 to their posts but nothing serious happened. At daylight on the twentieth, 
 
1— One of the Gun Crews 2— A Crow's Nest 3— "The Most Popular Sport" 
 
 4 — Pulling Away from the Dock 5 — A Sub-chaser, the French Coast in the Distance 
 6 — Boarding the "Antilles" 7 — Arrival at St. Nazaire 8 — During the Submarine Excitement 
 
 SNAPPED ON THE WAY OVER 
 
 48 
 
DODGING SUBMARINES 
 
 49 
 
 the watch sighted fleets of small fishing vessels with their charming weather- 
 stained sails of red and yellow and blue. 
 
 Suddenly, about eight o'clock, just as Belle Isle was sighted and all were 
 feeling happy because the journey was nearing an end, came a shot from one 
 of the destroyers. There was a rush to the guns. Shot after shot was fired, 
 the troops remaining on deck in their life belts. Two French airplanes came 
 out from shore to render assistance. The engagement lasted more than an 
 hour, and if any one felt any great fear he successfully concealed it. A feeling 
 of confidence in the Navy seemed to permeate the ship. 
 
 Altogether about seventy shots were fired and ten depth bombs dropped. 
 Just what the toll of submarines was no one knows, but the estimates varied 
 from the conservatism of the bridge to the enthusiasm of the hold. Some said 
 one and some said ten. The subject was still being debated as the convoy 
 with the aid of the French pilot steamed slowly into the harbor. Everywhere 
 were small boats with their wonderfully colored sails, the sailors waving their 
 hats and shouting "Vive les Americaines !" Throughout the afternoon the 
 procession continued up the harbor, the seaside cottages dotting the green 
 hills which sloped down to the beach. About five o'clock, amid enthusiastic 
 throngs of cheering Frenchmen gathered on the quay, the "Antilles" pulled 
 into the basin at St. Nazaire. France at last ! 
 
 All on board expected, of course, that they would be able, before dark, to 
 leave the boat and have a chance to test their land legs after thirteen days at 
 sea. But there was no such 
 luck. They were compelled 
 to content themselves with 
 the amusement of tossing 
 pennies to the children who 
 ran along the bank, and in 
 being allowed to smoke and 
 have lights after dark. In the 
 quiet and peace of the harbor 
 all thoughts of stuffy quar- 
 ters and of ship's food were 
 forgotten in the satisfaction 
 of knowing that soon there 
 would be opportunity to be- 
 gin the work for which they 
 had set out. With thoughts of the debarkation, all turned in for their last 
 sleep on shipboard. 
 
 The "Antilles" returned to America and brought over one more load of 
 troops. That was her last trip. While on her way back to the United States 
 she was torpedoed and went down in six minutes. 
 
 B^HI CABLEGRAM 
 
 , ^O'lO Ml- 3 5U P 
 
 FKANCf 
 
 KtkXBD ifcjj ^Rc 5T PHIL* 
 
 8* re ttLL 
 
 HUBS ELL 
 
 «| 
 
 >-• n 
 
Chapter VI 
 
 'So This Is France!'' 
 
 THERE was no mockery about the term "Sunny France" on the morning 
 of August twenty-first. Beautiful weather greeted the men and few Un- 
 gered long over their last meal on shipboard. Immediately after mess the 
 troops landed and the Signal Battalions marched through the crooked streets of 
 the quaint old town. There had been few American soldiers in St. Nazaire and 
 crowds quickly gathered to wave and shout their greetings. Children ran 
 along the streets, tossing flowers to the soldiers and attempting to grasp their 
 hands. After leaving the town, the march led over dusty roads to the recently 
 constructed Base Camp No. i. At the entrance to the camp a Marine Band 
 struck up lively tunes at the arrival of each new unit. It did not take long 
 for the men to make themselves at home. Some unloaded and unpacked the 
 baggage. More important, others hurried around to find the material with 
 which. to answer the question "When do we eat?" 
 
 The camp, although prepared to receive thousands of troops, was still in 
 course of construction. Everywhere were French soldiers working on new 
 barracks, assisted by details of German prisoners. These latter were a curiosity 
 — it was the first sight of the enemy, but American guards forbade conversation 
 with them. 
 
 Many were the new regulations to be learned. The Battalion was fre- 
 quently assembled so that instructions could be passed out to the men. The 
 greatest stress was laid on the new censorship regulations, which were in such 
 
 so 
 
'SO THIS IS FRANCE!" 
 
 ^i 
 
 Disembarking 
 
 an embryonic condition that they were changed almost daily. Many of 
 the letters which had been written aboard the steamer had to be rewritten 
 because of the rigidness of the rules. It seemed to most of the men 
 that about all they were al- 
 lowed to say was, "Some- 
 where in France. I am here 
 and well. Good-bye." 
 
 Dickson had been a dili- 
 gent student of the French 
 language, both at Monmouth 
 Park and on the way over. 
 Hardly had he landed at St. 
 Nazaire than he looked around 
 for an opportunity to try it 
 out. He saw a Frenchman 
 
 and approached him. Very German Prisoners— One of the First Sights at St. Nazaire 
 
 carefully, in his very best 
 
 French, he asked a question. The Frenchman looked at him in a puzzled 
 
 way and then said: "If you'd say that in English, I'd understand you a 
 
 d sight better." 
 
 An old friend turned up at camp on the second evening — Lieutenant Repp 
 of Company "D." The erstwhile Supervisor of Buildings was arrayed in a 
 foreign made uniform with Sam Browne belt, boots and spurs, and it seemed 
 that service in France had quickly transformed old "Bill" from a civilian of 
 quiet tastes to a military tailor's model. Lieutenant Repp had already gone 
 
52 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 over much of the territory in which the BattaHon would work, and he, with 
 Lieutenant Glaspey, had determined in general the routes which would be 
 followed, the type of construction to be used and where material for the 
 work might be obtained. In studying telephone needs, these oflficers had 
 covered by automobile some sixteen hundred miles, passing through more than 
 six hundred towns. Lieutenant Repp suggested that the Majors of the two 
 Battalions go to Paris to report to Colonel Russell so that they might obtain 
 definite ideas on the work which they might be expected to do. This sugges- 
 tion was immediately followed. On their return, they too were splendidly 
 decked out with boots and spurs and Sam Browne belts. 
 
 Drills were started as soon as the men had become established in the camp 
 and, as a very pleasant bathing beach was located not far distant, a hike to 
 this beach and a swim in the Bay of Biscay became a part of the daily drill 
 program. 
 
 New acquaintances were made each day and evening during the stay at 
 St. Nazaire, particularly in the nearby cajes, and the soldiers found Suzanne 
 and Elaine and other attractive waitresses most helpful in teaching them 
 French. There was one group, consisting of Foust, Hasskarl, Bradford and 
 Price, who were rather secretive, rarely taking any one with them on their 
 evening walks and visits to the cafes. What the attraction was has always 
 remaine^l .. mystery. 
 
 A Y. M. C. A. tent had been erected. Entertainments were arranged from 
 time to time, and one evening Dr. and Mrs. Herbert Adams Gibbons provided 
 a most interesting program. A track and field meet had been scheduled for 
 the second day after the Battalion's arrival in camp. Company "E" saw to it 
 that the Signal Corps was represented, Hackett winning the fifty-yard dash 
 and taking second place in the "hundred," W. J. Beck winning one first and a 
 second in the weight events and Scanlon taking third in the "hundred." 
 
 On the twenty-third, orders were received directing a large detail to proceed 
 immediately by train to Chaumont to install a telephone system for General 
 Pershing's Headquarters, soon to be moved from Paris to that place. Men 
 from Company "E" were assigned to the task, and Lieutenant Gauss, with his 
 detail, set off, after Lieutenant Meigs had obtained for them supplies and 
 coffee money, this latter to enable them to purchase hot coffee from the French 
 canteens at various stops long the line. At Orleans there was an opportunity 
 to see the famous Cathedral, with the scaffolding for repairs, abandoned when 
 the workmen were called to war, still in place. During the stop at Troyes, 
 Hackett and McAnallen wandered so far from the train that it later rolled on 
 toward Chaumont without them. These adventurous tourists, however, 
 boarded another train, an express, and arrived at Chaumont ahead of the detail. 
 
 Lieutenant Glaspey met the detail and it was marched through Chaumont 
 amid the cheers of the French populace. The French barracks which were to 
 
•so THIS IS FRANCE!" 
 
 53 
 
 Barracks, Base Camp No. 1, St. Nazaire 
 
 be used by the Americans had not been sufficiently disinfected, and the men 
 pitched their shelter tents in a field nearby. The ground was stony, but after 
 their two days and nights in the crowded compartments of a French coach all 
 were weary enough not to lose any time worrying about their rough beds. 
 The following morning they tackled their first big job. ^* '-' 
 
 A call from Paris sent Ryno, O'Brien and Noonan, of Company "D," 
 to that city to take over and organize a telegraph office. Ryno eventually 
 returned to his company in February, 191 8, but the other men, two of the best 
 telegraph operators in the Battalion, were officially detached from their 
 organization so they might remain on duty at this most important office. 
 Ryno tells his story of the early days in the Paris Office : 
 
 "After General Pershing and his staff moved to Chaumont, the 
 Paris office became the headquarters of the line of communications, 
 and I was made chief operator. During my connection with this office 
 it grew from a single position to sixteen positions, not including 
 two sets of repeaters used on the Chaumont-London wires, requiring 
 thirty-five operators and ten clerks to handle the traffic. The 
 majority of this equipment was installed under my direction. In 
 fact it was generally necessary that I do the work alone as there 
 were no special installation men in Paris at the time. A little later 
 Lieutenant Fay, with a detachment of Western Electric men, arrived 
 and at once proceeded to equip the office with ail-American equip- 
 ment. In addition to my duties as chief operator, I was in charge 
 of a local cable office. The E. F. M., meaning "Expeditionary Force 
 Message," enabled every member of the American Expeditionary 
 Forces to send cablegrams to America at reduced rates. 
 
 "On account of the rapid growth of this cable department, it 
 became necessary to organize an auditing office, and I was trans- 
 
54 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Above — The Railroad Station at Chaumont 
 Lower left — On the Way to Chaumont Lower right — Assembling Cars at St. Nazaire 
 
 EARLY DAYS IN FRANCE 
 
 f erred to that office, and remained there until returned to the 
 Battalion in February, 1918, where I was immediately introduced 
 to a bar and shovel." 
 
 United States soldiers were still a novelty in France. The French people 
 were eager to show their appreciation of America's participation in the war. 
 During the stay at St. Nazaire the Battalion received an invitation to a recep- 
 tion at La Baule on Sunday, August twenty-sixth. About forty were allowed 
 to go and lots were drawn to see who would be the lucky men. La Baule is 
 a fashionable French watering place on the Brittany coast, where many Pari- 
 sian families are accustomed to spend the summer. The town had been beau- 
 tifully decorated and there were triumphal arches and floral bowers. 
 
 The soldiers on their arrival at La Baule formed at the station and marched 
 through the town behind an artillery band, the people showering them with 
 
"SO THIS IS FRANCE!'' SS 
 
 flowers. At the City Hall the town reception committee, headed by the 
 Mayor, made speeches of welcome, which few of the men understood. The 
 column was then dismissed and the soldiers mingled with the people. Each 
 resident of the town had constituted himself a committee of one to receive and 
 entertain whomever he happened to meet, and the American soldiers scattered 
 in all directions. During the afternoon the beach was crowded, and the 
 soldiers splashed about in borrowed bathing suits. On the program were 
 Punch and Judy shows, moving pictures and other forms of amusement. The 
 whole town turned out to say farewell to the men when they departed for St. 
 Nazaire that evening. 
 
 Orders had been received on the night of the ship's arrival that the First 
 Battalion was to go to Chaumont and the Second to Dijon. The time for 
 leaving camp was given as August twenty-seventh, at thirteen o'clock — the 
 first introduction to this extremely practical Continental method of indicating 
 time on railroads and in the Allied armies. The march to the station was 
 started in a terrific downpour of rain. Kraus, of Company "D," was left 
 behind to see that Signal property arriving on any of the transports did not 
 go astray. That Kraus accomplished well the work to which he had been 
 assigned was evidenced after he had returned to the Battalion, when he was 
 recommended by high officers of the Signal Corps for the April class of the 
 Army Candidates School. 
 
 Much has been told of the troop cars marked — "Hommes 40, Chevaux 
 8" — but fortunately, or so it seemed at first, the two Signal Battalions traveled 
 in passenger coaches. As the hours of the long trip rolled by, many of the 
 men, generally six in each compartment, began to feel that they might have had 
 less cramped quarters in the little freight cars. Worse still, a few of the com- 
 partments contained seven or eight men. In one of these latter, Tomlinson 
 slung his shelter tent as a hammock near the ceiling, one slept in the aisle 
 below, one imder each seat and two on top of each seat. Koser, another man 
 who drew a place in a well crowded compartment, describes the situation: 
 
 "Say, folks, that was some nest! 
 The trip was long and weary, 
 
 I lost my pants and shoes. 
 And Corporal Park's feet were in my face 
 
 When I woke up from a snooze." 
 
 At each stop there was wild confusion among the French railroad employees. 
 The interpreter invariably learned from the Commissionaire de la Care that 
 the train would stop for only five minutes. Usually, after waiting for perhaps 
 forty minutes, it would be learned that the train might remain there for an- 
 other half hour. Immediately the coaches would discharge their weary pas- 
 sengers. The officers, for whom no corned beef and hard tack had been pro- 
 vided, hurried to the buffet, there to encounter a chattering and excited mob. 
 
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 56 
 
"SO THIS IS FRANCE!" 
 
 57 
 
 The only way to get any attention was to start away with some food — then 
 the price was quickly ascertained. Throughout the journey the greatest cau- 
 tion was impressed upon each one because of the possible presence of enemy 
 spies. Within the coaches and at each station there were displayed placards 
 bearing the admonition : 
 
 "Taisez Vous! 
 Mefiez Vous ! 
 Les Oreilles Ennemies 
 Vous Ecoutent!" 
 
 The trip led through Nantes, and on the following day through Orleans and 
 the region of the chateaux. On the morning of the third day a halt was made 
 at Troyes. Here the Battalions were separated, the Second starting for Dijon. 
 The Chaumont train reached its destination at noon. 
 
 As the Battalion assembled outside the station Lieutenant Glaspey, with 
 Captain Behn of Colonel Russell's staff, arrived and directed the march 
 through town, passing the large barracks, soon to become General Pershing's 
 headquarters, to a beautiful boulevard, and under the trees along this road 
 tents were pitched. The procession developed into another warm reception 
 from the French. 
 
 Before the Battalion had started toward Chaumont, Engstrom, Urffer, 
 Whitlock, Armstrong and Craigmile had been sent to a motor park at St. 
 Nazaire to assemble motorcycles and trucks. There were no tools provided 
 other than those in the kits accom- 
 panying the machines, and the park . 
 at the time consisted of a lot into 
 which the motors were dumped as 
 they were taken from the ships. i 
 There was no shelter under which to ■ 
 work on the assembling, but never- 
 theless when it was time for the Bat- 
 talion to pull out, these men had 
 fixed up three trucks and a motor- 
 cycle, the first motor equipment used 
 by the Signal Corps in the American 
 
 Expeditionary Forces. The Second Battalion in a similar manner obtained 
 motor equipment, and under the command of Lieutenant Christman, the 
 Supply Officer of the Second Battalion, the trucks for both Battalions set 
 out from St. Nazaire. 
 
 On the way across France another man was detached. Custard, of Com- 
 pany "E," was retained at Nevers to assist in the establishment of one of the 
 largest Signal Corps bases, and was later transferred from his company and 
 commissioned a Lieutenant in the Signal Corps. 
 
Chapter VII 
 
 At General. Headquarters 
 
 THE Company "E" detachment under Lieutenant Gauss had reached 
 Chaumont three or four days before the remainder of the BattaHon, 
 and had immediately set to work, under the supervision of Lieutenant 
 Glaspey. Telephone and telegraph equipment and a lighting plant were 
 needed at once in the Caserne Lambert for General Pershing was soon to be 
 established there. The lOO-line switchboard was installed by Mumford, Heis- 
 ler and Gaghagen; Spears with John Miller and Graber set up the "Delco" 
 power plant; while several installers placed the wiring in the buildings which 
 formed the barracks. Telegraph service to Paris was established over a wire 
 leased from the French and operated by George, Lindley and Bierfreund. 
 Such were the beginnings of the Signal Corps activities at Chaumont, which 
 later developed into a service comparable in size and number of messages 
 handled with the largest offices in France. 
 
 Those who were detailed to this wire work soon learned to appreciate the 
 solidity of French masonry, particularly as it was necessary to do all of the 
 drilling for attachments with the very light French tools. But these tools 
 had to be used because the American type was not yet available. Captain 
 Behn and Lieutenant Glaspey were unceasing in their eflforts to obtain an 
 adequate supply of tools and material. 
 
 During the installation of telephones at the barracks it became necessary, 
 as there was no underground connection, to swing a span of aerial cable be- 
 tween two of the buildings. Aerial cable was unknown in France and the 
 
 68 
 
AT GENERAL HEADQUARTERS 59 
 
 French engineers were skeptical. They felt that this form of construction 
 could not be lasting. However, Russell and McAnnallen, the cable experts 
 of Company "E," twisted together bare wire and made a sufficiently strong 
 wire rope from which to suspend overhead the extremely heavy French under- 
 ground cable. On account of the success of this aerial cable job, Russell and 
 McAnnallen were sent to Paris to instruct the French telephone men in aerial 
 cable construction. 
 
 The Battalion camp was situated under rows of beautiful big oaks which 
 lined the boulevard. In clear weather the location was delightful and the 
 views beautiful. The ground fell off rapidly into the valley of the little Mame. 
 Far to the north and west the hills were dotted here and there with glistening 
 spires, each denoting one of the innumerable small villages. In wet weather, 
 however, the camp was far from comfortable. For the sake of concealment, 
 the tents were kept under the trees, and this location, exposed to the north 
 and west winds, was extremely disagreeable. There were no cots, and it took 
 but little rain to make soggy masses of the straw-filled bed sacks. This, 
 however, was in line with the ideas of the Commander-in-Chief, who was 
 anxious that the men become quickly hardened to the rigors of camp life. 
 
 To insure the completion of the headquarters' telephone equipment on 
 scheduled time, all available central office men were sent to help Lieutenant 
 Gauss as soon as the camp had been established. As a result, in just one week, 
 both telephones and electric lights were working. 
 
 There have been many signal organizations which had claimed the credit 
 for erecting the first poles in France. It would be a hard matter to convince 
 the men of the First Battalion that the six poles which they erected for the 
 stringing of telephone and electric light wires around Headquarters that last 
 week in August, 191 7, were not the first to be erected by the American Signal 
 Corps. 
 
 The first American officers arrived at the new Headquarters on the first 
 of September, and the French planned a dedication ceremony for the after- 
 noon. When the exercises were about to begin, it was discovered that there 
 were no American troops present! How could American Headquarters be 
 dedicated without a "doughboy" to grace the occasion? Somebody had an 
 inspiration. The First Telegraph Battalion! Why not? Off came the 
 overalls, and on went the uniforms. In a very few minutes, they lined up at 
 attention as the exercises were carried out and the American and French flags 
 were raised to the tops of the staffs. Thus did the Battalion represent the 
 rank and file of the whole American Army at the dedication of General Head- 
 quarters, A. E. F. 
 
 During the week following the arrival in this camp, the officers went over 
 the route for the first trunk line, to be built between Chaumont and Neuf- 
 chateau. The route had been tentatively selected by Lieutenant Repp and, 
 
6o 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 in a broad way, permission had been obtained from the state authorities to 
 place poles along the roads, across bridges, and through towns. The details 
 of the route, however, had not been studied nor had materials been obtained. 
 Lieutenants Repp and Glaspey were delegated by the Chief Signal Officer 
 to obtain poles and arrange for their distribution. It was at first planned 
 that all of the poles should be shipped from America, but after realizing the 
 vast number which would be required, Colonel Russell decided that the cargo 
 space could not be spared and that poles must be obtained in France. Lieu- 
 tenant Repp obtained from the French Pastes et Telegraphes and from other 
 
 Above left: The Aerial Cable Above right: Underground Construction 
 
 Center: Underground Construction 
 
 Lower left: The Camp Under the Trees Lower right: The Mess Tents Were Centers of Interest 
 
 AT CHAUMONT 
 
AT GENERAL HEADQUARTERS 6i 
 
 sources about seven thousand poles and, as soon as the studies were made for 
 this first Hne, he set about obtaining French brackets, wire and other fittings. 
 While the studies were progressing Major Hubbell, with some of his staff, 
 traveled up and down the highways to settle various construction problems 
 which had arisen. 
 
 McCann, who was "chauff curing" for the Major, gave him a thrill one dark 
 night by bumping into a team of oxen. 
 
 Although it could readily be seen before the construction was begun that 
 it would eventually be a twenty- or thirty- wire line, there was so little material 
 available, that only one pair of wires could be strung at the start. French 
 construction in ordinary times does not countenance crossarms along the 
 highways. They are considered pasjolie, and furthermore, the French believe 
 that their soil is not sufficiently solid to hold single poles with crossarms. 
 Where crossarms are used they are usually placed on "H" fixtures consisting 
 of two poles. Probably the most important reason of all, however, for this 
 opposition to crossarms comes from the fact that their use would require 
 either that the lines be placed on private property or else so close to the trees 
 bordering the highways as to require that the latter be trimmed. It is difficult 
 to decide whether the suggestion of trimming trees or of placing poles on 
 private property caused the greater consternation among the French officials. 
 In all of the early negotiations the French were very specific in ordering that 
 the lines be built between the driveway and the rows of trees paralleling either 
 side of the road. Discussion on this last point introduced to the Battalion 
 the then Captain Voris, Signal Officer of the First Division, who later became 
 Signal Officer of the First Army Corps, to which this "Battalion of Experts," 
 as he called it, was attached. 
 
 Captain Voris was most determined that it was unwise to consider building 
 the Neufchateau line between the trees and the edge of the road, because he 
 felt sure that the road would become a much used military highway, and there 
 would be constant danger of the breaking of poles by the heavy traffic. His 
 opinion prevailed and it was decided that this main line should be built on the 
 field side of the border of trees. Wherever it was necessary to place any 
 poles on private property the formal consent of the property owners had to be 
 obtained and the signed permission filed with all other papers relating to the 
 line. 
 
 In order to build the line tools were necessary, but there were few of the 
 American variety to be had. Several trial efforts were made to ascend poles 
 by the use of French "climbers." These climbers closely resembled the curved 
 section of a crab's claw, and it was almost suicidal for a lineman to attempt 
 to walk when fitted out with them. 
 
 In climbing poles a French lineman takes a very short step and feels quite 
 secure because the "hook" with its toothed edges, attached to each foot, more 
 
62 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 French Lineman 
 
 than half encircles the pole. After 
 descending from the pole the French- 
 man removes his hooks and carries 
 them to the next pole. The Ameri- 
 can lineman puts on his "spurs," as 
 he calls them, when he starts work in 
 the morning, and keeps them on un- 
 til he takes them off at noon, or per- 
 haps not until evening. 
 
 Some one had smuggled a pair of 
 American spurs into France with his 
 other property and, using these as a 
 pattern. Lieutenant Meigs rented a 
 blacksmith shop and set Sebring and 
 King, with Grant, Urffer and Lander 
 to work making spurs ; he also com- 
 mandeered a saddle shop and, with 
 a wonderful display of patience, dem- 
 onstrated to the woman in charge 
 how the leather straps for these 
 home-made spurs were to be fashioned. When they were completed Lieu- 
 tenant Meigs was told by the woman that he could not take them from the 
 shop until they were paid for — such was the attitude, and not without some 
 reason, of the French toward army trade. The Supply Officer had used all of 
 his cash in buying large stocks of shovels, hatchets and other tools, but he 
 must have these straps. After exhausting his French and his patience, he 
 bundled them under his arm and started down the street followed by the 
 large, irate French woman, waving her arms and protesting loudly. When the 
 little procession reached camp, Meigs managed to raise the cash to pay the bill. 
 He gave her the money and patted her on the back, and the sun shone once more. 
 
 Shovels, bars, drills, and hammers were obtained from the French after 
 scouring the country in all directions, even including Paris, but the tools were 
 not of the substantial type to which the men were accustomed. 
 
 The Battalion camp at Chaumont was the center of interest each after- 
 noon, and particularly on Sundays, when almost the entire French population 
 visited it. These good French people swarmed through the tents, chattering 
 and asking innumerable questions. They were particularly interested in the 
 two mess tents, and would hang around the camp until meals were served, 
 so that they could watch the food disappear and perhaps obtain helpings of 
 beef stew and potatoes, and a small piece of white bread, the like of which they 
 had not seen since the war began, and which they called gateau. Some of the 
 men of the Battalion saved their mending for Sundays, and when attractive 
 
AT GENERAL H EADQUARTERS 63 
 
 visitors (female, of course) wandered toward camp, the men appeared with 
 their "housewives," the gifts of the girls of The Bell Telephone Company of 
 Pennsylvania, and, after a little laborious effort, were sure to have an inter- 
 ested mademoiselle finish the job for them. This practice was not so profitable 
 for Cowan who, having in this way had new chevrons attached to his overcoat 
 and the coat returned neatly folded, later discovered after mademoiselle had 
 gone that the buttons from the coat had also disappeared. 
 
 In the barracks adjoining general headquarters French recruits of the class 
 of 191 9 were being trained. Most of these men, or rather boys, were then 
 nineteen years old, but mixed with them were a few who seemed much older, 
 perhaps men who had formerly been exempt from service or considered not 
 up to the physical standard, but who now in the final combing out of French 
 man-power had been called to the colors. Compared with the splendid physical 
 specimens in the Battalion, these very young French recruits, who were in the 
 service fully two years before their time, seemed almost of a smaller race. 
 
 During this period such a growth of business developed from the American 
 Headquarters over the various French lines, then the only means of communi- 
 cation, that the French decided it would be necessary to place an under- 
 ground cable between the American and French exchanges. Details of men 
 were fvirnished by the Telegraph Battalion to dig the trench into which this 
 cable would be placed. The erstwhile telephone construction men, central 
 office men and telegraph operators developed blisters, sore backs and irritable 
 dispositions. "Squad" McKinney, formerly a commercial clerk, lost his 
 "corporation." The telegraphers in the Battalion recalled with a joyless 
 smile that advertisement: "Wanted — 5,000 Telegraphers for the Army." 
 But the trench was soon completed and the cable laid, to the horror of the 
 American cable experts, without any conduit, the only protection being a light 
 layer of sand and broken stones immediately around the cable before the 
 trench was filled. 
 
 This job was in charge of Sergeant Dickson, and the men began to appre- 
 ciate the force of Lieutenant Suddath's familiar expression, "The Army is a 
 cold blooded proposition." The trench led past a house, in front of which a 
 pretty mademoiselle sat each day, making gloves. It seemed difficult for the 
 men to keep their minds on the work in the trench. They could not make their 
 eyes behave. The hard-hearted Dickson, who was capable of talking the 
 language of the mademoiselle in what might have been called "pidgin" Eng- 
 lish or "pidgin" French, depending on the native tongue of the person listening 
 to him, explained to the young woman that these men in their blue denims 
 were prisoners of war and very dangerous characters. Thereafter, misbehav- 
 ing eyes and coy glances had no effect on the mademoiselle. 
 
 After many trips by day and conferences by night, the route for the Neuf- 
 chateau line was selected. The wire which Lieutenant Repp borrowed from 
 
64 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 On the Chaumont-Neufchateau Line 
 
 the French, pending the arrival of American suppHes, was received. With a 
 Battahon of eager and willing men, two small trucks, two motorcycles and one 
 "flivver," the construction of the line was started. Setting-up exercises and 
 mess were finished each morning before dawn. Evening mess, after the work 
 became well started, was served in the gathering dusk. To deliver all of 
 the men at their work, have mess on hand at noon, and return the men to 
 camp, to say nothing of distributing the poles along the road after obtaining 
 them at Foulain (a town about twelve kilometers south of Chaumont) , the 
 little motor detail had its hands full. It was kept constantly on the road 
 from six in the morning until long after dark. To the motor mechanics of 
 both of the companies is due great credit for keeping the trucks in shape under 
 such heavy and constant use. 
 
 The line followed high ground all the way from Chaumont to Neufchateau 
 and almost all of the holes had to be dug through solid rock. The steel of the 
 foreign made tools was soft, and as soon as the shop forces had finished making 
 the linemen's spurs they were put to work on the never-ending job of sharpening 
 digging bars and repairing shovels. 
 
AT GENERAL H EADQUA RTERS 
 
 65 
 
 During the training at Monmouth Park, during the days on the water, 
 and until they reached Chaumont, the work was of such a nature that the 
 most calloused hands had become soft. In this job of drilling rock holes with 
 soft steel bars when even the old-time linemen suffered, the central office men 
 and telegraphers developed tremendous blisters. Lord and Peterson were 
 sent to the hospital, where it required over six weeks to heal the abscesses 
 on their hands. Incidentally this pair was so well cared for in the hospital that 
 they were loath to return to camp. But that is another story. 
 
 As dynamite had not yet been received from America, it was arranged with 
 the French engineers to use some of their explosive called ' 'cheddite. ' ' A supply 
 was obtained at Langres. The French were extremely careful to warn the 
 Americans of its tremendous power and treachery. Only those most experi- 
 enced in the use of dynamite were taken for the first trial and, after a hole 
 was drilled in the rock, the charge placed and fuse lighted, every one retired a 
 comfortable hundred yards to await results. The "old-timers" characterized 
 the explosion as being almost as powerful as that of a small firecracker, and 
 before the day was over holes were being fairly successfully blown with charges 
 ranging from four to six times the maximum charge advised as safe by the 
 French. 
 
 As soon as any of the men could be spared from shifting and adjusting 
 the constantly growing plant at General Headquarters, they, too, were put 
 out on the line, and many were the amusing and pathetic comments of the 
 instrument men who had never before tried to dig holes. Cavanaugh, of 
 Company "E," was particularly outspoken in his aversion to the use of 
 digging tools, although he worked along cheerfully and steadily. Two years 
 before, Cavanaugh had been a candidate for Congress on an eight-hour day 
 platform, and his views of working days of twelve and fourteen hours > rain 
 or shine, on rock holes, were interesting but not printable. Hannam, of 
 
 The Camp at Liffol le Grande 
 
 Interpreter Thevelin 
 
66 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Company "D," whose telephone experience had consisted largely of installing 
 telephones and working in central offices, did not appreciate at all his intro- 
 duction to the "steel pencil." 
 
 In order to make the greatest possible speed, work had been started on 
 a section of the line, the route for which seemed open to little question. The 
 sections upon which the engineering was more difficult were held until later. 
 As the work progressed and it became almost impossible for the three trucks 
 to meet all of the demands for transportation. Company "D" was moved to 
 a field near Liffol le Grande, and worked on the upper part of the line. 
 
 Tents were pitched under the trees along the highway in what had been 
 a wheat field. When the rains started, the camp became a sea of mud. But 
 "D" Company enjoyed life at Liffol, and, under the cheerful influence of 
 Captain Wattles and Lieutenant Lawrence, developed into an extremely 
 smooth- working and happy family. With the limited number of trucks, the 
 supply of rations sometimes ran low. Farrington, in an effort to keep down 
 comment in the "bread line," sallied forth occasionally with Dailey and 
 Tomlinson, to raid neighboring potato patches. 
 
 To facilitate the delivery of poles. Lieutenant Glaspey had arranged to 
 have them shipped to a number of stations along the route. It required con- 
 stant watchfulness to learn of their arrival, and a great deal of following up 
 to hurry the shipments. Here it was realized for the first time that there 
 were a large number of towns bearing almost the same names, and one must 
 be careful always to use the whole name. One large shipment of poles had 
 been ordered to Vesaignes, Glaspey having in mind Vesaignes-sous-Lafauche. 
 After the orderly progress of 
 the work had been held for 
 several days, it was discov- 
 ered that these poles had 
 been sent to the unqualified 
 Vesaignes— many kilometers 
 to the south. 
 
 On the trip from St. Na- 
 zaire, the truck train was 
 directed by an interpreter, 
 Edouard Thevelin, who re- 
 mained attached to the Bat- 
 talion. Another interpreter 
 who had accompanied the 
 Battalion on its trip by railroad, returned to the seaport town after he had 
 delivered his charges at Chaumont. Thevelin early became very popular. He 
 was especially helpful to the Supply Officer in arranging for the various 
 workshops and in the purchase of axes, hammers, pliers and other tools. 
 
 Camouflage 
 
AT GENERAL H E A B QU A RT E R S 
 
 67 
 
 Village of Prez 
 
 "Dad" Murdaugh 
 
 When Company "D" moved to LiflFol le Grande, Thevelin accompanied this 
 unit to help with the rights-of-way work on the upper section of the Hne, and 
 all of the negotiations by Company "E" were carried on in the near-French 
 of the Battalion officers and noncoms. 
 
 General Headquarters was fearful of German observation from the air, 
 and constantly warned all troops near Chatmiont to keep under cover as 
 much as possible. At night but a single ffickering gas light was permitted in 
 the town. This was dubbed the "Gay White Way." It was necessary to 
 camouflage all tents or canvas which could not be concealed under the trees. 
 This made the camp look far more war-like. "D" Company's camp, being 
 almost fifty kilometers nearer the front, also had its tents decorated. 
 
 Constant work in the open air, although the weather was frequently un- 
 pleasant, kept most of the men in splendid physical shape. There were, 
 however, a few cases for the hospital. Pemberton, who had for a long 
 time had a bothersome knee, became so crippled with rheumatism that he 
 could do nothing but hobble around close to camp, and collect souvenirs 
 from the French soldiers in the nearby barracks. When Company "D" 
 moved to Liffol, "Pern" was dispatched to a hospital, and his various shifts 
 took him on a tour of France. The first accident case occurred when Buehler, 
 on a motorcycle, attempted to turn out for a French artillery column, which 
 occupied much of the road, and collided with a tree. "Marty" spent several 
 weeks after that at the Bazoilles Hospital. Another hospital patient was 
 Haislop. This big lineman developed a pain in his back which Lieutenant 
 Hasskarl proceeded to "cure" with a French plaster. Walter spent two 
 weeks in the hospital while new skin replaced the blisters and upon the 
 day of his return to work, as he himself puts it, "A 'rookie' let a pike slip 
 out of a pole and hit me on the head." That time the hospital sentence was 
 "eight stitches, eight days." Then, too, there was a little scare of measles 
 
68 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 in the camp at Liffol, and Althouse was ostracized with "Silent" Bigham, 
 in a "pup" tent some distance from the camp. 
 
 Despite the consistent good health of the organization, Lieutenant 
 Macfarlan collected a large assortment of medical supplies and had them 
 
 Some "E" Men 
 
 Some from "D" 
 
 professionally arranged in a tent. This tent was one of the centers of interest 
 for the natives. The doctor, having a good knowledge of French and being 
 of a sociable turn, made many new friends, frequently spending his unoccupied 
 hours in their society. One of the Frenchmen presented the doctor with 
 a puppy, said to be a "Tunisian Bee Hound." This dog was given the name 
 "joffre," and became the arch nuisance of the camp. 
 
 The Neufchateau line continued to grow, and, in order further to speed 
 its completion, a large detail from Company "E" was moved to Rimacourt 
 with Lieutenant Suddath. From this point they worked early and late. 
 The line followed the main highway, avoiding some towns through which 
 the road made too many bends, and, in others, following straight through the 
 main street. At Prez, one of the latter towns, Murdaugh tried his French 
 on the village authorities and learned that there was a water main on the 
 east side of the highway. "Dad" therefore selected the west side for the 
 pole line, and in digging the first hole succeeded in puncturing the water 
 pipe. Being a master of all trades, Murdaugh set to work to repair the pipe, 
 and the result of his effort was entirely satisfactory to the villagers. 
 
 Before building the line into Neufchateau, many routes were studied. The 
 one finally selected crossed two meadows which were traversed by an innocent 
 looking little stream called the Mouzon, one of the smaller branches of the 
 River Meuse. The Mayor of Neufchateau stated that this stream became 
 very much larger in the spring. The route selected, however, seemed the 
 most practical considering the limited materials available and the pole line 
 was believed to be far enough from the banks of the stream to be entirely 
 safe. This probably was the poorest decision along the route, in view of 
 developments the following January. 
 
AT GENERAL H EADQUARTERS 69 
 
 While the Neuf chateau line was being pushed with all possible speed, 
 there were other activities which could not be neglected. Frequent changes 
 and additions were required at General Headquarters, requiring the constant 
 services of several men, as did the actual operation of the telephone and 
 telegraph offices. Colonel Russell, who had investigated certain of the means 
 of communication used by the British, determined upon the establishment 
 of a Motor Dispatch Service, and the first service between Chaumont, Neuf- 
 chateau and Gondrecourt was placed in charge of Corporal Graber, of Com- 
 pany "E," as chief machinist and supervisor, and was manned by Heisler and 
 Koser, of Company "D," and Giles and Geib, of Company "E." The first 
 machines furnished were of British make — "Triumph," and were successfully 
 operated until a supply of American machines arrived. On one of the trips, 
 Koser with his car ran off the road to avoid hitting a herd of cows and became 
 stuck in the mire of a plowed field. Fullerton came along with a truck and 
 pulled Koser back on the road. This was called "Koser's First Citation" — 
 Fullerton "cited" him in the mud. Throughout the autumn and bitter winter 
 of 191 7 these men continued in the Motor Dispatch Service, never failing to 
 deliver a single message. They returned to the Battalion when it was assigned 
 to the First Army Corps in February. Graber, however, had made himself so 
 valuable to the Motor Dispatch organization by the care which he gave the 
 machines that he was permanently assigned to General Headquarters. The 
 Motor Dispatch Service grew until several hundred routes were established 
 all over the war area. 
 
 After a burst of hard and strenuous work, which permitted no slowing 
 up on account of bad weather, the first trunk line of approximately fourteen 
 hundred sections was completed on September twenty-seventh. Shortly 
 afterward, the line which the Second Field Battalion of the First Division 
 had constructed between Neufchateau and the headquarters of the Division 
 at Gondrecourt was connected to the Chaumont-Neufchateau line, and 
 became the first American trunk between General Headquarters and the 
 training headquarters of a Division. 
 
Chapter VIII 
 
 Hard Work and Some Diversion 
 
 OTH Lieutenants Repp and Glaspey, on being made Captains, were 
 transferred permanently to General Headquarters at this time. This 
 fact, together with the experience gained during these first days in 
 France, made certain changes in the officer personnel advisable. Lieutenant 
 Meigs was made Adjutant, in place of Lieutenant Griest, who was transferred 
 to Company "E." Lieutenant Suddath became Supply Officer, and Lieutenant 
 Lawrence was transferred to Company "E." Lieutenant Foust, newb- 
 promoted, was assigned to Company "D." 
 The following gives the new arrangement: 
 
 Major James W. Hubbell — Commanding 
 
 Headquarters Supply 
 
 1st Lieut. F. P. Meigs ist Lieut. L. N. Suddath 
 
 Adjutant Supply Officer 
 
 Medical 
 
 1st Lieut. Douglas Macfarlan 
 
 Medical Officer 
 
 Company "D" Company "E" 
 
 Capt. W. P. Wattles Capt. W. F. Gauss 
 
 1st Lieut. L. R. Foust ist Lieut. T. H. Griest 
 
 1st Lieut. C. V. Lawrence 
 
 70 
 
HARD IVORK AND SOME DIVERSION 
 
 71 
 
 At the start, when the signal work was apportioned between the First 
 and Second Reserve BattaHons, the First Battalion was charged with the 
 installation of the telephone equipment and power plant at General Head- 
 quarters, and the construction of the trunk line from Chaumont to Neuf- 
 chateau. The Second Battalion was assigned the installation work for the 
 artillery camp at Valdahon and the construction of the trunk line from Dijon 
 to Chaumont. There was keen rivalry between these New York and Penn- 
 sylvania Battalions concerning the speed with which the work would be done. 
 Major Shearer, of the Second, laid a wager with Major Hubbell that the 
 trunk line from Dijon would be completed before the First Battalion reached 
 Neufchateau. The penalty, considered by Major Shearer as particularly 
 appropriate for a Philadelphian, was to be a snail dinner. The First Battalion 
 not only completed the Neufchateau trunk 
 and the Chaumont switchboard installation, 
 but Company "E" started to build toward 
 Dijon and met the Second Battalion some 
 twenty-five kilometers south of Chaumont. 
 The snail dinner which was thus won by the 
 First Bal talion has not yet been given. 
 
 In the meantime. Company "D" began 
 wiring various training areas, preparatory 
 to the arrival of American Divisions. The 
 Twenty-sixth, later known as the "Yankee" 
 Division, was assigned to the Neufchateau 
 training area, and there, too, was to be estab- 
 lished the headquarters of the Divisional 
 Areas organization. Company "D" dis- 
 patched details which began the installation 
 of two forty-line switchboards with their 
 
 necessary telephones, and strung wires to different nearby towns in which 
 Brigade, Regimental and Battalion Headquarters were located. At the same 
 time, Sergeant Lutz took a detail to Bazoilles to install a switchboard with a 
 number of stations in the hospital being established there by the Johns Hop- 
 kins unit. This was the first American hospital in France to have a com- 
 plete telephone system. Moreover, this system was connected by American 
 circuits to the American board at Neufchateau. 
 
 While Company "E" was still working on the Dijon trunk line, Com- 
 pany "D" was made responsible for "Divisional Areas" work. The first 
 area, with Gondrecourt as a center, had been wired by a Field Battalion 
 from the First Division, but it was expected that many of the other areas 
 would be cared for by Company "D" of the Telegraph Battalion. The field 
 at LiflFol which had been its home for some time had become a very un- 
 
 The Barracks at Neufchateau 
 
72 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 1 — After Right of Way 2 — The Camp 3— Some of the Men 4— The Mayor 
 
 AT LUZ Y 
 
 pleasant habitation due to rains, and further, this camp was far from the 
 center of the new activities. So Captain Wattles moved his men into wooden 
 barracks at Neufchateau. Surveys were made, plans outlined, and material 
 ordered so that the various areas might be wired in time to receive the 
 troops according to schedule. 
 
 As soon as the Neufchateau area had been satisfactorily covered, a detach- 
 ment was ordered to Bourmont to wire the area for the Second Division, 
 which included the brigade of Marines, destined to become famous the follow- 
 ing summer. Electrician Brittain took charge of this job with a platoon. 
 Hannam and Craigmile installed the switchboard in the Hotel de Ville (City 
 Hall) , while the construction men ran numerous lines in the town and to out- 
 lying points. One of the first jobs was a pole line with ten wires, from the 
 top of the high hill on which Bourmont is located, down to a railroad and 
 thence to Neufchateau on the poles along the railroad. Billets were at a 
 premium, and these men, who had just left a new, wood-floored barracks at 
 Neufchateau, were required to clean out a stable on the grounds of a chateau. 
 

 
 
 
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 Neukhaleau 
 
 
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 Fretowrt >/ / 
 
 
 
 
 
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 LEGLND 
 
 Mam Hiijhways 
 
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 tiy the 406'h Telegraph Battalion 
 
 
 
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 Scale 
 
 
 S 10 IS 20 
 Kilometers 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 THE TERRITORY AROUND CHAUMONT AND TOUL 
 
74 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 One of the sections was assigned to the hayloft, and the other to the first 
 floor. On the first evening, Gardiner and Ricciardi furnished entertainment 
 with their mandoHns, on the ground floor, and Graham was singing to his 
 audience in the loft, when suddenly there was a crash — the "hayloft tenor" 
 had stepped upon a loose board and, coming through the floor, landed heavily 
 in the midst of the audience below. 
 
 Company "E" was divided in two parts during the construction of the 
 Dijon line south from Chaumont toward Langres. Half of the Company 
 remained with Captain Gauss at Chaumont ; the other half, being the platoon 
 which had been stationed at Rimacourt while building the Neuf chateau line, 
 was to select a camp site to the south, near the other end of the job. Various 
 places were examined, and a high field near Luzy was chosen as being best 
 adapted for the camp. Before taking any liberties with this field. Major 
 Hubbell, with Captain Gauss and Lieutenant Griest and Interpreter Thevelin 
 interviewed the Mayor of Luzy. The old gentleman shuffled out with his 
 large wooden sabots to his door-yard gate, and ushered the Americans into his 
 little study. After learning their mission, he decided he would go with them 
 to interview the owner of the field. His wife, apparently the head of the 
 house, went along, possibly because it was the first opportunity she had ever 
 had to ride in an automobile. The desired permission was obtained, and 
 a few days later the platoon under Lieutenant Griest took possession. 
 
 The construction of the line from Chaumont to Neufchateau had taught 
 the lesson that it was not always best to stick too close to the roads, and 
 that possibly too much attention had been paid to the desirability of keeping 
 all poles off private property. Consequently, south of Chaumont, the most 
 direct line was laid out, and deviations from this direct route were made 
 only where absolutely necessary. On one short stretch the road was so 
 crooked that to keep to the highway would have necessitated fourteen 
 "comers" or turns, each with its guy wires to withstand the strain. The 
 shorter route was adopted, although at times it kept the line far from the 
 road. This route led through a large woods. To indicate the cooperation 
 of the French, it should be mentioned that Lieutenant Repp obtained per- 
 mission from the Paris owner to cut a path thirty feet wide through these 
 woods so as to give the line proper clearance. 
 
 The towns people of Luzy previous to this time had seen no American troops, 
 and they were much interested in the little tent camp on the hill. On Sun- 
 days they swarmed through the tents, often under the leadership of the Mayor, 
 who had adopted the platoon as his own. One of the most frequent visitors, 
 a man of mixed French and Italian blood, cut the heavy growth of clover 
 around the tents, and while not attending to his duties in the lock house at the 
 canal supplied the tents with flowers and the soup pot with savory vegetables — 
 his method of showing his appreciation of American participation in the war. 
 
 4 
 
HARD WORK AND SOME DIVERSION 
 
 75 
 
 General Pershing 
 
 At this time a small shipment of 
 American tools arrived, and there 
 was keen rivalry to obtain the famil- 
 iar shovels, spoons and bars. There 
 were few new construction prob- 
 lems along this line, and the men 
 tackled it with such good will, that 
 one after another the various goals 
 which had been selected as the prob- 
 able junction point with the Second 
 Battalion were reached and passed. 
 So rapidly did the work progress 
 that it was a hard matter for the 
 survey detail to keep the work 
 mapped out ahead of the construc- 
 tion parties. Hutchinson, with 
 Barto and Shinfessel, held forth in 
 the pole yard at Foulain, and by 
 dint of hard work, kept Cavanaugh 
 busy with his delivery detail. Dan- 
 ley's crowd, who were digging the holes, turned out the earth in rapid style ; 
 only by so doing could they keep ahead of Davis and his pole-setters. 
 
 At the foot of the hill, near the little camp at Luzy, there was a cafe, 
 and the men divided their evenings between this center of amusement and 
 the Y. M. C. A. tent. The little cafe was like a dungeon, having a stone 
 floor, the only light entering through the front door. At the rear was the 
 entrance to the wine cellar, under the hill. The walls presented a kaleido- 
 scopic effect, some parts covered with plaster but more places where it had 
 fallen away, leaving the stone bare. Madame, a cheerful matron, cut bread 
 for her many guests by holding the loaf against her doubtfully-clean black 
 waist and cutting toward her (no thought of " safety -first ") , chatting pleasantly 
 during the operation. Frequently the evening crowd in the cafe was joined 
 by Edmond Jacques, the crippled son of the Mayor, who shared his father's 
 interest in the Americans. 
 
 The weather for the first week in October was delightful. In the morn- 
 ing, assemblies and setting-up exercises were held by moonlight, without the 
 aid of artificial light. Later in the month, however, the rain descended 
 once more and the clover field at Luzy became a quagmire. Despite the 
 weather, the men continued at a fast clip and the line grew steadily toward 
 the south. 
 
 After one particularly cold, wet day, all of the officers of the Battalion 
 received orders from the Major, directing them to come to Chaumont at 
 
76 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Brigadier-General Russell 
 
 once. The occasion of the call was 
 the reception in General Pershing's 
 chateau, in honor of his having been 
 made a full General — the first to at- 
 tain the rank since General Grant. 
 At the same time, Colonel Russell 
 had been made a Brigadier-General. 
 Generals and Colonels were far more 
 numerous at the reception than Cap- 
 tains and Lieutenants. The Bat- 
 talion officers, however, took advan- 
 tage of the opportunity to meet the 
 Commander-in-Chief and his Staff. 
 
 More motor equipment had begun 
 to reach France. Frequently, details 
 from the Battalion were sent to the 
 coast, and, after assembling the 
 machines, drove them back to Chau- 
 mont for distribution among Signal Corps outfits. From time to time, also, 
 vehicles were purchased in Paris, and lucky were the men detailed to care 
 for their delivery to headquarters, for they were always assured of two or 
 three days for sight-seeing in "Gay Paree." 
 
 Probably one of the most interesting of these motor trips was that of 
 a detail of twenty-eight men from the Battalion who set out, under Elec- 
 trician Conwell, for St. Nazaire, stopping for a short time at Paris. After 
 two weeks at the port, assembling cars and trucks, they started across France 
 with Lieutenant Christman and some Second Battalion drivers. There were 
 fifty-two trucks and several passenger cars in the column. The trip led through 
 Nantes, Angers, Tours, Nevers to Dijon, passing the great wine country, 
 along the famous dike of the Loire, and the cliff-dwellers near Tours. As the 
 trucks proceeded the men were greeted in each city, town and village with 
 cheers and hand-shakes and flowers. No matter where the trucks stopped 
 for the night, the towns-people invited all of the soldiers to dinner. At 
 Dijon this long train was split, half the trucks proceeding to the First Bat- 
 talion at Chaumont. The truck problem, which had been a very serious one 
 at times, was solved. 
 
 Work under high pressure and the maintenance of good health required, 
 among other conditions, satisfactory mess. Any one who has listened to the 
 comment in a mess ine realizes that the job of Mess Sergeant is not a bed 
 of roses. "When do we eat?" has a foreboding sound. As the I'ne begins 
 
 to move, Bill Smith growls, "What! those d carrots again today?" 
 
 Forwood comes along, "Oh, no, you can't camouflage corned beef with 
 
HARD WORK AND SOME DIVERSION 
 
 11 
 
 There Were].No_Dish Washing Machines 
 
 tomatoes and spuds and try 
 to tell me it's fresh beef." 
 And from Lutz, "I don't 
 want that soup, it's got 
 onions in it." Such com- 
 ments as these became too 
 much for Farrington, and he 
 persuaded Captain Wattles 
 to allow him to dig holes, 
 while Dailey and Tomlinson 
 stuck to the job of furnishing 
 "D" Company's food. Gos- 
 ser in "E" spent much of 
 
 his time in various provision stores in Chaumont, until^the knowledge of 
 French which he thus acquired obtained for him a commission in the Adju- 
 tant-General's Department, and Vance became the boss of "E" Company's 
 mess. 
 
 With each extension of the A. E. F. organization in the vicinity of Chau- 
 mont, the First Battalion, being the Headquarters Battalion, was called upon 
 for more facilities. Such an occasion arose when it was decided to open an 
 Army Staff College and Training School at Langres. Captain Gauss went 
 down to this delightful old walled town and, after interviewing various 
 generals, obtained enough information to enable him the following day to 
 send Sergeant Lowe with a detail of men to install switchboards, and to 
 wire up the barracks which were to be occupied as the headquarters. 
 
 The city of Langres was under strict military discipline, and Gallo of 
 "E" Company was left there with MacRonald of "D" to operate the 
 switchboard. Air alarms kept their hands full. It was Gallo's duty on such 
 occasions to call up different officers to have them put out all lights. At 
 one time an officer resented the instructions. 
 
 "Who are you?" he demanded. 
 
 "This is the Chief Operator. I am instructed to have that light put out," 
 said- Gallo. 
 
 "Well, who in h gave you those instructions?" from the officer. 
 
 "The Commanding General, sir. Just a moment, I will connect you with 
 him." 
 
 "No, no, never mind, I'll put the d light out," and up went the 
 
 receiver. Resourcefulness was one of the main qualities required of an 
 operator. Later the same man, Gallo, was commended by the Chief Signal 
 Officer for this trait during a German raid while at his post in a Radio 
 Intelligence dugout. 
 
78 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Bourmont 
 
 "Bill" Brittain's crowd 
 was still working in the 
 Bourmont area, and one 
 morning as the men were 
 lined up for reveille Zep- 
 pelins were sighted over- 
 head. Later in the day 
 several of the officers were 
 in Langres to confer with 
 the Second Battalion offi- 
 cers and heard of the 
 capture of the Zeppelins. 
 Noting that one had come down at not a great distance away, they took the 
 opportunity to see it. 
 
 The impression gained from the sight of the Zeppelin was such that the 
 entire Battalion was given a holiday so that all could see it. The men had 
 been working hard, and eagerly seized the opportunity for this little excur- 
 sion. The following day, October twenty-third, both companies set out in 
 trucks. Approaching the town, they encountered travelers afoot, on bicycles, 
 in carts, in automobiles, all going in the same direction. All France seemed 
 to be out to see the sight. Through Bourbonne les Bains, where the smell 
 of acetylene became very pronounced, they went, and up a little valley. 
 
 All had thought of Zeppelins as being 
 rather large — but this was a knockout. 
 The stern was on a little hill and the 
 structure spanned the valley and crossed 
 a stream. There were four little pend- 
 ants which seemed to be steering com- 
 partments or perhaps cabins, the main 
 carriage having been taken away as 
 soon as the Germans were made prison- 
 ers. The smell of acetylene was very 
 strong. French engineers were working 
 on the Zeppelin, climbing over it with 
 their ropes and ladders. It was very 
 much like a tableau of Gulliver and the 
 Lilliputians. The souvenir hunters had 
 a busy time. The French guards kept 
 every one away from the machine except 
 French officers ; but, for a slight consider- 
 ation, they produced almost any kind 
 
 "Gulliver and the Lilliputians" of SOUVenir. 
 
HARD WORK AND SOME DIVERSION 
 
 79 
 
 Above — Co. "E" Quarters Below — Battalion Headquarters 
 AT MARNAY 
 
 From the first, the army officers at Headquarters had been most anxious 
 that another location be obtained for the Signal Battalion camp. It was 
 necessary to keep this place as inconspicuous as possible, and therefore the 
 presence of any great number of troops was undesirable. Although the tents 
 were concealed under the trees, or camouflaged in fantastic designs, still it 
 seemed desirable that the Battalion, on account of its activity with trucks 
 and supplies, should seek other quarters. The weather had become extremely 
 inclement, and sleeping in the tents in the middle of muddy fields and along 
 shaded boulevards was anything but pleasant. About the last week in 
 October, quarters were obtained in the town of Marnay, and the Battalion 
 Headquarters and most of Company "E" moved to that town. A part of 
 "E" Company remained at Chaumont to continue minor installations around 
 General Headquarters and to take care of the maintenance work, and also 
 to build a line from Chaumont to Jonchery for the Fifteenth Engineers. 
 This latter, it should be noted, was the beginning of the main telephone line 
 from Chaumont to Paris. Collins, with a few "E" Company men and a 
 
8o 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 CoUins and His Detail 
 
 detail of Engineer troops, did a job of which 
 they could well be proud. By a coincidence, 
 the Fifteenth Engineers were a Pittsburgh 
 outfit and the building of this line was like 
 an "Old Home Week" for the boys of Com- 
 pany "E." 
 
 At Marnay, Lieutenant Macfarlan found 
 himself in demand to meet the ailments both 
 real and imaginary of the civil population. 
 It was reported that, in addition to the 
 thanks which he earned, the doctor was 
 rewarded for his skillful professional services 
 by having six French infants named for 
 him. He did a lot of splendid work among 
 these poor people who, on account of the 
 war, had been without a village doctor for 
 many months. 
 
 The "Little Captain," as Wattles was 
 affectionately called, was running Signal 
 affairs around Neufchateau so smoothly that few outside of "D" Com- 
 pany's happy family knew what was being accomplished. The line run- 
 ning south from Neufchateau developed quickly into the heaviest lead 
 which had been built. In addition to the Chaumont trunk, it carried the 
 trunk to Gondrecourt and the trunks leading south toward the Second 
 Division Headquarters at Bourmont. 
 
 On October twenty-eighth the Chaumont-Langres line was completed, 
 the union with the work of the Second Battalion having been made a short 
 distance north of Humes. The men had worked steadily and cheerfully, 
 sometimes through long spells of anything but cheerful weather. For diver- 
 sion, entertainments were arranged for Hallowe'en. At Neufchateau, Com- 
 pany "D" arranged for a regular old-fashioned party in their comfortable 
 barracks. Most of the entertainment consisted of music, and Banholzer with 
 his mouth organ made a hit. Second to "Banzy" was the kitchen quartet, 
 led by the mess sergeant. During the entertainment there was a generous 
 distribution of apples, raisins and nuts. It was a right merry party. 
 
 Battalion Headquarters and Company "E" appointed Bradford and 
 Hackett as a committee to arrange for a place for their entertainment. At 
 first the Mayor of Marnay was consulted, but the town hall was small and 
 the Mayor gathered the impression that he was to be called upon for a speech. 
 This was not on the program so the committee sought quarters elsewhere, 
 determining finally upon the little Inn at Foulain. By the use of trucks, 
 the various groups were collected from Chaumont and Marnay and brought 
 
HARD PFORK AND SOME DIVERSION 
 
 Building the Line Toward Langres 
 
 to the Inn through the clear, cold, moonlit night. In the dimly lighted 
 dining room of the Inn there was an old piano and, despite the fact that 
 there were several keys missing and the instrument was decidedly out of 
 tune, it furnished a great deal of entertainment. The famous Antilles 
 quartet again was in evidence. Smith and At wood, two of the telegraph 
 operators, brought down the crowd with a Jewish comedy. The roars of 
 laughter soon attracted a number of French soldiers who joined in the merri- 
 ment. There was boxing which produced several black eyes. Late that night 
 the trucks carried a crowd of happy men back to their quarters. 
 
Chapter IX 
 
 Thanksg'ivi 
 
 'giving 
 
 THE novelty of service in a foreign land gradually had worn off. 
 Hours had been long, and the work hard. Nor was there the excite- 
 ment of booming guns and dropping shells to stimulate the interest. 
 The camp life far from home and friends, and the pressure under which 
 each assignment was rushed through, did not tend to lighten the labors. 
 The excursion to the fallen Zeppelin had been planned so that the men 
 might see and feel the closeness of the conflict. It gave them a realization 
 that somewhere, not far away, bullets were flying and men were dying in 
 the cause which brought the Battalion to France. 
 
 A couple of days' rest and the Hallowe'en celebration put new "pep" in 
 the Battalion and when, on November first, orders were received for a direct 
 pole line from Langres to Neufchateau, the dirt was flying in short order. 
 It was All-Saints Day. As the work started church bells were ringing and 
 all day the French were continually marching to and from the different 
 church services. 
 
 This new line was to connect large Army Stores soon to be established 
 at the two terminals, and its construction was necessary to relieve the con- 
 gestion on the lines through Chaumont. Part of Company "D" was assigned 
 to the Neufchateau end and the Company "E," Luzy platoon, started at 
 
 82 
 
THANKSGIVING 
 
 83 
 
 the Langres end being now billeted at Frecourt. So rapidly did the work 
 progress that the construction men were frequently held back because they 
 worked faster than the surveys could be made. Interruptions for more 
 urgent work frequently broke in on the construction of this line and, as a 
 matter of fact, the First Battalion had to leave it entirely before it was 
 completed. 
 
 About this time, a decided shake-up in the official family took place. 
 Major Hubbell and Captain Gauss were transferred to General Headquarters, 
 where the former took charge of the engineering work under the Chief Signal 
 Officer and the latter of the maintenance of all Headquarters telephone equip- 
 ment and, with Captain Glaspey, took care of the constant additions and 
 changes in the Headquarters telephone system. Captain Wattles took com- 
 mand of the Battalion, and Lieutenant Griest was taken from his Frecourt 
 platoon to command Company "'D" at Neufchateau. Lieutenant Suddath 
 took "E" Company, and Lieutenant Meigs returned to his first love — the 
 Supply Office. Lieutenant Smith, formerly of the Regular Army, who had 
 recently joined the Battalion, was made Adjutant. 
 
 This made the official organization as follows : 
 
 Capt. Wattles — Comma?iding 
 
 Headquarters Supply Medical 
 
 1st Lieut. Smith ist Lieut. Meigs ist Lieut. Macfarlan 
 
 Adjutant Supply Officer Medical Officer 
 
 Company "D" Company "E" 
 
 1st Lieut. Griest ist Lieut. Suddath 
 
 Commanding Commanding 
 
 Those of Company "D" not engaged on the trunk line were on Divisional 
 Areas work. American troops" were arriving much more rapidly than was at 
 first expected. This was fortunate for the situation as a whole, but it kept 
 
 The Frecourt Detail and Barracks 
 
8-4 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 the men of the BattaHon on the jump. When the advance details from the 
 Divisions arranged with the Signal Corps for the telephone equipment, it was 
 easy to obtain comfortable billets for the Signal men but as the signal work 
 neared completion, the warm welcome quickly cooled. 
 
 'Hotel de Ville" at Vaucouleurs 
 
 When the detail which had been assigned to provide telephones for the 
 Second Division at Bourmont completed the job, orders were received to 
 prepare the Vaucouleurs area for the Forty-second Division. Immediately, 
 Brittain with his platoon moved to that town. Division Headquarters was 
 to be established in the Hotel de Ville, which contained a number of beautiful 
 statues. The citizens had carefully fitted all the statuary with paper fig leaves, 
 so as not to shock the modesty of the "shrinking violets" from America. 
 
 "Dad" Murdaugh built a distributing frame in the loft of this building, 
 while Ed Hannam installed and then operated the switchboard until it could 
 be taken over by the Division. Leading over to the railroad along which 
 the main trunks ran, a homemade cable of twenty -five pairs of ordinary 
 insulated wire was strung. Tritle was the leader in the wall-scaling job of 
 festooning this cable to the French house fixtures. Ladders were at a premium 
 and Safety Superintendent John Bailey, could he have seen and heard these 
 men as they stood on the tops of shutters, narrow window ledges, and other 
 points of questionable safety, would have realized that his lessons, although 
 not followed, had at least been learned. 
 
 The various activities were carrying the men nearer and nearer to the 
 actual fighting. The Vaucouleurs platoon, particularly, being some thirty 
 kilometers north of Neufchateau, felt the proximity of the Hun. The boom 
 
THANKSGIVING 
 
 85 
 
 of the big guns was heard continually. Now, for the first time, the Battalion 
 made the acquaintance of gas masks and helmets. Enemy airplanes were 
 a common sight, sometimes dropping messages such as, "You are our com- 
 rades and, now that Russia and Italy are beaten, let us join together and 
 beat our common enemy — England." 
 
 While the Vaucouleurs area was being wired, it was necessary to build 
 a line back toward General Headquarters. For a few days service over the 
 French lines was attempted, but life was too short to spend two or three 
 hours obtaining a connection. The quickest plan was again to use the rail- 
 road poles, and permission was obtained from the French to attach brackets 
 and crossarms. Brittain's crowd ran the circuit south from Vaucouleurs, 
 while "Vic" Hasskarl, with his platoon, worked north from Neufchateau. 
 Work on this line progressed satisfactorily despite a celebration caused by 
 a letter announcing the arrival of an additional member of the Daniels family. 
 The trunks were completed three days prior to the date requested by General 
 Headquarters. 
 
 In the larger centers, like Chaumont and Neufchateau, Y. M. C. A. huts 
 were well organized. As officers were not at all welcome in these huts, the 
 French and American officers organized a club of their own at Neufchateau. 
 The French Mission built the 
 shack designed by a famous 
 Parisian architect, who was 
 in an engineers' regiment, 
 and the "Club Lafayette" 
 was opened with a party 
 November eighth. A splen- 
 did concert was rendered by 
 an orchestra composed of 
 French soldiers. Two French 
 Generals and an American 
 General spoke, all expressing 
 joy at the good feeling exist- 
 ing among the Allies. 
 
 Upon the arrival of a cargo of Signal Corps supplies, it was decided to 
 string additional wires on the new line from Vaucouleurs to Neufchateau, 
 making necessary more circuits between Chaumont and Neufchateau. All 
 who could be spared from the other work were immediately started on 
 the latter job. Company "D," less the platoon remaining at Vaucouleurs, 
 started south from Neufchateau while "E," less the detachment still working 
 on the Langres-Neufchateau line at Frecourt, started north from Chaumont, 
 Great was the enthusiasm among the men, because they now had real 
 American materials, and enough wire reels to enable them to do an intelligent 
 
 Gas Masks and Helmets 
 
86 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 and efficient job. Certain developments, however, required that the circuits 
 be completed considerably earlier than was at first anticipated; and regard- 
 less of weather, the gangs worked from daylight until dark. 
 
 The new circuits progressed so rapidly that it was decided that the time 
 for real Thanksgiving Day festivities could be spared, and every one entered 
 enthusiastically into the preparations for the holiday. The Headquarters 
 and Supply Detachments this time decided that they would have a party 
 of their own, which was to be a boar hunt. Early in the morning they set 
 out and scoured the woods with their large supply of firearms, consisting of 
 one shot-gun and a half-dozen automatic pistols. A signal of five blasts 
 
 on a whistle had been selected to assemble 
 the party to help drag out the game. During 
 the morning's hunt one shot was fired at what 
 was supposed to have been a wild turkey. 
 Whether it was or not no one will ever know. 
 In the afternoon the game was more active, 
 or perhaps the imaginations more acute, as 
 there were a number of shots fired. But the 
 "five blasts on the whistle" were not heard. 
 The boars had a fine day. 
 
 "E" Company's celebration consisted of 
 a banquet at Marnay, where the entire com- 
 pany had assembled while Company "D" 
 collected most of its force at Neufchateau 
 for a similar affair. The Army had made an 
 earnest effort to provide all of the com- 
 ponent parts of a real Thanksgiving Day 
 dinner for the troops. A generous supply of 
 turkeys arrived, but the mincemeat, cranber- 
 ries and other "fixin's" failed. Here, for the 
 first time, the company mess funds, which had been contributed by the employees 
 of the Telephone Company, were brought into action. Very real was the feel- 
 ing of appreciation toward those friends who, by providing these funds, enabled 
 the soldiers to enjoy an old-fashioned Thanksgiving Dinner. Dailey's part 
 in Company "D's" dinner will not be forgotten. He had been at Vaucouleurs 
 with Brittain's platoon, and while there had made for the Division Quarter- 
 master so many cranberry pies and other Army dainties (the materials, how- 
 ever, furnished by the Quartermaster), that when Thanksgiving Day ap- 
 proached he was given permission to help himself to any supplies he needed 
 for his own "gang." As a result, liberal quantities of cranberries, sugar and 
 flour helped to make the "D" dinner one long to be remembered. 
 
 About two o'clock on the afternoon of December fourth the new circuits 
 
 Between Neufchateau and Vaucouleurs 
 
THANKSGIVING 
 
 87 
 
 were finished. When Captain Wattles and Lieutenant Griest made the report 
 to General Russell at General Headquarters, Major Hubbell being away, the 
 General congratulated them on the speed of construction and on the clear 
 transmission, stating that they were the most satisfactory lines over which 
 he had talked since leaving the United States. 
 
 Supply Officer Meigs' greatest trouble at this time was in securing tires 
 for the trucks and other cars. Countless thousands of French soldiers with 
 their hob-nailed shoes were continually marching along the roads. Hob-nails 
 coming loose from the shoes literally covered the road, and the Lieutenant 
 found that hob-nails and rubber tires make a poor combination. He haunted 
 the Quartermaster's office begging and pleading for tires, but with little 
 success. Upon one occasion, the Supply Officer learned from one of his 
 friends in the Quartermaster's Office of the arrival of a carload of American 
 tires and tubes. It was intimated that if Lieutenant Meigs could reach this 
 
 
 Between Chaumont and Neufchateau 
 
 car and absorb some of its contents, he might be able to get away with it. 
 He knew there was such a demand for tires at Headquarters that, if the tires 
 reached the warehouse, there was little chance of any getting to the Battalion. 
 The Lieutenant, with Gardiner, located the freight car, found it open and 
 filled with a fairyland of tires and tubes. An apparently very accommodating 
 Marine came up and asked the Lieutenant if he might be of assistance. While 
 Gardiner went up the road after the truck. Lieutenant Meigs and the Marine 
 were unloading the car. But the seemingly friendly Marine happened to be 
 a guard, and had his schedule so nicely arranged that a detail arrived and 
 caught the Supply Officer red-handed. It seemed that there had been a great 
 deal of trouble from "volunteer" Quartermaster detachments which had been 
 helping themselves to supplies. Lieutenant Meigs, by some means or other — 
 nobody has ever solved the puzzle — so hypnotized the captors that they let 
 him go. He admitted, however, that it took all of his eloquence and suavity 
 and tact to turn the trick. Later when the Supply Officer was telling the 
 story, he was asked: 
 
88 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 "But what about the tires? Did you get away with them?" 
 
 'H- 
 
 , yes!" was the answer. 
 
 The main trunks to Vaucouleurs had been completed for several days, 
 
 and the permanent lines to Morlancourt, Bovee and other isolated towns in 
 
 this area were rapidly nearing completion. Suddenly a conference of French 
 
 officials was called, and word sent to the Chief Signal Officer that the American 
 
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 Form Used to Report Each Day's Work 
 
 crossarms on the Vaucouleurs line must be immediately removed. It was 
 claimed that they weakened the poles. General Russell, desiring to do every- 
 thing he could to cooperate with the French, ordered that a new line be built 
 at once and the wishes of the French carried out. After a few more confer- 
 ences, however, the idea of a new line was abandoned, and the old circuits 
 were retained. One of the difficulties frequently encountered was this lack 
 of coordination between the various French departments. General Head- 
 quarters would obtain permission, through the French Mission, from the 
 higher French authorities for doing certain work. About the time the work 
 
TH AN KSGI F I NG 
 
 89 
 
 was started, a local "Chef de Section" would send for the commander and 
 order it stopped because he had no knowledge of any permission having been 
 given. Sometimes it would take a week or more to get the various authorities 
 together but, in the meantime, the work under one ruse or another was 
 usually continued, so that the conferences interfered little with the actual 
 construction. 
 
 About the time that all of the wiring required in the Vaucouleurs area 
 was completed and troops were arriving in large numbers, the French ordered 
 the area vacated by the Americans so it might be occupied by them as an 
 area for repos. It was not pleasant thus to have the satisfaction of work 
 accomplished snatched away. But right here the men of the Battalion 
 learned a lesson which, often later, stood them in good stead. Many times 
 the results of hard, grueling labor were lost as soon as the work was done. 
 "C'est la guerre.'" And the men realized that they were not in France to 
 build telephone lines only. They were there to do their share in wiping out 
 the menace of a Hun victory. 
 
 The Forty- second Division was 
 transferred from Vaucouleurs to 
 Rolampont, the trip being made on 
 foot. "E" Company had its first 
 experience in Divisional Areas work 
 in the installation of the' lines re- 
 quired for training in that area. It 
 was during the hike of the Forty- 
 second that certain weary stragglers 
 from that Division stopped at "E" 
 Company's Frecourt camp and, hav- 
 ing been well fed, were tucked away 
 for the night. As a mark of their 
 
 gratitude, these men on their departure the next morning, presented to Cook 
 Johnson a pup of doubtful parentage which they had been taking with them 
 as a mascot. This was the famous "Hardtack" — the only Battalion mascot 
 which survived to return to America with the organization. 
 
 'Hardtack" 
 

 
 
 
 
 Chapter X 
 
 Losi — y^ Perfectly Good Name 
 
 EVERY man in the Army is proud of the particular organization to which 
 he is attached. This feehng is well exemplified in the English Army, where 
 regimental names have come down from the Middle Ages. A man "joins 
 up" with an organization which has had a continuous existence for centuries, 
 and his pride in his regiment is secondary only to his love for his country. 
 
 The Battalion, while less than a year old, had been "first" in so many 
 things that its members had a very sentimental attachment for the title 
 "First." It was the first Signal Reserve Battalion recruited. The men were 
 proud of the fact and were very well satisfied that it was boldly displayed in 
 the name of the organization. 
 
 However, the War Department could pay little attention to sentiment. 
 It was found necessary with the growth of the National Army to renumber the 
 Telegraph Battalions. Thus the First lost its old name, and from December, 
 1917, it was known officially as the 406th Telegraph Battalion, Signal Corps. 
 This change well nigh broke the hearts of the men. 
 
 And back home the former fellow workers in the Telephone Company 
 heard of the change with anything but pleasure. But it was war time and 
 personal feelings had to be subordinated to the success of the cause. Although 
 known from this time on as the 406th, in the hearts of those who were inti- 
 mately associated with it and who were so deeply interested in its welfare, 
 it will always be the First Telegraph Battalion. 
 
LOST— A PERFECTLY GOOD NAME 91 
 
 General Headquarters grew rapidly. The small switchboard soon became 
 inadequate and a larger one was necessary. New equipment consisting of a 
 four-section switchboard was ordered. When received, some of the best 
 installers from the two companies of the 406th were collected for this job — 
 Heilser, Craigmile and Hannam of "D," with Gaghagen, Mumford and Bailey 
 of "E." Day and night, with scarcely a rest, they rushed the work. All of the 
 blueprints and instructions were in French, but the circuits were so complex 
 that even the French representative from the Pastes et Telegraphes was un- 
 able to puzzle them out. Captain Glaspey's assistance with his knowledge 
 of French was invaluable. Mumford was in charge and it was he who directed 
 and completed the wiring of the switchboard. This installation was one of 
 the most important pieces of work done by the Battalion. All of the officers 
 at Headquarters were necessarily exacting in their demands for service. The 
 original boards were hopelessly overloaded, and every one in the Chief Signal 
 Officer's office was most anxious for the completion of the new installation. 
 Captain Paddock from the Signal office kept in close touch with the work. 
 
 Switchboard operating was ever becoming more important. None of the 
 men had any training or experience in this branch of signal work, but those 
 who were put at the boards jumped in like old timers. In addition to the 
 operating, these men were compelled to pick up enough French to enable 
 them to carry on necessary business over the French circuits. Sergeant 
 Quinby came back to help for a time. Theriot, the only operator familiar 
 with French, did what he could to impart some of his knowledge to Koser, 
 Roache, Ross, Reid, Thompson, Grimm and the others who were operating. 
 Further to organize the job of switchboard operating, Farrington was taken 
 from "D" Company and stationed at Chaumont, where he brought into 
 play, in the training of the operators and the handling of calls, all of the experi- 
 ence he had gained during his traffic work with the Telephone Company at 
 home. Gaghagen continued- as Wire Chief of this office, assisted by Bailey 
 and O. H. McKinney, and Morcom was responsible for the maintenance of 
 the twenty-five kilowatt lighting plant. 
 
 The Headquarters telephone exchange building was warm and comfortable, 
 but the sleeping quarters, where the headquarters details lived, were not so 
 pleasant. The unlined wood buildings with dirt floors contained no stoves 
 of any kind, and their inhabitants occupied them only long enough to sleep — 
 crawling under their blankets fully dressed, even to the winter caps and gloves. 
 Recreation time was spent in the Y. M. C. A. hut, or in such entertainment 
 as the city of Chaumont could afford. One evening Grimm, Williams, Rich- 
 ards and Henk became so interested in the French cinema that they were 
 oblivious of the flight of time and, on their way to their "cold storage" bar- 
 racks, were arrested by the Marine guard for being on the streets after "taps." 
 The Provost Marshal directed that the offenders be escorted to the French 
 
THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 1 — Quarters, 2 — First Switchboard, 3 — Outside Construction, 4 — Later Installation. 
 TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT 
 
 prison and, after a night in a cold musty cell and a prison breakfast, the 
 devotees of the cinema were sentenced to the task of digging graves. 
 
 Again Captain Wattles was called upon to give up an officer. This time 
 Lieutenant Lawrence left and was made Signal Officer in London, where he 
 gained a Captaincy and later, as Major, became Signal Officer of one of the 
 Base Ports in France. This left the Battalion very short of officers. The 
 shortage in "D" was, however, relieved when late in December Hasskarl 
 and Price were commissioned Second Lieutenants. The knowledge and 
 reliability of the noncommissioned personnel to a large extent overcame the 
 handicap caused by the shortage of officers which so frequently existed with 
 this organization. But the "noncoms" could not help their commanders in 
 that bane of an officer's existence — censoring mail. It took hours each evening 
 to go over the letters the men had written the night before. 
 
 With the organization of the Transportation Department of the Expedi- 
 tionary Forces came another big job. The artillery barracks at the south end 
 
LOST— A PERFECTLY GOOD NAME 93 
 
 of Chaumont were wired for this department and switchboards were installed. 
 At the same time telephone equipment was provided for the Roosevelt Hospital 
 located in the same barracks. To connect these switchboards to General 
 Headquarters, a line was built through the town. In the minds of the old 
 construction men, this was the crookedest line on which they had ever worked. 
 Of the seventy poles only ten were in a straight line. The other sixty 
 were "corners," and each required a guy wire. Russell looked after the instal- 
 lation of the several thousand feet of aerial cable required. As was frequently 
 the case, many French signal men were around observing the work, and they 
 were especially interested in the erection of poles by the American method. 
 The French method is to dig a hole with a trench leading down to the bottom 
 of it. The lower end of the pole is then "eased" down the incline. The 
 American method is simply to raise the top of the pole by the use of "pikes" 
 and let the "butt" drop into the hole dug to receive it. 
 
 The establishment of an artillery training school at Fort de Pagny, with 
 a range of approximately three by six kilometers, required extensive wiring, 
 and Sergeant Collins was sent, with a detail, to do the work. Several of the 
 circuits were to be run to sentinel posts around the range. During artillery 
 practice all persons could thus be warned by telephone to keep out of the 
 danger zone. A detail of artillerymen was assigned to help Collins carry the 
 materials through the woods and also to assist in stringing the circuits across 
 a lake, which required a two thousand foot span of wire. Every effort was 
 made to complete the installation before the date set for a review. The date 
 for the review however, was advanced one day without Collins being notified, 
 and on January ninth, while the men were installing the last station on the 
 range, a creeping machine gun barrage, as a feature of the review, was started 
 over the heads of the installers. Collins, with Custer and Schmitt, ducked for 
 a group of large trees. The firing continued from one until four o'clock, with 
 the trio shivering in the snow behind sheltering trees. They admitted after- 
 ward that it was not a pleasant nor restful three hours. 
 
 The problem of keeping the equipment in repair increased in proportion 
 as the lines and switchboards grew in size and number. The work became so 
 heavy that instructions were issued at General Headquarters dividing the 
 responsibilities. To the First Battalion, or rather the "406th," was assigned 
 the maintenance of the Headquarters of Divisions and of the lines north of 
 Langres. Lines in the Divisional Areas, except the trunks leading back to 
 Headquarters, were to be maintained by the Divisions as soon as the Division 
 signal troops arrived. However, signal troops were frequently the last to 
 join the division, and it was necessary in such cases for the 406th to lend 
 details for operation and maintenance. 
 
 One cold night in December, a faint voice reported to Neufchateau from 
 Chaumont over the French lines that all of the American circuits were out of 
 
94 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 orcs.o; nw TO 3*0'*^ 
 
 HEADQUAKTERS AMERICAN EXPEOITIONAKY FORCES. 
 OmCE OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER. 
 
 D»aiBib«r 17, I9I7. 
 
 service. This brought memories of "breaks" back home, of times when late 
 
 at night these very men had rushed out through sleet and rain and snow to 
 
 restore the service. While the sections were being assembled and the trucks 
 
 made ready for operation (during this freezing weather, radiators were drained 
 
 each night), tests from the Neuf chateau exchange showed that the lines to 
 
 Gondrecourt were all 
 
 right but neither 
 
 Chaumont nor Ba- 
 
 zoilles could be 
 
 reached. When the 
 
 trucks were ready, 
 
 two sections started 
 
 cautiously down the 
 
 road, no lights being 
 
 allowed. 
 
 Upon arriving at 
 the railroad bridge 
 over the highway (the 
 Route Nationale) the 
 trouble was apparent. 
 A freight train had 
 become derailed and 
 several cars, breaking 
 the iron railing, had 
 fallen from the bridge, 
 
 To 1 
 Subject 
 
 Offlo* Chief slgoel Offlcei', A. E. F. 
 COBnandlng Offloer, 406th Telegrixph Rettellon. 
 Coamendtttlon for prompt olenrlng of tl^j^le en 
 
 Chauaunt-tleiifehatettu line. 
 
 1. on Oecemljer II, 1917. on entire eActlon of t;-.o cii«unont> 
 Tleufoh^teAu lend wna broken down by three dertilled freight cere 
 felling over tV-t lino Tron the railroad bridjo Juet weet of Heuf- 
 ebeteea. Thie trouble ea» reporteJ to "H" Cocpony of vujr bettillc^n 
 at $:59 p* ^^ t^d the service Wao re^eetebllaheJ by then et 8:^ p.m. 
 
 2. That this wee ecooopllshed In 00 short ft time despite the 
 darkness reflects greet credit on your eoTi7u.nd and cenerel Ruseel 
 wlehSB you to express hie oppreclatlon to the offloere nnd men eho 
 perfomej thle duty in euoh a very orsditeble menner. 
 
 Sy direction: 
 
 
 Mejor. S.C., U.S.R. 
 
 ??;v*°'*'' "'^* ^'^ "••»•• !»"=• 16th, 1917 - To CO. Co. "B" 
 406th Tel. Bn,, H.A. 
 
 By^rffer of Ciptalc i/ntti£a 
 
 '>mu^ 
 
 F.P. titi/BC 
 
 lot Ileut., S.C.U.S.R., 
 Al jutut . 
 
 The "break" on the Route Nationale 
 
 cutting in their descent all of the 
 wires which passed beneath it. Excited Frenchmen ran hither and thither 
 with dimmed lanterns, and French soldiers formed a cordon across the road, 
 and would allow no one near the wreck. In what French Lieutenant Griest 
 could muster, he explained that at such a time rules meant nothing to the 
 Signal Corps, and the guards were forced to give way. By climbing over the 
 wreckage, the tangle of wires was quickly cut away, linemen using handfiash 
 lamps tied to their caps. Temporary lengths of wire were used to repair the 
 
LOST— A PERFECTLY GOOD NAME 95 
 
 damaged circuits. All of the lines were working -within an hour and a half from 
 the time the report was received in the barracks. 
 
 On the following morning this incident was reported to Major Hubbell. 
 He mentioned to General Russell that the service had been interrupted the 
 evening before and had been reestablished at 8 :30. 
 
 "You mean 8:30 this morning?" the General asked. When assured that 
 the circuits were cleared at 8:30 the evening before, the General directed that a 
 letter of commendation be addressed to the Battalion. 
 
 A let-up in the training area work gave Company "D" an opportunity to 
 work on the line leading south from Neuf chateau toward Langres, "E" Com- 
 pany having been working steadily on the lower end of this line with Frecourt 
 still as a base. The soil around Neufchateau was extremely rocky. Following 
 the highway to Langres would have required a great number of holes in almost 
 solid rock, which would have been a simple matter with pneumatic drills, but 
 drilling by hand was almost out of the question. 
 
 The first five kilometers of the line were almost inaccessible from the high- 
 ways, and it seemed much better to distribute material from the railroad than 
 to attempt the distribution from the highways. Lieutenant Shirley Price 
 had an interesting time on this job. There were delays in getting permission 
 for a special train, and delays in getting the train started after it was loaded. 
 In time, however, it did get started, and the poles, crossarms and other 
 equipment were delivered along the route from the moving train. 
 
 While the material was being delivered, the construction men hiked along 
 the railway to the spots where they were to dig the holes. Fearing that the 
 ground might soon become frozen and stay so for the winter, every efTort 
 was spent on completing the holes, leaving the erection of the poles until the 
 digging was finished. This decision proved an unfortunate one. Other work 
 of a more urgent nature was required before the poles could be set and work 
 on the railway abandoned for several weeks. When, in February, the line 
 was tackled again, most of the holes had become filled by the rains and thaws. 
 Much of the work had to be repeated. 
 
 During December the 406th was again called upon for a man to go to 
 another branch of the Army. Just as Christmas plans were being talked over. 
 Sergeant Bradford, who had been of inestimable help throughout the formation 
 of the Battalion and who, in France, had run headquarters affairs in such a way 
 that the Battalion commander was required to give little thought to that end 
 of the work, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Adjutant General's 
 Department, and assigned to the First Division for a period of training. Later 
 he was detailed with General March at Camp Valdahon and joined the 42nd 
 or "Rainbow" Division in February. Bradford continued with the 42nd 
 throughout the war and while it was in Germany as a part of the "Army of 
 Occupation," returning to America in May 1919, as a First Lieutenant. 
 
Chapter XI 
 
 The First Christmas 
 
 IN THE preceding pages an effort has been made to give some account of 
 the work and the play, the hardships and the pleasures of the men of the 
 Battalion. If the holidays seem rather prominent, it is perhaps because 
 the work was of such a strenuous nature that in the minds of the men an occa- 
 sional jollification stood out by contrast. 
 
 It may not be amiss to stop a moment while plans are being made for 
 celebrating the first Christmas in the A. E. F., and briefly consider what the 
 men had accomplished in four months of foreign service. The most important 
 piece of work perhaps was General Pershing's Headquarters at Chaumont, 
 which had been equipped with complete telephone and lighting plants. These 
 for some time were operated and were still being kept in repair by the Bat- 
 talion. Pole lines had been built and circuits strung from a point twenty-five 
 kilometers south of Chaumont, north via Headquarters and Neuf chateau to 
 Vaucouleurs. A direct line from Langres to Neufchateau was under con- 
 struction. A number of shorter lines to various training areas from Neuf- 
 chateau and Chaumont had been built. In fact, the entire area surrounding 
 Neufchateau was thoroughly covered by American lines. Many training 
 areas had been equipped with complete telephone facilities. Much of this 
 widely scattered plant had been operated and all of it kept in repair for shorter 
 or longer periods by the Battalion. 
 
 The Christmas celebration of the Battalion began back in Pennsylvania. 
 
 96 
 
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS 
 
 97 
 
 At Mr. Kinnard's suggestion, seconded by practically every employee of the 
 Company, boxes were placed in the various offices of the Company, into which 
 all who desired might deposit money for the purpose of sending Christmas 
 boxes to the men overseas. The limit was a quarter from any one person. 
 
 When the money was all gathered in Mr. Wisse's office (he was Treasurer 
 of the committee in charge of the fund), it was found to total $1,543.00. Not 
 only the men in the Signal Battalions, but every "mother's son" who had 
 entered the service from the Bell organization, was to receive a Christmas 
 box. "Raw" materials, consisting of tobacco, cigarettes, plum pudding, jelly, 
 gum, chocolate, tooth brushes, soap, nuts, and other things which every man 
 in the service could use, were purchased. 
 
 All employees were asked to write letters to any former employee with 
 whom they were acquainted and who was now in the service. The sorting of 
 letters, and the packing of boxes for the six hundred and fifty men to receive 
 them, turned the Bell offices topsy turvy for weeks. All of the boxes with 
 their packets of letters attached were dispatched in plenty of time to reach the 
 men — provided submarine or other disaster was not met — before the holidays. 
 
 The thought of Christmas away from home is never pleasant. Separation 
 from home ties by several thousand miles of ocean adds nothing to the joy of 
 the season. Being part of an Army in war time, and little knowing what the 
 future holds forth — how soon, if ever, there will be an opportunity to get into 
 the thick of it, instead of 
 everlastingly digging 
 holes, raising poles and 
 stringing wire — it would 
 seem that such thoughts 
 would make Christmas, 
 191 7, for the members of 
 the 406th Telegraph Bat- 
 talion a day of indigo hue. 
 
 But such was not the 
 case. Committees were 
 appointed early in the 
 month and preparations 
 started for having rousing 
 
 parties on Christmas Day. The boxes had been arriving, not only for the 
 men who had formerly been employees, but also for those transferred to 
 the Battalion from other organizations. A real job it was to restrain the 
 impulse to take "just one peep" into the boxes before Christmas Day. 
 
 On the day before Christmas, those who could get away scoured the woods 
 in the neighborhood of the camps and returned with evergreen boughs and 
 huge branches of mistletoe. The mess halls took on a Christmas air. The 
 
 Contents of a Christmas Box 
 
98 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 1— Bugler Fest Calls Co. "E" 2— Ready for the Attack 3 — Christmas in Mamay 
 
 section chiefs and sergeants volunteered for "K. P." duty, and the entire night 
 before Christmas was spent in roasting the turkeys and baking innumerable 
 pies. The mess fund boxes received at Union League were again tapped, as 
 the Quartermaster was unable to supply what the men thought was a sufficient 
 supply of turkey and trimmings for a real Christmas dinner. 
 
 The Christmas was far from a selfish one. Early in the morning Company 
 "E" gave a party for about forty children at Mamay. A regular American 
 Christmas tree was set up in the schoolhouse. It was covered with toys and 
 other presents on a background of snow, the latter probably from the stores 
 of cotton in Lieutenant Macfarlan's dispensary. The ceremonies opened 
 with two set speeches by the youngsters, who thanked the Americans for this 
 first real Christmas since the war started. Presents were distributed — there 
 were enough for two "rounds" — and there was considerably more noise with 
 tin horns and rattles than the room could comfortably hold. The people of 
 Marnay seemed unable to express fully their gratitude for the kindly thought- 
 fulness of the men of Company "E." 
 
 J 
 
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS 
 
 99 
 
 Lieutenant Suddath collected all of his company at Marnay, work being 
 suspended both by the Frecourt detachment, which was pushing the Langres- 
 Neufchateau line northward, and by Lieutenant Foust's crews, who were on 
 the big job in the Chaumont artillery barracks. Those who could be spared 
 from the exchanges at General Headquarters and Langres also wended their 
 way toward Marnay, and at noon Company "E," with the Battalion Head- 
 quarters Detachments, assembled in the little mess room. Evergreen and 
 lanterns covered walls and ceilings and the white tables were strewn with 
 fruit and nuts and "smokes." Outside there was enough snow everywhere to 
 suit the most exacting requirements. Vance, who was still handling Company 
 "E's" mess, produced the meal of his life, and for three solid hours that crowd 
 of healthy soldiers stuffed away a seemingly endless supply of turkey and cran- 
 berries, sweet potatoes and pies. As the enthusiasm for food subsided, 
 speeches and songs held 
 sway well into the evening. 
 
 Company "D" gath- 
 ered at Neufchateau. 
 The Battalion officers were 
 invited to dine with Com- 
 pany "D," and Major 
 Hubbell, now at General 
 Headquarters, was in- 
 cluded in the party. Just 
 about the time for dinner, 
 the Chaumont detach- 
 ments arrived, bringing 
 with them a large batch of 
 mail, which did not in the 
 
 least detract from the party. Unfortunately, early on that fine snowy 
 morning, Carlson had to go to the hospital, there to spend a dismal Christ- 
 mas with a case of measles. 
 
 As an innovation, the sergeants had volunteered to act as waiters, and a 
 busy time they had. After appetites were appeased, a letter of greeting from 
 Mr. Kinnard was read, and it brought forth wild cheers. Lieutenant Hass- 
 karl had been appointed Chief Cook, and this overheated officer was dragged 
 forth from the kitchen by Master of Ceremonies Brittain to make a bow and 
 receive a round of hearty applause. A detail from the lOist Infantry band 
 furnished music for the occasion, and the quality of the music may be judged 
 from the fact that the leader had formerly been an assistant director of the 
 Boston Symphony Orchestra. Lutz and Murdaugh had visited a cafe at 
 Liflfol le Grande and borrowed a mechanical piano of ancient lineage, and to 
 make the party complete, there was a real piano which Thevelin had borrowed 
 
 Co. "D" at Neufchateau 
 
loo THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 from a neighbor. Murdaugh sat on the mechanical piano to hold it down while 
 Dobbie tiirned the crank. Before the celebration ended the children from the 
 neighborhood were invited into the barracks to see the decorations and in- 
 cidentally to strip the tree of its trimmings. 
 
 The first Christmas in the American Expeditionary Forces was a thing of 
 the past. Was it a success? If noise and laughter is a criterion, the answer 
 must be decidedly in the affirmative. Was there any homesickness? If there 
 was, it was carefully concealed behind smiling countenances. Deep down in 
 the hearts of all was a feeling that although they were far from home, the 
 people back in the "States" were thinking of them, and missing them just as 
 much and perhaps more, than they themselves missed the home ties. 
 
iLy''Vi 
 
 Chapter XII 
 Nearing the Battle L,ine 
 
 ^URING the Autumn of 1917 many telephone and telegraph lines had 
 been built by the various signal troops of the American forces. Early 
 in the winter, as these lines spread out to take care of the arriving 
 troops, plans were made at General Headquarters to coordinate, unify and 
 systematize the network of wires. At Neufchateau the old Divisional Areas 
 organization was supplanted by the "Advance Section, Lines of Communica- 
 tion," and this later became Advance Section, Services of Supply, or "S. O. S." 
 
 Neufchateau became increasingly important and a signal officer was 
 placed there. Major Kelly being assigned to the post. He was a great big 
 warm-hearted Irishman and he became very popular. There were no experi- 
 enced signal men in his outfit, and he borrowed several men from the Bat- 
 talion. Banholzer held down the telegraph key at Neufchateau, while other 
 men from both Companies carried on the telegraph and telephone business at 
 Langres. 
 
 Major Kelly had a definiteness about his way of giving orders which showed 
 that he meant business. Gallo and Drew who were in the Langres office had 
 one interesting experience with the Major. The scarcity of telephone instru- 
 ments made it necessary that they be installed only where absolutely neces- 
 sary for war business. One evening Major Kelly happened to overhear a 
 conversation from the Y. M. C. A. telephone which seemed to indicate that a 
 telephone at that location was not of primary importance in licking the Hun. 
 
 101 
 
I02 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Turning toward Gallo who, with Drew, was working in the office, he asked: 
 
 "Who put that telephone in at the 'Y'?" 
 
 "A Field Battalion, Sir," replied Gallo. 
 
 "Very well, as soon as you're through there, you fellows go down and yank 
 it out." 
 
 When Gallo and Drew arrived at the hut and explained their mission, the 
 Y. M. C. A. worker called up Major Kelly and began: 
 
 "This is and I am a friend of Senator — " 
 
 "Well," interrupted the Major, "this is Major Kelly; politics don't count 
 in the Army." 
 
 Bang ! Up went his receiver. Gallo and Drew returned with the telephone. 
 
 The headquarters of the various centers along the lines of communication 
 needed many signal men for their permanent forces. It required constant 
 effort to prevent the loss from the Battalion of its experienced men. Never- 
 theless, Noonan and O'Brien were permanently transferred from "D" Com- 
 pany and remained in the telegraph office at Paris. Keyes, the motor sergeant 
 of Company "E," after establishing with the help of Schmidt and V. P. King 
 the Signal Corps garage at General Headquarters, was taken from the Battalion 
 and permanently assigned to the Signal Corps at Nevers. Sergeant George 
 remained permanently at Chaiunont in charge of the telegraph office and kept 
 with him Flaherty and Kayser. Atwood and Smith of "E," and McNichol 
 and Parks of "D," were permanently transferred to run a telegraph office in 
 London, and Theriot, one of the best telephone operators of Company "E," 
 who spoke French fluently was taken to operate the telephone exchange at 
 Versailles. Besides these men who were permanently lost there were a num- 
 ber of men temporarily detached for operating telephone and telegraph offices 
 and doing miscellaneous maintenance work at Chaumont, Langres and Neuf- 
 chateau. 
 
 All these losses made it necessary to secure authority from the Chief 
 Signal Officer to request details from troops stationed in areas in which signal 
 work was being done, to help the telephone men with their construction. At 
 Morlancourt for example, a detail of Infantry with a few of Brittain's non- 
 commissioned officers erected the poles which connected this town to Bovee, 
 whence the wires ran on French poles through Void to Vaucouleurs. Col- 
 lins as has been mentioned, constructed the line from Chaumont to Jon- 
 chery with a detail of men borrowed from the Engineers and when later he 
 installed the signal system at Fort de Pagny, the bulk of the labor was pro- 
 vided by details from the Artillery. At Bourmont, to enable the Second 
 Division to complete the installation work. Woodward with Long directed 
 the new construction and maintenance required by Colonel Carr, most of the 
 actual work being done by details of Marines furnished through the coopera- 
 tion of Lieutenant Wood, Signal Officer of the Fifth Regiment of Marines. 
 
NEJRTNG THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 103 
 
 The Road into Menil la Tour 
 
 At Neuf chateau a large detail was borrowed from the loist Signal Bat- 
 talion, 26th Division. These latter came to feel that they were part of the 
 406th and were loath to return to their organization when orders to that 
 effect were received. 
 
 Early in January it was decided to move the First Division toward the 
 front to prepare to take over an American sector northwest of Toul. There 
 was so much work to be done in organizing the sector proper that signal troops 
 were required to provide lines between the new Division Headquarters at 
 Menil la Tour and the American telephone lines. Company "D" was given 
 the job. It was determined to provide three talking circuits and to equip the 
 line also for telegraph service over the same wires. Work on the northern 
 end of the Neufchateau-Langres line was immediately suspended. Lieu- 
 tenant Hasskarl with his platoon was despatched to Pagny sur Meuse to 
 work toward Vaucouleurs and Menil la Tour, while Lieutenant Price worked 
 his platoon out of Neufchateau, rebuilding the lines to Vaucouleurs. These 
 latter had been placed along the French railroad, and in a month without 
 attention, except such doubtful repairs as the French made while maintaining 
 their own circuits on the same poles, had depreciated to such an extent as to 
 require almost entire reconstruction. The Meuse River, which was an ex- 
 tremely small and innocent looking stream when the line had been built along 
 the railroad in the Fall, had on account of the snows, the rains and the 
 
I04 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 constant freezing and thawing, not only overflowed its banks but covered an 
 area a mile or more in width and throughout most of the length of its 
 valley. At places between Coussy and Maxey it was necessary to travel ten 
 or fifteen miles in order to reach a point only a mile away. While Lieutenant 
 Price was battling with the flood, Lieutenant Hasskarl and his platoon were 
 
 The Meuse Overflows its Banks 
 
 stringing wires along the French railroad line between Vaucouleurs and Pagny, 
 and on another French pole line along the highway to Menil la Tour. The 
 weather was probably the worst which was encountered throughout the whole 
 bitter winter and on account of the extremely short time allowed for the 
 completion of the work, construction was continued from daylight until dark 
 in the snow, sleet and rain. The "eight-hour day" was a standing joke — 
 eight hours before dinner and eight hours after. 
 
 The small town of Pagny was occupied by a battalion of French artillery 
 and there were few unoccupied billets, but the Zone Major did his best to 
 provide for Lieutenant Hasskarl 's platoon, the first Americans to reach the 
 town. A large loft and a stable were cleared and Tomlinson set up his cook 
 stove to help keep the men warm. During the night the floor caught fire 
 under the stove and a bucket brigade was organized which poured "beancoup" 
 water on the blaze. The floor leaked and the whole French Army — or so it 
 seemed — must have been sleeping beneath and charged up to the loft to find 
 out the reason for the shower. Near-French explanations were in order. 
 Later in the night snow sifted through the many openings in the roof, and in 
 the morning the sleepers found that in addition to their army blankets they 
 were covered by a three-inch blanket of snow. But nobody complained of 
 the life. Althouse made his daily trips from Neufchateau with the food and 
 Tomlinson kept the fire going and furnished a plentiful supply of Indian meal 
 porridge and bacon and coffee. 
 
 Toward the end of this job the French moved many of their men out of 
 
NEARING THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 105 
 
 Pagny, and Lieutenant Hasskarl was able to secure what he thought were far 
 superior billets. They looked comfortable. The men thought they were in 
 luck. But it was only an hour or so before Tritle reached inside his shirt to 
 dig around and find out what was going on in there. Then Haislop became 
 uncomfortable. He seemed restless. One after another the men developed a 
 general uneasiness of demeanor, and then each began digging at various parts 
 of his anatomy. 
 
 There had been cootie stories which had lightened many an evening in 
 camp. But here was the real thing. And the humor had all gone out of the 
 subject — so much so, in fact, that Lieutenant Macfarlan was given a hurry-up 
 call. His detail used kerosene and boiling water to good effect. 
 
 The circuits were finished so quickly that General Gibbs, who had taken 
 a keen personal interest in the job and had 
 visited Pagny frequently throughout its con- 
 struction, complimented the men. The Chief 
 Signal Officer, too, had been following the 
 work with special interest and upon its 
 completion ordered a telegram of congratu- 
 lation despatched to Company "D." 
 
 Through the winter months the linemen 
 worked faithfully, rarely complaining of the 
 weather, and always having in mind the ne- 
 cessity of the work. But no amount of will- 
 ingness and spirit and cheer on the part of 
 the linemen would have produced results 
 without the faithful motor sections. The 
 chauffeurs, with the assistance of the shop 
 gangs, kept their trucks and motorcycles in 
 tip-top condition. Day after day they drove 
 them along ice covered roads in snow and sleet with no other protection than 
 they could improvise from half a shelter tent or a poncho. The motorcycle men 
 had a particularly hard time. 
 
 In keeping up the morale of the American forces, regularity in the mail 
 service was second in importance only to food and clothing. For the 406th 
 Sergeant Magill organized a daily service between Marnay and Chaumont 
 and in rain or shine, snow or sleet, McKee made his trips by motorcycle over 
 this route. One day, however, he collided with a truck which resulted in a 
 prolonged stay in the hospital. Upon his discharge from the hospital he was 
 lost to the Battalion, being transferred to another outfit. 
 
 The flooded condition of the Meuse valley began to threaten the main pole 
 line from Neufchateau to the south. The Mayor of Neufchateau had told 
 the truth. The innocent little stream of the Autumn became a turbulent 
 
 Maj. General Gibbs 
 
1, 3, 8 — Some of the Motor Men. 2 — Dad McCann Finds a Souvenir. 
 
 4, 5, 6, 7 — "Ixx)k Pleasant, Please!" 
 
NEARING THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 107 
 
 At Montigny 
 
 flood. Poles which had 
 seemed safe in high and dry 
 locations were now sur- 
 rounded with six feet or more 
 of swirling water carrying 
 with it huge cakes of ice. 
 The safety of this line was so 
 threatened that a few men 
 were taken from the First 
 Division work to rim emer- 
 gency circuits along the trees 
 bordering the flood. These 
 circuits were so arranged 
 that in case any of the poles 
 
 fell, the new wires could be quickly placed in service. A patrol was kept on duty 
 to take care of any such emergency. When the waters began to recede, human 
 chains were formed and the linemen waded out to the poles to attach guys to 
 those which had been most severely threatened. This work was so important, 
 and so few men cotild be spared from the Menil la Tour line, that a call was 
 sent for help, and a detachment from Frecourt, where "E" was still working 
 on the Neufchateau line, was despatched to Neufchateau. These men, under 
 Dickson, hurried north thinking that they were about to enter into active 
 and dangerous territory. Although disappointed when they found out that 
 they were still a number of kilometers from the front, they set to work guying 
 all of the threatened poles to guard against the coming of another flood. To 
 help with the work, Donbaugh, anxious to try his Susquehanna boatsmanship 
 commandeered an old boat which had come down the stream. While he was 
 standing in the craft, it became loosed from its mooring to a pole and started 
 to float down the stream. The sailor-lineman reached out and grasped one 
 of the circuits. The boat had gained such speed that Donbaugh, before re- 
 covering from his surprise, was lifted by his hold on the wire and dropped 
 unceremoniously into the flood. His companions pulled him out but the 
 boat was no more. When the flood had receded sufficiently, triangular wood 
 cribs were built on the up-stream side of the poles which had been most severely 
 battered by ice and debris. It was with a feeling of security that the next 
 flood was awaited. 
 
 After the accident to the main trunk lines caused by the freight train jump- 
 ing off the bridge south of Neufchateau, Company "D" manufactured from 
 ten pairs of wire an emergency cable which was coiled on two old reels so that 
 it could be placed in the middle of a break and the cable run off simultaneously 
 in both directions. The period of excessive snow and rain and thaw cleared off 
 suddenly on Sunday, January twentieth, with a terrific wind which seemed to 
 
io8 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 iPWHi^viMiWi^W 
 
 threaten many of the Hnes. The ground was so extremely soft that in many 
 places poles were rocking and shortly after noon mess a call came by way of a 
 French trunk, announcing that again all of the circuits to Chaumont were out 
 of service. This was the first Sunday holiday observed in weeks, but every 
 man' in the company wanted to be assigned to the job. Only one section could 
 
 be allowed to go, the other three to remain at 
 the barracks to be ready for other troubles 
 should they arise. The emergency cable was 
 loaded on a truck. Beyond St. Blin it was 
 discovered that a large tree had been blown 
 across the wires and that Company "E" men 
 from Chaumont were already on the job 
 with enough material to make a temporary 
 repair. Twenty minutes later the ten-wire 
 line was in service again. 
 
 Work on the upper end of the much 
 delayed Neufchateau-Langres line had been 
 suspended in the rush to complete the cir- 
 cuits to Menil la Tour. After this latter job 
 was completed, late in January, a conference 
 was held in Neuf chateau at which the relative 
 importance of all of the work then in hand 
 was discussed. Colonel Voris of the First 
 Division, Major Kelly of the Advance Sec- 
 tion, S. O. S., Major Hubbell from General 
 Headquarters, with the Battalion officers 
 talked over the various propositions which 
 were under consideration, and it was decided 
 to begin to gather the 406th Battalion 
 together to care for the forward work which 
 seemed imminent. About this time there 
 was a rumor that the Battalion was to be 
 assigned to the newly formed First Army 
 Corps. 
 
 Neuf chateau was selected as Battalion 
 Headquarters and those men who had not been permanently transferred 
 assembled from Chaumont, Langres, Nevers and all the way back to St. 
 Nazaire. Company "D" had been living in comfortable quarters in a French 
 garage but gave up this space for the Headquarters and Supply Detach- 
 ments. An elderly woman, Madame Garcin, the widow of a French General 
 and who fifty years before had lived in America, offered her garage, which was 
 across the street, for billets for the Headquarters men. This made most 
 
 Private John J. Hollowell 
 
HEARING THE BATTLE LINE 
 
 1 09 
 
 comfortable quarters. The two Companies fotmd other quarters in the 
 town. 
 
 While the Battalion was gathering at Neufchateau preparatory to more 
 active service, a section of "E" Company remained at Montigny continuing 
 its work on the Langres line, and once more Company "D" started working 
 on the upper end. To add to the convenience of delivering men to the job 
 a billet was obtained from the 23rd Infantry at St. Thibault and Lutz and 
 Spears were despatched to that town. These men gave the billet the "once 
 over" and pleaded for tents and cots which they might set up in a snow- 
 covered field. Their request was granted and the tents arrived in the eve- 
 ning at the end of a hard day's work. Ground was cleared and tents and 
 stoves set up. The snow soon thawed within the tents but in the morning 
 axes, crow-bars, hammers and chisels were brought into play to loose the 
 cots, boots and shoes which were solidly frozen into the ground. 
 
 ***** 
 
 It was at this time that the Battalion experienced its first fatal casualty. 
 On February eleventh, as one of the sections was traveling to the storeroom 
 at Rebeval barracks, the chain holding the 
 tail gate of a truck parted, and HoUowell and 
 Underwood of Company "D," fell to the 
 ground. Hollowell, who had fallen on his 
 head, was at once taken to the hospital 
 and Underwood returned to camp. Officers 
 from the Battalion went immediately to the 
 hospital and found that everything possible 
 was being done to care for the injured man 
 who seemed to be resting comfortably. That 
 night the last report was that he seemed to 
 be improving. The next morning however, 
 he died. Except for Major Glaspey who 
 died of pneumonia in November, 191 8, this 
 was the only death in the Battalion. 
 
 Arrangements were made for a proper 
 burial and on the afternoon of the thirteenth 
 the entire Company formed and accom- 
 panied the truck upon which was placed 
 the flag-covered casket, to the little Ameri- 
 can graveyard at Rouceux. 
 
 ***** 
 
 . '; _^m£B^Rml-. 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^HflKT^k 
 
 ■IBBI/ 1 
 
 Hollowell 's Grave 
 
 Early in February, Major Hubbell was relieved from duty at General 
 Headquarters and ordered to rejoin the Battalion. He resumed command 
 on the evening of the thirteenth and shortly afterward Captain Wattles and 
 
no THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Lieutenant Macfarlan set off for a "leave" at Nice. Orders had been issued 
 for the preparation of leave schedules for the men of both Companies. But 
 the work continually interfered and the only enlisted man in the Battalion 
 to have a real seven-days' leave before the armistice was Miller of Com- 
 pany "D" who, while on detached service at General Headquarters, was 
 granted a special leave. 
 
 % jThe Major, in anticipation of important work ahead, arranged for the 
 release of all members of the Battalion from work in the area south of Neuf- 
 chateau and once more the Neufchateau-Langres line was left unfinished. 
 By this time, however, it was nearing completion and it was finished by old 
 friends of the Second, now the "407th." 
 
'itmmgMmmimi im tt m» - *r *i:fiatritsi!t^'^^''-^m '■^- - <m»9««wi» 
 
 Chapter XIII 
 
 With the First Army Corps 
 
 GENERAL Order No. 9, issued from General Headquarters on January 
 fifteenth, 1918, created the First American Army Corps. Not since 
 the close of the Civil War had there been such an organization. Major- 
 General Hunter Liggett was named as Corps Commander, and the First, 
 Second, Twenty-sixth and Forty-second Divisions were assigned for line duty, 
 and the Forty-first as Base and Training Division. There were also a num- 
 ber of artillery, signal, engineer, air observation, and pursuit troops, cavalry, 
 and a replacement Division, making a total of approximately 170,000 men. 
 At a later date, the permanent assignment of Divisions to a Corps was dis- 
 continued, the main body of the Corps consisting of troops temporarily 
 placed under its tactical or administrative command. 
 
 On January twentieth, the First Corps with headquarters at Neuf chateau, 
 began to carry out General Order No. 9 and took over the administrative 
 command of the First Division which was in line in the Xivray-Flirey sector, 
 and shortly afterward of the Second Division holding the sector 'between 
 Dieue and Spada, the Forty-second Division holding the Luneville-Baccarat 
 sector, and the Twenty-sixth Division then along the Chemin-des- Dames. 
 Each of the Divisions remained for the present under the tactical command 
 of the various French Corps to which they had been assigned. 
 
 On February seventeenth, the 406th was assigned as the First Corps 
 
 111 
 
I 12 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Telegraph Battalion and, in anticipation of the very important work to be 
 done at Corps Headquarters all of the equipment was carefully gone over 
 so that everything would be in shape for tackling any assignment. While 
 Company "E" was building a new line from Neufchateau to Void, Com- 
 pany "D" reported for temporary duty to the Signal Ofificer of the First 
 Division. 
 
 During the week prior to the movement of Company "D," a conference 
 was held with Major Schwartz, First Division Signal Ofificer. It was learned 
 that it was his idea to split the Company into many small details, working 
 throughout the Division, so that he might collect the men of his Divisional 
 Field Signal Battalion for handling new construction. Strenuous objections 
 
 were made to this plan. The 
 Battalion Officers would not 
 agree that any similar organ- 
 ization of the A. E. F. could 
 do better work than the men 
 of the 406th. A discussion 
 of the matter convinced the 
 Division Officers that the 
 406th would produce far more 
 satisfactory work under its 
 own officers than if it were 
 split into details scattered 
 around with various units. 
 Orders were issued to that 
 effect. At this time Captain 
 Gauss was released from Gen- 
 eral Headquarters and re- 
 turned to his old organization 
 as Engineer Officer at Bat- 
 talion Headquarters. 
 Washington's Birthday was approaching, and an order was issued from 
 General Headquarters directing that this holiday be observed by all A. E. F. 
 troops except those actually engaged in combat with the enemy. For the 
 406th, Chief Entertainer "Jerry" Hamilton was instructed to produce the 
 talent and put on a show. The Battalion collected in the large assembly 
 room of the Y. M. C. A. hut at Neufchateau. A mandolin quartet, Buehler, 
 Ricciardi, Gardiner and Hale, responded to repeated encores. "Jerry" was 
 on the program with his famous pantomime poker game, with his "black-face" 
 stunts, with songs, and as end man with Sebring in a minstrel show which 
 brought down the house. Dobbie resurrected an "O. D." blanket from which 
 he made a Scotch Kiltie costume to give "local color" to his dialect stories. 
 
 Maj. General Hunter Liggett 
 
WITH THE FIRST ARMY CORPS 
 
 113 
 
 Thevelin induced a part of the Seventy-seventh French Infantry Band to 
 play between the vaudeville acts. 
 
 As the time was near at hand when the Battalion was to see actual fight- 
 ing, it was necessary to dispose of quantities of excess baggage. Prior to 
 this time the different camps and billets had been of a semi-permanent 
 nature, which tended to encourage the accumulation of "junk" of various 
 descriptions. There were loud lamentations when the miscellaneous assort- 
 ment of boxes and trunks, with much of their contents, were discarded. 
 
 Company "D" started for the new location on February twenty-eighth 
 in a pouring rain. Lieutenant Price with Lutz and his construction gang 
 and several telephone and telegraph operators set off for Gondrecourt, there 
 
 Boucq 
 
 to take over the operation of the switchboard at the rear echelon of the First 
 Division, and to do such bolstering up and rebuilding as the hastily con- 
 structed telephone plant in that vicinity required. The remainder of the 
 Company proceeded to Boucq. 
 
 The only available billet for the company at Boucq was a wooden barracks 
 which had not been appropriated by any of the divisional troops because 
 one end was open to the weather, and because it boasted no floor except 
 mother earth. In dry weather, when this home was selected, the grass- 
 covered floor looked possible but when the trucks with the mess equipment 
 arrived it was raining, and the prospective billet appeared almost hopeless. 
 
 It was, as one of the wags remarked, "A fine place for submarines, but h 
 
 for sleeping." . Erb gave one glance at the open end of the shack where he 
 was expected to set up his kitchen and almost "passed out." But with 
 
114 '^HE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 characteristic good nature the mess crew was soon established in the mud. 
 The train which was to transport the men as far as Toul was to leave 
 Neufchateau at one o'clock. As a matter of fact it did not get started 
 until five. Early in the evening snow began to fall and by the time Toul 
 was reached a blizzard was raging. It took nine hours to make the forty- 
 kilometer trip. Nothing could have been more appreciated than the plenti- 
 ful supply of hot chocolate and sandwiches which were generously distributed 
 by the Red Cross workers, Miss Andrews and her assistant. Cowan tells of 
 the men's appreciation: 
 
 "I have dined at the Cafe de la Paix in Paris, in one of the best 
 cafe of Lyons, and in private houses without number. I have begged 
 meals from all kinds of outfits, from colored labor battalions to 
 officers' messes; but the food that I was most thankful for was the 
 chocolate and sandwiches from the girls who had waited for us in 
 snow and sleet for five hours. It was given with a smile and we were 
 made to feel that we were doing them a favor by eating the things 
 they had for us." 
 
 The car containing the cots and blankets was shifted from the station 
 into the freight yard. It seemed hours before it was placed where it could 
 be unloaded. The remainder of the journey was made by truck. A batch 
 of mail had been brought up to Boucq from Neufchateau and this, together 
 with the steak and potatoes and coffee which Dailey had been keeping hot for 
 hours, put new cheer into the gang. By two o'clock the entire camp, includ- 
 ing those in tents pitched near the barracks, had settled down. 
 
 These men were still amateurs in the war game. At six the next morning 
 they had their first taste of gun fire. A barrage put over by the Germans 
 against American troops in the trenches was the first real cannonading the 
 Signal men had heard. It seemed very close, and as Cowan puts it: 
 
 "A few months later, we worked beside artillery at Chateau 
 Thierry, and in September we heard the roar of the barrage which 
 started the St. Mihiel offensive, probably the greatest artillery 
 operation during the entire war, but none of these gave us the 
 thrill that we experienced that first night in the mud of Boucq." 
 
 During that barrage, which preceded a German attempt at raiding the 
 American trenches, the troops of the First Division gave such a good account 
 of themselves that the Commander of the Thirty-second French Corps issued 
 a general order congratulating the Americans on their "superb energy and 
 coolness." Although the men of the 406th had taken no part in the action, 
 their chests swelled when they read their copy of the order, as they realized 
 that they were now with the forces actually facing the enemy. 
 
 Knowing that Boucq was close, to the front, Lieutenant Macfarlan had 
 accompanied the outfit and with Lieutenant Hasskarl and the star "rustler" 
 
WITH THE FIRST ARMY CORPS 
 
 115 
 
 Montsec in the Background 
 
 Pemberton, helped to get the camp in shape the next morning^by covering 
 the worst of the puddles with corrugated iron. No reveille was sounded that 
 morning except for a detachment taken to Menil la Tour, or "Maxey" as 
 it was called in code, for duty in the listening posts. Meantime, Lieutenant 
 Griest tramped through the snowy woods with Major Schwartz, studying 
 routes for various lines to be constructed to Regimental Headquarters. The 
 Major did not realize that he now had a "Battalion of Experts" and his 
 plan was to explain the work to be done and to furnish from time to time, 
 what material he believed would be required. It was explained that if he 
 would show just where the lines were to be built and the type of construction 
 which he desired. Company "D" would estimate and requisition the materials 
 required and go ahead with the construction. After two days of close super- 
 vision. Major Schwartz not only gave the Company blanket approval to draw 
 from his stores any supplies required, but also asked that certain of his senior 
 noncommissioned officers be allowed to travel around with Kraus who was 
 making the surveys and plans and with the construction details, to gain 
 experience. 
 
 While lines toward the front were being surveyed and material for these 
 collected, Jensen and his section erected two circuits between the French 
 exchange at Toul and the First Division switchboard at "Maxey." These 
 circuits were placed on French poles, and went up as if by magic, a few days 
 respite from construction work having given the crowd a surplus of energy. 
 
IK 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 The forward circuits were tackled with a will. On this line there were 
 no rights of way to be considered. Speed of construction and accessibility for 
 quick repairs were the chief factors, and the line led straight across fields 
 from the hill at Boucq, toward the woods to the north, always in plain view 
 of the commanding Boche positions at Montsec. Fortunately no rock was 
 encountered in the digging of holes. The poles provided were rather light, 
 but this was not a time for argument and they were used. The line terminated 
 
 in the woods south of Ansauville, 
 and one branch ran to a dugout 
 at Raulecourt. Another ran into 
 Ansauville, connecting with a line 
 being erected by the Division Sig- 
 nal Battalion. 
 
 While rushing this line to the 
 north the whole countryside 
 was crowded with troops: in- 
 fantry going to or returning from 
 the trenches, engineers working 
 on highways or railroads, and others 
 distributing ammunition which, by 
 night, was hauled into the woods on 
 the little narrow-gauge trains or 
 "light railways." No lights were 
 allowed on the trucks in this neigh- 
 borhood, as it was necessary to con- 
 ceal all movements as much as pos- 
 sible; nor were "Klaxons" permit- 
 ted, because horns were used to 
 warn of gas attacks. Colored labor 
 troops were working in the vicinity 
 gathering fuel from the woods. They 
 kept up a constant chatter. Seeing 
 an engineer, one inquired of Don- 
 baugh : 
 
 "Say, boss, ah knows dem fellahs 
 wid crossed guns on theyah collahs 
 am infantry, and dem fellahs wid 
 de crossed flags is signal men, but 
 who is dem wid de hotels on theyah 
 collahs?" 
 
 Another dusky was chatting 
 Lieut. Col. William F. Repp with Spangler when a group of 
 
WITH THE FIRST ARMY CORPS 
 
 117 
 
 French Colonials, probably from Morocco or Algiers, passed along the road. 
 The laborer called out to one of the Colonials: 
 
 "Whah's you from, babe?" 
 
 "Je ne comprends pas," replied the Colonial. Whereupon the mystified 
 darkey gasped: 
 
 "Damn ef theyah aint ah niggah whah' doan know his own lanwidge." 
 
 Before the forward line had been completed it was decided to increase 
 the number of circuits. "Repp insulators" were used. In his early days in 
 France, Captain Repp devised a crossarm which was an improvement on 
 
 Men of the 26th Division Entering Toul Sector to Relieve the 1st Division 
 
 the type used by the Allies. The ordinary crossarm is heavy and Repp 
 figured that much cargo space could be saved and much hard work eliminated 
 without sacrificing any efficiency by using arms of regulation length, but just 
 heavy enough to last the couple of years during which the lines were expected 
 to serve. A lineman could swing a whole bundle of the new arms over his 
 shoulder and carry them. At the same time Repp devised a new insulator 
 which, instead of screwing over a wooden knob on the crossarm, had a pro- 
 jecting iron screw which could be driven directly into the wooden crossarm. 
 Crossarms therefore were merely straight sticks of wood and the insulators 
 were very readily attached by driving the screw partly into the crossarm 
 and then turning it a couple of times to pull it down tight. These became 
 familiar to all Signal troops as "Repp crossarms" and "Repp insulators." 
 Repp also devised simpler methods of attaching the crossarms to the poles. 
 
 The work which Repp was doing at General Headquarters was not of the 
 spectacular type and its importance but little realized in the field. He was 
 
ii8 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and certainly would have gone 
 higher had not the Germans quit in November. He was awarded the Ameri- 
 can Distinguished Service Medal: 
 
 "For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services. With 
 his valuable assistance the Signal Corps was enabled originally to 
 plan for the immense network of the United States Army telegraph 
 and telephone lines now existing in France. To him is attributable 
 the exceptionally high standard of efficiency attained by the tele- 
 phone and telegraph service. As chief signal officer, Advance Sec- 
 tion Services of Supply, his services have been marked by a char- 
 acter of exceptional excellence." 
 
 That his work was known to our Allies is evidenced by the fact that he 
 was honored by the English as a "Companion of the Most Distinguished 
 Order of St. Michael and St. George"; by the French as a "Chevalier of the 
 Legion of Honor," and he was recommended by the Italian General Head- 
 quarters for an Italian medal. It can be seen that the influence of his work 
 was widespread. 
 
 The work went ahead with such speed and enthusiasm that in nine days 
 the whole job was done. The Divisional Signal Oflficer had estimated that 
 it would take three weeks to put up the originally planned two-crossarm line 
 and circuits to Toul. Not only was this work completed in nine days but 
 three additional arms with their wires as well. A number of records were 
 made. One morning, in three hours Long and Noone completed eighteen 
 five-foot deep holes. Another time Jensen's section, with four men climbing 
 and foxir ground men, strung forty-eight half-mile coils of wire in eight hours. 
 The officers of the First Division learned that there was no joke in the term 
 "experts" when applied to the 406th. 
 
 On the Sunday after the line was completed, General Russell with General 
 Gibbs and other officers reached Boucq to look it over. General Russell 
 stood on the hill from which the first half of the line could be seen as it 
 stretched across the country toward the Foret de la Reine. He rubbed his 
 hands and enthusiastically exclaimed, "That's the kind of work that is a 
 credit to the Telegraph Battalions and you will all be doing a lot more of 
 it before this war is over." 
 
 Aeroplane activity was almost constant, the German planes flying over 
 the lines every morning in the midst of terrific anti-aircraft attacks. "What 
 goes up must come down," and the falling shrapnel made steel helmets popular. 
 During one attack, Jensen who was stringing circuits near Raulecourt dis- 
 covered that he had left his helmet in the truck. Did he run back and get 
 it? Not he. A coil of wire on his head, he stuck to the job. 
 
 On account of the increasing artillery and airplane activity, all troops 
 quartered in Menil and Boucq were ordered to prepare either caves or shelter 
 trenches into which to retire in case of bombardment. No caves were avail- 
 
WITH THE FIRST ARMY CORPS 119 
 
 able at Boucq and all the construction men were kept on the line. The first 
 sergeant, mess sergeant, company clerk and two or three of the mechanics 
 dug a trench. An attempt was made to enlist the services of the official 
 interpreter Thevelin, but that worthy after rummaging through his effects 
 produced a certificate from French Headquarters stating that because of 
 wounds received while in the trenches, he was incapable of performing any 
 physical labor. That let him out of the work but did not prevent his fellows 
 from telling him that during bombardment he would enjoy it in the open. 
 
 Living with the First Division was satisfactory in many ways. Supplies 
 came regularly and the daily allotments of rations were liberal. But the pay 
 for February was slow in arriving and sociable games in the evening were out 
 of the question, as the January pay long since had gravitated by way of the 
 cards or "bones" to the pockets of a few. So in the evenings all joined in the 
 general singing, led by the mandolin "ticklers," Hale, Buehler and Walkup. 
 Erb's monologue as a circus "barker" and Hale's weird musical instrument, 
 made of a stick and cigar box with a single string, helped to pass the time. 
 The star shells and showers of tracer bullets from the machine guns of the air- 
 planes made a beautiful sight as they lightened the heavens. Occasionally, 
 the men who returned from duty in the listening posts, the most dangerous 
 work the Battalion had yet been called upon to do, consented to tell of their 
 experiences in No Man's Land. Many of the auditors were anxious to be 
 assigned to this work while others were more conservative. As one of the 
 latter put it : 
 
 "You fellows can do all the bragging you want. When I'm told to go, I'll 
 go, but 'til then I'm going to stay right here. I'm not anxious to meet any 
 undertaker until I have to." 
 
 When the work north of Boucq had been finished and Murdaugh had com- 
 pleted a switchboard in the old Chateau at Boucq, First Division plans were 
 changing. As "D" Company's camp was in an exposed location, it was de- 
 cided during the lull to move to the little town of Laneuveville which was 
 sheltered by a friendly hill from sight of the enemy at Montsec. 
 
Chapter XIV 
 
 One Thi?ig After Another 
 
 lORPORAL LEON," a little French boy, attached himself to the Bat- 
 talion during the winter. Spears gives a picture of this interesting young- 
 ster : "During our first winter in France a young French kid about eleven 
 years old wished himself on us as mascot. Early in the war he had lost both his 
 father and mother. He had been up with some French outfit and had been 
 wounded, and came to us dressed up in his little French sky-blue uniform, 
 wound and service stripes and a corporal's chevron. He was just such a kid 
 as one would expect him to be after his associations with a crowd of soldiers — 
 wise beyond his years, resourceful and self-reliant, pretty tough for a kid, 
 but a likable little chap with it all. 
 
 "He acquired a great liking for Fennell, and he brought with him a great 
 fondness for homeless dogs probably because he was a waif himself. Every 
 day he would get a new dog, take him around to the mess-shack and get him 
 a big feed. His hunger satisfied, the dog generally beat it. After this had 
 happened with several different dogs, he finally brought in a little stub-tailed 
 mutt which he decided to keep tied. But Mr. Pup spent most of the night 
 howling and some one cut him loose. Leon missed him the next morning and 
 had one of those French fits. He started to investigate. Some one told him 
 that Fennell had cut the rope. He came in ready to annihilate Fennell but 
 couldn't find him. One could see by his face what was in his mind. It was 
 
 120 
 
ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER 121 
 
 hard to go back on a friend, but the loss of his dog was too much. He held 
 up the piece of rope and between sobs he called down on Fennell a stream 
 of curses which would have shamed the most hard-boiled man in the A. E. F. — 
 it was the only English Leon knew — and he finished with tears rolling down 
 his face: "Le bon petit chien, il est parti!" 
 
 Company "E" had not been idle during the month of March. The First 
 Army Corps plans indicated that the lines through Vaucouleurs would become 
 more and more important. The light copper line along the railway had not 
 been entirely satisfactory and Company "E" began to build a new line which 
 was to follow the road from Neufchateau to Vaucouleurs and continue thence 
 to Void. As usual this was a job which had to be done in a great hurry. 
 Lieutenants Suddath and Foust started at Vaucouleurs with one platoon 
 and Captain Wattles started with another platoon in Neufchateau. To speed 
 the work a large detail was borrowed from the loist Engineers. 
 
 Another important job was furnished by the narrow-gauge or light rail- 
 ways which, with Sorcey as a center, required telephone service. Here again 
 the Engineers furnished the men and Collins had his hands full teaching them 
 to build telephone lines. These circuits connected with the new lines at Void 
 and went past Sorcey to Corneville, a little town close to Boucq. 
 
 There were no unusual construction features on the Void line and the work 
 progressed in an orderly fashion with only minor interruptions such as that 
 caused by the establishing of a new air field north of Vaucouleurs. This made 
 necessary the re-routing of a section already completed. The recall of the 
 engineers cut down the working forces at Vaucouleurs and it was necessary 
 to call for men from "D." These latter who were assigned to help at Vau- 
 couleurs had just become established in the best billets in Laneuveville, ex- 
 pecting to enjoy a rest after their strenuous days at Boucq. Thus came 
 one more opportunity to learn the lesson that in war time the unexpected is 
 usually to be expected. 
 
 Just about this time information was received that the Air Service was 
 establishing Headquarters at Toul. This meant telephone service. A section 
 was collected from Gondrecourt and Vaucouleurs, the offices were quickly 
 wired and a small French switchboard installed. As the Air people had no 
 one to operate the switchboard, Craigmile after finishing the installation 
 remained there as switchboard operator until an operator could be found to 
 relieve him. 
 
 New officers arrived with the Battalion late in March. These men had 
 completed courses in the training camps, first in the States and then in France, 
 and were put in the Battalion so they might become familiar with the methods 
 used in actual construction work. Lieutenants Waldron and Donaldson were 
 placed with "E" Company and Lieutenants Laveyea and Hyre went to "D." 
 After a stay of a little more than a month all of these except Lieutenant Donald- 
 
122 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 son were assigned to other Battalions. During March other changes had 
 taken place in the family of officers; Lieutenant Smith, the Adjutant, was 
 returned to the United States and Captain Gauss became Adjutant as well as 
 Engineer Officer. 
 
 The combined effort of almost the entire Battalion resulted in the com- 
 pletion of the lines to Void and Sorcey in short order and the Companies re- 
 
 1 — Working Out of Neufchateau 2 — Co. "E" Motor Mechanics 3 — That Satisfied Feeling 
 
 turned to their respective towns, "D" to Laneuveville and "E" to Neufcha- 
 teau. Further German successes in the west however, had caused a new 
 change in the First Corps plans and all construction with Laneuveville as a 
 centre was abandoned. Shortly after its return from Vaucouleurs, Company 
 "D" moved to Harmonville to prepare for new work. 
 
 Lieutenant Laveyea relieved Lieutenant Price at Gondrecourt, so he could 
 return to command Company "D" while Lieutenants Griest and Hasskarl 
 took a leave at Abc-les-Bains. Most of the reconstruction work at Gondre- 
 court had been completed but there remained the necessity of operating the 
 telephone and telegraph lines. Hannam, in charge of the telephone exchange, 
 and rapidly developing into one of the best switchboard operators in the Bat- 
 talion, thus describes his work at Gondrecourt : 
 
 "To my lot fell the taking charge of an office which was a large 
 relay point in the Motor Dispatch Service where the great bulk of the 
 Second Division telegraph business was handled. This took care of 
 more E. F. M. cablegrams than the Corps office, to say nothing of the 
 
ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER 123 
 
 telephone system which had to be operated. The First Corps schools 
 and the aviation fields at Amanty, besides the First Division area tele- 
 phones, all terminated on the board, so this was no easy task in itself. 
 
 "About this time it became evident that the operating of the 
 switchboards which we were going to be called on to do more and 
 more, was becoming quite a problem. It was necessary to make a 
 thorough study of the subject and school the men who were best 
 qualified. We were dealing with the subscriber direct, usually a 
 Colonel or a General who thought that his call was the most im- 
 portant — in his opinion a matter of life and death. He would fre- 
 quently give us to understand a court martial would be our reward if 
 the call did not go through immediately, even if the lines were shot 
 to pieces. Quite frequently the call was of the utmost importance, 
 although we had to sift this kind out of possibly dozens of others. 
 Most of the business was "toll," so every possible routing had to be 
 in one's mind, while every town and generally the individual officers 
 themselves were coded. 
 
 "Besides the alertness, tact and patience of the operator, it was 
 necessary to become a human encyclopedia as well and the great 
 volume of business which had to be put through the French exchanges 
 required almost the effort of a superman. Our own lines were, in some 
 cases, horrible specimens leased from the French and usually 
 grounded. When simplexed these sounded like a young boiler shop. 
 Again, it might be necessary to try to talk over twenty miles of oiu: 
 twist lying across roads and in shell holes, strung under the most 
 trying conditions. Therefore, it was necessary to develop a great 
 pair of lungs and an intuitive sense of what was being said on the 
 other end of the line. The real difficulty was that no sooner did one 
 become familiar with his particular local conditions, the geography 
 of the surrounding country, codes, etc., than everything was changed, 
 including our location. 
 
 "At any rate, at this time I was selected to be an operator, either 
 a chief or otherwise, for the duration of the war. It was not because 
 the job appealed to me or I wanted it but because I was needed on 
 this particular work and others could be found to do anything else I 
 could do. It was then I found how one's individuality could be 
 absolutely lost in the Army. In order that the larger unit might 
 function, the individual had to be sacrificed. I mention this not in a 
 spirit of fault-finding but simply to do justice to a large percentage 
 of the fellows." 
 
 Certain of Hannam's remarks refer to switchboard operating during later 
 activities of the Corps but, as he indicates, telephone service was popular in 
 the army and there were few men really qualified to do the operating. Those 
 who were selected, however, did efficient work. For the purpose of developing 
 more telephone operators a school was established in the Battalion. In 
 charge of the school was Lynch, a fortunate acquisition during the winter, who 
 had formerly worked under Major Hubbell in the New York Telephone Com- 
 pany Traffic Department at Newark. 
 
124 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 The First Corps continued in administrative command of the First, Second, 
 Twenty-sixth and Forty-second Divisions until April when the First Division 
 was hurriedly withdrawn from the line and sent over to Cantigny to help stop 
 the German drive. At this time it was determined to move Corps Head- 
 quarters to Toul. Immediately a switchboard was established and the Gon- 
 drecourt detachment under Lutz, enlarged by several men from Harmonville, 
 quickly strung circuits throughout the town to various oflfices and to the French 
 exchange. At the same time a ten-wire line was started from Neufchateau 
 toward Toul, Company "E" working from Neufchateau to Martigny and 
 Company "D" from that town to Colombey les Belles. 
 
 Harmonville 
 
 The plant at Toul was completed on time and the Corps Chief of Staff 
 moved into his new Headquarters. But once more the plans were changed 
 and the officer returned to Neufchateau. Toul had become an important 
 point for the Army, being in the center of a group of air organizations and a 
 switching point for many of the Corps lines. So the switchboard was con- 
 tinued, the dignified code of "Podunk" being assigned, and a telegraph service 
 established as well. In prospect of still further needs for service at Toul, 
 Cowan drew up a plan and prepared the requisition for a distribution system 
 in the city, involving the use of miich aerial cable. Although this requisition 
 was approved and the material shipped, the 406th moved and another 
 organization made the installation. Such, too, was the fate of the cable sys- 
 tem around Neufchateau, plans for which were completed by Brittain early in 
 February but executed by the 407th when the material was received. 
 
 The Une from Neufchateau to Colombey was probably the most satis- 
 
ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER 125 
 
 factory one which had been built by the Battalion. Good poles and all other 
 necessary materials were available and there was an adequate supply of good 
 old American tools. In addition an air-compressor and rock drills had arrived. 
 This equipment was permanently mounted on a two-ton truck, both truck and 
 machinery being placed under the supervision of FuUerton who had been 
 particularly successful in keeping this truck on the road. The drills were 
 operated by Peterson and Fennell. The truck was hurried back and forth 
 from one end of the job to the other as the drilling machinery was needed — 
 Fullerton and his flying crew usually spending their evenings on the road. 
 
 After this line was finished a critical committee of section chiefs and head 
 linemen inspected it, walking its length, after which a conference was held and 
 sections sent out to fix up certain features which were not quite up to standard. 
 In the rush work of the winter and early spring, speed had made it necessary 
 to sacrifice some of the finer points of the construction and as this was such 
 a very important line, the inspection was planned to make certain that the 
 whole job was done in the most thorough manner. 
 
 In April Brittain received a commission as Second Lieutenant in the Signal 
 Corps and was ordered to Tours where he entered into the general engineering 
 work. He was the seventh man to be commissioned without training other 
 than that received in the Battalion. Brittain in his new work for the Signal 
 Corps was particularly successful on submarine cables. This officer was 
 warmly greeted by his old friends when a year later as a First Lieutenant 
 he rejoined his former Company at Brest. The Army Candidates' School had 
 been established at Langres and early in the spring instructions were received 
 that two men from the Battalion be nominated to attend the first class for 
 Signal Officers. Conwell and Kraus were entered in the April class and re- 
 ceived their commissions after completing the course. 
 
 Harmonville, Company "D's" headquarters for April and May, was a 
 little town about a kilometer east of the main highway and situated on an 
 eminence. The principal industry seemed to be the raising of stock and many 
 fine horses in the village had escaped the watchful eyes of those purchasing 
 animals for the armies. The barracks were comparatively comfortable, being 
 floored with broken stone, and the people most cordial toward these first 
 American troops to be billeted there. However, there was little to keep the 
 men busy during the long evenings. A visit to the Y. M. C. A. warehouse at 
 Toul brought forth a supply of baseballs, bats, quoits, volley balls and boxing 
 gloves. Henceforth the field around the barracks resembled a children's 
 playground. No matter how hard the work was during the day, there was 
 plenty of activity in the evening. 
 
 One rainy Sunday afternoon, Magill and Thorpe arrived at Harmonville 
 to announce the promotion of Lieutenant Griest to the rank of Captain. The 
 notice accompanying the telegram was written by Lieutenant Meigs and 
 
126 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 announced that a friendly game had been interrupted to take care of this 
 official business, and it would be necessary for the one causing the interruption 
 to come immediately to Battalion headquarters, bringing something to make 
 this interruption worth while. When Lieutenant Griest arrived at Neuf- 
 chateau the "friendly" game ceased, much to the apparent joy of Captain 
 Wattles and Lieutenant Macfarlan who seemed to be financing the fun, and 
 after the oath of office was administered by Lieutenant Macfarlan, the new 
 Captain produced the "something" suggested by Lieutenant Meigs. And the 
 friendly game was over for the night. 
 
Chapter XV 
 
 Adventures in No Mans Land 
 
 IN THE spring of 1918, about twenty -five members of the Battalion 
 had some experiences which are worth setting down here as a separate 
 chapter in this story. 
 
 The Radio Intelhgence Service estabHshed Ustening posts out in No Man's 
 Land for the purpose of picking up enemy messages. The posts were located 
 in dugouts, where experienced operators sat at their instruments. From each 
 dugout wires were strung over the ground to the right, to the left and to the 
 front, as close as possible to the enemy lines. At the distant end of each of 
 these wires was placed a copper "mat" a couple of feet square which was 
 buried in the ground. These mats "picked up" the electrical impulses of 
 telephone, telegraph and radio messages. From the mats the impulses 
 traveled over the wires to the operators in the dugouts where they were 
 recorded and then transmitted to Headquarters. 
 
 The Radio Intelligence Service was under the supervision of a Lieutenant 
 Smith, an interesting and fearless adventurer who, on account of his services 
 in Alaska, had been nicknamed "Caribou" Smith. The service was not under 
 the First Army Corps but reported directly to General Headquarters. How- 
 ever, as there was a shortage of Signal troops at General Headquarters, the 
 First Army Corps was called on for men to take care of the installation and 
 repair work in connection with the listening posts. During March a detail 
 
 137 
 
128 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 from Company "D" and in April a detail from Company "E" was assigned 
 to this work, alternating in similar manner during May and June. 
 
 The work of the operators kept them within the dugouts but the Signal 
 men were responsible not only for placing the mats and connecting them back 
 to the instruments in the dugouts but also for keeping the wires intact in the 
 midst of the constant gun fire. To crawl out from a dugout, a coil of wire on 
 one arm, a shovel and tools on the other, with bullets flying overhead and the 
 ground torn to pieces and covered with barbed wire entanglements was not a 
 job for a nervous man. In planting the mats and in subsequent maintenance, 
 some dependence could be placed on the methodical nature of the Boche mind. 
 If a certain section in which a mat was to be placed or wire repaired happened 
 at the time to be under shell or machine gun fire, observations on the interval 
 of fire would determine when it would be safe to do the work. For example, 
 if a volley splashed forth from the machine guns every fifteen minutes and 
 lasted for one minute, it was comparatively safe to hop out from shelter as 
 soon as the firing ceased, and to work for ten minutes before again seeking 
 shelter to await the next volley. 
 
 A large German power plant near the foot of Montsec at first interfered 
 with the service because of the electric current generated there. Later how- 
 ever, when Western Electric amplifiers were received, there was such an im- 
 provement that radio messages from Berlin or the Eiffel Tower were frequently 
 picked up. 
 
 In the early days the listening posts sometimes overheard conversations 
 between American soldiers and made it possible to curb thoughtless talk which 
 enemy listening posts might overhear. Every effort was made to keep in- 
 formation from the enemy. In these forward areas- all names of towns were 
 coded and no titles used over the telephone. If one wanted to speak to the 
 Division Signal Officer at 
 Menil la Tour, Colonel 
 Schwartz, he would ask 
 for "Schwartz at Maxey." 
 Beaumont was "Boston" 
 and there were other 
 names like "Maine" and 
 "Mississippi" to remind 
 one of home. 
 
 The first detail to be 
 engaged in listening post 
 duty was in charge of 
 Corporal Tritle and in- 
 cluded Alber, Devlin, 
 
 Fennell, Lord, Noone, Entrance to Listening Post 
 
ADVENTURES IN NO MAN'S LAND 129 
 
 Peterson and Worrell. They worked in shifts, four being on duty while the 
 other four rested. From time to time, those on rest wandered over to Boucq 
 to see their company friends but they were not anxious to talk of their experi- 
 ences, preferring to keep their minds off the subject. All these fellows ac- 
 quired a new and more serious expression. It conveyed the impression that 
 they, in their prowlings through the dangers of No Man's Land and their 
 nights in the dugouts while barrages flew in both directions over them, had 
 been very near the Great Beyond. 
 
 Tritle and Devlin were stationed in a dugout at Xivray near the foot of 
 Montsec, and Lord and Peterson some distance beyond Seicheprey. From 
 these points they carried picks and shovels and materials, and planted the 
 tell-tale mats, running the wires back to the posts. Tritle later remarked, 
 "We had plenty of everything but food; plenty of rats and cooties and lots of 
 shelling and gas." 
 
 The listening post men, not being part of any divisional organization, were 
 seldom warned of impending raids or attacks. Upon frequent occasions the 
 troops were withdrawn from the front line and the men in the dugouts re- 
 mained, sometimes surrounded by the enemy. Such care had been taken in 
 instructing the Battalion men in the use of gas masks and in the seriousness of 
 gas attacks that throughout the four months during which these listening post 
 details were supplied, there was not a single gas casualty suffered by the men 
 of the 406th, although gas attacks were of frequent occurrence. 
 
 Peterson had some interesting experiences which many months later he 
 agreed to describe: 
 
 "They took us in trucks to Beaumont, about a mile back of the 
 line. This was the limit of daylight traffic on the road which was 
 at this point known as "Dead Man's Curve." It was constantly 
 visible from Montsec, the German stronghold, except where carefully 
 camouflaged by strips of burlap stretched between the trees and 
 painted to imitate grass. The first night the Lieutenant said he had 
 no place to put us, and we had better look around for a place to camp 
 for the night. In an old house facing the road just one room had been 
 spared by shell fire and we climbed into a couple of empty bunks. 
 Soon the shells started to explode at close range. The Boche shelled 
 this road each night, dropping them over just often enough to make 
 the hauling of supplies a mighty dangerous job. In the morning 
 Alber and I decided that we had better look for a dugout, especially 
 when we were told that the house we had picked out was the worst 
 place along the road. We found a little leaky dugout just big enough 
 for two, which nobody seemed to have discovered and there we 
 dropped our blankets for the second night. 
 
 "Next day Lieutenant Smith came to Beaumont and said that 
 we were to take some supplies with us to our future home to relieve 
 two of our men who had been there for four days. The sign boards 
 
I30 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 were in French and it was almost impossible to know which forks 
 and turns to take. The ditches all looked alike. Although the 
 trenches from Beaumont to Seicheprey were not so large they were 
 pretty well duck-boarded and drained. At Seicheprey we loaded 
 up with coils of wire, storage batteries, candles and globes and 
 started on the next hop to the front. It would have been bad enough 
 with nothing to carry as in many places the sides were caved in, 
 making a pile of mud in the bottom of the trench. The duck-boards 
 were broken and in some places entirely missing and the water had 
 accumulated from the winter rains and snows to a depth of eight or 
 
 Ruins of Seicheprey 
 
 ten inches for a hundred yards at a stretch. If you happened to put 
 your foot in the wrong place or in a hole in the duck-board, you would 
 go down to your knees in mud. We had to squeeze through narrow 
 places with our loads and I'll tell you, it was some little trip. 
 
 "The new home which we reached was a beauty. The floor was 
 about a foot below the bottom of the trench and the ceiling some 
 five feet from the floor, the room being about six feet square. There 
 were two stationary bunks, a chair, and a board nailed to the wall 
 for a table. On this board the amplifier and globes for picking up 
 messages were placed. When you stepped on some of the boards 
 in the floor you started a miniature geyser. This home was on the 
 communication trench about fifty yards from the front line. 
 
 "We looked over the place and rested a few minutes and then 
 started back to Seicheprey for another load of stuff. We had quite 
 a job finding our way back and Fennell lost his way. He climbed 
 
ADVENTURES IN NO MAN'S LAND 131 
 
 out of the trench to look the ground over, thus getting worse mixed up 
 than ever. It took him about two hours to find his way in. 
 
 "When I reHeved Devhn at this post I was just too late to get 
 any chow and when it did come I was out of luck. They brought 
 the stuff out from Seicheprey where it was cooked, in fireless cooker 
 cans, and these kept it pretty warm if the carriers did not get tired and 
 stop somewhere. The carriers on this particular night were new to 
 the business and decided it was easier to walk on top than to slip and 
 slide around over the duck-boards. Fritz spotted them, and just as 
 they had taken the lid off the can he put a ' 77 ' on top of the parapet 
 where we were standing and dumped a load of mud and debris into 
 the can and over us. 
 
 "The next day we received our instructions. All we had to do was 
 to plant a piece of copper screening about two feet square just as close 
 to the German lines as we could get it, hook one end of a coil of 
 twisted pair to the terminals on the mat and walk back to the dugout 
 with the other end of the coil. Then after that all we had to do was to 
 'shoot' trouble on that line and on the lines to the five other mats in 
 the neighborhood. 
 
 "The first night Fritz must have been trying to make somebody 
 think that he was going to pull off a raid. For he dropped over about 
 three thousand shells, naturally right behind the front lines, and 
 every whizz sounded as if it was coming right for the roof of our 
 dugout, but we got nothing worse than the pieces thumping against 
 our blanket of a door. In the morning we started out to see what 
 had happened. Trouble ! If it were not for the work of hauling the 
 wire out from Seicheprey and running it through the barbed wire 
 it would certainly have been a whole lot easier to run all new loops 
 to the mats. Every circuit was cut at least twenty times. 
 
 "I saw right there where I had some job. But luckily that didn't 
 happen every night. The rest of the day all I had to do was to take 
 that walk back to Beaumont and get some new storage batteries. 
 I had always had the idea that a quiet sector was a place where days 
 at a time would go by without anything happening. Maybe that is 
 what they do call 'nothing,' but it did not seem like 'nothing' to me. 
 For every night there would be a half hour's continuous firing, pretty 
 heavy firing, and then it would dwindle down to one about every five 
 minutes. Then in the middle of the night the gas alarm would go 
 off and we'd have to lie there half awake with gas masks on for 
 fifteen or twenty minutes 'til the 'all clear' came. This happened 
 sometimes once, sometimes three or four times in a night. The 
 third night we saw a bunch of doughboys coming out of the front 
 line and we asked them what was up. 'Oh, nothing.' Well, we told 
 the machine gunners who had a dugout just across the trench from 
 us, to tell us if anything happened. One said, 'Oh, you'll know all 
 right — when you hear our gun you know it's time to go, for we are 
 a rear guard to cover retreats.' Well, we would have been waiting 
 yet if we waited for that gun for all the troops were called out of the 
 front lines that night in expectation of an enemy raid and the 
 
132 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 machine gunners pulled out with them and never said a word to us 
 and we woke up the next morning, a quarter of a mile out in No 
 Man's Land, with all our troops behind us. About nine o'clock 
 they came in again and the machine gunners informed us that they 
 had forgotten all about it. I guess we would have forgotten all 
 about it too if that raid had been pulled off. 
 
 "After my four-day trick was over I made a special trip by foot 
 and otherwise to Boucq and placed my request for $10,000 life 
 insurance which two months previous I had thrown flat. 
 
 "The next time my turn came to go up to the dugout I found 
 that the station had been moved back to Seicheprey. This Radio 
 Intelligence section was a separate and distinct branch of the Signal 
 Corps and all of its workings were supposed to be secret. I think 
 that is the reason we were always stuck in some out of the way corner. 
 We found our dugout way over in the comer of a graveyard at least 
 two hundred yards from our nearest living neighbor. 
 
 "It was a much more comfortable 'home,' however. Although it 
 was built on the ground level it was at least five feet thick on the side 
 exposed to enemy fire, and made of solid stone work. The roof also 
 must have been four feet thick, the whole being built from the ruins 
 of the houses of the village. But after seeing reinforced concrete 
 pill boxes eight and ten feet thick, split in the middle by a well- 
 directed 380 mm. and holes dug twenty feet under the ground 
 caved in by the concussion of a bomb, we realized that even this 
 safe looking place was only safe in looks. Just contrary to our former 
 home, this place was too big. Our little charcoal fire had to stretch 
 some to keep it warm during those long night watches. To give an 
 idea of the size, it contained two decks of eight bunks each with plenty 
 of space at the end for our instrument table. 
 
 "Our lines to No Man's Land had been withdrawn and our two 
 mats lay in a ditch about a hundred yards away. We could still 
 pick up the German buzzer messages and also keep our own lines 
 policed. It seemed pretty soft after the other job, but after all there 
 are not many places that did not get hit by shells sooner or later at 
 that distance from the front. 
 
 "Gas was giving us more trouble than anything else at this time. 
 There were four of us on the job at this station, three operators and 
 myself to keep the wires working. As soon as I landed they told me 
 that the Boche had formed the habit of throwing a sprinkling of gas 
 shells over every afternoon at about five o'clock. It was a very 
 propitious time of the day for on two occasions he had managed 
 to drop a couple into the kitchens around town, the first time killing 
 a cook and both times causing the loss of a meal and ruining all the 
 rations in the kitchen. 
 
 "This day we heard the first one coming and its 'pop' as it 
 exploded. We marked it as some distance to the leeward and took 
 our time getting our masks ready. Others soon began coming thick 
 and fast so we got in our masks and awaited developments. We saw 
 everybody getting down to the end of the town away from where 
 
ADVENTURES IN NO MAN'S LAND 133 
 
 shells were falling and in a position where the wind would carry the 
 gas away from them. I said that was the place for us and started 
 off but the others did not follow me. After about an hour's wait the 
 gas cleared away and I started back, and as I passed the Red Cross 
 station there lay my three buddies all stretched out in a row and 
 in pretty bad shape. They had started down later and a shell had 
 burst right beside them just as they took off their masks. They were 
 sent back to the hospital as soon as an ambulance could be brought up 
 and were marked unfit for further front line duty. 
 
 "That night I spent alone in my cemetery. I did not know a 
 thing about how to run the instrument, and it was a rather delicate 
 affair, so there was nothing for me to do but call up the Lieutenant 
 and ask him to send up three more operators. Two days later they 
 arrived. That little evening's work pretty nearly cleaned out our 
 end of the Radio Intelligence section. 
 
 "The next day was bright and sunny and I had nothing to do but 
 wait for the relief. I took my old magazine and sat on a rock in the 
 sun and read. Then the only survivor pretty nearly got it ! I had 
 been watching a couple of our planes trying to cross the lines and 
 incidentally to dodge the Boche anti-aircraft fire. I got tired look- 
 ing up and went on reading, never noticing that the planes were 
 getting directly overhead. Suddenly a whizz — smack! I almost 
 felt the wind of a piece of shrapnel that dropped out of the clouds 
 right down beside me — so I took my book over in the shade of the 
 dugout. 
 
 "That night about 8 o'clock we got another rather heavy dose 
 of gas. The town was thoroughly saturated and when I heard a 
 whistle blow I went out to see what was happening. The gas officer 
 had decided to evacuate the town which was in a hollow, until it 
 cleared up. So he ordered all the men to get blankets and follow 
 him to the hilltop at the edge of the town. And on that breezy hill- 
 top on a raw March night we settled down to sleep." 
 
 The Company "E" men comprising the detail for April were under Cor- 
 poral Drew and included Custer, Gallo, Grindel, Henry, Leasure, McKay 
 and McDonald. As was the case in March, these men, not being under the 
 direction of the Division, were not warned when trouble was expected and 
 here too upon several occasions the division troops were withdrawn from the 
 front lines, leaving the signal detail marooned. Fortunately on most of these 
 occasions, the Boche raids did not reach the American front lines. At one 
 time, however, when Gallo, Grindel and McKay were in a dugout, the Ger- 
 mans did come across and bombed nearly every dugout in the American front 
 lines, the one occupied by the Radio Intelligence men being one of three that 
 escaped. The men remained at their station entirely surrounded by the enemy 
 until a counter-attack was started and the Boches driven back. 
 
 The electrical energy required by the amplifying apparatus was furnished 
 from storage batteries. These were charged by the Field Signal Battalion 
 
134 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 at "Maxey" and delivered to "Boston" by motorcycle. From that point they 
 were carried out through the trenches to the dugouts. This was hazardous 
 work. Custer it seems, had a conscientious conception of the importance of 
 his station and tells of an occasion when he volunteered to obtain new bat- 
 teries : 
 
 "The man in charge told me that the batteries were nm down 
 and unless he got some more he would have to shut down, so I 
 volunteered to go through a barrage to get some. I had to go by 
 trench and it took me three hours to make a round trip. When I 
 got out to where the batteries were, Corporal Drew was there and 
 he asked me if I came out through the shelling and I said 'Why?' 
 
 He said 'Well, all I have to say is you are a d fool.' I told him 
 
 that unless I got back with the batteries the station would have to 
 shut down. I had to wait a few minutes as there were some Hun 
 planes overhead, but as soon as they were gone I started and when 
 I was about half way I was knocked down by three shells that landed 
 near me. I picked myself up again and when almost to my dugout 
 two shots missed me by a few feet. There was a marsh to the left 
 of me and they tore an awful rip in the water and I thought what a 
 nice rip they would have given me. I got back just in time, as the 
 station had just stopped operating from the batteries 'dying.' " 
 
 On another occasion, realizing the dangers of repair work by daylight, the 
 Radio Intelligence Corporal organized a patrol which was to go out over No 
 Man's Land after dark. This did not suit Leasure. If there was a line to 
 be repaired it should be done at once. The Corporal told him it was a reckless 
 and foolhardy undertaking but that if he wanted to he could go ahead. It 
 was bright and clear as he crawled out over the barren strip which separated 
 the contending forces. He followed the wire, supposed to be one of the shorter 
 ones, examining it for a break. As he crept along and nothing happened. No 
 Man's Land seemed little 
 different from any other 
 shell-torn ground. Soon 
 he struck a wire entan- 
 glement and picked his 
 way through. He did not 
 give a thought to the fact 
 that this barrier would 
 now be a distinct hind- 
 rance should it be neces- 
 sary to make a hurried 
 retreat. As he pro- 
 gressed he began to won- 
 der at the veracity of the 
 man who had reported 
 
 Standing: King, Leasure, McKay, Gallo 
 Below: Drew, Custer, Grindel 
 
nie 221.35 Badio 
 
 HEiD^ARTERS AHERIOin EnEDITIOttSHY FORCES, 
 OFPICE OF I'HE CHIEF SIGllAL OFFICER. 
 
 26 ^pril, 1918. 
 
 Prom: Chiof Elgnal Officer, imorioan Expeditionary Forces. 
 
 Tot Officer in Cliargo, Radio DiviBion, O.C.S.O., a.E.F. 
 
 Subjuct: Operators of l.S.F.2. 
 
 1. Report fonrardod by Captain lo^ir;' coverine the excellent worit of Sergeant 
 Bugone Peterson and Corporal i'anl B. Herrold, of the Radio Intelligence Service, 3ig^ 
 nal Oorpe, aai Privates lIoKay, Grlndell and Gjllow, of Oonpany E, 406th Telegrajli 
 Battalion, 'Jlgnal Corp;^, tcjnp.rarily attcchcd to the I^adio Intelligence Service a£ 
 linaBwn aaid substltntes for Llstemlng st^tl■^n Ko. 2, daring 20 and 21 _pril, at the 
 tlm-i of the offoncivfl on the 26th Divisi :r.Ll front, has been received* 
 
 2. 'i^o coolneGc, steadfastness and resourcefulness shown by these men under 
 the trying conditions reported by Lieut. Thompson is a source of satisfaction, aid 
 it is requested that you indicate to thein personally, and through publication of 
 this letter in your '■■'eokly Bulletin, ny appreciation of their actions at this time. 
 
 E. IBSSELL, 
 Brl£fadiei^General, H. nm, 
 C.S.O. 
 
 221.35 Radio 1st Ind. 
 
 !K. C.Oj:., A.EJ'., O.C.3.O., 26 April, 1910 - Ic Captain Robert lojjuy. Radio Int. 
 Officer, S.C., G.H...., American EJ'.t 
 
 1. Inviting attention to the coixaendation above from the Chief Si^ial Officer. 
 
 2. Ihe work of tho acn i.:entioned has b06ia noted on the records of this office. 
 By Direction: 
 
 Uajor, Signal Cons, T:.S.A. 
 O.BU.O., R.D., S.C., ii^.i., k.'SJI., llay 7, 1916. 
 
 Copy furnished '''omvuirtlnc Officer, 40£th Telegraph Battalion, Signal Corps. 
 
 Robert Lo^^iry, 
 C«pt.,SC.,lER. 
 
 Commendation for Gallo, Grindel and McKay 
 
 135 
 
136 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 that this was a short Une. Again he met an entanglement, this time of 
 barbed wire, and after he had wormed his way through he straightened 
 himself slightly to stretch his muscles. A rifle cracked. Zing! A bullet 
 sped past his head. No orders were necessary. He dropped like a log and 
 slid into a shell hole. He began for the first time to think that perhaps the 
 corporal was right. After things seemed quiet he crawled out of the shell 
 hole but this time wiggling along flat on the ground and twenty feet further 
 he found that the wire had worked loose from the terminal on the copper 
 mat. The damage was quickly repaired. He managed to get back to the 
 dugout just as the corporal had collected a patrol to go out to search for him. 
 Gallo, one of the men trapped by the Boche raid on Seicheprey, has given 
 this modest story of his experiences: 
 
 "We had four mats, something like a wire screen, about twenty- 
 four by thirty inches. These were buried in the ground about a foot 
 deep — one north, one south, one east, and one west — from one to two 
 hundred feet away from our station, the connection made with twisted 
 pair. We had a four-point control switch in the office so that we 
 could switch the mats singly or in pairs. 
 
 "The amplifiers were quite sensitive. We could pick up all the 
 conversations over our own American telephones, field buzzers, etc., 
 as well as the French and German telephones and telegraph. Our 
 duties were to listen in and put down in writing everything that 
 was heard, so we were playing spy both on our men and the Germans. 
 The Germans made very little use of their telephones at this point, 
 but their field buzzers and wireless were used considerably. During 
 my first watch of four hours I copied sixteen pages of conversations, 
 buzzers, wireless, etc. 
 
 "Our first week was uneventful. They shelled us continually 
 during the day. There was a barrage every night about nine, usually 
 lasting until eleven or twelve. Our Infantry fell back frequently, but 
 we were never notified as no one in charge seemed to know where 
 we were or what we were doing. 
 
 "After six days we were relieved and sent to Toul. In another six 
 days we returned on our second shift. On April 21st the Germans 
 pulled off an attack. The barrages started at three o'clock in the 
 morning and kept on advancing. About five-thirty or six o'clock the 
 barrage passed over us. The Germans were soon all around us, past 
 us and everywhere, but some way or other they missed our place. 
 Our station was kept working until six in the morning but then the 
 noise was so terrific, our lines were so shot up, and the Germans 
 were so close, that we could do nothing. Our orders were to keep 
 the station going as long as possible. The day before we had received 
 a Western Electric amplifier and telephones and had specific orders, 
 in case of an attack or of being cornered, to dismantle the station and 
 destroy instruments before the Germans got hold of them. So we 
 had everything in readiness to destroy all instruments. The station 
 
ADFENTURES IN NO MAN'S LAND 137 
 
 records I hid under some stones near our place. At seven o'clock 
 our station was reconnected as the Germans were pushed back and 
 imminent danger of their getting our equipment had passed. 
 
 "The first night following the battle we gathered up all the rein- 
 forcements we could get which were four artillery men, four infantry 
 men and two or three runners, in all thirteen or fourteen men. We 
 had our pistols, one automatic rifle and seven or eight ordinary rifles 
 and a few grenades. Starting at five in the afternoon, every man of 
 our force had to stand one hour watch during the night. Another 
 barrage started about 3 :30, but lasted only a few hours. This night 
 we were prepared for almost anything but nothing turned up. 
 
 "The day after the raid our Lieutenant had searched everywhere, 
 all the field hospitals and bases as well, but could not locate us. 
 They gave us up as either killed or captured but at last they found us 
 and we were ordered out and dismantled the station entirely." 
 
 On account of the conduct of the men at the listening post during this 
 Seicheprey raid, the Chief Signal Officer wrote a letter commenting upon their 
 "coolness, steadfastness and resourcefulness under trying conditions." 
 
 Service in the listening posts continued during May and June, each com- 
 pany completing two tours of duty. The responsibility was taken over by 
 the Army Signal troops when the 406th hurried to the Marne with the First 
 Army Corps late in June. 
 
iOSiv— ^:?^>^-^:7?k::;.,s=^ 
 
 Chapter XVI 
 
 ''JVher-e Do We Go from Heref 
 
 VERSATILITY might be called an outstanding characteristic of the men 
 of the Battalion. A shining example of this trait, and almost the same 
 story might have been told by any other member of the Battalion, is 
 the following fromFest: "Starting at Chaumont I was official bugler, bar- 
 ber, K. P., post-hole digger, pole-setter, mule-driver, tree-trimmer, mailman, 
 general interpreter, custodian of bicycles. Ford windshield manufacturer and 
 fire marshal; at Rimacourt, M. P.; at Marnay, country storekeeper and 
 medical man; at Vaucouleurs, motorcycle driver." 
 
 Koser gives an example of the same trait. "Sergeant Binder said one day, 
 
 " 'Can you ride a motorcycle?' 
 
 " 'Sure!' said I. I never had, but I scented excitement. I reported to the 
 Major and swore I could ride anything on two wheels. I was ordered to 
 Chaumont on a small 8-cy Under English motorcycle. I studied the instruction 
 book a bit, said a prayer, wished myself luck, climbed aboard, shut my eyes 
 and let 'er go. As I left the court, a Captain was entering. Lucky thing 
 for him that he was quick on his feet. He did not have a chance to say a 
 word for I was a mile down the road before he knew what had happened." 
 
 Tact was another outstanding quality. "Slim" Spangler was the star 
 "tactitian." At a public bathhouse at Neuf chateau he wandered about 
 looking for a vacant dressing room. He came to one which was apparently 
 
 13S 
 
"WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?" 139 
 
 unoccupied. He tried the door. A woman screamed. "Pardon Monsieur, 
 pardon Monsieur", said "Slim" as he backed away. 
 
 The continued German successes during the Spring of 191 8 made the First 
 Army Corps restless. Some of the divisions were in the trenches but not 
 under American tactical command. There was a feeling that an American 
 Army under American command, trained in the American theory, viz., suc- 
 cessful warfare can be waged only by an army instilled with the offensive 
 rather than the defensive idea, would show the Boche a trick or two. Time 
 and again it was rumored that the First Corps would be concentrated. But 
 the German advance to the west made the situation so critical that the di- 
 visions could not be collected and the First Corps continued in administrative 
 command only. 
 
 The area surrounding Corps Headquarters was covered with French 
 military and civil wires. It seemed superfluous therefore to extend the con- 
 struction of American telephone lines. Negotiations with the French resulted 
 in the acquisition of a number of leased circuits. One long line was built up 
 by connecting together French wires from Neufchateau by way of Bar le Due 
 and Souilly to the Headquarters of the Second Division at Sommedieu near 
 Verdun ; another connected the Forty-second Division at Baccarat by way of 
 Nancy to Corps Headquarters, American built circuits reaching from that 
 point to the Twenty-sixth Division at Boucq. During the negotiations, 
 although both the Major and Captain Gauss had acquired a fair French 
 vocabulary, Thevelin's services were most necessary and he was ordered to 
 report at Battalion Headquarters. With much protest and after many good- 
 byes, Thevelin insisting "I belongs to Coompanie 'D'," departed from Har- 
 monville, remarking dejectedly: "Last year on my birthday I am wounded. 
 This year I leaves Coompanie 'D.' I don't want other birthdays to come." 
 
 Around Neufchateau there were many interesting mademoiselles. One of 
 the chauffeurs of Company "E" became interested in a particularly attractive 
 one. That she was the daughter of the village coffin maker did not deter the 
 gay suitor. One evening he called on her, wearing a new raincoat of which he 
 was very proud. It made quite an impression on the cherie. However, other 
 subjects so distracted the mind of the caller that he forgot to take it when 
 he left. A few days later it rained and he was not quite certain as to where he 
 had left the slicker. He called on the coffin maker's daughter but she said 
 very sweetly that she knew nothing about it. He was somewhat surprised 
 when the Battalion marched out of Neufchateau in the rain, to see his sweet- 
 heart waving an enthusiastic farewell, clad in the lost coat. 
 
 A miscellany of small jobs took up the latter part of April and May. The 
 headquarters of an air group was established at Ourches and a circuit was 
 built to connect it to the line leading north from Vaucouleurs. The air 
 
LIFE IN FRANCE 
 
 140 
 
"WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?" 141 
 
 group had erected a new pole line upon which the telephone wires were strung 
 by Company "D." After the job was completed a complaint reached the 
 Battalion to the effect that the Ourches switchboard could not get satisfactory 
 connections over this line. An investigation disclosed the fact that the air 
 group had decided after the wires were placed, to reroute the pole line. Being 
 short of poles they took out a dozen of those to which the telephone wires 
 were attached, leaving a long span of wire without support. The commander 
 of the air group when he knew the facts, absolved the Battalion from blame 
 for the poor service. As the French were building a new line across the coun- 
 try permission was obtained to attach the wires to this line. Satisfactory 
 service was thus reestablished. Two other air fields were prepared, one 
 north of Vaucouleurs and one north of Toul. These were also wired and 
 connected to the American system. 
 
 Kelly, a little Irishman from Texas was assigned to the Battalion as a 
 telegraph operator, and stationed at Toul. One day "Uncle," as Colonel 
 Voris was familiarly known, walked into the office. Kelly was sweeping 
 and as soon as he spied the Colonel, he dropped the broom and stood at 
 attention. He looked neither to the right nor to the left. Voris looked at 
 Kelly and said : 
 
 "One day when I come in here the 406th is as military as h . The 
 
 next time I come in they don't know a thing about it." 
 
 Kelly remained stiff as a broomstick. 
 
 "You don't like my jokes do you, Kelly?" asked Voris. 
 
 "Y-Y-Yes, Sir," stammered Kelly. 
 
 "D it! Why don't you stand at ease then?" 
 
 There were so many circuits now in the northern area that Captain Gauss, 
 who was charged with the general supervision of maintenance, decided to 
 establish a testing station at Vaucouleurs. There were no American troops 
 in the town at the time, but a small room was obtained not far fx om the rail- 
 road along which the principal lines were located. Bailey put up his test 
 boards and with Green and Callahan, took over the test station and the 
 maintenance of the lines. Harris, who upon the completion of the circuits 
 to Menil la Tour had remained with the Signal men of the First and Twenty- 
 sixth Divisions, also came under the supervision of this station. 
 
 The French insisted that all repairs on lines leased from them should be 
 done by French troops. They asked that when cases of trouble developed, 
 reports should be made to them. This practice, however, usually resulted in 
 delays and consequently telephones were almost certain to remain out of ser- 
 vice for days until the French would clear the trouble. This was not the kind 
 of maintenance the men of the Battalion were accustomed to, and it was not 
 infrequent when trouble developed, for one of the men to slip out of camp and 
 
142 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 1 and 2 — A Couple of Lieut. Meigs' Pole Yards 
 3— "Woe to the Man Who Was Late at Reveille!" 
 
 clear the trouble before the reports were made to the French. Harris became 
 an expert at this "gum-shoe" work. 
 
 Some of the leased French circuits developed queer symptoms, becoming 
 veritable will-o'-the-wisps. Time after time the lines were out of order. 
 And each time the line "came clear" before the trouble cotJld be located. An 
 inspection trip was made over the line. The French were found to be string- 
 ing a new circuit on the same poles with the leased circuits, apparently ob- 
 livious to the fact that the new wire was "crossing" the working circuits. 
 After a conference, the French agreed to allow the Americans to take care of 
 the leased circuits until the French linemen finished their job. The French 
 method of stringing wire was primitive. Two men, one on each side of the 
 pole line, carried the coils unwinding them as they walked along. The climber 
 accompanying these men, as each pole was reached, pulled the wire tight by 
 hand and made it fast. The new circuit was being placed on the top brackets 
 of the poles and what was happening to the lower circuits as they became 
 crossed and short circuited by the new wire may readily be seen. Dickson 
 took charge of the maintenance and his men laid emergency wire along the 
 ground where the French were working and connected this for use in place of 
 the circuits on the poles. As soon as the French had completed a section, the 
 emergency wire was moved on and the regular circuits restored to service. 
 
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?" 
 
 '43 
 
 Business to the north increased and the circuit which had been "cut" to 
 connect Ourches, or "Flying Fish" as it was coded, was needed for "through" 
 messages. Further, this air group at Ourches required several additional lines. 
 Lieutenant Price made a survey of a route from the air field across the meadows 
 to the main highway west of Pagny, there to connect with the French leased 
 circuits. But authority to build the line was not obtained imtil the day before 
 it was required. Consequently it was necessary for the entire Company to 
 pitch in, digging holes, hauling poles, distributing material and stringing wire. 
 
 The Directeur of the Bureau des Pastes at Toul sent a lineman to Pagny to 
 point out the French circuits to be used in making the connection. Each 
 French lineman had his own sections in which he worked and the only record of 
 circuits and poles seemed to be contained in the little memorandiun book car- 
 ried in his pocket. The lineman appeared at the junction with his book and 
 designated the wires to be used. Harris however, had already been testing 
 out the various circuits and disagreed with the Frenchman. There was no 
 chance for an argument with the latter for he evidently had a high regard for 
 American telephone men. He readily agreed with Harris and to show that his 
 heart was in the right place, he changed the notes in his book to correspond. 
 The line was completed three hours earlier than had been promised. A small 
 distribution system was placed at the Ourches flying field. And here, as in 
 similar installations near Vaucouleurs and Toul, all circuits to the hangars and 
 around the fields were for obvious reasons placed underground. 
 
 Lieutenant Meigs' pole records by this time had become extremely com- 
 plex. Poles had been obtained from various yards and by the authority of 
 various Directeurs des Pastes, usually in a hurry, and the memoranda which 
 the Supply Officer received were not always dependable. He therefore 
 organized a system of American pole yards at various convenient locations. 
 The poles usually arrived 
 on Sundays and freight 
 cars had to be unloaded 
 promptly. Woe to the 
 man who was late at rev- 
 eille! He was sure to 
 receive an assignment to 
 the next Sunday unload- 
 ing job. Speaking of 
 speed in getting ready for 
 reveille, Jerry Donbaugh 
 and Sam Bigham were 
 the prize winners. It is 
 
 said that at the call, all "Officers Are Never Satisfied, Anyway! 
 
144 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Jerry had to do was put on his boots. With Sam it was said to be different. 
 He had to throw back his blankets and Hght his pipe before he was prepared 
 for the day. 
 
 "African golf," "leaping dominoes," or just plain "craps," was the favorite 
 indoor sport in the A. E. F. immediately following pay day. One night in 
 the barracks at Neufchateau there were several games in progress. For some 
 reason — beer fini, perhaps — the Cafe Vallon was not patronized. "Big Dick" 
 and "Little Joe" have a musical sound to the American ear, but "Grande 
 Richard" and "Petit Gho" present difficulties. However, the "bones" will 
 
 Another View of Harmonville 
 
 roll just as well for francs, even though they do look like cigarette coupons, 
 as for "two-bit" pieces. As the money gravitated to a few pockets, the 
 games decreased in number until there was just one game going — and this was 
 composed of the winners of the other games. But before the money could 
 accumulate in any one pocket somebody discovered a cootie and "rolling the 
 bones" degenerated into "reading shirts." It was said that this was the first, 
 last, and only time that cooties broke up a crap game in the 406th. 
 
 The scattered construction details and maintenance responsibilities during 
 the period of watchful waiting at Neufchateau did not keep the men suffi- 
 ciently busy to suit those in command. Officers are never satisfied, anyway! 
 So a drill and training program was arranged which included athletic games. 
 At Neufchateau Company "E" had the use of various fields, but at Harmon- 
 
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? 
 
 H5 
 
 ville the entire countryside was under cultivation, and the setting-up exer- 
 cises and drills were held in the town. The first day provided an excuse for a 
 town holiday to see the Captain shout his commands from a manure wagon. 
 The first week ended with a Battalion review on a field near Neufchateau. 
 New instructions had been issued for the operation of truck trains and convoys, 
 and the trip from Harmonville was used for practice. At the review, as the 
 two Companies were lined up at attention, Major Hubbell called Gallo, Grindel 
 
 The Pistol Match 
 
 The Ball Game 
 
 AFTER THE REVIEW AT NEUFCHATEAU 
 
 and McKay of Company "E" to the front and read the letter of commenda- 
 tion received for their action during the German raid at Seicheprey while they 
 were on listening post duty. 
 
 After the review the Battalion marched into Neufchateau where Vance 
 had prepared mess. This was followed by a pistol match between picked 
 teams from the two Companies, "E" winning by a narrow margin. Then 
 came a ball game and when it was called off on account of rain "D" was so 
 far in the lead that all count of the score had been lost. The "D" men had 
 their revenge for the drubbing "E" had given them two or three weeks before. 
 There was plenty of "African golf" to satisfy all. As a matter of fact it was 
 
146 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 The Practice Move 
 
 said that in the 406th this game reached the highest state of perfection the 
 world has ever known. 
 
 There was an unfortunate incident connected with this reunion. As the 
 Companies marched down the road from the parade ground "Smoke," the 
 mascot who had been with Company "E" since the early days at Monmouth 
 Park, was run over and killed by a dispatch rider. There were real tears 
 shed as Company "E" buried him near a pine woods just north of Neufchateau. 
 
 A number of dilapidated trucks were turned over to the Battalion at this 
 time. They had supposedly outlived their usefulness, but after being over- 
 hauled by the motor men of the 406th were put to work. It is interesting 
 to note that some of the revamped relics were still in active service with the 
 Battalion when the Armistice was signed. 
 
 When the Motor Transport Corps was organized, men from all signal 
 tmits hastened to the coast before the new organization began to function, to 
 collect trucks shipped to the Signal Corps. Urflfer, Gruninger and Orr pro- 
 ceeded to La Pallice and the trucks, although as yet without bodies, were 
 loaded with engineer supplies for the base being established at Gievres. From 
 this point the convoy moved to Nevers to secure bodies. The Boche drive 
 toward Paris was then at its height. The entire train was loaded with Signal 
 
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?" 
 
 147 
 
 Corps supplies and started toward the front, via Paris. But at Paris it was 
 held for fifteen days and then sent to Lieusant. After unloading it was 
 directed to return to Nevers. "D" Company was without the services of its 
 shop foreman and two of its best chauffeurs all this time. It was not until 
 July, at La Ferte, after twelve hundred miles of traveling that they rejoined 
 the Battalion. 
 
 Shortly after the review it was decided to move "D" Company to Neuf- 
 chateau to facilitate Battalion drills. The move from Harmonville was made 
 strictly in accordance with the new regulations governing truck convoys. 
 The trip was slow and hot and dusty but by noon the barracks on the hill 
 north of Rouceux were occupied. 
 
 During the ensuing days everything was put in shape for a move to any 
 point on the entire western front. Under the supervision of Lieutenants 
 Foust and Price tools and material were carefully weighed with a view to ascer- 
 taining what, in addition to the men and their baggage, might be carried on 
 the Battalion trucks. It was found that enough equipment could be carried to 
 install a system of three switchboard positions and seventy-five telephones, to 
 build twenty kilometers of eight-wire line, thirty kilometers of two-wire line, 
 and about fifty kilometers of insulated field line. In addition to this material 
 the Battalion carried a complete machine shop with each Company and the 
 gasoline engine with its air compressor and pneumatic rock drill apparatus. 
 
 With fuel aboard, this train of thirty trucks, six light delivery trucks, 
 three touring cars, twenty-one motorcycles and the wheezy and complaining 
 ambulance could travel two hundred and fifty kilometers. 
 
 Loading schedules were prepared and a program arranged whereby on 
 short notice a practice move could be made. Various sections of the barracks 
 were designated as freight cars and surplus material, tools and winter clothing, 
 which at the time was 
 entirely unnecessary, 
 were "loaded" for ship- 
 ment. On Monday May 
 twenty-seventh at eight 
 o'clock in the evening 
 the order arrived for the 
 trial trip. By two the 
 next morning everything 
 was in readiness. The con- 
 voy was formed at eight 
 after a fast and furious 
 inspection of ail of the 
 
 quarters and grounds. "Smoke." "Hardtack" in the Background 
 
148 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 On the Line frora Colombey to Franconvul^ 
 
 Captain Gauss had been transferred to the Chief Signal Ofhce of the Corps, 
 and on the morning of the move Lieutenant Price was taken from "D" Com- 
 pany to become BattaHon Adjutant. Lieutenants Foust, Hasskarl and 
 Suddath had been sent to the Signal School at Gondrecourt and, with the 
 exception of Donaldson, the lieutenants who were attached to the Battalion 
 for training had left. With a scanty remnant of officers the column started. 
 There were many halts diuing the morning for adjustments of loads and the 
 noon mess was held just outside of Certellieux. In the afternoon the convoy 
 moved steadily along until it reached Sartes, the end of the journey. The 
 return trip on the following day went along without a hitch, demonstrating 
 the value of the practice. An inspection was ordered for all motor vehicles 
 and personal equipment within five hours after the units returned to camp. 
 But a new job arose and "E" Company escaped the inspection. 
 
 Company "E's" assignment was the construction of a line to connect 
 a headquarters of British bombing squadrons at Autigny with American 
 Headquarters at Chaumont. The British General was in a hurry for the 
 service. Captain Wattles with his Company and with Fullerton and his air 
 outfit beat the schedule, completing the circuits before the British Signal men 
 were ready to use them. The British Commander was duly appreciative and 
 expressed his feeling in a letter to the Chief Signal Officer. 
 
 By proclamation of General Pershing, Memorial Day was set aside as a 
 holiday on which honor would be paid to the growing list of American dead. 
 The men of the Battalion contributed funds with which a stone slab and 
 cross had been purchased and erected over Hollowell's grave. Arrangements 
 were made with a Y. M. C.< A. worker. Rev. Smith, formerly a Methodist 
 minister in Pasadena, California, to conduct services. Both Companies 
 
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?" 
 
 149 
 
 scoured the neighborhood for flowers and when the procession started from 
 "D" Company's barracks on the top of the hill, each section chief carried a 
 bouquet collected by his men. Company "E" fell into the column as it 
 passed their barracks and at the Y. M. C. A. the minister joined the procession 
 which marched to the Rouceux cemetery. The Battalion was formed around 
 the grave and one by one the section chiefs deposited their flowers. Reverend 
 Smith based his remarks on the faithfulness of Hollowell, made a plea that 
 the men give a good account of themselves and ended with a prayer that they 
 all might profit by the lesson taught by Hollowell's character. After taps by 
 Fest and Hale, the men silently returned to their quarters. 
 
 June dragged along and the First Corps still remained at Neufchateau. 
 To be sure, there were miscellaneous jobs to occupy the time. A section from 
 Company "E" was sent under Lieutenant Donaldson and Electrician Dickson 
 to Goviller to build a line for the British Air Service, a large independent unit 
 of which had been located in the Baccarat sector. The line extended from 
 Colombey les Belles to Franconville, the Headquarters of the British General. 
 The Company "E" detachment was the first group of Americans to be seen 
 in the neighborhood of Goviller and the camp, particularly the kitchen, drew 
 the usual crowd of curious civilians. The detachment remained at Goviller 
 for a few days, many of the men being laid up with the "three-day fever," a 
 light form of influenza. The next jump was to Crantenoy from which place 
 the circuits were continued to Bayon. At Crantenoy tents were pitched in a 
 large field adjacent to a chateau, the occupants of which claimed to be descen- 
 dants of an ancient King Daglebert and they welcomed the Signal men, enter- 
 taining them royaUy. Thence the circuits passed through the old cities of 
 Vezelise and Tantonville. The streets in these towns were extremely crooked 
 and all of the wire fixtures were placed on the tops of steep roofed buildings 
 which slowed up the work. There was in Tantonville one of the largest brew- 
 eries in France and this did not speed the construction. 
 
 The epidemic of "flu" 
 hit the camp at Neufcha- 
 teau. It went through 
 barracks and tents at- 
 tacking practically every 
 one. It also caught the 
 detachments which were 
 billeted in Madame 
 Garcin's garage. These 
 latter were cared for most 
 solicitously. They were 
 
 put to bed and served Taps by Fest and Hale 
 
I50 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Mme. Garcin 
 and Capt. Griest 
 
 Mme. Garcin's Home 
 
 with the best of food and were 
 not allowed to move until Ma- 
 dame pronounced them well. 
 
 When the line to Bayon had 
 been completed Lieutenant Don- 
 aldson moved his detachment to 
 Baccarat to take up the construc- 
 tion of signal lines for the light railways leading toward the front. Tentative 
 plans covering these lines had been prepared at Tours and showed the rail- 
 ways extending across No Man's Land and into the trenches occupied by the 
 Germans ! Needless to say, all the material suggested by the original plans was 
 not required. The detachment was billeted in a large glass factory, the ground 
 floor being occupied by over a thousand horses and mules. Before the arrival of 
 any of the material, however, the detachment was ordered to rejoin the Company. 
 
 Surveys had been made for rebuilding the line from Neufchateau through 
 Gondrecourt to Abainville. This line had been originally built by details of 
 Infantry under the direction of a Field Signal Battalion, and many of the poles 
 were planted to an insufficient depth. Moreover, the poles were placed in 
 many cases so close to the trees that there was no room for crossarms. It 
 seemed very likely that there would be need for additional circuits leading in 
 
''WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?" 151 
 
 this direction. A new line with three circuits was therefore built, using the old 
 material. This work was handled by Company "D" with Miller in charge 
 of the platoon working south from Gondrecourt and Coates and Woodward 
 working north from Greux. Miller's section continued the line to Abainville, 
 where a large railroad center was nearing completion. When the circuits were 
 finished and material was about to be ordered for the distribution system 
 around the railroad shops, these shops were ordered abandoned because the 
 French feared that they were too close to the front. After the work had been 
 suspended for two or three weeks it was again taken up and the shops com- 
 pleted. This was another illustration of the general indecision and unsettle- 
 ment and uncertainty and doubt which existed in the Allied forces early in 
 June. The German armies were preparing for their last terrific drive and 
 no one could foresee even from one day to the next what might happen. 
 
 The 319th and 322nd Field Signal Battalions had arrived in the area, the 
 319th being held for the Army and the 322nd assigned to the First Corps. 
 Large details of men from each of these Battalions were loaned to Company 
 "D" to provide additional labor and to familiarize them with the nature of 
 the work being done for the Corps. These men helped tremendously in com- 
 pleting the various jobs in the early part of June. 
 
 There was a large Air depot at Colombey and Collins with a detachment 
 equipped it, while Coates with a detail installed a communication system for 
 a new Air field just east of that town. 
 
 Still no definite orders came. While the Corps continued to mark time, 
 surveys were made, poles delivered and Miller's detachment including men 
 from the 322nd Battalion worked out of Colombey on the line to Toul. At 
 this time Lindley, Pfefferle, Curley, Ross and Smith, Company "E" teleg- 
 raphers, were sent to the vicinity of Paris to operate Signal Corps offices and 
 were lost to the Battalion until September. 
 
 It was the middle of June before the suspense was relieved. The First 
 Army Corps was ordered to prepare for action. Company "E" was selected 
 to go with the advance party and "D" was ordered to take over all of the work 
 near Neufchateau and close out the affairs of the Battalion. All arrangements 
 were made with the greatest secrecy. While few knew the destination of the 
 organization many suspected that it would be in the vicinity of Chateau 
 Thierry, which seemed likely to become the center of the next German drive. 
 The 322nd Battalion was also to accompany the Corps and all of its men 
 who had been working with the 406th returned to their own headquarters 
 and were replaced by additional details from the 319th. 
 
 On June seventeenth Company "E" left Neufchateau. A feeling of 
 determination and satisfaction such as they had not heretofore known kept 
 spirits high. One thing was certain. Waiting was over. Action was near. 
 
Chapter XVII 
 
 On the Marne 
 
 EARLY on the morning of June seventeenth Lieutenant Price with Inter- 
 preter Thevelin and Sergeant Gretzler set out. They started in ad- 
 vance so that no time would be lost in surveys and other preliminary 
 work at the new headquarters when the men with the installation material 
 arrived. Following Lieutenant Price was Captain Wattles with Electrician 
 Lowe, Sergeants Collins, Mumford and Russell and a fleet of the fastest trucks 
 loaded with switchboards, telephones, telegraph instrtunents, a supply of wire 
 and a force of installers and operators. Last came the heavy trucks with the 
 remainder of the Company and the Headquarters men and supplies. 
 
 La Ferte sous Jouarre, a town on the Marne, about twenty kilometers 
 west of Chateau Thierry proved to be the destination. When the Americans 
 arrived the region was under control of the Third French Corps. 
 
 The advance detail completed a survey of the most pressing work by the 
 time Captain Wattles and his "flying squadron" drove into the town on the 
 afternoon of the eighteenth. The men had spent two days on the road but 
 they set to work immediately, and before letting up for the night ten thousand 
 feet of wire had been placed and two switchboards and thirty telephones were 
 working. Sergeant Mumford with Bailey and Gaghagen handled the switch- 
 board work and Sergeant Russell with his linemen put up the circuits. The 
 bridge across the Marne at this point had been blown up by the British in 
 
 152 
 
ON THE MARNE 
 
 153 
 
 1 914 to check the advance of the on-coming Boche and it was necessary for 
 Russell and his men to borrow boats in order to string the lines across the 
 river. 
 
 The following morning Corps officers began to arrive. Before evening 
 more than sixteen miles of wire, all of which was attached to fixtures on the 
 tops of the steep-roofed houses, had been strung and twenty additional tele- 
 phones installed. On the evening of the nineteenth the remainder of Com- 
 pany "E" arrived and commenced work on the installation of a large switch- 
 
 La Ferte sous Jouarre 
 
 board and an electric lighting plant. The following day Sergeant Adams 
 strung a line to General Liggett's chateau. Lynch organized the switchboard 
 operating and with Cavanagh and MacRonald listed the various French 
 circuit routings. Hannam was dispatched meanwhile with a few men from 
 the 322nd Battalion to operate an office at Meaux, the rear echelon of the 
 Second Division. 
 
 Most of the billets in France were stables or muddy fields. But here was 
 an exception. These were located in a small suburb to the east, La Petite 
 Ventuil, consisting mainly of summer homes of Parisians. Danley describes 
 them: 
 
154 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 y^ 
 
 The Billets at La Ferte 
 
 "These were the finest billets that we had in France — practically 
 new houses, with only seven men in a room, hardwood floors, water 
 inside, and a kitchen stove, a flower garden in the rear, and an iron 
 fence around the place." 
 
 Company "D" did not leave Neuf chateau until a week after Company 
 "E." The time was spent in settling bills and in shipping tools and supplies 
 which had been left by the truck trains. With the help of Captain Gauss 
 who had remained to represent the Corps Signal Officer, the maintenance and 
 construction activities in the area were transferred to the Fifth Army Corps. 
 Captain Griest was assisted by Lieutenant Guy who at this time was at- 
 tached to Company "D" and who proved a most capable and enthusiastic 
 addition. 
 
 Murdaugh of "D" had taken over the light railway lines at Baccarat from 
 Lieutenant Donaldson before Company "E" left Neuf chateau and he re- 
 mained there to finish the work. "Dad's" detail was made up largely from the 
 319th Field Battalion with Jensen, Donbaugh and Buehler to help with the 
 supervision, and Althouse and Walkup to handle the motor end. This de- 
 tachment took over quarters in a glass factory and reveled in the supply of 
 
ON THE MARNE 
 
 '55 
 
 hot water from the single furnace left unharmed by the Boches during their 
 brief occupation of Baccarat in 1914. There was a story that the owner of the 
 glass works had, by the payment of a sum to the German government, secured 
 the promise that his factory would not be molested. But on one of their 
 nightly bombing excursions the Boches upset the story by dropping a bomb 
 in the middle of the factory. It also upset Murdaugh and his two "chronom- 
 eters." Dad always wore two watches while in France. One of them was set 
 for Paris time and the other for "West Chester." When he had a task to per- 
 form, Paris time was used. When he was curious as to what "Joe-boy" back 
 home might be doing, the West Chester timepiece was consulted. Miller with 
 Haislop and Spangler were left behind to finish the line from Colombey to 
 Toul, Longo remaining with them to obtain the rights of way. The rest of 
 Company "D" joined "E" at La Ferte. 
 
 Pessimism was rampant in the Allied Armies. The German Army, al- 
 though at tremendous sacrifices, was approaching Paris; every one seemed to 
 agree that if he was willing to pay the price the Hun could make a further 
 advance and that if he reached Meatix, about ten kilometers west of La Ferte, 
 he might from this point destroy the French capital by shell fire. At French 
 Headquarters little was discussed except the possibility of further retirement. 
 
 Baccarat 
 
156 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 In the rear, French soldiers were everywhere engaged in digging trenches and 
 constructing entanglements along different lines of resistance. All over the 
 city of La Ferte were plastered official proclamations warning all civilians to 
 leave the town. Army trucks were provided to carry citizens toward the 
 rear, while those who were fortunate enough to own carts dragged them down 
 the road with motley loads. A common sight was an old man leading an 
 ancient horse hitched to a cart heaped high with clothing and furniture; 
 perched on the top of the load a sad-faced old woman and bringing up the rear, 
 the younger members of the family leading a weary cow. 
 
 Men from the Battalion were dispatched hither and thither on motor- 
 cycles to survey existing telephone lines. Should any line be adopted as the 
 main axis for further retreat, telephone facilities would be needed quickly: On 
 one of these trips Fest and Moss had an experience worth repeating : 
 
 "Moss and I started from La Ferte and worked toward Rebais. 
 On a narrow road we caught up to a big touring car which appeared, 
 from a rear view, to belong to a General. We trailed him for some 
 time. He was making about fifteen miles an hour and we were 
 afraid to pass him and hand him all the dust for he had a better 
 job than we. So we followed along for another kilometer and finally 
 decided to take a chance. His driver turned sharply sending us into 
 the ditch, our machine falling on its side with the side car straight 
 up and Moss tumbled over me with his long legs. The officer in 
 the car, a Colonel, immediately jumped out and asked if we were 
 hurt. Seeing that we were both all right, he looked over our machine. 
 It was a wreck. At this very turn there was a little woods which 
 sheltered an army repair shop and the Colonel told the commanding 
 officer of the outfit to put his best mechanics on the job. At noon, 
 after a very good dinner at the camp, we were on our way. 
 
 "Getting out on the main highway, in the excitement we became 
 confused with the map. The first thing we knew we heard a noise. 
 Down came a house. A few seconds later another shell came over 
 and got the bam, so we thought we had better find out where we 
 were. We asked an M. P. who told us we were three and a half 
 kilometers from Chateau Thierry. I want to assure you that we did 
 not have nor want any more business in that neck of the woods." 
 
 Company "E," assisted by a few operators from "D," continued to manage 
 the Headquarters telephone service and to maintain the lines leading toward 
 the divisions. These lines had been hastily thrown together and in many 
 cases were under shell fire. There was consequently an enormous amount 
 of trouble to be cleared and rebuilding to be done. In this work, Davis, Bums 
 and Drew had many twenty-four-hour tricks out on the shell- torn circuits. 
 
 To guard against interruptions to the service due to bombing, all circuits 
 were placed underground for some distance from the switchboard. Thus, if a 
 shell landed in the exchange, the ends of the buried circuits coiild readily be 
 
ON THE MARNE 
 
 157 
 
 
 i /flef I 
 
 ;,*• ifv^'ii 
 
 :'^^tPc- 
 
 j^^' -. 
 
 connected to a new switchboard. An extra line was built to carry a duplicate 
 set of circuits to the front. Where this latter line crossed the Mame, it ran 
 through two sets of submarine cables some distance apart. Every precaution 
 was taken to insure continuous communication. 
 
 The plant grew rapidly and before long there was an equipment of a 
 hundred and thirty lines terminating on the La Ferte board and three tele- 
 graph instruments were working constantly to Paris and to the adjoining 
 French and American Divisions. Test stations were placed along the lines 
 leading to the 3rd and 26th Divisions so that the sector assigned to the Bat- 
 talion for maintenance might be kept under constant supervision. 
 
 To "D" Company was assigned the work in the rear areas and after several 
 days of surveying to determine the possibilities of existing lines,^orders were 
 issued for wiring the new 
 air fields at Saints and 
 Ormeaux. Cowan, now 
 a Master Signal Electri- 
 cian, supervised the job. 
 The Air men were anxious 
 to have a direct telephone 
 wire to the French Air 
 Headquarters at Paris 
 but the Corps Signal 
 Officer explained to the 
 new "subscribers" that 
 they were a part of the 
 First Corps and any busi- 
 ness they might have with the big city could be handled through the switch- 
 board at Corps Headquarters. 
 
 About the time this job was finished. Colonel Mitchel decided that it 
 would not be wise for the aviators to live near the field. They were therefore 
 moved into a chateau which had originally been selected for the headquarters 
 of the outfit. Another chateau was found for headquarters. It was at Haute 
 Feuille, some five kilometers from the nearest line, and this too was connected. 
 
 On the fourth of July at noon in the Chateau de Lathny, the First Corps 
 of the American Army officially took over from our Allies the command of the 
 sector, being given control of a seven-kilometer front at the point where the 
 enemy had thrust nearest to Paris. There were some French troops in the 
 sector. This was the first time since the American Revolution that American 
 officers commanded foreign troops. The First Corps in turn was a part of 
 General Degoutte's Vlth French Army. 
 
 Things were getting "warm" and every one worked at top speed fixing up 
 
 Co. "D" was Billeted Near an Inviting Stream. 
 
158 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 General Degoutte 
 
 the lines, many of which were in bad shape on 
 account of the necessarily rapid installation 
 and hasty repair work. Now that the Corps 
 was in control of the sector, the Battalion took 
 over from the French all exchanges in the 
 area. In many cases the French detail de- 
 parted immediately upon the arrival of the 
 Americans. As a consequence the making 
 of office records was a long and tedious task 
 for all of the labels and tags were in French 
 as were the circuit maps which had been left 
 behind. 
 
 On July fifth Sergeant Dickson with Mohr, 
 Bohn, Callahan, O. H. McKinney and Green 
 of "E" Company as his linemen, and Eicholtz 
 and other "D" Company men as operators, 
 advanced to Montreuil Aux Lions and prepared 
 to take over the French exchange at that point. The central office had been 
 set up by the French in the remains of the postoffice. Montreuil was imder 
 fire and it was thought best to set up an exchange in the cellar of a house near 
 the edge of the town, the roof being reinforced and protected by logs, stone and 
 sand. Two thirty-line French switchboards were installed in the cellar and 
 to the surprise of the French, the "cut" from the old switchboard in the post- 
 office was completed without a hitch. One of the new boards upon which 
 terminated most of the French circuits was operated by French soldiers and 
 the other by Dickson's men. Dickson's knowledge of French was invaluable. 
 On July fourteenth, the spasmodic shelling increased to such intensity that the 
 small force found it impossible to maintain service and Sergeant Russell's 
 section was dispatched from La Ferte sous Jouarre to assist. There was 
 plenty of excitement. At night German planes dropped flares in their efforts 
 to locate American batteries. One of these set fire to a pile of fagots. Bombs 
 were dropping everywhere. Dickson's gang piled out and extinguished the 
 blaze which was making their home entirely too conspicuous. Just then the 
 main lines going down over the hill to the Second Division ceased functioning. 
 Callahan, Green, Jennings, McKinney, Beck and Mohr rushed down the hill 
 through mud and darkness. Over devasted fields and roads they stumbled 
 until they found the breaks and repaired them. 
 
 During the close cooperation between the men of the two nationalities, 
 as at Montreuil, the Battalion operators managed to pick up considerable 
 French, a valuable asset in switchboard operation. Dickson had an oppor- 
 tunity to appreciate the life of a French "noncom": 
 
ON THE MARNE 
 
 ■59 
 
 "While at Montreuil, I was constantly associated with French 
 soldiers and had ample opportunity to compare their living with that 
 of our men. For some time I messed with the French noncommis- 
 sioned officers here. The mess was most formal even when shells 
 were going over. No one thought of sitting down at the table until 
 the ranking noncom, the adjutant in this case, had seated himself. 
 Then they would all arrange themselves according to grade, the 
 adjutant being at the head of the table, the ranking sergeant next 
 and so on down to the end of the table where sat the lowest corporal. 
 Privates were not allowed at the same table. The meals were 
 exceptionally good and were always served in courses. First would 
 come the soup, then vegetables, followed by meat, then the inevitable 
 salade and if fortunate, sometimes cheese and nuts before the black 
 coffee. With all this of course was a liberal supply of Pinard of 
 which the poilu is furnished almost one quart each day in addition 
 to a good 'shot' of cognac. Each meal usually consumed the better 
 part of two hours and was considered over only when the adjutant 
 arose after he had finished sipping his coffee. 
 
 "Compare this with the fare of a Yankee noncom who lands at 
 the kitchen at mess time, grabs a hunk of bread, has his beans tossed 
 at his mess kit and usually dips out his own cup of coffee, then bolts 
 it all as quickly as possible, sitting under a tree or on a cobblestone. 
 He dips his mess kit in a bucket of soapy water and calls it a meal. 
 Such a procedure would probably take all the glory out of life for 
 a French noncom." 
 
 The headquarters of the 167th French Division had been established at 
 Dhuisy and additional circuits were required to 
 connect this office with the American Head- 
 quarters, Dhuisy already being connected to the 
 Vlth French Army at Trilport. The 406th had 
 all the work it could handle, so the Dhuisy 
 circuits were built by details from the 322nd but 
 under the direction of Lutz of the 406th. This 
 was a light line carrying one eight-pin crossarm 
 and in the woods south of Dhuisy it dropped to 
 a "rambas" — a line of stout stakes about waist 
 high carrying circuits of insulated wire attached 
 to wooden knobs. 
 
 Sergeant Danley with Grindel, Gallo and 
 Richards took over the office at Champigny at 
 the same time that Dickson went to Montreuil. 
 Sergeant Adams at this time went to Chelles to 
 construct lines for the Fifth Marines. Koser 
 
 , „, .,,_.,. . Entrance to Dickson's " Home " 
 
 and Shute assisted the r rench m operatmg the at Montreuil. 
 
i6o THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 civil board at Saacy and among other duties were charged with the respon- 
 sibility for the very important circuits to the Engineers who were detailed 
 to blow up the Marne bridges in case of a further advance by the Germans. 
 
 Lieutenants Hasskarl and Foust returned from their courses in the First 
 Corps school early in July. But Lieutenant Suddath was transferred from 
 the school to a Field Battalion, later distinguishing himself with the 78th 
 Division. The returning officers brought with them two expert telegraphers, 
 Earlix and Davis. There was no need for additional telegraphers at the 
 moment. Earlix was a sergeant, but Davis being a private was pounced 
 upon by a heartless "Top" and given an opportunity to learn the meaning of 
 "K. P." 
 
 As the month of June advanced, movements of troops and equipment past 
 the billets near La Ferte increased steadily. French troops were moved 
 constantly in both directions day and night. When the movement of large 
 numbers of American troops commenced, the trucks of the 406th were pressed 
 into service and many of the Marines of the Second Division were transferred 
 from the Belleau Woods region to the vicinity of Soissons by the Signal 
 Corps. By this time the Battalion possessed a varied assortment of trucks 
 and motorcycles and the shop forces were more than busy keeping them on the 
 road. To add to the difficulties, the mechanics had to produce results with 
 a very meagre supply of spare parts and their ingenuity was remarkable. The 
 Battalion was fortunate in having such men as Urflfer, McAnallen, Engstrom, 
 Gaus, Grant and Sebring to handle and maintain the sixty to seventy assorted 
 vehicles which the Supply Officer had obtained. To add to the variety of 
 equipment, the motor squads fell heir to seven three-ton trucks of British 
 manufacture. These veterans had already given to the British forces three 
 years of hard service. And the following months proved that they were still 
 able with a little coaxing to rattle over the roads, although the shop crowds 
 were tempted on many occasions to throw up their hands in despair. 
 
 The Battalion work itself kept the motor details busy but as yet the 
 Corps did not boast a Motor Supply train. Troops require ammunition 
 and there was only one way to get it to the front. Thus the 406th motor 
 sections were assigned another task. They worked with the Battalion and 
 repaired trucks by day and hauled for the Corps by night, often with no rest 
 for thirty or forty hours at a stretch. Boche planes were continually on the 
 lookout for ammunition trucks. A "pot shot" sometimes resulted in a series 
 of terrific explosions and nothing but a mass of wreckage or a hole in the 
 ground would be left. Perhaps it was only by luck that the Battalion trucks 
 did not share in any of these experiences. But the training and experience 
 of the drivers may have had something to do with it. 
 
 Airplane activity was constantly on the increase. During the early days 
 
ON THE MARNE 
 
 i6i 
 
 ' Nothing But a Mass of Wreckage 
 
 Would be Left.' 
 
 at La Ferte little thought was given to the hostile craft as they passed over- 
 head. But one night a well directed bomb transformed the railway station 
 into a pile of junk and thereafter, whenever airplanes were heard in the 
 vicinity all hands were ordered into the cellars. Night after night, the weary 
 gangs were hauled out and hurried to places of safety while the "archies" 
 sent up their barrages in an effort to force the enemy back to his own lines. 
 
 Captain Gauss although attached to Corps Headquarters, preferred to 
 live near his former associates. He was afflicted with a stubborn case of rheu- 
 matism and was unable to walk. One evening the Boche dropped a few 
 bombs nearby. The earth shook. 
 
 "Rheumatism or no rheumatism, I'm going to get out of this place!" 
 thought the Captain.. He leaped from his bed and fled for a cave. The 
 rheumatism was entirely cured! 
 
 Lieutenant Foust took charge of Company "E," Captain Wattles being 
 detached and given command of the 52nd Telegraph Battalion, a Regular 
 Army outfit. A farewell party was held and Lieutenant Donaldson who had 
 the least confining duties was made chief provisioner. Captain "Bill" 
 realized before the dinner broke up that his old friends were going to miss 
 him. Shortly after he joined his new organization he was made a Major 
 
l62 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 and his Battalion was assigned to the Third Army Corps, participating in 
 the latter part of the advance to the Vesle and in the Meuse-Argonne ofifen- 
 sive. After the Armistice, the Third Corps was made a part of the Army of 
 Occupation and with his Battalion, he shared in the occupation of the Rhine 
 Valley. 
 
 Soon after the Air fields at Saints and Ormeaux were equipped, the French 
 took them over and the Americans were moved to Francheville where a new 
 telephone layout was required. However, the Air fields were back in the 
 territory operated by Army troops and the Corps was required only to con- 
 nect Francheville to the switchboard recently installed in the post office at 
 Coulommiers. The demands for service for American units had grown to 
 such an extent that the French insisted that an American board be placed 
 in this office. Stevens was dispatched to Coulommiers to set up the switch- 
 board and start Davis and Reynolds in its operation. This little switchboard 
 soon began to handle a considerable amount of business, caring for two large 
 hospitals which had been temporarily located in the Foret de Crecy, and a 
 Signal dump which Lieutenant Meigs had established in the town. The latter 
 was supplied by train loads of material conducted by Lieutenant Guy from a 
 new base at Lieusant. 
 
 One more hospital remained to be connected before all was in readiness 
 for action. This one was at Jouilly, far from Corps Headquarters. The 
 French were to furnish a circuit from Paris to Dammartin and Company 
 "D" was ordered to build from Dammartin to the hospital. Miller's section 
 was sent to build the connecting line while a hunt was made for the bureau 
 
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 M 
 
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 Bridge over the Marne at La Ferte 
 
ON THE MARNE 163 
 
 or person who could decide what circuit, was to be used at Dammartin to 
 connect Paris. While others were searching, Miller with the aid of Longo's 
 French buttonholed a Sunday afternoon stroller who had a telegraph sign 
 on his cap. As luck would have it, this was the very lineman who carried 
 the diagrams for that section and who also had the instructions for the leased 
 circuit. 
 
 On this little job many new climbers were developed in Miller's section. 
 Paris has an alluring sound and not every one could get to the metropolis. 
 But from the top of a pole between Dammartin and Jouilly, the Eiffel Tower 
 and many other prominent structures in the great city could be seen. Each 
 man on the job, whether he had ever climbed a pole before or not, managed 
 to reach the top of that one. 
 
 The days of preparation and organization were nearing a close. Troops 
 and yet more troops were rushing along the crowded highways toward the 
 front. The streams of ambulances carrying wounded back toward the hos- 
 pitals gave warning that big things were happening. 
 
ll>WiPit|l» »aLWi! I UWt«J '' . ^i 
 
 Chapter XVIII 
 The First American Offensive 
 
 ^T MONTREUIL Dickson had a liberal supply of axes and gasoline. He 
 was too near the German lines to attempt any salvage, and his orders 
 were, in case of retreat, to bum everything combustible and to de- 
 stroy all else with axes. Similar instructions were given to the men at Cham- 
 pigny and the other exchanges. 
 
 They were dark days, those days in mid- July. With every plan made for 
 retreat every one waited, and hoped, and longed for orders for an attack. The 
 Germans hammered away at La Ferte and were answered by the long range 
 naval guns. 
 
 As the hours passed, spirits rose. The American and French troops were 
 holding the enemy! The streets were jammed with more and still more 
 troops being rushed to the front. The Battalion trucks were pressed into 
 service. 
 
 On the morning of the seventeenth long streams of German prisoners, 
 weary and dusty came down the road. A little later came a joyful shout, 
 "There go the pontoons." The Mame was to be crossed! It was to be an 
 advance ! The procession of boat laden trucks on their way toward Chateau 
 Thierry put to an end all thought of retreat. 
 
 That afternoon Major Hubbell received word that the Corps would attack 
 
 164 
 
THE FIRST AMERICAN OFFENSIVE 
 
 i6< 
 
 on the following morning. But he knew that his organization was in shape to 
 shoulder its responsibilities and he kept the information to himself. During 
 the evening the Major stuck to Corps Headquarters to be in close touch with 
 the situation. All hands in the Battalion retired early. Only one thing was 
 certain. There would be no air raids that night. The rain was pouring down 
 
 From the Marne to the Vesle 
 
 in torrents and it was dark as pitch. But at ten o'clock word was received of 
 the exact time of the attack. It was passed to the men. The morrow was 
 to be the day of days. Sleep was out of the question. 
 
 At once, Lieutenant Price with Magill, Giles and Hallgren set out through 
 the blinding rain on motorcycles, with instructions to locate and keep in touch 
 with Major Alfonte, the Signal Officer of the 26th Division. The Major was 
 
i66 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 reported to be either in the small town of Mery or at Genevrois Farm. But 
 shell fire had wiped both of these places off the map, and the party set out along 
 a road jammed with artillery and infantry units to find the Major. A couple 
 of hours later they located him in an old building back of Lucy. The Lieuten- 
 ant was ordered ahead into Lucy to find some place which seemed sufficiently 
 protected to warrant the installation of a switchboard. It was two o'clock 
 in the morning when the party arrived in the town. The Ambulance Corps 
 was collecting wounded Americans. The dead of both armies were lying every- 
 where. A location was found for an exchange. Before day dawned a switch- 
 board was installed. The 26th Division Headquarters remained at Lucy 
 throughout the eighteenth, but on the nineteenth, due to the success of the 
 attack, it was moved ahead to Picardie Farm where a new "P. C." (Post of 
 Command) was established. 
 
 As soon as Lieutenant Price had been dispatched to maintain liaison with 
 the 26th Division, Company ' D" was ordered to prepare for an early start on 
 any new construction which might be required. "E" Company was divided, 
 part under Lieutenant Hasskarl to handle the operating and maintenance of 
 the exchanges at Corps Headquarters and the remainder under Lieutenant 
 Foust to proceed to Montreuil, there to pick up materials and additional men 
 to build lines for the Corps "P. C." wherever it might locate. 
 
 Company "D" was assembled at four in the morning, the trucks loaded with 
 wire so arranged that it could be run off from the reels as the trucks advanced 
 along the road. All was ready for action on a moment's notice. But orders 
 were slow in coming. During the morning, Coates ran a line from the main 
 road toward an Engineer's dump at Saacy. At noon the Company was ordered 
 to Montreuil to await further instructions. Dickson with his detachment, 
 was still in the dugout, not knowing whether the exchange was to be destroyed 
 to prevent capture by the Germans or whether it was to become even more 
 active as the result of American successes and advances. 
 
 Very early that morning. Lieutenant Foust with two sections under Ser- 
 geants Adams and Gretzler had proceeded to Montreuil. Adams strung the 
 lines necessary to connect the exchanges of the 26th Division in this locality 
 to Dickson's exchange. The town was under fire. The exploding shells 
 especially in the central part and along the main road into the town, gave 
 Adams and his detail plenty to think about. During this time Sergeant Danley 
 at Champigny with his small detachment was having his hands more than full 
 trying to maintain service over aerial lines that were continually being shelled. 
 It was necessary for him to reconstruct lines through a bridgehead at Saacy while 
 the Germans were sending over tons of shells in an attempt to destroy the bridge. 
 
 Company "D" continued to Montreuil. News of the progress being made 
 by the first American offensive was most encouraging. Anticipating an 
 
THE FIRST AMERICAN OFFENSIVE 167 
 
 
 Ruins of Lucy 
 
 advance of the Corps, two additional circuits were run to Lucy. Since the 
 roads leading into this town were under observation and shell fire, Miller and 
 Jensen took their sections out about sundown and by nine o'clock finished the 
 job. They terminated the lines in an orchard at the edge of the town for use 
 should the old circuit fail. The old line had been run on the ground. When 
 wagon trains began to park in the woods near the road, grinding the wire into 
 the mud, the new circuits which had been tied to trees were put into service. 
 
 The shelling continued on the nineteenth. Little rest was secured that 
 night for there was a continual parade back and forth to the shelter caves. 
 A bomb which landed in a field adjoining the camp set fire to a haystack. The 
 blaze illuminated the region so brightly that Buehler organized a bucket bri- 
 gade to eliminate the target for Boche shells. 
 
 Speaking of that unpleasant night at Montreuil, McFarland — "Little 
 Mac" — admits that he developed a powerful lot of respect for enemy airplanes: 
 
 "I was sleeping in a little room in the second story of a house 
 when my bunkie called, 'What's that zit-zut-zit-zut?' The noise 
 seemed to stop but we didn't wait for any more and started right 
 down into the cable bury back of the house. Boom! and a flare ht 
 up the quadrangle! Boom! another one! Down went my head in 
 the mud. Oh, what a night!" 
 
i68 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Throughout that night, Dickson with his gang worked frantically to keep up 
 service over the much repaired lines. Early on the morning of the twentieth, 
 Lieutenant Price went to Picardie Farm to keep in close touch with the ad- 
 vancing 26th. The Division had strung a single wire from Lucy to Picardie 
 for use with a buzzer. To make a talking circuit, an additional wire was run 
 by Miller's and Jensen's sections who had been sent forward to work under 
 Major Alfonte. 
 
 Stevens back at La Ferte had been detailed to K. P. duty. It pleased him 
 not a bit. He took occasion to say so, and Griest relieved him and sent him 
 up to Price at Montreuil. It was a jump from the frying pan into the fire — 
 but let Stevens tell it : 
 
 "I arrived at Montreuil at 2 P. M. and at 6 o'clock was sent to 
 the Front. In La Ferte it was quiet, but at Montreuil the big ones 
 were coming over quite regularly. My orders were to go to Trugny. 
 "Red" Smith was driving the old Ford, and I was in command of 
 the detail. We got up as far as Chateau Thierry at the forks of the 
 Soissons Road. I did not know which way to go. 
 
 "I saw Major Hubbell there and asked him the way to Trugny. 
 He told me to keep on the Soissons Road until I passed the "heavies" 
 and then turn to the right, follow that road down and take the next 
 road to the left. Down in the valley Heinie upset an ambulance 
 and that held us up for an hour. For the next couple of hours we 
 were lost but eventually came out on the right road. Every minute 
 it became warmer. Shells were coming thick and fast. At a chateau 
 gate I saw a man and asked him how much further it was to Trugny. 
 He said it was not far but that Fritz was still pretty close to it. I 
 bummed him for a cigarette and when he turned back his coat I 
 discovered that he was a colonel! I moved and kept on moving. 
 
 "Shells were dropping so fast that after another hundred yards 
 we were tempted to swing the bus around and go home. But we kept 
 on and reached our destination. We were told we would not be 
 needed for an hour or two, so we planned on taking a nap. When 
 we returned to our luggage, we found the old Boy himself — the Major- 
 General — planted there. So we did not sleep. 
 
 "The next morning we pitched our pup tents. We were called 
 away on a case of trouble. When we returned, pup tents and all 
 our luggage were gone. 
 
 "Next time, I think I'd prefer K. P.!" 
 
 On account of the uncertainty of the direction which the next phase of the 
 attack might take, two axes of communication were carried forward, one fol- 
 lowing the advance of the Sixth French Division (being run by the 322nd Bat- 
 talion) and the other following the advance of the 26th American Division, by 
 the 406th. To connect these axes, a line was run from Lucy to Belleau and 
 a test station estabUshed at Lucy in charge of Favinger and Yeckel. In a 
 little house which had escaped the general bombardment of the town, these 
 
 ■ftiWp ■ 
 
THE FIRST AMERICAN OFFENSIVE 
 
 169 
 
 men with Daniels and Hale established themselves and spent their time patch- 
 ing lines which were frequently broken down by artillery action. 
 
 These were days of early rising and late retiring. Morning mess was 
 generally called between three-thirty and four o'clock, and before five o'clock, 
 sections were out on the road weaving their way through the trains of supplies 
 and artiller3^ But no one complained of long hours or scant rations, for the 
 push was now headed in the right direction. And whenever there was a 
 
 Chateau Thierry — Just After the Germans Retreated 
 
 chance for amusement, despite shells and gas, no urging was needed. The 
 construction sections were divided into two groups, one being allowed to rest 
 while the other group continued the advance. One evening at Montreuil the 
 "off duty" group had a masquerade with "Jeff" Adams as master of cere- 
 monies. Assorted costumes were collected from the piles of clothing scattered 
 through the buildings and courtyard, and "Red" Sebring in his top hat and 
 swallow-tail coat took the prize. Fest discovered a brass horn and Hutchison 
 found a flute, and the party had plenty of so-called music. 
 
 One night some of the officers were sitting on the parapet of a trench 
 watching the German shells bursting just a short distance away. As might 
 be expected thoughts were of home. One of them made the casual remark: 
 
 "Don't you wonder where your folks are tonight?" 
 
 Just then a big one burst nearby and Shirley Price rolled off the parapet 
 into the trench. 
 
 "I don't know where the folks are tonight, but Shirley is right down here 
 in the mud!" was Price's answer. 
 
lyo THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 On the morning of the twentieth, Sergeants Gretzler and Adams with their 
 sections started with the trucks to locate the Advance P. C. and estabHsh con- 
 nection to the rear echelon at La Ferte by way of Montreuil. Proceeding 
 along the La Ferte-Chateau Thierry road they strung four circuits through 
 Lucy and Bouresches to Picardie Farm, and terminated two of them on the 
 26th Division switchboard at that point. They were then ordered to carry 
 the other two circuits to Epaux-Bezu and remain there awaiting further 
 instructions. 
 
 Sergeant Gretzler proceeded with the central office equipment, while Ser- 
 geant Adams started to string the circuits. It was found that the shortest 
 route was via Etrepilly, although this road was almost impassable, due to its 
 shell-torn condition. In the town the road was blocked by motor vehicles 
 which were piled up as high as the houses on the narrow, sharply ascending 
 street, and a detour was necessary. This detour wound around the edge of a 
 little ravine, the bottom of which was covered with dead of the German and 
 French Armies. The road climbed sharply over a hill which was under terrific 
 fire. Adams chased down the far side stringing his two circuits from the back 
 of the truck. Near the entrance to the chateau at Epaux-Bezu, there were 
 stationed several batteries of French 75 's which were shelling the retreating 
 enemy as fast as the guns could be worked. This activity drew shells from 
 the enemy, and the vicinity of the chateau was a most iinhealthful place. If 
 the good die young, the men of the 406th must have been a tough gang. A 
 shell landed close to "Dad" McCann's truck, killing a number of Frenchmen 
 and horses, and wounding two Americans from the 322nd Field Signal Bat- 
 talion. But not a scratch to the 406th, except some perforations in the 
 gasoline tank of McCann's truck. 
 
 The chateau selected for Headquarters at Epaux was not more than a mile 
 from the German artillery. It was the custom of General Liggett and his 
 Chief of Staff, General Craig, to keep Corps Headquarters close to the front 
 so that movements of divisions could be readily directed. As the progress of 
 the war developed, however, this practice was not always followed and the 
 Chief of Staff grew more and more to depend upon telephone service to the 
 divisions. 
 
 The switchboard had been installed in the chateau basement and just as 
 the circuits leading from the rear were completed, a little before noon, an order 
 came that Corps Headquarters would be moved to Buire, about two kilometers 
 to the west and sheltered from the German positions by a high hill. There 
 was little time to discuss the army and its quick changes of plans. Under 
 Jeff Adams, the sections dashed along the crowded road, feeding twist from the 
 back of the truck. Sergeant Gretzler installed the switchboard, and service 
 was ready at Buire half an hour after the Chief of Staff arrived. 
 
THE FIRST AMERICAN OFFENSIVE 171 
 
 Gruninger had an exciting time reaching Buire. He had set out with only 
 a rough diagram of the roads: 
 
 "The only guides along the way were occasional burial parties. 
 I was completely lost, and finally got my bearings just outside 
 Belleau Woods. I came across a dugout which the Boches had just 
 left. A kettle of thin soup was still warm on the fire where they left 
 it. I pulled up under a tree and tried to 'grab off' an hour of sleep. 
 Nothing doing. Fifty yards away a concealed 12-inch gun was 
 popping every twenty minutes. I had driven in between pops. At 
 the first fire I thought the earth had dropped from imder me. No 
 chance for sleep. At daybreak I arrived at my destination and 
 started to set up field boards and lines to the different outposts." 
 
 These were strenuous days for the construction men. But they had the 
 advantage of being out in the open where they could see what was going on. 
 The men running the switchboards in the dugouts worked under a severe 
 strain, always at top speed, trying to build up connections over circuits con- 
 stantly in trouble. Hannam describes the operating situation: 
 
 "These were awful days, for the American Army hadn't exactly 
 acquired confidence and every one was afraid to move before con- 
 sulting some one else by telephone. There was a perpetual stream 
 of business day and night and oh, those trunk lines of twisted pair 
 lying all over the roads with trucks running over them! Believe me, 
 they were certainly musical. At Buire, after carrying out buckets of 
 bullets, helmets, parts of machine gvms, etc., we slept right along- 
 side the boards on a couple of feather mattresses left there by the 
 Germans. At this place the Germans made quite a stand. So we 
 stayed there almost a week during which time our troops moved 
 up the six- and then the nine-inch guns into our back yard. These 
 would have shaken us out of bed if there was any place to be shaken to." 
 
 Several new telegraph operators joined the Battalion during the spring to 
 make up for those who had been transferred to other posts. Huckleberry, 
 Davis and Kelly were all Regular Army men with years of experience. Swear- 
 ingen and Putnam were also new comers who shouldered their share of the 
 responsibility. These men with the original telegraphers headed by Ban- 
 holzer sent and received messages so efficiently that longing eyes were cast 
 on them by officers of other organizations. 
 
 The circuits leading north from Lucy became so extremely unsatisfactory 
 due to wear and tear that on the twenty-fourth a new line was run to Picardie 
 Farm, this time supporting the wires on a homemade lance line across the 
 fields which were still strewn with both allied and enemy dead. The territory 
 between Lucy and Bouresches and the railroad embankment to the north- 
 east had been the scene of terrific fighting when the Marines began their 
 advance. Most of the American soldiers had been buried and each of the 
 
172 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 graves marked by a rifle, with the muzzle stuck in the ground. The man's 
 identification tag was attached to the stock and the bayonet was fastened near 
 the trigger by the cartridge belt, making a cross. The weather was extremely 
 hot and the unburied Boches and animals were not pleasant company. 
 
 Where the line ran through the woods there still remained many of the 
 poles of an old French civil line which formed good supports for the new wires. 
 Soon after this circuit was completed, the old line across the fields was abandoned. 
 
 During these strenuous days there was another call to name men for the 
 Candidates School. This time Lowe and Bruder were sent away. Both of 
 these men gave a good account of themselves. Lowe returned to the States 
 with a field Battalion and remained in the Regular Army. Bruder joined the 
 
 At Buire 
 
 52nd Telegraph Battalion, in which Captain Wattles had been made a Major, 
 and with this Battalion went through the various campaigns of the Third Corps. 
 
 There was another brief respite and Lieutenant Price remained near Picar- 
 die Farm waiting for the next jump. Lieutenant Foust keeping his finger on the 
 Corps' pulse at Buire. Each morning the sections made an early start from 
 Montreuil and spent the day waiting for a chance to jump ahead from Picardie. 
 In the meantime two new lieutenants, Pearson and Woodward, joined the 
 organization. These men were sent to Lieutenant Price to obtain experience 
 in forward work. 
 
 The 26th was now advancing toward Epieds and the 42nd was ordered 
 to relieve the "Yankees" who had been carrying on a strenuous and successful 
 offensive for nearly ten days. Trugny was selected as the Headquarters of 
 the 42nd and about five o'clock on the evening of the twenty -fifth Lieutenant 
 Price set out with his sections to run a circuit to Epieds. Lieutenant Foust 
 continued the circuit from Epieds to Trugny. 
 
 At Trugny the detachment installed a switchboard, and Roach and Gallo 
 stayed by the board while the chateau and surrounding grounds were pounded 
 
THE FIRST AMERICAN OFFENSIVE 173 
 
 with shells and bombs. After the heavy firing, it was learned that the 42nd 
 Division Headquarters would not move into that town, but there was nothing 
 to do but remain until morning, when the station was left in charge of a 
 Signal Detachment of the 42nd Division, and the "E" Company Detachment 
 returned to Buire. 
 
 The same night, Urffer, with a truck which had been loaned to the 322nd 
 Battalion, ran into another air bombardment, and from his own account, 
 quickly forgot the disgust which he had expressed for air warnings back at 
 La Ferte. As he says: 
 
 "My truck was jammed up on a congested road with a broken 
 steering arm. While I was trying to make repairs of some sort, Fritz 
 polluted the air again, and as my location was plainly marked by a 
 gang of French artillery men smoking cigarettes, the Hun did not 
 lose much time starting the racket. Naturally, while the Boche 
 was lambasting the pike, I was peacefully dying of fright about a 
 hundred yards off the road where some one had thoughtfully dug a 
 shell hole for me." 
 
 Shortly after Corps Headquarters was established at Buire, Captain Griest 
 was ordered to that town to take over the office and to keep in close touch 
 with the Corps officers. The circuits by this time had been placed in fair 
 shape. 
 
 The entire Battalion gathered at Buire. Each day the sections were ready 
 to be off by four-thirty in the morning and usually returned for mess between 
 eight and nine in the evening. Still there was no further advance and the 
 days were spent in going over the lines. 
 
 On the twenty-eighth, it was decided to move Corps Headquarters to 
 Epieds. New circuits were run from Buire, but over the crowded roads pro- 
 gress was slow. When the circuits had reached Epieds, Colonel Voris an- 
 nounced that as the advance was continuing the Corps would move on to 
 Chateau Moucheton. Orders were left at Epieds that when Coates arrived 
 with advance switchboard material, he should be sent on to Moucheton. 
 Captain Griest reached the Chateau before the regimental signal detail had 
 dismantled their exchange in the basement and was able to take over the vari- 
 ous circuits which the infantry men just previously had taken from the Ger- 
 mans. When the switchboard arrived. Miller and Hannam had sufficient 
 trunks ready to give service both to divisions and to the rear echelon at Buire. 
 Circuits for local stations running up through the Chateau were all in place, 
 these having been left in good shape by the Germans in their hurried retreat. 
 Shortly after noon the telephone and telegraph offices were working normally 
 and Colonel Voris had established his desk in the cellar hallway between them. 
 
 "Little Mac" went to Buire to bring up Noone and Temeson and various 
 
174 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 supplies for the office at Epieds, which Captain Griest took over at this time. 
 He had an exciting time : 
 
 "By the time I had reached Buire, eaten supper, and gotten some 
 rations for the men at the exchange, it had become intensely dark. 
 As we started for Epieds, John was standing on the side of the car. 
 Bill was on the bed rolls on the back. The road was dark and rough. 
 Suddenly I noticed a car coming down the hill toward us on the wrong 
 side of the road. I shot over to my left. B-r-r-r it shot by. As 
 soon as he had passed he came to life to find that some one else was on 
 the road beside himself. He shot on his light but kept on going 
 faster than ever. We didn't stop even to cuss and at length we 
 came to the top of the hil] where an M. P. came up to us with a gas 
 mask on. 'Where are your gas masks? Put 'em on,' he mumbled 
 under his mask. All the horns were honking now. We had not 
 heard one before. I know I would never have reached Epieds 
 that night if an ambulance ahead of us had not been going the same 
 way, for all I could see through that mask was the red light on the 
 rear of that ambulance." 
 
 The listings on the board at Epieds had not been kept up to date. There 
 were no records available of what circuits terminated there, or how to route 
 calls. That evening conditions became most hectic. The most experienced 
 operators were detailed at other points and the men at Epieds were attempting 
 to give service without any records and with very few instructions. The night 
 was spent in preparing an accurate set of records and listings. This exchange 
 was in the cellar of one of the few remaining houses, but the house was at the 
 intersection of five roads, and the Germans who had recently vacated the town 
 knew just where to drop their shells. Throughout the night, large calibre 
 shells with a scattering of gas shells landed in the vicinity of these cross roads, 
 each successive arrival rattling more glass out of the building. For much of 
 the time, it was necessary to use gas masks. The "Tissot" type had not yet 
 arrived. Operating the switchboard with the British respirator and trying to 
 appease various exacting officers was a real job, especially with the racket 
 outside. 
 
 The front line remained almost stationary for several days while the 42nd 
 Division, taking up its headquarters at Artois Farm, relieved the 26th. 
 There was now only one division in the Corps front which was gradually 
 becoming contracted as the sector was wiped out. The 322nd Battalion 
 continued the work of keeping up liaison with the division and this gave Price 
 a chance to return to the rear headquarters at La Ferte for a much needed 
 two days' rest. 
 
 During the lull in the activities, the lines to the rear were given attention 
 and a new open wire Hne was started from Headquarters at Chateau Mouche- 
 ton through Epieds and down to Chateau Thierry, where there was established 
 
THE FIRST AMERICAN OFFENSIVE 
 
 175 
 
 Artillery in the Forest East of Chateau Moucheton 
 
 an advanced Headquarters of the Army and a new rear echelon for the Corps. 
 Along the road there still remained a great number of poles from the French 
 civil lines, which gave Collins a chance to make good speed. At Chateau 
 Thierry Gretzler and Russell installed the exchange in the basement of a 
 chateau which had been recently vacated by the Germans. The Boche had 
 not molested the furniture in the building, but other stock of the chateau 
 had been well exhausted as was evidenced by quantities of bottles strewn about 
 the building. From this point it was necessary for Collins to run circuits 
 across the broken down bridge to reach the Army exchange on the south side 
 of the Mame. 
 
 With detachments from the Battalion scattered over the fighting region, 
 it was almost impossible for the mess sergeants to keep every one supplied 
 with rations. The Epieds crew was particularly unfortunate in receiving 
 Battalion supplies and set about caring for themselves. In the yard at the 
 rear of the cellar was a large mass of junk out of which were salvaged a stove 
 and various utensils and, as Murdaugh reports: 
 
 "The Germans in their hasty retreat overlooked taking with them 
 a potato patch for which we were duly thankful. Bill Temeson found 
 a shovel and we were not long in digging a sidecar full of them. 
 We ate so many French fried potatoes here that if we passed a potato 
 patch, we would shy off." 
 
176 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 In the region northeast of Buire, the BattaHon was entering that section 
 of the territory which the Germans had been organizing for their main line 
 of communication. A splendid high tension line had been erected leading 
 from Buire down toward Chateau Thierry and a well-built telephone line 
 remained in place through the forest east of Moucheton, running toward 
 Artois Farm and Beauvardes. During a period of comparative inactivity, 
 these lines were surveyed to determine what use could be made of them when 
 the next advance was started. It was during this period too that many excur- 
 sions were made to the forest near Moucheton, where the Germans abandoned 
 the foundation of one of the "Big Berthas" with which they had been shelling 
 Paris. Corps Headquarters had moved from Buire but it still remained the 
 base for the Battalion, and each morning working parties set out early for 
 Moucheton, to be ready to jump when the orders came. 
 
 Peterson was one of the telephone operators selected for the next move, 
 and with the others spent his days near the trucks at Moucheton waiting 
 for the next advance. It will be remembered that he was one of the listening 
 post men at Seicheprey. The following which he wrote gives a good idea of 
 conditions at this time: • 
 
 Foundation of One of the "Big Berthas" Which Shelled Paris 
 
THE FIRST AMERICAN OFFENSIVE 177 
 
 "We are still for a few minutes waiting for orders and I am sitting 
 in the truck, dirty and muddy, but feeling fine and in the best of 
 spirits, as I hope will show in this letter. Why shouldn't we feel 
 in good spirits? The Boches are falling back and we are advanc- 
 ing so fast that we are not permitted to leave the truck and must be 
 ready to go ahead with our lines at any minute. This is great stuff 
 too, — thrilling and exciting. As you know I have seen rough stuff 
 before, last March mostly, and in a way it was more so than this, 
 because we were standing there and under fire nearly all the time, 
 but here it is only occasionally that we get mixed up with the explod- 
 ing shells. Of course, I am speaking of our Company, not our Army. 
 It has been the same for over a week now, working among the ruins 
 of towns and the droves of troops. 
 
 "We often get to work in places before the dead have been moved 
 and in the thick woods they are sometimes missed entirely, but it 
 does not make me sad to see the Boche all busted up, lying around 
 on the ground. It is still a mystery to me why human beings must 
 be slaughtered this way, but as far as shivering at the sight of them 
 lying around all cut to pieces, that is past. 
 
 "I wrote once about the ugliness of the narrow strip of land 
 behind the front, but it is different here. We have passed through 
 miles of it, ruined and destroyed. It is a pity, but it must be done. 
 Our own guns are responsible for much of it. But the destruction 
 the Boche left behind is pure vandalism, lots of it. Furniture in 
 remnants hacked to pieces not by shells but by axes. I didn't realize 
 in my other experience just what it was to see these sights and the 
 feelings that it gives to look at them. It seems strange that a year 
 ago we were paying out our good money for Boche souvenirs that are 
 scattered all over the ground now. Everything that a soldier carries 
 can be had by simply picking it up. But nobody touches the stuff. 
 We are too busy and we have all that we can do to carry our equip- 
 ment. We find letters and all sorts of personal property and it is inter- 
 esting, — German writing on the walls and German signs on the roads. 
 It begins to look as if we were getting somewhere. I just want to 
 let you know that we are going, and getting there, and that America 
 has the goods." 
 
 The civil populace had begun to return to the towns which were retaken 
 from the Germans. When these poor people came into Buire where all of 
 their furniture and almost everything else had been destroyed there were 
 many pathetic scenes. Lieutenant Meigs became the big-hearted protector 
 for one French woman who had come back to look for some of her belongings 
 before the arrival of her aged father. She had walked that day an incredible 
 distance and upon her arrival at Buire was almost exhausted. The Lieutenant 
 scouted around and, having given her a good meal, fixed up a place where she 
 might have a comfortable and undisturbed sleep. Throughout the remainder 
 of the war, the Lieutenant frequently received letters of deepest gratitude 
 from her. 
 
Chapter XIX 
 
 0?i to the Vesle 
 
 S THE Allied success continued and the enemy retreated, the telephone 
 exchanges at Picardie Farm, Belleau and Buire were abandoned and 
 test stations only maintained at those points. Early on the third of 
 August, orders were given to rush a line to Fresnes as it seemed likely that 
 Corps Headquarters would be established either there or at Sergy. An attempt 
 was made to patch the German circuits leading east from Artois Farm to which 
 point Boche circuits had already been repaired. But the wires had been 
 badly chopped to pieces. The few good stretches had been used by the 42nd 
 Division. So it was decided to run twist. It was the intention later, if 
 time would permit, to piece out the enemy circuits and recover the twist. 
 By two o'clock the circuits were completed to Fresnes and into the house which 
 had been selected as an exchange in case this was to be Headquarters, or as a 
 connecting point should Headquarters be at Sergy. Major Behn with his 
 Battalion, the 322nd, was running a circuit north to the latter town. It 
 had been raining all the morning. Scarcely had the job been completed 
 when it was learned that the morning's work had been wasted . The direction 
 of the attack had shifted and neither Sergy nor Fresnes was to be Corps 
 Headquarters. 
 
 178 
 
ON TO THE FESLE 179 
 
 Company "D" was now working so far from Buire that permission was 
 obtained to move up the line. On the morning of the fourth, camp was 
 broken and the sections started north. At noon word reached the Company 
 that the Corps was to jump to Fere-en-Tardenois, and circuits were to be run 
 to that town immediately. 
 
 Lieutenant Guy made a survey of the Boche lines south of the Foret de 
 Toumelle and Captain Griest covered the section to the north. The best 
 map available showed a road running through the forest and, as there was no 
 time for further surveys, it was assumed that circuits could be strung along 
 this forest road to connect the two portions of the Boche line. 
 
 Cowan's P. C. detail was immediately dispatched to Fere-en-Tardenois 
 to install equipment. Woodward's section started from Fere-en-Tardenois 
 to build down to Villeneuve, while Miller started at Villeneuve to continue 
 the line to the southwest. Jensen's section, enlarged by a group from "E" 
 was to pick up the circuits near Artois Farm and run through the woods to 
 connect with Miller. It developed that there was no such road as the map 
 indicated and Miller had headed for a road further to the east. To add to his 
 difficulties, the section truck had become mired just before dark and the heavy 
 reels of field twist had to be carried by hand. In a heavy storm, and in 
 inky darkness, despite "iron rations" at noon, and no evening meal, the 
 men struggled through the woods. Only by touch and frequently calling to 
 each other could they keep together. Everywhere were shell holes, dugouts 
 and fan-shaped groups of fox holes in which machine gun nests had been 
 located. These were filled with water and there were many impromptu baths 
 as the men picked their way along the line in the dark. Just before midnight 
 Miller and Jensen managed to find each other. The sections were joined and 
 the new circuit completed to Fere-en-Tardenois. 
 
 Cowan set up the office and while waiting for the circuit to be completed, 
 Coates, Noone and Heisler had time to place all of the equipment in perfect 
 order. A new terminal box, fitted with a hand-made cable to the switchboard 
 which cut down materially the time required for installation and added greatly 
 to the shipshape appearance of the exchange, was used here for the first time. 
 The P. C. crowd was expected to mess with the Headquarters troop but that 
 mess failed to arrive. Cowan describes the situation: 
 
 "Coates saved the day by bringing in a lot of vegetables he found 
 in a nearby garden. These vegetables were planted by the French, 
 cultivated by the Germans, and eaten by Americans. Frequently, 
 we had corned beef in various ways — including burnt. However, we 
 always managed to "rustle" some flour, baking powder and grease 
 and, with our iron plate, which was a very necessary part of our 
 equipment, we frequently had a batch of hot cakes. "Rustling" was 
 often the only way we could get things. It meant sending some one 
 
i8o 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 after almost anything and then not asking questions. If he was a 
 good rustler he always brought it in, be it a part of an automobile or a 
 bed or a cooking utensil or food." 
 
 The construction gangs did not fare so well the night the Fere-en-Tardenois 
 circuits were finished. They pulled into Beauvardes about two in the morn- 
 ing and found that no food had arrived. But they did find a floor where there 
 was room to sleep and here they stowed themselves away wet and tired and 
 hungry. It had been a rather busy Sunday. The next morning the 117th 
 Signal Battalion of the 42nd Division, generously shared their limited rations 
 with the men of the 406th. That day the Battalion assembled at Ville- 
 neuve. A few days before, this little town had been used as a German 
 hospital. 
 
 Open wire lines on poles gave much more satisfactory service than the 
 twist on the ground. As fast as possible, wire was placed on the Boche poles 
 and the twist recovered. But this brought new troubles. Near Moucheton, 
 trees in the forest which had been shattered by shell fire, began to blow over 
 and tear down the lines. It became necessary to place patrols so that every 
 section would be covered at least once in fifteen minutes. After repeated 
 requests, Dailey who had worked faithfully as a cook, was put back on line 
 work. He drew one of the posts on this patrol, and thus describes his activi- 
 ties: 
 
 "I was unloaded in the road with my rations and pack, which I 
 had to carry up the side of the hill, through the woods. When the 
 
 The Main Street in Fere-en-Tardenois 
 
ON TO THE VESLE 
 
 i8i 
 
 At Villeneuve 
 
 Huns built this line, there was a wonderful lot of undergrowth. They 
 cut it off about eighteen inches high leaving the stubs sticking up. 
 With the tangled iron wire scattered about, walking was almost 
 impossible especially with a hundred and fifty pounds across my 
 neck. Reaching my location, I set up my half of the dog tent and 
 made a connection to the trunk lines that we were to watch so as to 
 report every fifteen minutes. 
 
 "This being finished, I went back to my tent and got the proper 
 location on my automatic and a Springfield that I had found. I was 
 not at all comfortable in mind as there were plenty of Germans still 
 in the woods. It was very dark and the odor of decomposed flesh, 
 both human and horse, was very strong. My partner had not ar- 
 rived when suddenly I heard the leaves and undergrowth cracking. 
 I eased over and took my Springfield and closed the bolt on it real 
 quick when I heard the cry of 'Kamerad, Kamerad,' and when the 
 two husky little fellows started a line of French and explanations, you 
 can just imagine how much easier I felt, for I had been some scared. 
 Anyway, all went well from that on until ten o'clock when Lyons, 
 my partner, arrived and so did Captain Griest with the informa- 
 tion that I had to move back to the other side of a little brook. 
 This, of course, meant that I had to tear down all that I had built 
 and move. That is just where the army got in wrong with me again; 
 but we moved nevertheless and the Captain did not leave imtil some 
 time between one and two A. M. Lyons and I finally got settled 
 along the side of the woods and hill with tons of German ammuni- 
 tion all around us, mostly machine-gun and hand grenades (potato- 
 
l82 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 mashers). These we hung on trees and had a little amusement of 
 our own, with Denny (Daniels) up on top of the hill wondering what 
 was going on down below." 
 
 At Villeneuve the Battalion took account of stock and fixed up trucks 
 and tools preparatory for the next drive. Survey parties were sent out, "E" 
 Company taking the territory east of Fere while "D" worked to the west, 
 
 and the locations of numerous Boche lines 
 were plotted on maps for future use. On the 
 tenth, while surveys were continuing north 
 of the little River Ourcq, orders came for 
 service to be established to the railhead 
 at Breny. The French were rapidly repair- 
 ing the railroad from Paris toward Fere- 
 en-Tardenois, and the whole of "D" Com- 
 pany jumped to the job and soon had the 
 circuits completed. Along this railroad there 
 were a great many German dead who had 
 held the top of the embankment, where they 
 had been operating machine gun nests, until 
 charged by the on-coming French and 
 Americans. Every one of the bridges, both 
 on the railroad and on highways crossing 
 above the railroad, had been destroyed and 
 progress was difficult. At this time, Moss 
 with some of "E" Company's men, ran a 
 line from Villeneuve down to Coincy to take care of a new field for the air 
 service. 
 
 Warnings were constantly given against handling any ammunition or other 
 material lying around the battlefields, particularly because of Boche traps. 
 But, in spite of these warnings, large quantities of souvenirs found their way 
 into camp and heavy mails were dispatched to the States. While working 
 on the line to Breny, Eicholtz kicked aside the unexploded cap of a shell 
 while planting a lance pole. The cap exploded and he was hurried to the 
 hospital to have numerous bits of steel extracted from his shins. 
 
 At last there was a Sunday with nothing to do but rest, wander over the 
 nearby battlefields and write letters home. Here is one of the letters: 
 
 "This being the first Sunday afternoon in weeks that we have 
 not been tearing wildly on, I went to the east of the town and sat 
 down under a tree on the slope to read. To the north stretched a 
 valley through which the Boches have recently fled, away in the 
 distance the hills to the north and northeast showing the scars of 
 many shells. To the west was our little town with remarkably few 
 
 On the Line to Breny 
 
ON TO THE VESLE 
 
 183 
 
 scars showing from that angle, the church tower, leaning slightly, 
 with the Boche Red Cross flag still hanging out. It was a lovely 
 day and one would not have known there was a war except for an 
 occasional buzz high up in the air as one of the big planes whirled 
 by or a distant muffled thud from the artillery. We have our mess 
 in the garden of a place which the Boche must have used for their 
 officers, and it is in pretty good condition. Our officers use the 
 library of the house for their mess and it is filled with Japanese 
 books and ornaments. The owner of this place was once connected 
 with the Japanese consul's office at Marseilles and he had some stun- 
 ning stuff in his house. 
 
 "The people are coming back into these villages, old and young, 
 and they seem to be gradually recovering some of their effects from 
 various piles of debris. I never saw so many box mattresses. The 
 Boches carried them to the woods and dugouts and left them there. 
 But most of the feather beds have been slashed and the feathers 
 strewn around. 
 
 "The other day I went down through the woods to a little chateau 
 where we, in conjunction with the French, are running a switch- 
 board. It was sort of a hunting establishment in the woods and had 
 its conservatories and a big lake with a Japanese garden. The place 
 is said to belong to an American woman who also had a fine house in 
 Chateau Thierry which not long ago was No Man's Land. Here 
 Thevelin and Buehler are operating the switchboard with the French 
 soldiers and are enjoying an elaborate mess." 
 
 On the twelfth, orders were received that the First Corps was to be 
 relieved by the Third Corps and would return to La Ferte for a rest. The 
 Battalion moved down and took quarters in the cavalry drill grounds. It 
 was planned at once to have an inspection and then permit as many men as 
 possible to take a short leave at Paris. Several trucks were dispatched with 
 their happy cargoes. The shop gangs were again unfortunate but the trucks 
 had to be overhauled. 
 Most of the shop men had 
 already been to the me- 
 tropolis on one mission or 
 another but nevertheless 
 they were loath to miss 
 this opportunity after 
 their strenuous services. 
 One of them wrote: 
 
 "Our return to La 
 Ferte was supposed to be 
 a resting up period. If 
 it was, it did not include 
 
 the shop crew among The Church at ViUeneuve-Note the German 
 
 the restmg parties. Red Cross Flag Still Flying 
 
184 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 The Company acquired two four-wheeled trailers which had to be 
 fixed up and that took up four of our days. Next came the order to 
 disconnect our motorcycles and side cars, so that we could pack these 
 fast-wearing vehicles on trucks, thereby avoiding the rough use ac- 
 corded them every time we moved from one sector to another." 
 
 Speaking of leaves, one of the Motor Dispatch Service men was asked, 
 "Did you get to Paris?" He replied: 
 
 "Officially I did not. But when you consider my six months' 
 detached service as a Dispatch Rider, with not always a guiding 
 hand, with a gift of gab and a M. D. S. meaning ('Must Do Some- 
 thing') brassard on my arm, a powerful motorcycle, plenty of gas, 
 and a few spare hours now and then, well — comprenez vous? 
 J'etais la! Nuf sed!" 
 
 On the afternoon of the sixteenth, orders arrived stating that the Corps 
 was to move early the following day. That evening the sound of Boche 
 airplanes was heard. 
 
 As soon as the bombs began to drop Lieutenant Meigs with TheveHn 
 hastened to the home of a family by the name of Quin with whom they had 
 become acquainted. Mme. Quin was afflicted with heart trouble and Meigs 
 knew her husband would have his hands full taking care of her during the 
 raid. The two soldiers with M. Quin did their best to calm the woman. 
 The concussion from exploding bombs blew the doors open and rattled the 
 glass from the windows. Everybody was running for shelter. Scurrying 
 footsteps were heard on the gravel walk outside as one then another ducked 
 aroimd the comer of the house on the way to the woods. The Boche were 
 aiming at the town and the woods were comparatively safe. 
 
 While the group in t^ie house were in the midst of their trouble, and Mme. 
 Quin seemed in imminent danger of dying from the excitement, a French 
 soldier rushed into the room. "Oo! la! la!" "Americaines" and a lot of other 
 words he shouted as he waved his arms and pointed towards an orchard 
 not far from the house. All were too busy to pay any attention to him. 
 A child, the six-year-old daughter of M. Quin, was crying and running 
 around hanging onto first one and then another of the men. Doors banging, 
 windows breaking, the crying child, the insistent Frenchman, the seemingly 
 dying woman, and the intermittent explosions from dropping bombs made a 
 rather full evening. 
 
 After a bit Thevelin managed to grasp that the soldier had seen some 
 Boche spies in American tmiforms in the orchard signalling to the raiders 
 with candles. The reason for his excitement was then apparent. Meigs, 
 pistol in hand, followed him out of the house and up the road to the orchard. 
 On the way "Al" Coates met the pair and joined them, with the remark: 
 
ON TO THE VESLE 
 
 185 
 
 "Orders were received 
 . . to return to La Ferte 
 for a rest. The Battalion 
 moved down and took 
 quarters in a Cavalry drill 
 grounds'* 
 
 ' It was planned at once to have 
 an inspection" 
 
 ■79t-: 
 
 View of the Camp 
 
 "I don't know where you're going or what you're going to do, but I'm with 
 you." 
 
 As they entered the orchard they dodged from tree to tree. It was a 
 particularly black night. Suddenly "La! La!" from the Frenchman. Meigs 
 and Coates looked ahead and could make out a pup tent with a lighted candle 
 inside. Two men in American uniforms were inside apparently asleep. 
 
 Meigs stuck his automatic under the tent and in his gruffest voice yelled : 
 
 "What are you birds doing up here? Come out o' there!" 
 
 "Who are you?" was the answer. 
 
 "If you don't come out quick I'll shoot you full of holes — the both of you!" 
 
 "Wait until we get our shoes on." 
 
 "The devil with your shoes," and by way of assistance Meigs grasped one 
 of them by the foot and dragged him out on his back. The other one followed 
 without further argument. 
 
 "Line up!" said Meigs. "What are you doing up here?" 
 
 "We came up to get away from the shelling." 
 
 "This Frenchman says he saw you signalling to the Boches." 
 
 "He's a liar." 
 
i86 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 "Tell it to Sweeney! You guys march down the road and if either one of 
 you lets out a peep, this gun'll go off." 
 
 Here Meigs showed one of his characteristic traits. The ground was 
 covered with stubble, and after proceeding a few feet, he ordered his prisoners 
 to halt and asked Coates to get their shoes. Meigs and Coates then marched 
 them down to Battalion Headquarters. Just as they arrived, another excited 
 Frenchman came up and said something to Coates. In a jiffy the two dis- 
 appeared and in a very few minutes came back with a third man, who was 
 accused of the same crime and captured under similar circumstances. 
 
 Major Hubbell appeared at a second story window. Meigs and Coates 
 with the two Frenchman lined up their three prisoners in the pitch dark street 
 below. Meigs had a hard time holding down Coates who was strong for 
 shooting the trio on the spot. Hubbell, when he heard the story, ordered 
 Meigs to conduct the captured men to the commanding officer of the outfit 
 to which they claimed to belong. 
 
 With Meigs ordering them to step lively, and Coates "cussing" the 
 "blankety blank spies," the procession marched up the street. The designated 
 officer was aroused and he took charge of the prisoners. 
 
 During the bombard- 
 ment a bomb fell in the 
 midst of a detachment 
 of Engineers encamped 
 nearby. Five were killed 
 and fourteen wounded. 
 Immediately Lieutenant 
 Macf arlan was on the job. 
 With Armstrong and a 
 few others he spent hours 
 that night taking the in- 
 jured to Coulommiers as 
 there was no American 
 
 hospital at La Ferte. Major Watties and His War-Scarred Car 
 
Chapter XX 
 aS*/. Mi hie I 
 
 EARLY on the morning of August seventeenth, the Battalion set out for 
 new fields. All of the orders were secret and great care was used to 
 camouflage the entire movement. The Corps units left La Ferte at 
 different hours, all going in different directions. The 406th headed first for 
 Montmirail. There was a feeling of satisfaction in traveling along this road 
 which, when the Battalion had moved from Neufchateau to La Ferte, was too 
 close to the German positions to permit of daylight travel. 
 
 At Montmirail orders were received to proceed to Sezanne. Without 
 knowing how much or what kind of service might be required, an advance 
 party was organized to rush ahead on a moment's notice to start an installation 
 for Corps Headquarters. 
 
 Progress had not been entirely satisfactory during the first morning as 
 some of the heavier trucks persisted in giving trouble. After a halt for mess 
 at noon the train was rearranged, the lighter vehicles under Lieutenant 
 Macfarlan proceeding ahead to Brienne-le-Chateau, the next stop. The heavier 
 trucks followed with the trailers. The weary caravan after mess that evening 
 slept in the open, few taking the trouble even to pitch shelter tents. 
 
 Before sunrise the train was again on the road and proceeded to Bar-sur- 
 Aube. The journey led along the valley of the Aube, through villages in 
 which the church bells were calling the worshippers to Sunday services. Every- 
 
 187 
 
ON THE WAY FROM THE MARNE TO ST. MIHIEL 
 
 188 
 
ST. MIHIEL 189 
 
 where there was an atmosphere of peace and rest which seemed unreal to this 
 crowd who had so recently been plugging ahead through the destruction and 
 horrors of war. 
 
 By noon the train passed Chaumont and was headed northeast along the 
 familiar road to Neufchateau. Just outside the town the trucks were held 
 while Major Hubbell endeavored to obtain definite instructions concerning 
 the next stop. The French official at Bar-sur-Aube, not having any orders 
 for the 406th, had inquired from French General Headquarters and had 
 headed the Battalion toward its final destination before any one outside the 
 General Staff had the information, and while the rest of the First Corps was 
 going to a rest area southeast of Chaumont. To correct this mistake the 
 Battalion was directed to Toul. As the trucks moved through Neufchateau, 
 greetings were exchanged between the men and the friends whom they had 
 made during the previous winter. Air units, infantry and artillery crowded 
 the road, all trying to get along to their destinations and there was no oppor- 
 tunity for evening mess. Shortly before midnight, in the light of the full 
 moon and with German airplanes soaring overhead, the trucks pulled into the 
 old French barracks at Toul, were quickly arranged under the trees and the 
 men relieved for food and rest. But some one had made another mistake and 
 the train was compelled to reform and move to another "Caserne." 
 
 The Battalion as a part of the First Army Corps was to take part in that 
 great offensive which was to wipe out the St. Mihiel Salient. The Germans 
 had held the territory for four years. For a few short weeks the First Army 
 Corps would have a chance to recuperate after the strenuous days on the 
 Mame and Vesle. And then was to come the period of preparation, so neces- 
 sary to insure the success of the attack. 
 
 The day after the Battalion reached Toul the advance party under Lieuten- 
 ant Hasskarl was sent on to Saizerais to become familiar with the circuits 
 centering at that place. These were then being maintained and operated by 
 the First American Division. 
 
 For three days the Battalion remained in the barracks at Toul. The men 
 of the 322d Battalion challenged the 406th to a baseball game. The 322d 
 team was organized in America before coming to France and had been playing 
 together for some time. When the amateur team of the 406th tackled them, it 
 could hardly be called a game — it was a slaughter. 
 
 By the twenty-first various officers and units belonging to Corps Head- 
 quarters began to arrive at Saizerais. The 406th moved up and took over 
 the exchange in that town and classified the many French circuits terminating 
 there. Those not engaged in this work moved to Liverdun, billets being 
 scarce in Saizerais, and pitched tents in a meadow between the canal and the 
 river Moselle. The days were warm and the river was a great attraction. 
 
190 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 LLGE.ND 
 
 Main Hiijhways -* 
 Scale 
 
 Railro&ds 
 
 St. Mihiel, Saizerais and Surrounding Territory 
 
 It had been planned during the late spring to celebrate the anniversary 
 of the mobilization of the Battalion at Monmouth Park. But the middle 
 of June found "E" Company en route to La Ferte and "D" scattered over the 
 area back of Toul. The anniversary of the arrival in France found the Bat- 
 talion in better shape for a celebration and a dinner was held in Liverdun. 
 Officers and mess sergeants scoured the country seeking a supply of fruit and 
 green vegetables and "smokes" which had become scarce. The Telephone 
 Employees fund was drawn on again and Colonel Voris and Captain Gauss 
 came down from Saizerais to attend the celebration. 
 
 In the earlier days in France, air raids were not so common as they became 
 here in the St. Mihiel region. One night before Bill Brittain left the Battalion, 
 a number of Boche planes came over. There was a rush to "douse" the lights. 
 Only one candle remained burning. There was a reason. It belonged to 
 "Bull" Marr and he was engaged in the most exacting of sciences — "reading 
 his shirt." He needed all the candle power available to locate the elusive 
 enemy. 
 
 "Thank Heaven they can't jump," drawled "Bull," referring to the 
 cooties. Airplanes seemed far from his thoughts in spite of the roar overhead. 
 
 "Til make somebody jump," yelled Brittain as he heaved a vacant boot 
 at the candle. His aim was perfect. 
 
ST. MIHIEL 191 
 
 A large ammunition factory located in Liverdun seemed to attract Boche 
 flyers. This town was in constant danger too from the bombers who fol- 
 lowed the Moselle toward Toul. And if the anti-aircraft guns made the air 
 around Toul uncomfortable the planes came back along the river. So Liver- 
 dun was reasonably sure of attention from overhead. A canal passed under 
 a part of the town and on clear nights when the airplanes were particularly 
 active the population was wont to retreat to the tunnel to sleep on the tow 
 path. Many of the Battalion men did likewise, forsaking their pup tents. 
 Those who during quiet periods scorned the tvmnel, did not place it beneath 
 their dignity to rush "hotfoot" for the tow path when bombs began to drop. 
 They made such speed that sometimes the lack of a proper respect for sharp 
 turns in the canal sent some of them headlong into the water. 
 
 About the last of the month Major Hubbell received orders directing him 
 to return to the United States for the purpose of training troops. Before 
 leaving he addressed the Battalion, expressing his appreciation for the co- 
 operation of the men, and his regret at leaving just when big things were about 
 to happen. A farewell party was given by the officers on the night of August 
 30th and he left the next day. When about three hundred miles off the coast 
 of France the "Mt. Vernon," on which he was a passenger, was torpedoed. 
 The ship with a great gap torn in her side was able to reach Brest. He sailed 
 again, this time on the " Wilhelmina, " and after reaching the States completed 
 a course in the War College at Washington. He was promoted to the rank 
 of Lieutenant Colonel and assigned as Signal Officer to the i6th Division, then 
 at Camp Kearny, California. 
 
 Captain Griest was on leave at the time and Lieutenant Meigs ran the 
 Battalion until the former returned on September second, to take command 
 of the organization. Meigs was taken from his beloved Supply job to com- 
 mand Company "D" with Lieutenants Price and Guy as his assistants 
 Lieutenant Foust remained in command of Company "E," retaining Lieu- 
 tenant Hasskarl. Lieutenant Pearson became the Supply Officer. Lieutenants 
 Donaldson and Woodward were transferred to other organizations. Sergeant 
 Major Magill continued to care for the duties of the adjutant's office. The 
 following gives the line-up : 
 
 Captain Griest — Commanding 
 
 Headquarters Supply Medical 
 
 2nd Lt. Pearson ist. Lt. Macfarlan 
 
 Adjutant Supply Officer Medical Officer 
 
 Company "D" Company "E" 
 
 1st Lt. Meigs, Commanding ist Lt. Foust, Commanding 
 
 2nd Lt. Price 2nd Lt. Hasskarl 
 
 2nd Lt. Guy 
 
AT LIVERDUN 
 
 192 
 
ST. MIHIEL 193 
 
 With the exception of the group who were operating and maintaining the 
 office at Saizerais and the motor men who were busy overhauling the machines, 
 the Battalion spent the latter part of August in rest. Permission was granted 
 a few of the men to visit Nancy, about 25 kilometers distant. In order to reach 
 the city, it was necessary to walk to Marbache and at that place board a 
 street car. To play safe the men approached a civilian in the latter town; to 
 inquire as to the proper car. Little information could be secured how- 
 ever for the civilian could not seem to understand what the Americans 
 wanted. 
 
 "Let me try it," said Slim Spangler. 
 
 "Monsieur," he asked, "Street-ee car-ee run-ee from-ee here-ee to Nancy ?" 
 
 "Je ne comprends pas," was the reply. 
 
 "Dam these Frenchmen," was Slim's comment, "They can't understand 
 their own lingo!" 
 
 Early in September preparations for the "show" developed rapidly. The 
 Corps called for help in the transportation of troops. Sixteen trucks were 
 sent to haul the Second Division from Colombey-les-Belles to positions near 
 the line. This work was done at night without lights, and as the rain had again 
 started, the roads were treacherous. 
 
 Next in order was the hauling of ammtinition. The 406th delivered some 
 thirty thousand rounds of machine gun ammunition, and two thousand each 
 of 75 mm. and 155 mm. shells. But operating and construction jobs were 
 becoming urgent, and every available man was required for the work. The 
 Corps agreed, therefore, to furnish relief drivers if the Battalion furnished 
 trucks with chauffeurs and lookouts. Armstrong tells of a couple of these 
 trips, on one of which he came to grief: 
 
 "One night we were sent out about 5:30 to report to Marbache, 
 a large French ammunition center. After "parleying" we got loaded 
 about 1 1 :30 and started for the front. After driving around until 
 daylight, we found ourselves in the town of Mamey. Starting up 
 a road which led direct to the third line trenches, an M. P. told us the 
 Boche were shelling the roads and killing a lot of artillery men and 
 horses. But Conway and Cavanagh decided with me to go on to 
 get rid of our loads. After a little drive we reached a road on which 
 ahead of us they had just killed four American boys and two horses 
 on a caisson. We were held by traffic for a short time. Fritz, in the 
 meantime, had been shelling, killing and wounding quite a number 
 of boys. We had scarcely gone a thousand yards until we came upon 
 six French three-ton trucks stuck and the road blocked. We decided 
 to go around them and made our way through a field. After going on 
 for about twenty minutes we were stopped again ; getting out and look- 
 ing back we saw Fritz drop over a few large ones and clear the French 
 trucks away. We reached our destination that afternoon at 4 130 and 
 started back for our company, having had nothing to eat all this time. 
 
194 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 "Another night we had gone over a large pontoon bridge. There 
 was a very sharp turn and a string of three-ton trucks coming in 
 the opposite direction. We turned too far and our truck went over an 
 eighteen-foot bank. I tried to jump but was thrown and landed on 
 my left knee. Cavanagh being in the rear came to my assistance 
 and we tried to find the other chauffeur, as we thought he was pinned 
 • under the car, but he had gotten out safely. I was taken to the 
 hospital the next day." 
 
 Frequently these errands were completed only because of the intelligence 
 and initiative of the chauffeurs and noncoms of the 406th. Not once 
 was a vehicle belonging to this Battalion abandoned by the wayside. If a 
 machine came to grief one man was always left to guard it while another found 
 his way back to the Battalion to obtain help. Urffer tells what was done with 
 Armstrong's truck: 
 
 "The shop crew was delegated to move the truck back on the 
 road and as this spot was in range of the enemy guns, the Huns 
 naturally took great pains to keep well informed as to what was going 
 on there. So, whenever we heard the noise of a "plane up," we 
 took cover, and in this way, managed to get the truck back on the 
 road without any punishment from Fritz." 
 
 During the Marne offensive, when clothing was not readily obtainable, it 
 was sometimes necessary to pick up from abandoned German stores, service- 
 able garments. Daniels, better known as "Corporal Dinny," or "One-punch 
 Daniels," thus acquired a Boche shirt, built on the Hnes of a night gown. 
 He managed to retain possession of it during the work at Saizerais. Just before 
 the St. Mihiel drive, the men were working twenty or more hours a day and 
 when they had a chance to sleep, it took more than an ordinary- air raid to 
 chase them to the abris. Also, so few air warnings proved serious, that it 
 was customary when the alert was given, for the men to turn over and sleep 
 
 the more soundly. Dinny had 
 *''" ^^ been a great collector of sou- 
 venirs. He always was sur- 
 rounded by a lot of his tro- 
 phies. Near the camp one 
 night an ammunition dump 
 caught fire. The exploding 
 shells gave an imitation of an 
 air raid — only many times 
 worse. Most of the men de- 
 cided that the abri was not 
 such a bad place after all. 
 Armstrong's Truck Dinny was the last man to 
 
ST. MI HI EL 
 
 195 
 
 go. He had on his Boche shirt which extended nearly to his ankles. He put 
 on his helmet, picked up his gas mask, collected his souvenirs, and without 
 any great haste started for the cave, "cussing" the Boche at every step. When 
 he was about fifty feet from the cave a Boche plane passed over. It fired. 
 A hidden machine gun crew nested a few feet from the spot Dinny was passing. 
 It began to fire at the plane, which returned the compliment. Both were using 
 tracer bullets and firing at about 200 to the minute. Dinny looked up at the 
 
 The Town of Montsec as Viewed from Montsec Heights 
 
 first shot, discarded his souvenirs at the second, his helmet and mask at the 
 third, pulled up the long shirt at the fourth, and was twenty feet inside the 
 cave at the fifth. 
 
 "What's your hurry, Dinny?" asked Banholzer. 
 
 "Well I'll tell you. Kid. I had a notion to stay out there and watch the 
 fire works. Then I had another that beat the other all to the devil. As long 
 as I had my running clothes on, I decided to run in here." 
 
 The tent camp in the meadow at Liverdun was exposed to air observa- 
 tion and, besides, the nights were becoming extremely cold. So, on the fifth 
 of September, the Battalion moved into a series of stable and hay loft 
 billets within the town. 
 
 The positions throughout this sector had been almost stationary for four 
 years and were well organized. There were signal lines in all directions. 
 In Saizerais the French had two switchboards to which the First Division 
 
196 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Signal men had added an American board. The concentration of troops in 
 the area made necessary the installation of three more. Even with all of this 
 equipment the operators had their hands full. As Craigmile says: 
 
 "The living conditions at Saizerais were fairly good, but that 
 office was a madhouse. Our switchboard equipment was very much 
 overloaded, and it was a common thing to have all the cords up and 
 still see the drops falling like snowflakes. Nevertheless we managed 
 to give fairly good service." 
 
 In order to check all of the existing maps and to have absolutely reliable 
 information concerning routes when new circuits were ordered, Lieutenant 
 Hasskarl with Murdaugh and Collins made surveys of the .territory between 
 Noviant and Pont-a-Mousson. Instructions to these men necessarily were 
 meagre and not entirely satisfactory to the methodical "Dad" Murdaugh, 
 who wrote, "We were sent out to get acquainted with the lay of the land with 
 specifications : 
 
 "'Don't know which route, 
 Don't know how many circuits will be needed, 
 Don't know when we will want them. 
 But get the information d quick.'" 
 
 As preparations became more active, another call was made for the 
 Battalion vehicles. During the Aisne-Marne offensive the machines at Corps 
 Headquarters had been used so incessantly that many were entirely out of 
 service. Chauffeur McFarland with a car and V. P. King, Geib, Giles, A. E. 
 McCann and Herzer with motorcycles were dispatched to Saizerais where 
 they entered into a long period of continuous driving, day and night, convoying 
 ammunition trains to advance depots, carrying observers to points of vantage 
 from which they might note the effects of gas and of different types of shells, 
 and doing miscellaneous courier duty between the corps and divisions. Dur- 
 ing this service, King was hit by an ammunition truck, his arm and leg broken 
 and the motorcycle demolished. He remained in the hospital until long after 
 the Armistice was signed. In addition to the loss of King, this service with 
 the Corps cost the Battalion one car and two motorcycles, the other three 
 motorcycles being returned for repairs in October. 
 
 As the divisions moved toward their positions in the line, various ex- 
 changes were turned over to details from the Battalion. Gretzler and Mum- 
 ford were assigned to the dugout at Domevre, from which could be seen the 
 enemy artillery in action across the valley. At Tremblecourt, Long with his 
 small crew operated an important office through which passed many circuits 
 to neighboring corps and divisions. The switchboard was of French manu- 
 facture and was so worn that it required all of Long's ingenuity to keep it in 
 service. Devlin took over the exchange at Martincourt and was kept busy on 
 
ST. MIHIEL 
 
 197 
 
 the low stake lines running 
 toward Pont-a-Mousson 
 and St. Jacques. He was 
 joined on the night of the 
 attack by Sergeant Klin- 
 gensmith. In a well tim- 
 bered dugout on the south 
 slope of the hill at Manon- 
 ville, Buehler and Cannon 
 cared for the telephone 
 needs of the Fifth Marines. 
 Gaghagen ran the ex- 
 change in a huge dugout 
 at Minorville, and his 
 small group of operators 
 and maintenance men 
 were almost lost in their 
 rat- and cootie-infested 
 home. It might in its cor- 
 ridors and caverns have 
 comfortably accommo- 
 dated a thousand men. 
 
 These forward ex- 
 changes were busy places, 
 but even busier were the 
 offices at Saizerais and 
 Liverdun where all of the Corps business was centered. Lieutenant Guy 
 was in charge at Saizerais and with him were Spears, Miller and Heisler 
 doing the maintenance, and Lynch in charge of the telephone operating. 
 Earlix was in charge of the telegraph service, and day after day the six tele- 
 graph operators handled a business so great that when the Corps was relieved 
 after the drive had reached its limit, the incoming organization assigned twelve 
 men to handle the work. Dickson established the exchange at Liverdun and 
 ttimed it over to Gallo who handled the steady flow of messages toward the 
 rear. 
 
 The tables of organization for a telegraph Battalion called for twelve 
 telephone operators. The Battalion officers thought they had estimated 
 liberally when sixteen men were trained for this work. But to serve all of the 
 exchanges just mentioned required thirty. Operating was not a job which 
 any of the men would have chosen. It was "fussy" work. And the American 
 Army had grown so rapidly that the importance of using code names was not 
 thoroughly appreciated by some of the newer arrivals in France. Gallo says: 
 
 The Dugout at Minorville 
 
198 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 "Many times we had to refuse service; for instance — some one 
 would call the 406th Telegraph Battalion. Our instructions were 
 to say, 'We do not know the 406th Telegraph Battalion, never heard 
 of them.' If the person had called for 'Buster 41,' he would have 
 gotten the '406th' at once. But a good many never realized what 
 the codes amounted to and most of them tried to get around them 
 by saying, 'This is Captain or Major So-and-So.' Well, we had to 
 refuse them too, and if they cussed too hard we switched them on 
 to the 'old man' (Colonel Voris) for a cooling down." 
 
 Operating seven exchanges and maintaining the lines between them, to- 
 gether with furnishing large truck details for hauling troops and ammunition, 
 left few from a Battalion of a couple of hundred men for new construction. 
 But the troops of the ist Army had started an eight-wire line from Toul to 
 Saizerais and called for assistance, fearing that they would be unable to com- 
 plete it in time for the attack. During four days of excessive rain 
 Lieutenant Price with all of the men who could be spared ran the circuits 
 along the railroad from Toul to Pagny-sur-Meuse while the 401st Telegraph 
 Battalion (recruited from the New England Telephone and Telegraph Com- 
 pany) continued the line to ist Army Headquarters at Ligny en Barrois. 
 This line was probably one of the most irritating pieces of construction that 
 had been assigned to the Battalion. The time was extremely short and it 
 was a long trip from Liverdun to the job. The line was erected on poles, 
 most of which were "H" fixtures. There was a high and thorny hedge running 
 along the railroad and each coil of wire had to be dragged over this hedge, 
 taken up over the crossarm and handed down on the other side. And the rain 
 beat down constantly. However, the line was completed, and in time for the 
 offensive. 
 
 As new divisions were assigned to the Corps the French line leading 
 along the main axis toward Domevre became too heavily loaded to handle 
 the business. A detachment was gathered by Miller and eight additional 
 wires placed on these poles. Fortunately, the underground cable which 
 carried the line under the roads at crossings to prevent its being cut down by 
 the movement of observation balloons, contained enough wires for the new 
 circuits. 
 
 The time of the attack drew near. While the Army circuits were being 
 hurried, men from the maintenance details ran circuits from the Corps switch- 
 board at Saizerais to railheads and to ammunition dumps at Marbache, 
 Millery, Custines and Champigneulles. Arrangements were made for taking 
 care of the forward lines. Additional material was sent to various advance 
 centers. Ryno was made a supervising wire chief and traveled constantly 
 through the forward regions, inspecting exchanges to see that everything was 
 fit. From a communication standpoint, all was in readiness for the offensive. 
 
ST. MIHIEL 
 
 199 
 
 At one o'clock on the morning of September twelfth there was started such 
 a barrage as had never before been known. For four hours it continued. 
 The men in the small exchanges up the line were in a position to appreciate 
 its intensity. Buehler and Cannon at Manonville and Devlin and Klinge- 
 smith at Martincourt with their details were in the midst of it, being ahead of 
 the American artillery, but Gretzler at Domevre was up on the plateau from 
 which he could watch the action. Gaghagen in 
 his huge dugout at Minorville was so far under- 
 ground that, as he said later, except for trouble 
 on his lines he should hardly have known there 
 was anything extraordinary going on. 
 
 Koser gives a realistic description : 
 
 "By one o'clock of the morning of 
 September 12th the First Corps office 
 with its four boards was ready for the of- 
 fensive. 
 
 "At that hour I was asleep. At ten 
 minutes past, our barrage opened up. 
 Suddenly the whole world rocked. It was 
 magnificent, and it was terrible. I sat up 
 in my bunk to listen. Just then, in burst 
 our Chief Operator, Mike Lynch, calling 
 for me to turn to and help the night man, 
 Dave MacRonald. 
 
 "The very first call I answered was 
 from the C. G. of the Fifth Division, who 
 asked for 'Buster 3,' the code for Gen- 
 eral Craig. No man in the world could 
 have refrained from 'listening' in for a 
 moment. The C. G. said that every- 
 thing was going fine, no retaliation fire. 
 Each Division of the Corps was heard 
 from during the next half-hour, and when 
 the first let-up came I stole out on to the 
 hill to have a look about. I'll attempt 
 no description of the scene. If I did jus- 
 tice to it, no one would believe me. All 
 along the salient was an inferno of fire, 
 while the mighty thunder of the artillery 
 kept the skies and earth throbbing. For 
 fifteen minutes I gazed on this greatest 
 artillery concentration the earth has ever 
 seen, and then ran back to the ofl[ice. 
 
 "Our board wasn't very busy until 
 the Zero Hour, 5 A. M. But when the 
 Infantry went over, hell burst loose in The "Old Man"— Coi. Voris 
 
200 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 that office. There were four positions, and more than enough traffic 
 for four operators. I worked from three to eight in the morning, took 
 two hours off, came back at ten, was reheved at twelve, went back at 
 two and then stuck it out pretty much uninterruptedly until late in 
 the evening. The office was like a madhouse that first day, the boards 
 were too close together and we all yelled like furies to make ourselves 
 heard. Artillery, Signal Corps, Ambulance, Infantry, Aviation, Tanks, 
 Pigeon Service, Gas, Engineers — all pell-melled into this office, 
 each in a desperate hurry and fighting for right of way. Some- 
 times, when I look back on that day, I feel that should I ever be 
 asked whether I know anything about operation, I can truthfully 
 say that once upon a time I had a bit of experience with a little 
 board tucked away beneath a hill 'way off in a neck of the woods 
 you've never heard of." 
 
 These details kept their exchanges working, and repaired the frequently 
 torn wires. When the direction of the advance was determined. Colonel Voris 
 ordered an open wire line run through Lironville to Limy. Light crossarms 
 with Repp insulators and other material were brought up from Toul, and Mur- 
 daugh started his circuits north from Domevre. The work progressed rapidly 
 through Manonville to Noviant as the French poles were still almost intact. 
 But after the first kilometer north of Noviant all poles were gone and new ones 
 had to be cut from the neighboring forests and carried to the road. 
 
 The advance across the' sector was so rapid that on the first day Saizerais 
 seemed to drop into the S. O. S. Prisoners by the thousands were collected 
 in a field back of Corps Headquarters. The machinery for handling them was 
 swamped. One gang of five hundred came down the road. Four M. P.'s, 
 two mounted and two on foot had them in charge. They halted for a rest 
 just as dusk was gathering. As one of the guards dismounted a prisoner 
 leaped at the horse. The whole crowd instantly came to life. There was 
 no excitement among the M. P.'s, however. A couple of well directed shots, 
 resulting in as many dead Germans, convinced the captives that their life 
 expectancy was infinitely longer as prisoners than as "bullet dodgers" — especi- 
 ally when the bullets were coming from American pistols. 
 
 On the second day, a counter-offensive was started by the enemy against 
 the 23rd Infantry of the Second Division. Artillery support was needed 
 badly and the divisional artillery could not reach the oncoming Boches. 
 Corps Headquarters was called to see if word could be delivered to the divisions 
 to the right or left. Corps Headquarters telephoned to the 82nd Division and 
 to the 5th, but neither of these was within range. There was only one 
 thing left, and that was to call on the French artillery. But the line was in 
 trouble. Craigmile and Lester who were at the switchboard trying to make 
 the connection for General Craig, the First Corps Chief of Staff, were at their 
 wits' end. However, they set about examining the circuits and fovind a break 
 
ST. MIHIEL 20I 
 
 between the French board and its connection to the trunk leading to the 
 French artillery board in another part of the town. They cleared the trouble 
 in three minutes and the French artillery set down a barrage which enabled 
 the 23rd Infantry to stop the attempted German action. 
 
 According to the plans at General Headquarters, the American Forces 
 were to carry on two offensives during September. The St. Mihiel attack was 
 to begin around the loth, and about September 25th an American force was 
 to move on the Argonne. The plans provided that the First Army Corps was 
 to assist in opening the St. Mihiel drive, but on the fourth day was to with- 
 draw and move to the west to take part in the Argonne offensive. 
 
 The Corps was withdrawn as prearranged. On the seventeenth Lieutenant 
 Hasskarl with his "flying squadron" left to prepare the new Headquarters 
 with telephone facilities. 
 
 Throughout the eighteenth preparations were made for moving all of the 
 Corps troops, including the 406th, and as night gathered, a convoy consisting 
 of over a thousand trucks and other motor vehicles was on the roads headed 
 for the new center of action. 
 
Chapter XXI 
 
 The Argonne 
 
 |IGID orders had been issued to envelope the transfer of troops from 
 the St. Mihiel region in the greatest secrecy. No vehicles of any kind 
 were to be allowed on the roads before one hour after sunset nor after 
 one hour before sunrise. During hours of daylight all vehicles were to be off 
 the roads and concealed under trees. No camp fires were permitted. The end 
 of the column, made up of the 322d Field Battalion and the 406th Telegraph 
 Battalion left Saizerais by the light of a brilliant moon shortly after nine o'clock. 
 When the train reached the main road leading to Toul an artillery outfit, the large 
 guns drawn by caterpillar tractors creeping slowly along, held up progress and 
 the end of the Corps' column did not pass Toul until two o'clock. Daylight was 
 beginning to break as the column passed through Void, but as rain was falling 
 and there was no chance for Boche observation, orders forbidding daylight 
 travel were withdrawn and the movement continued. Frequently French 
 artillery organizations passing along the road separated the units. But the day 
 wore on with the weary men cramped in the trucks munching their sandwiches 
 and corned beef, and alighting to stretch whenever the column was stalled. 
 
 By evening the convoy had become widely scattered and the 406th 
 proceeded under its own officers, stopping at Ligny for mess. Bar-le-Duc 
 was passed in total darkness and Rumont was reached at midnight. 
 
THE ARGONNE 
 
 203 
 
 The route now led along the splendidly maintained highways which had 
 been an important factor in the defense of Verdun. Daylight dawned on the 
 twentieth with the 406th hopelessly stuck on the road between Fleury and 
 Rarecourt. Each side of the road was jammed with French artillery. A long 
 supply train and an ambulance train were trying to work their way south and 
 the Corps troops were working north. A. E. F. orders made the senior officer 
 present (in this case Captain Griest) personally responsible for the immediate 
 relief of any block. After hours of incessant labor, the trucks were maneu- 
 vered through the narrow lane between the artillery. Fortunately rain was 
 falling. Had the weather been clear, enemy bombs would have played havoc 
 with the congested trucks and troops. 
 
 About noon Rarecourt was reached. Lieutenant Hasskarl had already 
 established the Headquarters' exchange. Old "Vic" had become chtunmy 
 with the Mayor who turned over his house and barn to the Signal men for 
 billets while the mess and shop organization were quartered in nearby sheds. 
 
 Corps Headquarters occupied the Mairie. The French operated one sec- 
 tion of switchboard and the second section was manned by Koser and Hale. 
 In short order, Dickson with Mumford and his installers had two fifty-line 
 American positions in service. The Battalion originally possessed four of 
 these sections but the First Army commandeered two at La Ferte, which 
 when activities ceased in November had not been returned. 
 
 Before the American Telegraph office was established, the French Telegraph 
 Office at Souilly had accumulated a hundred messages for the First Corps 
 
 Corps Headquarters at Rarecourt 
 
204 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 which Earlix "took" over the French apparatus. The French instruments 
 print the dots and dashes on a tape from which the operator at his leisure 
 writes out the message. But that method did not suit Earlix, who relates: 
 
 "I went to the French office and received the messages over their 
 wire. They had a tape machine and ticking was very soft, but I 
 could receive much faster and more accurately by ear than by read- 
 ing the tape, so I tore the tape out and received from the sound. The 
 French operator was sending to me in their 'continental' code^ and the 
 French soldiers running the French telephone and telegraph office 
 were acting so excitedly over my not paying attention to the tape 
 that they nearly had a fit. After receiving twenty-five messages my 
 hand became tired, and I sent the orderly to our office for the type- 
 writer. Putting the messages down on the typewriter instead of 
 writing by hand, capped the climax for the Frenchmen. A few days 
 later, I invited the French corporal to see our telegraph office and 
 he was surprised beyond measure." 
 
 The American telegraph office was placed in a small building in the school 
 yard nearby, and as the telegraph business increased, Earlix with his detail were 
 handling over sixteen thousand words daily. 
 
 Major Wattles from the Third Corps at Rampont visited the Battalion 
 on the afternoon of the arrival and found a sleepy crowd after their two 
 nights and a day on the road. But more work was ahead. The French were 
 planning to leave the sector and the Corps was to take over the operation of 
 the area switchboards and lines on the following day. Plans were made for 
 handling twelve exchanges. 
 
 The next morning, September twenty -first, details took up their new 
 duties, first struggling with the records of the lines which entered the switch- 
 boards. At the same time survey details started over the region to gather 
 data about the location of lines so that Captain Gauss might keep his circuit 
 map up to date. In addition to the one at Rarecourt, the principal exchanges 
 in the Corps net were at La Vignette, Clermont and Auzeville; these three, 
 situated along the main route from St. Menehould to Verdun, were the bases 
 of the 77th, 28th and 35th Divisions respectively, which were to open the 
 Argonne attack. Lieutenant Guy was stationed at Clermont to supervise 
 this forward lateral axis. Next in order of importance was the old French 
 Army Headquarters at Triaucourt where Gaghagen with a small group oper- 
 ated the French switchboard. Scattered between Triaucourt and the forward 
 lateral were exchanges at Futeau, Beaulieu, Froidos, Lavoye, Grange le Comte, 
 Autrecourt, Brizeaux and Foucaucourt, all operated by the 406th. 
 
 The old French communication net to the rear of the forward lateral was in 
 excellent condition and quite complete, this region having formed the left 
 wing of the defenses of Verdun in 1916. The liaison officer, Lieutenant de 
 Lauriston, became particularly helpful to the Corps Signal Officer in this area 
 
THE ARGONNE 
 
 205 
 
 Outside the "P. C." (Post of Command) at Clermont 
 
 because he had personally directed much of the construction centering around 
 Clermont. There was, however, to be greater concentration of troops in this 
 area than ever before. To provide for additional demands on the telephone 
 service, Miller and Gretzler set out to place four circuits between Rarecourt 
 and Clermont as the latter was an important center on the main axis of advance 
 mapped out for the First Corps. 
 
 The Clermont exchange was located in a huge dugout on the side of a hill 
 from which could be seen the whole valley of the Aire as it stretched north- 
 ward toward Varennes. From an observation post at the top of the hill, 
 which was reached through a long dark tunnel at the side of the exchange, 
 could be seen the German positions in the neighborhood of Vauquois and the 
 eastern edge of the Argonne. The exchange equipment comprised two French 
 switchboards. Outside of the exchange was a high tower which formed a 
 terminal for the lines connecting to the exchange and also the test point for 
 some fifty circuits which passed this point but did not enter the exchange. 
 Long had a real job classifying these lines. The French details had been 
 removed from this and all other exchanges in the Corps area except Rarecourt 
 as soon as the Corps troops arrived. All of the sketches and records were 
 in French or Italian as the Italians had recently vacated the Argonne sector. 
 However, the men in charge of the exchanges and surveys prepared the data 
 and Captain Gauss completed an up-to-the-minute circuit map. 
 
 Just when Colonel Voris determined to start a new open wire line running 
 
2o6 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 north from Clermont, the Corps commandeered many of the Battalion trucks. 
 Eighteen were dispatched in charge of Urffer to report at Bois Lavoye. Others 
 were sent to Souilly to haul wire from the army signal park to the divisions. 
 Urffer and his detail with a load of ammunition started from Bois Lavoye on a 
 long trip : 
 
 "The ammimition details were of the hair-raising variety, for 
 on these trips the 75 mm. shells had to be moved up to the 'second 
 position,' meaning the one that the guns would reach following the 
 success of the attack. The larger ones were to be hauled up to the 
 former location of the 75's, this being the future position of the 155's 
 and the 240's. 
 
 "As nine cars was the limit in one section, our train was cut in 
 two, and I was put in charge of the first which consisted of heavy 
 trucks. Our light trucks were in the second section which was in 
 charge of a noncom from the First Corps balloon section. 
 
 "The roads north from a certain village were supposed to lead 
 me to the 155 positions of the 35th Division. Such were the direc- 
 tions given by some officer who evidently had never tried to find . 
 these positions himself for he was all wrong. When I reached the 
 zone of action, no officers knew of any 155 positions. However, 
 big guns were arriving and going into positions along a field about 
 three hundred yards north of the main road. These big guns were 
 being moved by tractors which dug up the roads to such an extent 
 that motor trucks were stuck in the mud and movement was 
 held up for long periods. To make matters worse and causing still 
 more confusion, the Germans commenced shelling the roads and 
 fields throughout the entire section. Somehow during the night 
 while I was walking ahead getting information, my section got tangled 
 up and when I got back, three of my 'D' Company men with their 
 trucks had gone. I could not find any trace of the missing men. 
 I did find two 'E' Company men during the search and I promptly 
 attached their two truck loads to my train. After a trying effort 
 which lasted about seven hours, we managed to locate the spot 
 designated as the 155 positions, 35th Division, and unloaded. To 
 negotiate the return journey we hooked the five trucks together as 
 closely as possible and started 'home.' All but three men of the 
 first section had done their work as per orders. Those men, Wm. 
 Dobbie, Irving Kreider and George Erb, were thrown out of the 
 train by being tangled up with an artillery regiment also moving up, 
 and by the time they had extricated themselves from the horses and 
 guns they were up against the road barriers of the reserve trenches 
 and could plainly hear the artillery going into action. Kreider and 
 Erb managed to connect up with the second section and came home 
 with them, while to Mr. Wm. Dobbie goes the medal, for the Scotch- 
 man saw a 155 in action, and one place was as good as another to 
 him. So friend Dobbie carried his 155's right to the men who shipped 
 them to Fritz. He managed to do this and still beat the rest of 
 the detail back to our station by six hours." 
 
THE ARGONNE 
 
 207 
 
 As the time for the opening of the attack approached, the line north from 
 Clermont, planned by Colonel Voris, was started so as to be ready when the 
 divisions began to advance. Construction on this line, which became familiar 
 as the "high line," continued until the Armistice. It was built some two hun- 
 dred meters away from the main highway to safeguard it should the highway 
 be shelled. And there seemed every chance that this highway might receive 
 
 "Shipping Them to Fritz" 
 
 attention from the enemy, as shells were constantly falling around Clermont. 
 Poles were cut along the edge of the forest and carried across the fields. The 
 men were kept scattered as much as the work would permit, so as not to at- 
 tract too much notice. All of the men that could be collected were used on 
 the new line and a plea was sent to the Army that it take over the exchanges 
 in the rear areas to release the men for work on the forward line. But these 
 little exchanges were not on the American Army axis of advance and the Army 
 Signal Officer perf erred lending to the 406th a company from the 401st 
 Telegraph Battalion to help with the construction. All of the men of the 
 322d Battalion who were not otherwise engaged were also loaned to Lieutenant 
 Price and the line grew rapidly past Neuvilly and toward the front. 
 
 When on the afternoon of September 25th a field order was issued which 
 set the following day for an attack, some of the small offices toward the rear 
 were abandoned and circuits "cut through" to relieve as many maintenance 
 
2o8 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 men as possible for the forward areas. The exchanges along the advance 
 lateral had become increasingly active as the divisions moved from these 
 bases toward their positions in the lines. They took with them their Signal 
 men and left the 406th Battalion to carry on not only the Corps business but 
 
 The Bridge at Boureuilles 
 
 that which developed from the administrative work of the divisions as well. 
 At Vignette where Murdaugh was located, plans were made to move the 
 switchboard in case the Germans should begin to shell the town, from the little 
 frame building half buried in the side of the hill to a large and secure dugout 
 nearby. As a further indication to Murdaugh at Vignette that attack was 
 near, mounted couriers arrived and he was instructed to establish an advance 
 message center for the Corps, using the mounted men to carry messages should 
 the circuits between La Vignette and Corps Headquarters be shelled out of 
 service. Murdaugh says: 
 
 "This as good as told us that the band was going to play that 
 night. Up to this time only an occasional shell came rolling in. We 
 were thankful that in the advance the wires held to the rear of us and 
 that the mounted runners did not have any errands back to Corps 
 Headquarters." 
 
 The offensive started with a barrage at eleven-thirty on the night of Septem- 
 ber twenty-sixth over the whole front, the First Corps holding the left sector. 
 It seemed as if all of the artillery in the world had been concentrated, making 
 
THE ARGONNE 
 
 209 
 
 the sky a blaze of light and quaking the earth with the terror of its explosions. 
 
 The next morning the reports were of most satisfactory progress and the 
 high line was pushed ahead, while Woodward, Miller and Tritle were 
 sent forward to make surveys. Now that the advance had started, the divi- 
 sions needed more wire and the trucks of the 406th were dispatched to the 
 Army and loaded for the divisions in line. Their progress was hampered by 
 the crowded roads. And the bridge at Boureuilles had been destroyed by the 
 Germans. To make the congestion worse, two mines had been exploded near 
 Boureuilles, effectively blocking the roads. The trucks were jammed without 
 turning a wheel for sixteen hours and many Americans were killed and wounded 
 by the well directed shell fare. Although shells were landing all around, the 
 six drivers of the 406th escaped injury, the only "casualty" being a button 
 which was shot from Kreider's coat. 
 
 It could not be determined whether the attack would follow north along 
 the Argonne Forest or northeast through Baulny, but Corps Headquarters 
 decided to establish an advance P. C. at Cotes de Forimont. Lieutenant 
 
 The "High Line" 
 
 Price was recalled from his work on the high line, and collecting his P. C. 
 gang under Cowan, he hurried to Forimont which had just been vacated by the 
 35th Division, and installed the switchboards. The Chief of Staff distinguished 
 the exchange by assigning to it the code of "Bonehead." The new open wire 
 line had been completed to Neuvilly, at which point circuits were connected 
 
LLQLND 
 
 — Main Highways 
 -^ Railroads 
 ~ The Hiqh Line 
 Sc3.le 
 
 5 10 
 
 Kilometers 
 
 THE ARGONNE 
 210 
 
THE ARGONNE 211 
 
 to "Bonehead," this work being completed about nine in the evening with the 
 rain pouring in torrents. 
 
 Strange as it may seem, there were a few men in the BattaHon who had as 
 yet avoided intimate contact with cooties. Tomlinson, possibly because he 
 had been a cook, was one of these. He was in the "Bonehead" detachment, 
 having been transferred at his own request from mess duty. That the new 
 home was not the most pleasant place, even in war time may be gathered from 
 his remarks : 
 
 "Some twenty of us were sent up to this dugout, which was one of 
 a series on the French side of a hill. It was here that I found my first 
 cootie. Great excitement stirred the men and a general cootie hunt 
 was started. Such a time as we had taking baths in a basin! We 
 stayed at 'Bonehead' for about five weeks, during which life was one 
 mad scramble, first away from cooties and then after something to 
 eat." 
 
 While everybody was working at top notch, another call came to the 
 Battalion to appoint men for the Army Candidates School. Dickson and Lutz 
 were the men sent away. The hole left vacant in the office at Rarecourt was 
 filled by taking Gretzler from his dugout at Grange le Comte, and Buehler 
 was made top sergeant to succeed Lutz. The new candidates went through 
 the school with flying colors. Lieutenant Dickson was made Assistant 
 Signal Officer of the 41st Division and Lieutenant Lutz was placed in the 
 312th Field Signal Battalion. 
 
 Hasskarl and Guy remained in charge of the exchanges at Rarecourt and 
 Clermont as the Signal Officer of the Corps insisted that commissioned officers 
 remain at these important places. Foust took over the construction of the 
 high line and pushed it on toward Boureuilles. To facilitate the work, the 
 men were moved to Varennes. To Meigs had been assigned the supervision 
 of operation and maintenance. 
 
 During the first week in October the bulk of the Battalion's work was far 
 north of Rarecourt and the Battalion Headquarters were moved to Locheres, 
 a small village on the edge of the Argonne, also occupied by the 322d Battalion 
 and a dressing station of the 28th Division. Locheres had been occupied by 
 many troops and it was full of rats. Hardtack had a wonderful time assisting 
 the men in hunting the rodents. The rats seemed to be particularly fond of 
 Company "E's" clerk, Grimm, especially at night. He decided to find the 
 reason, and upon investigation he discovered that Giles had been storing 
 cheese beneath the straw bed. Needless to say, thereafter, Giles did not 
 use Grimm's bed for a larder. The shops were installed in a large bam and 
 the mess organization in another. At this time. Lieutenant Schmidt joined 
 the Battalion and was appointed Battalion Adjutant to relieve Sergeant-Major 
 Magill who had been doing double duty since the beginning of September. 
 
212 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Lieutenant Foust's detachment was in pup tents with batteries of 75's both 
 in front and in back of them. These guns drew the fire of the enemy but 
 despite the distractions, the second week in October saw the open circuits 
 completed to Varennes. All of the important circuits south of Varennes were 
 cut over to the high line and communication between "Bonehead" and the 
 divisions was very satisfactory. Foust continued the line to Montblainville. 
 From that point north, the construction was turned over to Lieutenant Meigs. 
 
 On the NeuvUly- Varennes Road 
 
 His detachment with a detail from the 322d Battalion salvaged many of the 
 poles upon which the Germans had strung their camouflage screens along the 
 roads toward Cheppy, and used them between Montblainville and Exermont. 
 From the latter town north there was a line built by the enemy and as almost 
 all of the poles were in good condition, they were utilized to reach Apremont. 
 
 At some points it was necessary to work directly in front of American 
 Artillery. The shells on their way to the enemy scarcely cleared the heads 
 of the construction men. At such places it was worse than useless to erect 
 poles, for they would have been knocked down in short order. So holes were 
 dug and poles left for erection as soon as the guns changed location. 
 
 Each morning it was Captain Griest's duty to report at Colonel Voris' 
 office in Rarecourt to go over the situation and read the reports of operations. 
 On October tenth, the Colonel informed the Captain that he had been com- 
 missioned a Major. The new Major continued to command the Battalion 
 
THE ARGONNE 
 
 213 
 
 during the remainder of the war and until it was prepared for return to the 
 United States. 
 
 Meigs carried the high line as far as Apremont, but the Boche still occupied 
 the forest close by and machine gun nests infested its eastern edge. Small 
 groups went forward and reached Chatel Chehery. But on account of 
 
 1 — Varennes 2 — Chatel Chehery 3 — Comay 
 
 conditions in that section it was decided that the high line had been carried 
 as far as was then necessary. 
 
 During this lull Lieutenant Meigs moved his detachments into a dugout in 
 Varennes so they would be closer to the scene of operations when construction 
 should start again. He also desired to reserve this dugout as a test point in 
 case the Army should complete a forward lateral then being constructed. 
 Although the troops had advanced beyond Chatel Chehery, the roads near 
 Varennes were still badly congested by long trains of supplies going north and 
 trains of wounded moving south. 
 
 At this time two more officers were lost to the Battalion. Foust and Guy 
 were returned to the United States for the purpose of training troops. Dad 
 Murdaugh took charge of the office at Clermont, and Gretzler continued at 
 
214 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Rarecourt. The duties of adjutant again fell upon the shoulders of Magill 
 as Lieutenant Schmidt was put in command of Company "E." 
 
 Work on the high line was restuned when the 28th Division drove the enemy 
 back. At Apremont the line joined another German line which was in such 
 good condition that the work went on rapidly until Chatel Chehery was 
 reached. 
 
 The enemy made a strong stand around Marcq and Grandpre, but at the 
 same time there were persistent rumors of a break in the German morale. 
 
 It was decided to place additional circuits on the line between Varennes 
 and Chatel Chehery. The 406th started at the north end assisted by a 
 company from the 322d, while the Army Signal Office agreed to start work at 
 the south end. The rain was falling and the road along the west side of the 
 Aire valley was choked with the heavy traffic of supplies for the fighting 
 troops. The 406th finished the circuits from the exchange at Chatel 
 Chehery to the point where the high line met the main road, but the Army 
 troops were caught in the jam and failed to reach the job. Lieutenant Meigs 
 with his trusty detail from the 406th continued work until long after dark, 
 and starting again early the following morning, completed the circuits. 
 
Chapter XXII 
 ^^Bonehead'' 
 
 THE lull in the Argonne attack gave the construction details an opportunity 
 to prepare for the next move. But the operators at their switchboards in 
 the dugouts were busier than ever as plans were made for a renewal of the 
 advance. Tact, diplomacy, judgment, coolness, and a ready wit were necessary 
 to cope successfully with the many situations which were bound to arise in deal- 
 ing with the "subscribers." It will be recalled that in the United States during 
 the war, commercial telephone service had to give way at times to the demands 
 of the emergency service required by the government. And the girls at the 
 switchboards had no easy time satisfying the requests for service which in 
 many cases seemed urgent to the user of the service, but which in reality were 
 of secondary importance when compared with government calls which had a 
 direct bearing on the war situation. 
 
 Consider then the men at the switchboards near the front lines, who were 
 at the beck and call of officers as they directed the progress of actual battle. 
 Every officer thought his calls should receive immediate attention. This was 
 perfectly natural. Many times the calls were for help, sometimes for more 
 
 215 
 
2i6 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 men, sometimes for ammunition. Perhaps there was need for an artillery 
 attack to repulse the on coming enemy; or it may have been important informa- 
 tion to be communicated to the rear, or orders to be transmitted to the front. 
 Consider the necessity for quick communication, and couple with it the shell 
 torn wires and the noise and confusion from explosions of bombs and the firing 
 of guns and a picture of the life in a front line exchange may be visualized. 
 
 There were regulations which stipulated that certain officers could secure 
 a connection to a desired telephone even though that telephone were in use. 
 On one occasion the Chief of Staff at Rarecourt called for a certain General. 
 The General was talking but the Chief of Staff had the right of way. Koser 
 who was at the board, "cut in" on the General's line: 
 
 "I beg your pardon, sir, but — " 
 
 "I'm using this line," was the response in such a tone that Koser could see 
 visions of a court martial. Just then the Chief of Staff came back and his 
 demands were put in such language that Koser could see visions of two court 
 martials. What to do? It was a question. Koser decided that he would 
 prefer the General's wrath to that of the Chief of Staff. So he cut in on the 
 busy line and thimdered, 
 
 "The Chief of Staff demands immediate preferred connection on this line!" 
 
 It had the desired effect. 
 
 Sometimes there were humorous incidents. Gallo was operating at "Bone- 
 head." A lieutenant asked for a connection. When the connection was 
 established Gallo could get no answer from the lieutenant who had placed 
 the call. 
 
 "Hello! hello!" called Gallo. No response. 
 
 "Hello, Bonehead!" he repeated several times. 
 
 This evidently revived the lieutenant for he came back: 
 
 "Who's a bonehead? Young man, do you know who you are talking to?" 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 "Well, this is Lieutenant and I want you to understand that I'm 
 
 no bonehead." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "What is your name and organization?" 
 
 "I don't know, sir," from Gallo, which was in accord with regulations. 
 
 "You don't know? I'm going to report you." 
 
 Gallo was too busy to continue the argiiment so he switched the lieutenent 
 to a French operator and as he says : 
 
 "There was some real fun because the lieutenant couldn't speak French 
 and the operator couldn't understand English, so I left him to cool off." 
 
 When the lieutenant reported the matter to Colonel Voris, the Signal 
 Officer first had a good laugh, and then told him he was glad there were such 
 efficient operators with the First Corps. 
 
aa 
 
 S^cKJ^r 
 
 MtOO 
 
 >^^^'' ^r».y Q^^, ^^,4 A: 
 /jr- Oct- /f/a 
 
 SIGNAL LINES IN THE ARGONNE 
 217 
 
THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 The operating crowd at "Bonehead" had a dull time when not on duty. 
 There was nothing to do on the deserted hillside, and they used up their energy 
 fighting rats, cooties, and fleas. Hannam was one of the operators: 
 
 "The headquarters in this instance were in old French dugouts 
 penetrating the hill possibly loo feet, well reinforced with tin ceilings 
 and walls to keep out the dampness. Air raids and shelling were a 
 matter of indifference to us here; in fact, it was more or less of an 
 amusement to stand at the front door and watch old Jerry drop them 
 in the valley back of us. 
 
 "Well, if the dugouts were intrenched, so were the rats. They 
 
 1 — General Dickman. 2 — Colonel Voris. 3 — General Craig. 
 IN FRONT OF "BONEHEAD" 
 
 used to do squads right and left by battalions over the tin ceiling 
 continuously and as soon as lights were out or it quieted down, they'd 
 come out and run over our faces, chew our hair and eat our clothes, 
 and they were ably assisted by fleas and cooties. The Germans were 
 fighting every inch of ground above us here in the Argonne with 
 their machine gun nests. 
 
 "We existed at old 'Bonehead' for about five weeks. Traffic jams 
 were on the roads for days at a time and for mile after mile. So 
 supplies were more or less scarce and we lived on corned beef hash 
 and French biscuits. The seats of our trousers were worn out and I 
 had a hole as big as a plate burnt in the back of my coat, but we 
 
" BON EHEAB'' 219 
 
 didn't care, for the news was good, and on this job we always had 
 plenty of it." 
 
 Peterson, another switchboard operator, wrote the following while at 
 ■Bonehead": 
 
 "Tinae: Sunday afternoon — i o'clock. 
 
 "Place: Cotes de Forimont. 
 
 "Scene: Our little homelike dugout, Bonehead. 
 
 "The hero sits on the lower deck of a pair of bunks with a well- 
 worn bench pulled up to him. Candle and writing materials on the 
 bench. Clothes, towels and accoutrements hang promiscuously 
 about. A rat is playing hide and seek between the supports and the 
 iron ceiling. The hero speaks to the rat in a light, musing manner: 
 
 " 'Well, old timer, here we are all by ourselves. The boys are 
 out pulling wire and you and I left here alone. Oh, I see that snicker 
 on your face; you'd be a lot better satisfied if I went out too, so you 
 could come down and look through my stuff and see if I brought 
 in anything good to eat lately. It's no use, boy, I ate that candy just 
 about as quick as I got it yesterday and cried for more; you'll have 
 to double time if you want to beat me at that. You little bum ! You 
 wait till a fellow puts his lights out before you come out in the open. 
 
 " 'Say, did you see that party we had this morning? You sure 
 would have liked that, I'll bet. They were the best hot cakes I've 
 eaten since I left old U. S. A. Yes, we had to thin out the molasses a 
 good bit to make it go around, but she went good, and listen, bo, if 
 we don't get the ambition to clean up that batter can, you can have 
 what's left. No, the molasses is all gone, but you better be glad to 
 get the batter. Why? Because we're going to light out of these 
 parts before long. And you're going to starve to death when you 
 don't have two governments to pay your board bill. No, there's not 
 going to be any more soldiers around here a-tall. Didn't you hear the 
 news? Why, the Boche has given the war up as a bad job. Found 
 out that he didn't know as much about it as he thought. He's trying 
 to duck out now, get out from under; maybe we'll let him and maybe 
 we won't, but any way you take it, he loses. So, old timer you'd 
 better prepare for a hard winter. I've been sitting around here all 
 morning doping it over. Yes sir, it's well ove'r a year since I've been 
 home and sometimes it seems like ten. So this morning I just took 
 a little ride over the briny. You've never seen the Statue of Liberty, 
 old boy, and you've missed a lot. She's about the best piece of 
 scenery that ever a man looked at. But after I passed her I never 
 looked back. I had my eyes on the dock, where we landed. I 
 crossed the ferry and hopped a train and landed in Broad Street 
 Station in nothing flat. And there's another sight you've missed, 
 old boy. You think we fellows are just a big edition of yourselves and 
 that we don't know anything else but holes in the ground. Well, 
 you've got a lot to learn. If you could just see Broad and Chestnut 
 once, those little beads in your head would pop out like splinters 
 from a shell. Well, boy, I had mighty important business on hand. 
 
220 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 but I just stood there for five minutes gazing in every direction and 
 she was all there, not a single shell hole in the street and not a splatter 
 of nicks and tears in a building nor a pane of glass missing. And a 
 million pretty girls around — but when I noticed them I jumped quick, 
 for my business came back to me. 
 
 " 'I hopped on a train and went through a big rat hole that makes 
 yours look as small as a flea on an elephant, crossed the river and 
 hopped in a taxi, for those trolley cars are awful slow. I watched the 
 old landmarks whiz by, sorta surprised that they were still stand- 
 ing, and looking just the same as a year ago ; in fact, I began to wonder 
 if I'd been over here with you fellows, in the biggest war in history. 
 It began to fade like a dream, the Court House, the Armory, City 
 Hall, little ole Harleigh, Browning Road, Hill Crest, Crestmont — - 
 Hey! Hey! there, chaiiffeur, whoa! wait a minute, turn to the left — , 
 look out for No. 121. Yes sir, old rat, there she stood just as I left 
 her. I was sorta expectin' to see her a different color, that old choco- 
 late brown pretty well faded out, and I heard she was gonna be 
 painted this month, but she looked good, for that's my home, old rat. 
 There ain't no use you tryin' to imagine it and shinin' your eyes at 
 me that way, and duckin' around the corner as if you were tired 
 listenin', 'cause I'm gonna spin this yam to the end. You've never 
 seen anything like that little old house, and never will as long as you 
 stay in this country. You wanta wise up and come to America after 
 the war. 
 
 " 'Well, old rat, I forgot the chauffeur and that little old taxi- 
 meter, and ran up those steps in one hop. Rat, you'll never have 
 anybody so glad to see you as they were. They hadn't finished 
 breakfast yet, but my Peggy was there anyhow. I can't go into all 
 the details, old boy, you wouldn't imderstand them, but Mother, 
 Dad, Sis, and the Girl were all there, and they were just cleaning up a 
 bunch of hot cakes. Ha, that makes your eyes shine, don't it? And 
 listen here, varmint, they weren't the kind we had, made of flour and 
 water with watered molasses on 'em, but flour, and milk with some sugar 
 in to make 'em brown and butter on 'em and real maple syrup. And 
 they were on china dishes and the dishes were on a white cloth, and 
 the sun came trickling through the curtains and glinted on silver 
 eating tools. Ha! Ha! You poor misguided rat, you're going back 
 to your hole. You think I'm pulling some soldier bull on you; goes to 
 show you never lived any place but in a dugout. You want to snap out 
 of it and get out in the world where people live, and see something. 
 You don't believe either, I guess, that anybody would leave a feed 
 like that just to look at me, do you? Well they did. They forgot 
 all about eating, just to listen to stories of this business over here, 
 but I said I'd rather tell 'em about it with a mouth full of those hot 
 cakes, and wet my whistle with some of the best coffee in the world, 
 au lait, too. You can put your hat on now, old rat, I'm through. 
 I had to come right back here to see that old Bill HohenzoUem didn't 
 pull any tricks on us at the last minute. He better not. He's 
 getting off d easy if he takes what he's asking for, and if he 
 
BONEH EAD" 
 
 221 
 
 tries to take the jump on us, he'll be cutting his own throat. But 
 remember what I told you, you'd better be looking up a home for 
 yourself where your grub supply will be more permanent. So long, 
 I'll see you to-night.' Curtain." 
 
 It was during this lull that Chauffeurs Gardiner and "Chubby" Johnson 
 got into trouble. They were driving some of the officers to Locheres when 
 one of the bearings on the car broke. They started with a motorcycle in 
 search of another bearing. They did not return that evening and the next 
 morning Gardiner telephoned that a car had run into them, knocking the 
 
 Building Roads in the Recaptured Territory 
 
 motorcycle into a ditch and that Johnson and he were in a hospital. Lieuten- 
 ant Macfarlan went to see the patients. He located Gardiner who had been 
 but slightly hurt, but nowhere was there any sign of "Chubby." Search was 
 made through every possible channel to determine Johnson's whereabouts. 
 Six weeks later a letter was received from him. He had been evacuated through 
 various hospitals and had just recovered sufficiently to write. He was then 
 at Bordeaux with a Signal Corps service company. He had received a cut in 
 his leg which required twenty stitches, and his knee was so badly twisted that 
 he was lame for months after he was discharged from the hospital. Gardiner 
 quickly recovered but soon afterward was transferred to another branch of the 
 service. 
 
 The advance was still held around Marcq and the Army rapidly organized 
 the area south of Varennes. Railroads were built along the valley of the Aire, 
 
222 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 requiring constant watchfulness on the part of the maintenance detail at 
 "Bonehead" so that telephone lines might be rerouted or raised before the 
 railroad trains along newly built lines should rip down the circuits. A narrow 
 gauge line was built through the Argonne Forest necessitating train dis- 
 patching circuits and telephones. 
 
 The French had a narrow gauge road running from La Vignette through 
 the Forest passing Croix de Pierre and Maison Forestier to a point a mile 
 south of the old Allied front line. The Boche had brought a narrow gauge 
 railroad south through Champ Mahaut to approximately a mile north of the 
 old German front trenches. The Army engineers planned to build the con- 
 necting link for this railroad across what a few days before had been No 
 Man's Land and thus reach Langon, with a branch to Apremont, and ulti- 
 mately to Grandpre which was still in the hands of the enemy. There were 
 hundreds of tons of ammunition which had been delivered to positions in the 
 middle of the Argonne Forest. This ammunition was needed at once at the 
 new advanced gun positions. To repair the roads and to build new ones 
 across the old No Man's Land, railroad connection to the quarry at Apremont 
 was essential. 
 
 Preliminary surveys were made for the necessary Signal lines and the 
 material for the work was shipped to Varennes. The next morning, Lieutenant 
 Meigs started sections north and south from the railway yard at Champ 
 Mahaut and Lieutenant Hasskarl with a detail from Company "E" started 
 north into the forest from the vicinity of Locheres. As soon as the circuits 
 were working on the southern portion of the line, Meigs took his men on toward 
 Langon. 
 
 As the Engineers succeeded in repairing the tracks leading south from 
 Champ Mahaut, a hand car was given to Donbaugh to aid in the delivery of 
 materials along the line. An "engineer" was needed for the car. A private 
 in Donbaugh's colored detail said that he had been a railroad man in the 
 States and he was put in charge of the car. For two days everything went 
 well. There was a down grade on the line where the tracks were in bad shape 
 and Sam had been warned to keep the car under control. Sam however, 
 knew all about the railroad business. 
 
 The next morning Donbaugh called the roll. When he came to Sam's name 
 there was no response. He called it again. Still no response. 
 
 "Where's Sam? Anybody know anything about him?" yelled out Don- 
 baugh. 
 
 "Ah tell you. Sergeant," one of the darkies spoke up. "You know Sam. 
 Well, Sam he went down de hill in the han' cah. Ah guess he went too fas'. 
 Cauz dey buried him, down theah at de bottom o' de hill. Ah doan 'specs 
 he'll be heah dis mohnin'." 
 
 In looking over the road and determining how poles might be cut and 
 
BONEH BAD 
 
 '^3 
 
 erected, one was appalled at the unbelievable courage and determination of 
 the American troops who had driven the Boches out of the strong positions. 
 The shell fire from the heavy guns had caved in the dugouts some of which 
 were twenty feet under ground and built of concrete. Across the waste, the 
 Engineers pushed their tracks and the 406th followed with the dispatch wires. 
 The dispatch circuits were completed to Apremont and Langon but Grand- 
 pre remained in the hands of the Germans. On October twenty -fifth, an order 
 
 Camouflaged Road in the Argonne 
 
 was published calling for an offensive. The Companies of the 406th were 
 collected at Varennes and Locheres, preparatory to making another drive with 
 the open wire lead — the high line. Various places along the valley were 
 examined in an effort to obtain quarters which would be nearer the center of 
 operations, Locheres by this time being some distance from the active work. 
 But the divisions were still massed around Chatel Chehery and Apremont, 
 with their rear echelons in a splendid system of concrete dugouts which the 
 Germans had built in the Forest around Champ Mahaut and Varennes. 
 Through the ravines leading into the valley along the edge of the Forest, there 
 were many dugouts and groups of cabins, but these were filled with traps and 
 poison gas and it was unsafe to enter them. The advance Headquarters of 
 the Corps still remained at "Bonehead" with the rear echelon at Rarecourt, 
 
224 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 this being possible largely because Colonel Voris had provided open wire 
 telephone lines as far as Comay, enabling the furnishing of dependable tele- 
 phone service between Corps Headquarters and the divisions up the line. 
 
 Lieutenant Meigs was summoned to appear before Colonel Voris on October 
 twenty-sixth. 
 
 "What have I done now?" thought Meigs. It was not in fear and trembling 
 that he entered the office. But he realized that he was facing a superior 
 officer. And he would have to swallow any medicine that was handed to him. 
 
 The Colonel sat at his desk. Meigs saluted. He felt that something was 
 about to happen. 
 
 The Colonel shoved a bundle of papers into his hands. 
 
 "What does that mean?" demanded Colonel Voris. 
 
 "I don't — " began the Lieutenant. 
 
 "Don't talk back to me. I want an explanation." 
 
 "But Colonel — " again began Meigs. 
 
 "Didn't I tell you not to talk back to me? You've been getting us into 
 hot water by helping yourself to whatever you wanted. Now you've got us 
 into a fine mess." 
 
 Meigs stood on one foot and then on the other. He nervously looked at 
 the papers in his hands, trying to make head or tail of the matter. All he 
 could see was a bundle of old requisitions for supplies. "You're in the army 
 now" was the only thought that came to his mind. 
 
 "Yes, sir," he said and saluted. 
 
 "Just one thing I want to say to you." 
 
 "Yes, sir," as he saluted again. 
 
 "Just read that," the Colonel handed him a telegram, "and tell me how 
 we are going to get out of such a pickle." 
 
 Meigs took the slip of paper. He read it. He rubbed his eyes. Then he 
 glanced out of a comer of his eye. He saw a twinkle in the Colonel's eye. 
 
 "Haw! Haw! Haw!" as only Meigs can laugh. 
 
 "Haw! Haw! Haw!" echoed the Colonel. 
 
 The telegram read: "Notify ist Lt. Fielding P. Meigs, 406th Telegraph 
 Battalion, he is promoted to Captain Signal Corps and have him forward ac- 
 ceptance of Commission and oath of office immediately." 
 
 The Germans were entrenched in formidable positions between St. Juvin 
 and Grandpre. The American troops massed for the attack. Two telephone 
 circuits between the Corps and the Headquarters of each division were essen- 
 tial. As new organizations moved into the vicinity of Comay and Fleville, 
 the circuits were run up the valley. With the help of the 322d Battalion, 
 eight circuits of twist supported by stakes recovered from the German 
 stores at the Crown Prince dump in the Forest were quickly strung across the 
 low lands between Varennes and Chatel Cheherry. 
 
" BONEH EAD'' 
 
 225 
 
 Schmidt and McKay, the latter a new master signal electrician, set out 
 with Major Griest to make observations on extending the high line. It 
 seemed likely that the next advance would continue through St. Juvin, and 
 on the hill south of Marcq there was an observatory from which with the aid of 
 field glasses, Boche telephone lines could be traced. Maps captured by the 
 divisional signal officers showed clearly the organization of the Boche territory, 
 not only the telephone and telegraph lines, but also the supply depots and 
 centers of industry. With the aid of these maps, the field glasses served to 
 indicate what the Signal Corps could count upon in pushing the lines ahead. 
 Near the top of the hill, American artillery had established a "flash ranging" 
 station equipped with a telescope. From this telescope the artillery men were 
 spotting the positions of the Boche guns by watching the flashes, and they 
 permitted the Signal men to use the telescope for checking the course of Boche 
 telephone lines. 
 
 A large connecting tower was observed in a cemetery to the north of St. 
 Juvin which seemed an ideal objective for the high line. Materials were 
 hauled as secretly as possible into Marcq to be ready as soon as the advancing 
 troops cleared the way. In the meantime, the north end of the circuits were 
 overhauled to the crest of the hill and many self-appointed "free subscribers" 
 were cut loose. The balloon and artillery organizations carried with them 
 men experienced in telephone wiring who had connected telephones to the 
 circuits, thereby securing service. 
 
 Si*-. 
 
 Ruins of Grandpre 
 
226 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 As preparations were being made for fast work when construction started, 
 another call came for appointees to the Candidates School. Murdaugh and 
 Collins were dispatched to Langres and obtained their commissions the follow- 
 ing February. The Battalion thereby lost two more valuable men. 
 
 At the end of October the Battalion trucks were commandeered to go all 
 the way back to Army Headquarters for signal supplies for the divisions 
 which were assembling for the drive. The organization scheme prepared by 
 the Chief Signal Officer provided that supplies be delivered by the Army as 
 far as Corps Headquarters and from there to divisions by the Corps troops. 
 This organization was not perfected, and the 406th throughout this operation 
 hauled wire all the way from the Army to the divisions and in addition fre- 
 quently hauled ammunition to the artillery positions. 
 
 After the Marne advance, Colonel Voris with Majors Hubbell and Behn, 
 prepared a report of the Signal Corps activities, recommending that the 
 responsibilities of Signal Corps troops be shouldered by fewer men than were 
 comprised in the field and telegraph battalions. After the St. Mihiel offensive, 
 Colonel Voris reported to General Headquarters that he would be willing to 
 try running his Corps with the Field Battalion alone. Late in October there 
 was a rumor that the 406th would be relieved and transferred from the 
 First Corps to the Third Army which was then being formed. Immediately, 
 details from the 322d Battalion were attached to each of the exchanges run 
 by the 406th, to observe methods of switchboard operation. But while this 
 arrangement for training was being completed, the new offensive started 
 and the Field Battalion details were withdrawn to work around division 
 headquarters. 
 
 On October thirtieth, Captain Meigs and Lieutenant Schmidt organized 
 their forces for continuing the line north of Marcq early the next morning. 
 As the section in which they were to work would be under enemy observation, 
 these officers were instructed to keep their men in small detachments. 
 
 The officers were to patrol the section constantly. There was a heavy fog 
 as the work started and good progress was made in clearing the old Boche 
 poles of scrap wire and in pushing the new copper wires while the visibility 
 was low. Later the sun came out, and driving the mist away, disclosed to the 
 Boche observers the glistening copper. A scattering machine gun fire was 
 turned on the wires. Then the shells began to arrive from the German bat- 
 teries and the men in the artillery observation posts on the hill objected to 
 allowing the work to continue as it was drawing fire on the artillery positions. 
 Captain Meigs told them that his orders were to stick until driven to cover by 
 enemy fire. But the shells soon began to fall so close to the line that work 
 was impossible. One shell sent a fragment through a wire which Riley was 
 tying to the pole. The fragment had bounced off the pole on which he was 
 working, but "Pat" stuck to his job imtil he had finished. 
 
'' BONEH EAD" 
 
 ii'j 
 
 
 Later in the day work 
 was resumed. Lieuten- 
 ant Schmidt's men were 
 working from the foot of 
 the hill. Captain Meigs' 
 crowd were nearer the top . 
 When the American bat- 
 teries on the south slope 
 opened fire, the shells on 
 their way to the Boche 
 scarcely cleared the tops 
 of the poles. The whine 
 as they flew past was con- 
 tinuous, and the breeze 
 could be distinctly felt. 
 This seemed a little too 
 close for comfort, but 
 Forwood, Haislop and 
 Spangler completed the 
 job, climbing the poles 
 until they could just 
 reach the wires and fasten , 
 them with their arms 
 
 stretched high above their heads. The next day to take advantage of the 
 fog, another early start was made. But the artillery commander had sta- 
 tioned four of his captains along this section of the line with instructions 
 that no Signal men should be allowed on the north slope of the hill. Cap- 
 tain Meigs visited the commander in his dugout and put up such a strenuous 
 plea that he was allowed to continue the work until the fog lifted. 
 
 When the attack started, and the Germans were driven back, the 
 Corps decided to move its advance P. C. to Chehery. The Chateau had 
 been occupied by the 8oth Division which was moving to Fleville — coded 
 "Fleabite" by that old friend of the 406th, Major Kelly, who had been made 
 Lieutenant Colonel and was the Signal Officer of the Division. Lieutenant 
 Hasskarl arrived at Chehery in the afternoon to put up the switchboards and 
 install the wiring. The 80th Division switchboard had been located in a well 
 reinforced comer of the basement. But since the enemy was being pushed 
 toward the north, it was decided to place the Corps switchboard and telegraph 
 offices in more comfortable quarters on the first floor. The wiring was com- 
 pleted that night much to the satisfaction of General Dickman, Commander 
 of the First Army Corps, who had succeeded General Liggett. The latter was 
 now in command of the ist Army. 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel Kelly 
 
Chapter XXIII 
 
 (•(• 
 
 Katnerad! 
 
 'OW that the Corps had moved its advance P. C. to Chatel Chehery, 
 the Battalion sought quarters in the neighborhood. Captain Meigs 
 had reserved a few dugouts near the town where the construction 
 sections from both Companies were temporarily quartered. But Battalion 
 headquarters, Company offices, shops, mess and supply detachments re- 
 mained at Locheres, twenty kilometers to the rear. No transportation was 
 available to move them forward, for nearly all of the Battalion trucks were 
 engaged in hauling wire to the divisions. There was also a detail maintain- 
 ing the office at Rarecourt, fifteen kilometers further- to the south. 
 
 On the morning of November 2nd when the attack was renewed Colonel 
 Voris with Colonel Behn decided personally to investigate the signal facilities 
 at St. Juvin. They estimated that the infantry would complete the occupa- 
 tion of Champigneulles in about two hours. The Signal officers were surprised 
 to find very few soldiers around St. Juvin and almost no sign of life in the valley 
 between this town and Champigneulles. Later they learned that the infantry 
 had fallen behind schedule, and when they were wandering around the hill 
 below St. Juvin this slope was in advance of the American troops. 
 
 Another man who prowled around St. Juvin somewhat prematurely was 
 Giles. He had been detailed, by request of the sergeant in charge of the Corps 
 
 228 
 
KJMERAD!" 229 
 
 pigeons, to assist in delivering birds to the divisions. Giles mounted his 
 motorcycle and started with the sergeant and a load of pigeons to St. Juvin. 
 The road was under heavy bombardment, American and German dead lying 
 everywhere. Ambulances were not allowed on the road, but because Giles 
 displayed the Signal Corps flags on his motorcycle and was carrying pigeons, 
 the guards permitted him to pass. Just beyond St. Juvin, machine guns were 
 sweeping the road. It was impossible to proceed farther. He turned back 
 into the town and there found the officer to whom the birds were consigned. 
 After hours of driving along roads torn with shells, and under constant fire he 
 made his way back to the Battalion. 
 
 Grandpre was bitterly contested by the Germans, who made a desperate 
 stand on the high ground at the north edge of the town. They were kept so 
 busy that they paid little attention to the signal line, and both Companies of 
 the 406th rushed the construction in the direction of St. Juvin. 
 
 The hunt for quarters nearer the front eventually brought results. Colonel 
 Voris suggested that the 406th take possession of a building which had been a 
 German soda water factory. The large stable of this place was floored with 
 concrete and the roof seemed to be in good condition. Headquarters was 
 established here, and the day was spent in persuading an engineer outfit to 
 remove their horses and mules which, being too feeble to go up the line, were 
 quartered in the building. During this and other advances many draft 
 animals, when they had become entirely exhausted from dragging the heavy 
 vehicles over the almost impassable roads, were abandoned to die along the 
 roadside. At times the faithful animals recovered and wandered aimlessly 
 over the country. One of them made his home with the Battalion at Locheres, 
 and was considered the particular property of Shinfessel. When the transfer 
 to St. Juvin was ordered Shinfessel was at a loss to know what to do with his 
 good old friend. By a stroke of salesmanship he disposed of the animal to 
 "Red" Sebring. The latter then had an elephant on his hands until Captain 
 Meigs came along and offered two francs for it. Sebring accepted "tout sweet." 
 Just as this transaction was completed the outfit to which the horse originally 
 belonged returned through Locheres and took it away from Meigs. Shinfessel 
 and Sebring kept out of the Captain's sight. 
 
 The Field Battalion installed a switchboard amidst the wreckage of St. 
 Juvin, and Meigs and Schmidt continued their efforts with the construction 
 sections until they had connected the high line through to this exchange. As 
 soon as the circuits were completed, many of them acted queerly. This was 
 found to be due to wires attached to the lines by troops between Comay and 
 Marcq. Throughout the afternoon and evening and again the following day, 
 the lines were patrolled and the telephones disconnected. 
 
 This long line which had been started at Clermont just before the opening 
 of the Argonne offensive ran through to St. Juvin, using Boche materials for a 
 
230 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 large part of the way, 
 including poles salvaged 
 from the enemy camou- 
 flage system. At first 
 when the Germans re- 
 treated through the 
 Argonne they cut down 
 their wires and poles to 
 prevent the Allies from 
 using them. Toward the 
 end however, as one of 
 the men put it, "the only 
 thing they seemed to be 
 A Dugout in the Argonne interested in Cutting down 
 
 was the record for the hundred yard dash." Months later a battalion com- 
 manded by Winston, formerly of the 406th, salvaged the high line. 
 
 By November fourth, the German retreat had turned into a rout and the 
 American infantry was being carried forward in trucks in an attempt to main- 
 tain contact with the fleeing Boches. Most of the circuits had been cut through 
 the exchange at Cotes de Forimont, and Price with his P. C. gang hurried on 
 to St. Juvin to await orders. Hardly had he become settled in the soda water 
 factory, expecting a brief rest after the long wade through the slow moving 
 caravans, when information was received that Corps Headquarters was to 
 be moved to Harricourt. Arrangements were at once made to turn over to the 
 Army all of the Signal responsibilities in the area south of St. Juvin and plans 
 were made to extend the high line north of that town. 
 
 Lieutenant Pearson was still at Locheres awaiting transportation for the 
 Battalion affairs. When the trucks arrived, although they had been con- 
 tinuously on the road for two days, they were at once loaded and with Major 
 Griest in command started north. Splendid time was made on the first part 
 of the journey as the main road east of the river was almost free from traffic. 
 A brief halt was made at St. Juvin and instructions were left with Magill to 
 move on to Harricourt early in the morning and to leave only enough men 
 at St. Juvin to care for testing on the high line. 
 
 Lieutenant Price's outfit had arrived at Harricourt early in the evening 
 and was shown to a system of warehouses surrounding an old German rail- 
 head where Corps Headquarters was to be established. It was too dark to 
 do any work that evening and unsafe to have fires or lights so the section 
 immediately turned in for a rest. Hannam describes the situation: 
 
 "I did not like the looks of the place; it appeared to me as if it 
 might be popular with the bombing squadrons, and the shacks were 
 
KAMERAB! 
 
 231 
 
 not very substantial. Boche planes came over about an hour later by 
 the dozens. Frankly, I was never so scared before and would sooner 
 go through an artillery barrage any day than to have those birds buz- 
 zing over my head, dropping their toys apparently everywhere." 
 
 The main truck train which was speeding along the road from St. Juvin 
 turned north above Grandpre and soon ran into trouble. Near the crossroad 
 leading toward Beffu there was a solid jam, but thinking that this might be 
 cleared before long, every one curled up for a nap. At two o'clock in the morn- 
 ing the road was still blocked, and leaving the train, Major Griest started 
 ahead to investigate. Just south of the crossroad two five-ton trucks had 
 slid into the ditches on either side of the road and were most thoroughly stuck. 
 Another truck in attempting to pass between the two became tightly wedged. 
 There were high banks on either side of the road and it was impossible for 
 traffic to pass. For a mile in each direction there was a solid line of vehicles. 
 It seemed unlikely that the congestion would be relieved before daylight. 
 The Major hiked back through the mud to the waiting trucks to devise a plan 
 for reaching Harricourt by another route. 
 
 Very few vehicles had come along behind the Battalion trucks. It was 
 possible therefore to back down the hill. This was done and just as the rising 
 sun was casting a beautiful glow over the landscape, the Battalion pulled into 
 Champigneulle. The road through Verpel had been jammed for three or four 
 days and there was no other road for northbound traffic, the one leading 
 toward Beffu being reserved for southbound traffic. Nothing could be done 
 to hurry the movement and the trucks reached Harricovu-t two days later. 
 The Battalion had received its fill of excitement while the blocked road was 
 subjected to bombing and machine gun fire from Boche airplanes. 
 
 The Corps Billeting Officer had furnished Lieutenant Price with a layout, but 
 this had to be changed considerably to accord with Colonel Voris' instructions. 
 All hands immediately set to work, and temporary circuits were in service by 
 the time the Corps officers arrived, although the Field Battalion had not been 
 able to complete the circuits from St. Juvin. Harricourt was still occupied by 
 divisional and artillery troops and Corps Headquarters was established in the 
 warehouses and dispatch stations of the Boche railway terminal. In the yard 
 
 German Heavy Construction in the Argonne 
 
232 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Views of Harricourt 
 
 practically all of the rail joints had been blown up by the Germans or were 
 still mined where the fuses had failed to operate. In the warehouses there re- 
 mained great quantities of Boche large calibre shells and myriads of fleas. 
 
 The divisions were now at Authe, Arutruche and St. Pierremont, and as 
 fast as details from Signal battalions reached Harricourt, they were set to work 
 piecing out the Boche wire circuits which ran to these towns. Colonel Kelly 
 volunteered to provide communication between the Corps and the 8oth 
 Division at Sommauthe. In this territory the towns were unharmed and on the 
 church steeples the Boche had displayed white flags to prevent further shelling. 
 In some of the towns the whole civil population was still established. Every- 
 where there were signs of the precipitate retreat of the Germans — guns, wagons 
 and equipment of all sorts abandoned in the fields and along the roadsides. 
 The enemy continued the rapid retreat and was nearing Sedan and the air was 
 rife with rumors of armistice negotiations. Corps Headquarters was in a great 
 state of excitement. 
 
 Colonel Voris directed that the Corps axis be continued through St. 
 Pierremont and Stonne to Raucourt, a short distance south of Sedan, This 
 
''KAMERAD!" 
 
 '-33 
 
 St. Pierremont 
 
 task seemed more nearly impossible than any which had been assigned to the 
 Signal men. Some of the men were still scattered along the roads south of 
 Harricourt, and many of the trucks were attempting to complete wire deliveries 
 from the Army to divisions. It began to rain and this hindered the collection 
 of men. On the morning of the sixth, however, more sections had arrived at 
 Harricourt, and Company "E" proceeded to St. Pierremont to repair the open 
 wire circuits leading back to Corps Headquarters. To help with this work, 
 Coates and Twohig started north from Harricourt. Carrying tools and 
 material along the crowded road was a slow and tedious process. There was 
 no possible chance of completing the open circuits before night because of the 
 many sections between Fontenoy and St. Pierremont which had been entirely 
 shot away. Lieutenant Schmidt therefore pieced these circuits out with twist. 
 Throughout that rainy night with a few scattered shells hurrying their prog- 
 ress, the men of the two Companies plugged along with the work. Coates, 
 after finishing the lower section, made his way to St. Pierremont to help 
 Schmidt. By two in the morning the connections were completed and the 
 tired and dripping men returned to Harricourt. No lights were allowed to aid 
 in locating packs and blankets and the workers flopped on the piles of shells 
 or on the floor to secure what rest they could. The next morning Lieutenant 
 Schmidt was discovered sleeping in a mud puddle under one of the trucks, 
 with Hackett on the seat above. Coates gives a picture of that night's work: 
 
234 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 "About a mile from St. Pierremont we became stuck in the jam 
 in the traffic and it was after twelve o'clock when we arrived at St. 
 Pierremont. We went up the road and found a ration truck and 
 cribbed several loaves of bread and cans of beans and heated them on 
 the motor of the truck. We had to take the circuit back to Fontenoy 
 and the only way to get there was to walk. We left Sergeant Vick 
 and the chauffeur to take care of the truck and the rest of us pulled 
 the reels up hill and down and the Lieutenant who was leading didn't 
 know when to rest. We passed truck load after truck load of refugees 
 who spoke a language all their own. I believe it was Flemish. They 
 came from Sedan and had been captives for about four years." 
 
 The returns from the front indicated that four open-wire circuits would 
 be needed to St. Pierremont immediately. The weary Schmidt was roused 
 from his puddle and once more he collected his tired crew and headed north 
 by way of Sommauthe. To insure the completion of these circuits before 
 dark, the Major collected all of the men of "D" Company who had then 
 arrived at Harricourt, to tackle the lower end of the new circuit, leaving Meigs 
 who had just come in from St. Juvin, to organize the camp. 
 
 The lower end of the open circuits was quickly completed, but to reach 
 Fontenoy where the work was to be resumed, required a long trip by way of 
 Sommauthe and St. Pierremont, with every possibility of encountering hope- 
 less jams on the road, or of carrying the tools and material up a long hill and 
 
 down from the main road to Fontenoy. 
 The men of the 406th were willing 
 workers but they were almost com- 
 pletely exhausted by their efforts of 
 the preceding days. Major Griest 
 interviewed the captain who was in 
 charge of the traffic on the roads to 
 try to persuade him to open to the 
 signal trucks the one-way road to 
 Fontenoy. The Captain considered 
 the situation for a moment, looked 
 over the trucks which he was assured 
 were all in good condition, and after 
 the Major agreed that should south- 
 bound traffic be encountered he would, 
 if necessary, ditch the trucks and carry 
 the material from that point, the cap- 
 tain gave his consent and piloted the 
 truck train up the road. 
 
 This was unexpected good fortune 
 Major Rexford M. Giaspey and at Fontenoy the men set to work 
 
KAMERAB!" 
 
 ^3S 
 
 UNITED'STATES'ARI 
 
 CITATION 
 
 FOR EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS AND CONSPICUOUS 
 SERVICES _£/ :i^-3tfliU.d£.il(?tl::lJ-':^<^.^^ei^)i-ii'^~— 
 
 American Expeditionary • Forces 
 
 IN testimony thereof, and as an expression of 
 
 appreciation of these services, i award him this 
 
 citation 
 
 AWARIi! h ON , ■/ .K.'^ 
 
 ") '" 
 
 Major Glaspey's Citation 
 
 with such vigor that in two hours they reached Lieutenant Schmidt's men 
 working from the north. Schmidt had succeeded in reaching St. Pierremont, 
 but he too had struck disheartening conditions. Poles which had been in 
 place on the line the night before and to which the circuits of twist were 
 attached had been cut down to repair the almost obliterated road. This made 
 it necessary to cut poles from German lines and drag them into place. The four 
 circuits were completed at five o'clock. But the extension leading to Stonne 
 which was being built by the Field Battalion was not yet finished as the trucks 
 carrying the material had been stalled throughout the day south of Oches. 
 
 
 That night Colonel Behn came up from Army Headquarters with sad 
 news. Major Glaspey had been ill at the hospital in Toul, but because of 
 his conscientious conception of the work for which he was responsible, he 
 had insisted on leaving the hospital before he had fully recovered. As a 
 result he contracted pneumonia and died at Base Hospital No. 51 on the 
 fifth of November. Colonel Behn had become acquainted with Glaspey while 
 at General Headquarters and had become very much attached to him. In 
 fact every one had liked the young officer. There was not a man in the 
 Battalion but that felt deeply his death. 
 
Chapter XXIV 
 
 The Armistice 
 
 THERE were persistent rumors of armistice negotiations, but there was 
 nothing in the way of official news. For the most part, there was little 
 excitement over the reports. One night some of the men were enjoy- 
 ing a game of "stud" in a light-proof shack — it must have been pay day. There 
 was a goodly sized "pot" and one of the fellows was just about to bet. A bang 
 on the door and an ex-dispatch rider of the Battalion burst into the room. 
 "The war is over!" he yelled. The man whose turn it was to bet, started to 
 jump up from his seat. Jerry Hamilton grabbed him by the shoulder and 
 unceremoniously planked him down. 
 
 "What's the matter with you? What if the war is over? Has that got 
 anything to do with winning this pot?" 
 
 While the Field Battalion continued its effort to carry the circuits to Sedan 
 the 406th set to work repairing the heavy lateral leads which the Germans 
 had abandoned along the Germont-Harricourt-Buzancy road. 
 
 On the morning of the ninth startling news was received — the First Corps 
 was to be relieved for a rest ! The troops of the Fifth Corps immediately took 
 over all of its responsibilities. There was a feeling that the end was very close 
 
THE ARMISTICE 237 
 
 and the men of the BattaHon were none too well pleased to be compelled thus 
 to quit just when the finish of the job was in sight. But orders are orders and 
 that day the men of the 406th scattered over the country side examining the 
 places in which the fighting had been most intense and where the German re- 
 treat has been most rapid. Hundreds of souvenirs were collected, some of 
 which eventually found their way to friends back home. Late in the day 
 Lieutenant Hasskarl set off for Chehery with his P. C. section to prepare 
 temporary quarters for the Corps, while Pearson was dispatched with Urffer 
 to hunt up Jeff Adams who with his truck was still somewhere in the region to 
 the north. Urffer tells of this effort: 
 
 "A detail made up of Jeff Adams of 'E' Company and Whitlock, 
 Fullerton and Althouse of 'D' had been sent out with orders to 
 establish a supply dump at Stonne, a town situated about eighteen 
 kilometers north of Buzancy. All except Jeff Adams unloaded and 
 returned to the outfit in a couple of days. Jeff, however, was ordered 
 to take his truck load of wire to a point beyond Raucourt and in 
 doing this he encountered difficulties of the worst kind. The traffic 
 was heavy and the road bad. Beyond Chehery he was mired and 
 unable to move for about seventy-two hours. 
 
 "Lieutenant Pearson and I were out on a hunt for Jeff, and on 
 November twelfth we met him tramping along the road from Grand- 
 pre to Buzancy, thirty-five kilometers from the point where his 
 truck was stuck in the mud. He had traveled thirty-five kilometers, 
 much of the distance on foot with an occasional ride on a passing 
 vehicle. We picked him up and headed for the truck. After we gave 
 him something to eat, 'the man from Kaintuck' became more soci- 
 able. We reached the truck and found four loads of wounded men 
 ahead of it. We came across an engineer outfit which had a Holt 
 tractor and after two hours of strenuous digging and lugging we were 
 on our way home." 
 
 The weather had become very cold. On the morning of the tenth, tools 
 and supplies were chopped out of the frozen mud, loaded on the trucks and 
 the Battalion was on its way to the south. Early in the afternoon Pleinchamp 
 Farm was reached where Hasskarl had managed to preempt sufficient space 
 to house the outfit. Mess was established and it did not take the men long 
 to make themselves at home in the stables. Three new officers. Lieutenants 
 Wright, Lee and Green, waited here to report for duty. It seemed the per- 
 versity of fate to finish the long and extremely active campaign without a full 
 complement of officers and for replacements to arrive when the Battalion 
 had started into a rest area. 
 
 That evening there was the customary meeting with Colonel Voris, and 
 while the officers were talking over the possibilities of the situation a lieutenant 
 from the Intelligence Section of the General Staff rushed into the office wav- 
 ing a paper and shouting, "The Armistice has been signed." The Signal 
 
HEiJiO,-jAIiT35t3 TIRST AKTT CORPS 
 
 Nov. 10, 191&. 
 
 rrom: Chief of Staff, lat Amy Oort'S, U. S. 
 
 ;£oi Chief Signal Officer, Ist Corps, U. S. 
 
 Subject: Ilecogniticn of sei-vicos of signal -personnel. 
 
 1. The Cordis Conaander desires xho i-*erf.»iBxGl of the Sif^nal 'battalions 
 under your control to be informed, and tnie irtforuiation io to include truolmen 
 linemen, tolephono o:a;han^cr.eii, radio-uen and all others v/ho are under your 
 control, of hla full a;pprooiatioTi of tiieir services and their devotion to the 
 interests of the service. 
 
 2. He decires them informed and that they understand that each tcan hag 
 contributed in no uncertain way to the success of the 1st Corps a;id Its 
 elements and tliat without their devotion to duty, the results obtained could 
 not have boen possible. 
 
 3. incldentalliT, this expression of appreciation includes the Chief 
 Si^Uct Officer hins«L£ and those of liia office force associated \;ith him. 
 
 iiKcriiir'*^'^ 
 
 Chief of Staff 
 
 i^xr 
 
 1st Ind. 
 
 0. Sig. 0,, 1st Artny Corps, American EioDeditionary Forces, 11 November, 1918t 
 To each and every member of the 322nd ?ield Battalion and C06th Telegraph 
 Battalion, Signal CoriJS, 
 
 1. It is \;ith the ;^eatest pleasui'e that tlie undersicned traiismits to 
 you the letter of appreciation of rajor General j, v. Diclaran, the Cor^s 
 Comnander, and of Bricadier General I'alin Craifi, Chief of Staff of the Corps, 
 for the \/ondcrfiil -..-orlc accomplished by the CoriJS Signal troops throughout the 
 activities of tlie First American Corps. 
 
 2. No other Acierican Corps has been called upon, nor had the opportunity 
 to equal the aohievoments of the Virst Corps during the present \.ar. Its 
 aotivitios have included the advance of July and August from Chateau Tliierry to 
 the Vesle, the reduction of the St. Hihiel salient in .September, and the capture 
 of the Arconne Forest, follo\/ed by the advance to the outskirts of Sedan in 
 October and iToverabor. 
 
 3. That the mission of the Corps Signal troops was v;oll done is evidenced 
 by the above letter. The details of the irastorful ncnnor in \/hiGh hardships and 
 difficulties v/ere overcome in tlie ^>erioriiance of Lhis duty are taiown and a^rireo- 
 iated to the fullest o:;teut. T.'io cmc3:;ien liauliny supplies over well ni^ Im- 
 passable roads; the line.aon and tvoubleaen 6::tGr:?.lr^ and naintaining telephone 
 lines in the rain und co^-d and olton ui:dor she>.lfire; t lo telephone, telesraph 
 and radio detachr.ents ns.iziiiQ inmincrable instaTlsT-icrts in lea!y attics or arosty 
 caves, and all v/or?:inG botli day r.id night, result Jd in a completed system \/hich 
 would be a credit to rcany civil plants. 
 
 4. 7e are no\r officially informed that an ari.iistice iictv/een our Allies 
 and the enoir^ has been signed, and tliat hostilities cease today. We must not 
 bo unmindful that the \.-or}c which has thus far been so successfully accoinp- 
 lished is not yet complete, You may expect tliat the worst service is before 
 you, v/ithout the excitement Of active operations, will more than ever come to 
 your minds visions of home, the companionship of those dear to you, and the 
 loss of the opportunities of oivil life, A huge task is yet to be accor-ipliflhed 
 by tlio American soldier, and in the greax confidence of your past success, mo 
 look fort/ard toward the final cocipletlon of this great undertaking, so that v/hen 
 it is over, you nsy say as iH ,xixe past,- "WE PUT IT, OVER FOR OLD BOraHEfiD". 
 
 :'^> '^oX 
 
 'ilVlJl 0. ifoPlB 
 
 Ooliwel. Slgaal Oorps. 
 
 A LETTER OF COMMENDATION 
 238 
 
THE ARMISTICE 
 
 239 
 
 Office was emptied as if by magic. The officers hurried to the telegraph key 
 in the adjoining room to wire Army headquarters for information. The reply 
 came back that there was a very persistent report that the Armistice had been 
 signed but that official confirmation had not been received. The French con- 
 sidered the report authentic and immediately throughout the chateau every one 
 burst into an uproar. Up in one of the corridors of the second story, there 
 was an old piano which had survived the Boche occupation. This instru- 
 ment was quickly surrounded by a group of French and Americans and in the 
 dim light of a few candles, which some one had been bold enough to light 
 
 Pleinchamp Farm 
 
 regardless of possible visits from the German bombers, the Frenchmen started 
 to play the "Marseillaise." All joined exultantly in this triumphant song, 
 and when it was finished the French joined the Americans in singing the 
 American National Anthem. 
 
 The news had spread to the Battalion quarters in the nearby stable. The 
 men of Company "E" were in the loft and Company "D" was immediately 
 underneath. During the souvenir gathering, many of the men had acquired 
 Boche pistols and ammunition. These were brought into play and a racket 
 burst forth which resembled a dozen machine guns all in action at the same 
 time. The roof was shot full of holes and bore the brunt of the Company "E" 
 attack. Luckily for the Pittsburgh crowd however, the men of "D" did not 
 shoot upwards, but peppered the walls and windows. 
 
 While the uproar was at its height the Corps Provost Marshall advanced 
 on the barracks. But his approach was detected and when he entered the 
 building all was quiet. He called for the noncom in charge. He received no 
 
240 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 response. Every one was industriously snoring. He stumbled over arms and 
 legs and bodies in the darkness. He finally departed cussing the whole outfit 
 and very much to the relief of the men, Favinger and Koser particularly. 
 
 The singing in the chateau and the "fireworks" was the entire celebration 
 for the troops marooned in the small village which the fighting of the past two 
 months had almost annihilated. The nearest cafe was several hours journey 
 to the rear, and in the rush forward all materials which might be used to help 
 celebrate such an occasion as this had long since been consumed. 
 
 The members of the Corps had been working at top speed and under the 
 greatest strain from the time they entered the St. Mihiel sector in September. 
 By the time the effort in the direction of Sedan was suspended the men of the 
 406th were thoroughly exhausted from keeping the divisions supplied with 
 signal material and from maintaining telephone service for the Corps. They 
 were almost stimned. "Numbed and dumbed," was the expression of one of 
 them. Thoughts turned now toward home. It was the first time since the 
 arrival in France that there was something tangible on which to base hopes of 
 returning to the States. 
 
 On the morning of the eleventh the report of the Armistice was confirmed 
 and the Corps received instructions from the Army that all hostilities would 
 cease at eleven o'clock. Throughout the night of the tenth and the morning 
 of the eleventh, the distant rumble of the artillery could be heard. The Allies 
 were on their guard against a last minute trick on the part of the Boches. 
 
 The fighting was over. Gas masks and helmets would soon fall into the 
 discard or be hung on pegs from which they need be removed only for inspec- 
 tion. No longer would the roads be blocked with artillery and ammunition 
 and ambulances. Work there was to be done, but what, or where, or when, 
 or how much nobody knew nor cared. As "Cal" Miller put it, "Things won't 
 be so bad now that the 'armature' is signed." 
 
Chapter XXV 
 
 ''Whe7i Do IVe Go Homer 
 
 ^FTER the cessation of hostilities, plans were made for forming the army 
 which, according to the terms of the Armistice, was to occupy the terri- 
 tory around Coblenz. It was at first contemplated that the First 
 Army Corps was to have the honor of leading the entry into Germany. It 
 had been in the greatest number of drives and had made the greatest advances. 
 However, the First Corps was on the extreme left of the American front and 
 transportation facilities in the devastated area were poor. The motor vehicles, 
 on account of the constant and wearing use which they had been given, were 
 not in shape to transport the Corps troops. It was decided therefore to take 
 the Staff officers from the First Army Corps to form the nucleus of the new 
 3rd Army Headquarters. The remaining troops were to be drawn from units 
 which could more readily be delivered to the Rhine. 
 
 Colonel Voris pleaded long to be allowed to take the 406th Battalion with 
 him into Germany, even going so far as to offer to operate with it alone and 
 forego the additional telegraph battalion and the field battalion allowed to 
 an Army. The Chief Signal Officer decreed that, in view of its long and active 
 service, the 406th was to be one of the first battalions designated for return 
 to the United States. The Battalion therefore bid goodbye to the officers of 
 the First Corps, who started toward Dun-sur-Meuse to join the Army of 
 Occupation. 
 
242 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 For another week the BattaHon remained in the vicinity of Chehery, and 
 the men roamed over the fields on which not more than a month before there 
 had been bitter fighting. Over fifty miles of twisted pair, which had been 
 strung along the roads by the divisions during their advance, were salvaged 
 during this period. When the wire had been delivered at Parois, the Corps 
 troops departed for Tonnerre. Once more and for the last time. Price and 
 Cowan, with their P. C. detail, set off in advance of the main body to establish 
 the telephone exchange. On the twenty-second of November, the Battalion 
 took up its quarters in the Moulin d'Enfer on the outskirts of Tonnerre, the 
 men confidently anticipating Christmas at home. 
 
 Thanksgiving Day was decreed a holiday in the army and many of the 
 
 Some Views of Tonnerre 
 
''WHEN DO WE GO HOME?'' 243 
 
 American soldiers attended a "Te Deum" sung in Notre Dame — an old church 
 erected in the sixteenth century. But to a healthy crowd of men, dinner is the 
 big thing on Thanksgiving. On account of the recent move, the Quarter- 
 master was unable to provide extra food for the holiday. 
 
 The mess fund however had weathered fifteen months of foreign service 
 and was still in fair shape. Thevelin was dispatched with a detail to comb the 
 countryside for turkeys and chickens. In the preceding months there had 
 been few meals which were worthy of the name. The hustle and bustle and 
 confusion had made regular mess impossible. At the Thanksgiving dinner 
 every man sat down comfortably and enjoyed himself in a civilized manner. 
 Tables were arranged on a large open balcony at one end of the mill. But 
 French weather is fickle. Just as all were seated and the attack on the turkey 
 and sweet potatoes commenced, the threatening skies let fall a torrent of rain. 
 It takes more than a shower to dampen the enthusiasm of a gang of hungry 
 men. They stuck to the finish, the final sortie disposing of the mince pies 
 over which Pemberton had labored diligently, and from the comments, suc- 
 cessfully. 
 
 Pemberton and "Bill" Dailey were assigned the task of building a cook 
 stove in the kitchen. Cement and bricks were necessary. They went to a 
 stone mason. He asked a price about four times as high as "Pem" and Bill 
 felt they should pay. They refused to buy. It was the only place in the town 
 where the materials could be secured. After dark they took a light truck and 
 drove up to the mason's shop. It was just across the street from the Y. M. C. 
 A. A big show was being given there and the whole street was as bright as 
 day from the lights in the building. Pem made up his mind that the stove 
 was going to be built. He slipped into the "Y" and short circuited the light- 
 ing wires. This blew the fuses and put out all the lights. Huss of the Bat- 
 talion was electrician at the "Y" and he put in new fuses. They blew out. 
 He started on a hunt for the "short" but Pem had done his work well. 
 
 Meantime in the darkness across the street Pem climbed the fence and 
 threw a bag of cement over to Bill. Bill failed to catch it, and it fell on the 
 ground and burst. Pem did not know this and he tossed another over. The 
 second one caught Bill on the back of the head, and buried his face in the loose 
 cement on the ground. He sputtered, but dodged the third one. The cement 
 and about a hundred bricks were loaded on the truck. Then Pemberton 
 went over to the "Y" where five hundred soldiers were raving in the darkness. 
 He removed the "short" and the show went on. The stove was built and later 
 settlement was made for the "purchased" materials. 
 
 Captain Gauss had accompanied the Corps to Tonnerre with his old 
 friends in the Battalion. At Colonel Voris' request he was now assigned 
 to the 3rd Army and sent to Coblenz. He was made Superintendent of 
 Telegraph and Telephone Service for the 3rd Army, and handled the trans- 
 
244 
 
 THE FIRST B ATT ALION 
 
 ferring and building up of existing German circuits for the Army of Occupa- 
 tion. This work gave him an opportunity to study German construction and 
 necessitated frequent visits to BerHn. He was promoted to Major and made 
 himself so valuable to the Signal Office at Coblenz that he was not released 
 for return to the United States until the following September. 
 
 Life at Tonnerre , 
 
 KEADJUARTEHS TIEST ASKY CORPS 
 JHEBIOAS EXPEDITIOBABY POBCES 
 
 15, February 1919. 
 
 quickly became organ- 
 ized. In many respects 
 it was the hardest part of 
 the overseas service. En- 
 tertainments and athletic 
 events helped to pass the 
 time. 
 
 Captain Macfarlan 
 (who had been promoted 
 from lieutenant during 
 the Argonne fight) with 
 thehelp of Jerry Hamilton 
 staged a very creditable 
 minstrel show in the Y. 
 M. C. A. As a result of 
 this show, Macfarlan was 
 taken by the Corps Adju- 
 tant as an assistant direc- 
 tor of athletics and enter- 
 tainments, and he entered 
 actively into scheduling 
 football and basketball 
 games and boxing 
 matches throughout the 
 Corps Area. 
 
 Men of the 406th had 
 been working in the Corps 
 Telephone and Telegraph 
 office since the arrival at 
 Tonnerre. Early in De- 
 cember troops from the ist Army replaced them. This made rumors of an 
 early departure for America even more persistent. "When do we go home?" 
 was heard even more frequently than "Come seven," or "Little Joe," or 
 "Big Dick," or "Phoebe." 
 
 Football teams were formed in the divisions and a team was selected to 
 represent the Corps troops — Miller, Haislop, Rauenswinder, Lord and Thompson 
 
 GEHEBAL ORDEBB. ) 
 BO. - 
 
 i, l. IB oODipllanco with Speclttl t>rdora.Io. 26, Head- 
 yrjtera Jlrst Army, dated 9 February 1919, the 406th Telegraph 
 Battnlion stands relieved from this Corps. 
 
 2. Tho 406th Telegraph Battalion landed In Prance on 
 August 20th, 1917, as the Ist Telegraph Battalion. Signal Eeserve 
 Corps; its designation being changed in October to the 406th 
 Telegyiiii Battalion, It was one of the two first conpLjte 
 Acicrlean Signal units to arrlvo in ?ra?ce. After a fall and ' 
 winter of work in inatalling and maintaining telephone offices 
 and lines in tho Chaujnont - Neufohateau - Toul region, ttie Batta- 
 lion was aasignea to the lat Array Corps on February 17th. 1918, 
 being the first unit of Corps Troopa, after the Headquarters 
 Troop, assigned to the Corps, 
 
 J. Curing the spring ot 1918 tho Battdllon continued 
 to mr.lntain and operate lines in the region of lIeulohateaur.and 
 up. to the Toul sector, as wellrat vorhir.!; in that and the 
 Baccarat sectors. 
 
 4. UoTing with the 1st Corps In June, 1913, to La- 
 Perte-sous-Jouarre, the Battalion installed, operated' and main- 
 tained telegraiii and telephone services for the Ist Array Corps 
 at its many hcadou-rtors Curiild the adTTjioc fron the^llarne to 
 the Vesle; in tho St. Mihiel attoclc, and in the Battle of the 
 Argonne and the advr.nce to the Ueuae, from the beginning of 
 that attack to tho cessation of hoatllltlea, and subsequently 
 
 at the Corps Headquarters at Tonnerre. Thla work waa frequently 
 done under the most adverae oonditions, and often exposed to 
 cneny shell fire. Its service under battle conditions was 
 practlcily continuous from the beginning of the attack north- 
 west of Chateau- Thierry on July 18, 1918, until tho signing of 
 the armistice ,on Bovenber 11, 1918, including In that perio-' 
 tho Installation, often on tho Aortest notice, aid mainteinaooe 
 of ivire connunlcatlona at thirteen different Headquarters of 
 this Corps. 
 
 5. Its work has been excellent; a record of a hard 
 task well done, without ooaplainlng, without any need of the 
 slightest disciplinary ?.ctlon; and the part It has played In 
 keeping the Corps Staff In touch with Its troops has been of 
 primary Importance In all the Corps Operations, 
 
 6. Tho Corpa Corar^andcr takes this occasion to 
 exprcsa hlj waro appri-clation of the aorvlcoa of the 406th 
 Telegraph Battalion as a part of the 1st Corps and wishes It 
 God Speed in tho return to the United States ifcloh It ha.s ao 
 well earned. 
 
 By command of Major General Vrlghtt 
 
 W. M. PASSETT, 
 Chief of Staff. 
 
 H. H. BEllY. 
 Lieut. Colonel, 
 Adjutant. 
 
WHEN DO WE GO HOME? 
 
 245 
 
 CHIEF UCXAL OrriCEB, B. O. S. 
 Amirlon Kiptdittaasi/ Fsrtw 
 
 K)! 
 
 AM££ICAN EXPEDITIONARY rOBOES 
 BEADQtTABTEBS SEEVICES OF SUPFLT 
 
 ornce of the Chief Signal Officer 
 
 Fobrnaty 24, 1919 
 Chl«f Signal Officer, k.Z.r. 
 
 OonEandine Officer, 406th lelegraiii B»tt«llon(ain O.S.O. 5th Corps,) 
 Sloiiziere-Tojma . 
 
 being chosen on the latter. On account of the comparatively small number of 
 men in the Corps troops, it could not successfully compete with teams chosen 
 from the thousands of men available in the divisions. Consequently, it was 
 eliminated when it was decisively beaten by the 8oth Division. 
 
 In basketball and boxing, the 406th fared much better. Magill organized a 
 
 basketball team 
 on which were H. 
 M. King, Hutch- 
 inson, Poole, Sey- 
 mour, Guenther 
 and Marr. The 
 basketball games 
 were scheduled for 
 Sunday after- 
 noons in the town 
 market-house. 
 Here the cement 
 floor gave an op- 
 portunity for fast 
 play and the 
 games were en- 
 joyed by crowds 
 from the French 
 populace quite as 
 much as by the 
 enthusiastic spec- 
 tators from the 
 Corps troops. 
 Magill's team won 
 every game in 
 which it com- 
 peted. 
 
 According to 
 the regulations 
 each soldier was 
 entitled to a seven- 
 day leave every four months. In the sixteen months of foreign service the 
 men of the Battalion had had practically none. At Tonnerre permission was 
 obtained for ten per cent and later for twenty per cent of the Battalion to go at 
 one time. The first men were assigned to Aix-les-Bains. They were given a 
 round of entertainment, both in the Casino and in side trips, and they came 
 back to the Battalion after their seven-day stay anxious to try it again. 
 
 BUBiBl'!: Berrle* of taUtory of 406th lelagnrph Battalion. 
 
 1. I have Just received a copy of General Orders Ho. 8, Esadquartera 
 first in^ Coz^s, yebroary 15, In which the COBUuindiog General of that Corps 
 hrlefly reviews the history of the 406th loleBi-ajOi Battalion, and takes occasion 
 on your relief from the Corps to comnond the wori of tho Battalion In the waraest 
 tezns. 
 
 2. Biere is no comneBdat ion which is more desirahle than that which comes 
 from those with whom officers and organizations served. ae history of the 
 406th Telegraph Battalion is so interwoven with that of the tremendous and 
 successful work of tho Signal corps in Prance that It particularly deserves 
 Botise. 
 
 3. Tour Battalion ms one of tha two that arrived first, and has oomo 
 the hurdan of tha enomous telsgr^h oonstructlon worjc which has teen the flira 
 basis for our suocessfol cdnnnnlcatloas throu^out Prance. 
 
 4. Prcra constmotlon woric In the S.O.S. your Battalion has gone to dnty 
 with the Pirst ixmj Corps and talcen a glorious part In all of the hard fl^itlng 
 iJi iblch that Corps has been engaged. 
 
 6. It is a matter of pride with me to have such an organization serving 
 with tha signal Corps, and I feal that the officers aid men of your Battalion 
 may return to tha Dnited states with the approval of your own consciences, aai 
 heartily deserving the well earned plaudits which I am sure your fellow cltlsans 
 •ill accord to yon. 
 
 E. BOSSEI, 
 Brigadier Ooseral 
 C.S.O. 
 
246 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Before long the Battalion leave allotments included permission to go to the 
 Riviera. Monte Carlo was given the "once over" by those who visited this 
 area, and Italy was so close at hand that few missed the opportunity to set 
 foot for a moment at least, on her soil. Dobbie received permission to visit 
 Scotland; Burnett, Conway and Magill reached Ireland; and Alfieri held a 
 reunion with his family in Italy. The leave orders constantly became more 
 liberal and by the latter part of December, three-day leaves for Paris had 
 been authorized. At times more than half of the 406th was on leave at 
 one time. 
 
 The air of impatience in the Battalion as Christmas time approached can 
 better be imagined than described. Day after day passed and still no orders 
 came. Home seemed as far away as it had a year ago. It must be confessed 
 that at first there was not a great amount of enthusiasm in the preparation 
 for the second Christmas in France. But as the holiday season came nearer 
 and it was realized that there would be no chance to shed the old khaki, nor to 
 put feet under the dining room table at home while sinking teeth into the drum- 
 stick of a regular, home-grown, fat and juicy gobbler, a little more interest was 
 taken. When the day before Christmas arrived there was considerable 
 activity around the barracks. 
 
 The mess fund still survived but just for luck a request was made to General 
 Headquarters for a cash allowance for Christmas dinner. Not a chance ! So 
 the strong boxes were dipped into once more. Thevelin, who continued with 
 his friends in the 406th until January when his class was demobilized, and 
 Vance scoured the country side. They came back with a truck load of turkeys 
 and green vegetables. Christmas Eve was spent by the noncoms with the 
 mess organization in preparing for the feast. Throughout the active cam- 
 paigns, the company messes had been combined and run as a battalion mess. 
 At Tonnerre, however, the messes were separated and each Company provided 
 for its Christmas spread in accordance with its own ideas. This year the 
 regulations forbade the sending of large packages to the men in France but 
 bundles of Christmas cards and letters from friends in the Telephone Company 
 were eagerly devoured. 
 
 During the morning, the village bakery was the scene of great activity. 
 Previous efforts at roasting turkeys on the United States Army field range had 
 not been a howling success, and Pemberton and Vance for this occasion ar- 
 ranged with the baker for the use of his ovens. "D" Company decided to 
 remain in its mess quarters in a stable near the barracks, but Company "E" 
 rented a cafe, which Vance decorated with evergreen in true holiday fashion. 
 The Battalion officers were invited to attend "E" Company's dinner, which 
 was complete from soup to nuts. There were four hours of eating and jollity, 
 during which belts were loosened hole by hole. If anyone left the table with- 
 out a feeling of fullness, it was his own fault. 
 
"WHEN DO WE GO HOME?" 247 
 
 The men appreciated that the success of their dinner was due in large 
 measure to the generosity of the Telephone people back home. Urfifer wrote 
 a letter describing "D" Company's meal. It gives a good idea of the prepara- 
 tions for the celebrations in both Companies : 
 
 "Last year our Uncle Samuel handed out turkey, calling it an 
 'issue.' This year the scrap was over and the boys had nothing to do 
 but sit tight, so this was dispensed with, and the signs of the time all 
 read pas encore, meaning 'nix.' 
 
 "Our officers and mess sergeant got together and decided the 
 only thing to do was to draw on that Fund which was made up by the 
 folks back home before we left. 
 
 "Therefore, from now on my letter must be built on that part of 
 the fund which we used, and while it may not yet be evident, I am 
 trying to convey to you folks the fact that we are as thankful as men 
 can be for your thoughtfulness in providing for a Christmas dinner 
 almost two years in advance. 
 
 "With the funds on hand the only remaining trouble was to get 
 the turkeys. Our mess sergeant and M. Thevelin set out in the 
 'boss's' Dodge. After four long days of chasing to and fro over the 
 landscape they collided with a regiment of healthy turkeys and with 
 the help of the 'circulating medium' taken from the fund, the detail 
 managed to extract a goodly number of turks from their French 
 owners. That is how the turkeys came about. 
 
 "The bewildered turks being on hand, provision had to be made 
 for the extras. Uncle Samuel handed us potatoes which were not 
 of the canned type. Beyond the fact that potatoes are necessary in 
 most kitchens, I have no idea how far this helped the works. I 
 know though, that outside of this one item Uncle Sam did not worry 
 about Christmas dinner for the tough old 406th, so we must give all 
 credit to you folks and to Sergeant Pemberton's tact and 'rustling' 
 qualities, for what we had besides potatoes. Hurrahs and yells 
 should be kicked over in the general direction of Bill Daily, George 
 Hoffman and Howard Bolt, who did the cooking. Of course those 
 good natured, affable K. P.'s can horn in for some of the yells. 
 
 "We are now ready to move to the mess hall which was a very 
 good ex-wagon shed, ex-Y. M. C. A. warehouse, and is now a mighty 
 fine mess hall. The process of moving the 'Y' people out and the 
 406th in was so tactfully handled by Sergeant Pemberton that we 
 found ourselves a few smokes to the good, and the mess sergeant 
 was able to buy a lot of candy and smokes kind of 'easy like.' 
 
 "The 'chow' call started us on the eats. First on the menu was 
 celery soup. Celery was only a camouflage title for something 
 mighty fine — much better than plain celery soup ever could be. 
 
 "From the soup position we advanced in open order on the turkey, 
 of which there was beaucoup (French for 'more than enough'). We 
 took all our objectives, namely, turkey, filling, mashed potatoes, 
 dressing and real raisin pie. 
 
 "During the above mentioned process we had speeches by the 
 
248 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 officers, the first on the hst being Captain Meigs, who extended his 
 good wishes and those of the Major, who could not be present. The 
 Captain reminded us of the shocked faces of last year when we were 
 told we were due for another Christmas in France. He said it would 
 be foolish to bet a cock-eyed nickel on a third Christmas over here. 
 He topped his talk with a pair of Perfectos for every one of us. One 
 of these Perfectos is good for a yell from any man and here were two 
 for each one of a hundred men ! Draw your own conclusions. It's 
 enough when I say that the rafters shook. 
 
 "About this time we were working on the apples, nuts and candy, 
 so Captain Meigs called attention to our faithful ration jugglers, 
 otherwise known to the civilized world as cooks and K. P.'s. The 
 Captain, I am sure, had no inkling of the K. P.'s pre-dinner activities, 
 but anyhow the R. J.'s got a glorious gang of cheers. 
 
 "I hope you folks realize that we had a real time and that each 
 and every one of us enjoyed this Christmas. We all know that the 
 main reason for any soldier's enjoying any event is good things to eat, 
 and as we got these things directly through you, we wish to thank 
 you all sincerely and heartily, for out of a rather dreary outlook you 
 enabled us to gather and make a Christmas party which none of us will 
 ever forget." 
 
 So successful were the Christmas dinners that both of the Companies 
 decided to have another special spread on New Year's day. There seemed to 
 be no bottom to the box containing the company funds. This time "D" 
 Company made extensive arrangements, and for the occasion procured a whole 
 pig, which was roasted in the oven at the bakery. It was the piece de resistance 
 of a most elaborate meal which started with rabbit soup and ended only when 
 each of the diners was stuffed to capacity. 
 
 Life at Tonnerre developed into a round of instructions and inspections 
 during the daytime and dances and entertainments at night. Schools had 
 been started in the First Army Corps and studies ranged from improvement 
 in reading and spelling to courses in international law. Attending the classes 
 were more men from the 406th than from all of the other Corps units combined. 
 Cowan and Tomlinson were permanently detailed to the instruction force. 
 
 The signal equipment of the Battalion was overhauled and turned in little 
 by little, although Colonel Higgins who was Corps Signal Officer was not 
 anxious to release it. He felt that there might be some further use for the 
 splendid equipment although at the time the 406th was doing almost no signal 
 work. Part of the motor equipment was transferred to divisions. The old 
 three-ton British trucks which had done such faithful service were sent to 
 Dijon for general overhauling because the equipment of the Battalion and 
 Corps motor shops was inadequate to do the work. Lieutenant Hasskarl 
 piloted the trucks to Dijon. While he was negotiating for their repair, an 
 officer asked who had brought "that bunch of junk" into the yards. Hass- 
 
"WHEN DO WE GO HOME?" 
 
 249 
 
 Bird's-eye View of the Show 
 
 The Four 
 Prize Winners 
 
 Examining Gruninger's Grand 
 Prize Winner 
 
 THE HORSE AND MOTOR SHOW 
 
 karl's explanation did not satisfy him. He called for a Liberty truck and 
 shoved the faithful old friends one by one off the road into a salvage dump in 
 the field. 
 
 By order of General Headquarters, the different Corps in the A. E. F. 
 organized horse and motor shows. Exhibitions were first held in the Divisions 
 and among Corps troops, the winners in these smaller shows to form the entries 
 in the exhibitions for larger units. The 406th still possessed four types of 
 vehicles — cargo trucks, motorcycles, light passenger cars and light delivery 
 cars. The best vehicle in each of these classes received a careful overhauling 
 by the Battalion shop crews. When the preliminaries were held, the four 
 vehicles entered by the 406th were selected to represent the Corps in the 
 respective classes. 
 
 Early in February the Corps Commander appointed Colonel Bolles as 
 Chairman of the Committee in charge of the Motor Show for the First Corps. 
 The Colonel called 406th Battalion Headquarters and said that in the com- 
 mittee which he was forming he must have men who could put the show across. 
 
250 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Doyle and Gruninger with the Prize Packard 
 
 Of prime importance was the supply 
 officer, who must be a man who could 
 collect anything that was necessary, 
 whether it was available or not and 
 who could in a pinch make a harness 
 from a piece of wire off a bale of hay. 
 The Colonel thought that the only 
 man in the Corps who would meas- 
 ure up to these requirements was, as 
 he called him, "Go-get-her" Meigs. 
 At the time of the Colonel's request, 
 Meigs who had been fighting a very bad cold had submitted to Medical Officer 
 Macfarlan and had gone to bed, but he pulled himself together and for the 
 next few days in the rain and mud, supplies were corralled from all parts of 
 the territory. Arrangements were made, with the help of the Corps Engi- 
 neer troop and the entire Telegraph Battalion, to care for the quarters and 
 feeding of 700 men and 200 horses at the show. On the evening of the eighth 
 the weather cleared off 
 and became very cold and 
 the temperature remained 
 just below the freezing 
 point. 
 
 In the motor section 
 of the show, the four ve- 
 hicles entered by the 406th 
 — Headquarters' Dodge, 
 Gruninger's Packard 
 truck, Geib's motorcycle 
 and Giles' Ford delivery 
 car — captured the blue 
 ribbons. The Corps Com- 
 mander, Major- General 
 Wright, paid a high com- 
 pliment to the motor men 
 of the Battalion when he 
 declared that, had it not 
 been for the 406th the 
 Corps troops would have 
 been "out in the cold." 
 
 To cap the climax, 
 when all of the prize win- 
 ners were lined up on the 
 
 uffloa of the m. 1'. u. 
 HEADQUAETERS PiBST ABMT CORi'S 
 Amerioan £• V, 
 
 •obruary 9, 1919, 
 
 fROU: U. T, u. 
 
 TO: C. tu 406 Telegraph Jiattalion. 
 
 SUBJECT: Motor TraiiBportatlon. 
 
 1. The Uonmandlng General of the First Army Oorpa 
 desires that 1 express to you his appreolatlon for the 
 showing made by the motor transportation of the 406 Tele- 
 graph Battalion at the Horse and transportation show, let 
 Army Corps, Tonnerre, February 8, 1919. 
 
 }i. He 18 not only delighted with the aotiial show 
 condition of your vehloles and of the fact that wllii four 
 entries you took four first prizes, but with the faot that 
 the condition of your vehicles shews oloarly that aJ-1 of 
 the motor transportation assigned to ypux unit Is kept in 
 the best possible condition at all times. 
 
 3« it wouiu have been impossible to have made the 
 showing that you did unless the greatest oare had been tak- 
 en at alltlmes to keej) your transportation in the best of 
 condition, and he desires that you express to the drivers 
 concerned his personal gratifloation for the efforts and 
 the showing which they have made . 
 
 A/S 
 
"WHEN DO WE GO HOME?" 251 
 
 field for awarding the Grand Prize, interest centered on the i3^-ton truck driven 
 by Gruninger, and the committee of judges agreed that thistruck, which had been 
 assembled by Gruninger at St. Nazaire and driven by him 21 ,000 miles through 
 all of the campaigns with the First Corps, was the best entry in the show. 
 There were, however, certain lovers of horses among the judges who could 
 not persuade themselves to award to a motor truck the Grand Prize at a show 
 in which horses were involved. Gruninger was given the Grand Prize in the 
 motor section of the show for his entry. General Wright was not satisfied to 
 express his feelings orally. He directed the Corps Motor Transport Officer 
 to send the Battalion a letter of congratulation. 
 
Chapter XXVI 
 Hoffieward Boii7id 
 
 'HILE the Battalion was still celebrating its success in the First 
 Corps show, new cause for rejoicing arose. Orders came trans- 
 ferring the 406th to the Fifth Corps. The pleasant part of it was 
 that the Fifth Corps was preparing for immediate return to the United States. 
 The Headquarters of the Fifth Corps were then at Nougent-en-Baussigny, 
 but the 406th was to remain at Tonnerre, some 90 kilometers to the west 
 until the movement toward the port should start. With the transfer orders 
 came a complimentary order of appreciation from the Commander of the First 
 Army Corps. 
 
 When the first intimation was received that there was possibility of the 
 Battalion's returning to the United States in the near future, a careful review 
 of all the records was started. During the month of February Adjutant 
 Green, with Magill and Mcllhenny and the clerical forces of the Companies 
 were kept busy revising and reviewing passenger lists, cantonment lists and 
 records. Just in the midst of the work Green was taken from the Bat- 
 talion and ordered to the replacement depot at Gondrecourt and Lieutenant 
 Wright was transferred from "D" Company to take up the duties of Adjutant. 
 Lieutenant Pearson disposed of all ordnance and signal equipment. 
 
 Orders for the disposition of the motor equipment were difficult to obtain. 
 The First Corps was anxious to retain under its control the four Blue Ribbon 
 
 252 
 
HOMEWARD BOUND 
 
 253 
 
 winners, so they could be placed in the 1st Army Motor show with the First 
 Corps entries. Approval for this procedure was eventually secured from Gen- 
 eral Headquarters. 
 
 In the meantime, orders had been issued by the Fifth Corps that, when the 
 westward movement started, the 406th would proceed by motor transport. 
 The departure from Tonnerre was scheduled for March sixth. To prevent 
 any conflict of dates the prize-winning motors were entered in the Army show 
 at Bar-sur-Aube on the fifth. At this show the Ford delivery car, because it 
 had had very little use, was not allowed to compete, but the Dodge car, Geib's 
 motorcycle and Gruninger's truck took the blue ribbons in their classes and in 
 addition Gruninger again walked away with the Grand Prize. 
 
 The long awaited movement toward the port started on the scheduled day, 
 and at noon the trucks reached Auxerre. By evening the train had success- 
 fully covered the first lap of the journey over the splendid gravel roads and 
 collected at Gien, a picturesque old town on the River Loire. Many French 
 units were being demobilized in the town and consequently all available billets 
 were occupied by French soldiers. It was due only to the kindness and interest 
 of the French artillery officers that the 406th was able to obtain quarters. 
 
 Gien was the home of Edouard Thevelin and after mess several of the men 
 set out to find their old friend. Edouard had contracted a severe case of grippe 
 and was at his home slowly recovering. He was overjoyed to be greeted by 
 his former comrades. The next morning most of the men found opportunity 
 to visit him while the trucks were being supplied with fuel. He was living 
 with his aged father, a musician, and this gentleman with his long white hair 
 and gracious manner was an interesting character. As the men left to return 
 
 Gruninger's Grand Prize Winner Geib's Motorcycle Headquarters' Dodge 
 
 THREE PRIZE WINNERS AT THE TOURS SHOW 
 
254 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 to their trucks, the good French friends stood in their Httle front yard waving 
 their hands and caHing "Vive I'Amerique!" 
 
 The trucks were halted in Orleans at noon and after mess the men had an 
 opportunity to look around the old city before continuing to Vendome. This 
 was the end of the day's journey and was reached early in the afternoon, but 
 there were no particularly attractive places available to billet a battalion. 
 A regiment of American cavalry occupied the French barracks and the Signal 
 men were directed to a large airdrome on the outskirts of the town. When the 
 trucks had been parked, all of the men except a small guard were dismissed 
 until the next morning and most of them sought quarters for the night in the 
 town. 
 
 Before the Battalion departed from Tonnerre Captain Hasskarl, who had 
 recently been promoted and put in command of Company "E," was assigned 
 to the Fifth Corps billeting detail. The Battalion passed through Le Mans 
 on Saturday afternoon, Harris having been posted there to guide the 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^^^fl^K^^^^^B^ 
 
 ^^^1 
 
 
 ^^bi^i^^^^Z^^PWs^ 
 
 
 Srn^ 
 
 
 Gien 
 
 Courcelles 
 
^ 
 
 HOMEWARD BOUND iss 
 
 column to Courcelles, the town which Hasskarl had selected for the 406th. 
 Courcelles had seen few Americans and the Signal men were welcomed with 
 enthusiasm. Inspection officers arrived from Le Mans and the Battalion with 
 all its property was formed in the park of the small chateau in which Head- 
 quarters had been established. The officers and noncoms had labored earnestly 
 to have this an orderly inspection. Every article was in its proper place in 
 front of each man. The inspecting officers glanced over the assembly and 
 remarked that this was the most orderly and the most nearly complete inspec- 
 tion that they had made of all the troops which had passed through Le Mans. 
 The following day the Battalion records were inspected by officials from the 
 area Headquarters, and again a 100 per cent score resulted. Not a single 
 change was ordered in the passenger lists, cantonment lists and soldiers' 
 records. 
 
 The last equipment to be turned over were the trucks, and these were 
 delivered to Le Mans the day before the Battalion left Courcelles. The 
 officers at the motor center were so pleased with the condition of the trucks — 
 these being the first vehicles turned in to the depot in usable condition — that 
 they gladly agreed to furnish chauffeurs so that three trucks could be retained 
 at Courcelles to haul the luggage to the train. The Grand Prize winner was 
 one of the three. 
 
 Final adjustment of charges for damage to billets used by the Battalion 
 was completed and on the morning of March 23rd, the 406th marched up the 
 road toward La Suze, swinging along light-heartedly and appreciative of the 
 fact that the accommodating officials at Le Mans had allowed the use of 
 trucks for hauling the packs to the train. As they were marching along the 
 road they came upon Gruninger's pet — the prize truck. Where the road 
 approached a sharp curve the new chaiiffeur had lost control and the truck 
 landed in a ditch. It had been with the Battalion from the very start of 
 its labors in France. It had seen them through all of their campaigns. To 
 bid it farewell thus was not conducive of light hearts, especially among the 
 motor men. 
 
 At La Suze a long train made up of American army box cars for the soldiers 
 and a few French and German third-class coaches for the officers was waiting. 
 This was the first time that the 406th as an organization traveled in box cars, 
 although most of the soldiers in France at one time or another experienced 
 the comforts of the "Hommes 40 Chevaux 8." Rumor had it that the trip 
 from La Suze to Brest might take as long as thirty hours. This train cut the 
 time in half. It left La Suze at four in the afternoon, sped along steadily 
 through driving rain and reached Brest at seven the following morning. 
 
 Upon arriving, the organization was treated to its first example of the 
 systematic management of the port of Brest. The men were directed to a 
 large kitchen where in less than a half hour all of the Fifth Corps troops were 
 
256 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 At Brest 
 
 fed. And it was a good feed too. Immediately thereafter they swung along 
 on their way up the hill and over the muddy road toward Camp Pontanazen. 
 Colonel Voris was waiting in Brest to return to the States. He learned that 
 his Battalion had arrived and he lost no time in visiting the camp. 
 
 This time Captain Hasskarl's efforts to obtain quarters in advance were of 
 no avail. No billets were assigned to troops until they actually arrived at the 
 camp. The system was well organized however, and before long the men 
 were given barracks. The report was general that it was the aim of the 
 authorities to have each organization on shipboard not later than four days 
 after it arrived in camp. Major Griest with Magill who was again acting as 
 Adjutant, reported to Headquarters. Reams of instructions were handed to 
 the Major and an officers' conference was held to go over the instructions and 
 see just what work was to be done before final inspection could be asked. 
 Tuesday evening two new lieutenants arrived — "Bill"' Brittain, who was 
 assigned to his old Company, and Sonner who was appointed Adjutant. 
 
 At the camp everybody was rushed. Every outfit in the camp was required 
 to furnish large details, some more than half of their men, to carry on the camp 
 work. The huge machinery worked with fascinating precision. Late on the 
 
HOMEWARD BOUND 
 
 257 
 
 twenty-seventh, orders were received that the final inspection would be held 
 the next morning. Every one was astir at daylight and two trial inspections 
 were held in the barracks. Then the organization reported at the hall and 
 laid out its equipment which was in perfect condition. The speed and snap 
 with which the men displayed their equipment won for them distinction, the 
 inspection officer noting on his report. "Grade — extra excellent — no short- 
 ages." The last two words were underscored. The pack inspection was 
 scheduled for the same afternoon and as soon as the men returned to their 
 quarters from the morning inspection, final instructions were given on the 
 make-up of the pack. Again a trial inspection was held before reporting at 
 the hall and this time as the men of the 406th filed by, the inspecting officer 
 put on his report: "Excellent plus," and he underscored the "Excellent" a 
 half dozen times. 
 
 All of the records and passenger lists had been approved, inspections were 
 over, but there were no ships ! This was a small organization and could prob- 
 ably be tucked in to fill a boat at almost any time, but all of the boats avail- 
 able had been used in an endeavor to make a record shipment for the month of 
 March and to entirely clear the 26th Division, whose units had begun arriving 
 in camp the day before the 406th appeared. 
 
 ^^m^ 
 
 Delousing Machines 
 
258 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 During this wait the Major received disquieting news from his home and 
 after thinking the matter over for some time, he explained the situation to 
 Colonel Milliken who was now Signal Officer at Brest. The Battalion was 
 ready to sail but a ship would not be available for several days. Colonel 
 Milliken reported these facts to the Chief Signal Officer at Tours who ordered 
 Griest released for immediate embarkation on the "Augusta Victoria." 
 
 On Board the ' "^^ 
 U. S. S. "Seattle" 
 
 Captain Meigs assumed command of the Battalion on the fifth of April. 
 Ever since the arrival at Brest he had been haranguing the men on the necessity 
 of being absolutely "louse free." Each day he told them that if they had any 
 suspicion of cooties in their equipment they should go to the delousing outfit 
 and go through the "mill." He called up before each man the horror of being 
 held in France when the rest of the Battalion sailed if at the last minute even a 
 
HOMEWARD BOUND 
 
 259 
 
 single cootie should be discovered. As a result practically every man had 
 been deloused a half dozen or more times. 
 
 Meigs had a beautiful new uniform. Shining buttons, shoulder bars, 
 spurs, fancy belt, 'n everything! He was proud of it. The whole Battalion 
 was proud of it. But horrible to relate, a cootie was discovered on the new 
 outfit. It is said that this was the only cootie actually seen in the entire 
 Battalion while it was in Brest. The men had gone through the delousing 
 process for "safety first" reasons. Now Meigs and his wonderful outfit had 
 to be deloused. When the uniform came back it was a sight to behold. Out 
 of shape, shrunken, wrinkled, tarnished — nothing could have done it more 
 damage, unless the Boche had gotten hold of it while they were retreating 
 out of the Argonne. Meigs was short of funds because of his investment in 
 the uniform. So he had to wear it as it was. "The coat tail was in the middle 
 of my back, the sleeves were up to my elbows, the coat was tight across my 
 chest, the breeches would have split if I had leaned over — the Government 
 owes me a dam good uniform," was his comment. Luckily he carried a 
 "spare" which he kept locked up for use upon his arrival in the States. 
 
 On the evening of the seventh, the good news arrived that the Battalion 
 would embark on the "Seattle" early the following morning. Lieutenant 
 Schmidt with a large detail was dispatched to load the remaining Fifth Corps 
 baggage. The men who had been on various duties around the camp were 
 recalled and preparations made for the departure. 
 
 On the morning of the eighth the Battalion continued its record of "firsts" 
 when it was the first to turn in all of its surplus material to Camp Headquarters, 
 the first organization to leave camp, and the first to board the ship. 
 
 Hardtack presented a problem. Mascots were not allowed on the trans- 
 ports. But Captain Meigs slipped the dog underneath his coat and with some 
 help from one of the sailors on the "Seattle" he got the animal aboard. Once 
 
 On the "Seattle' 
 
a6o THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 on the ship Hardtack was sure of his passage home. The transport pulled out 
 of the harbor at noon on the eighth and the headlands which shut oflF Brest 
 gradually melted into the eastern horizon. 
 
 The trip homeward was filled with a variety of duties such as guard, mess 
 and police. On the second day out there was a call for eighty volunteer 
 stokers, the idea being that with additional stokers greater speed could be 
 made. Of the first eighty to volunteer, sixty were from the 406th. During 
 the trip a hundred and twenty-five of the Signal men assisted in firing the 
 boilers. 
 
 On the "Seattle" another expert was discovered in the Battalion. Pember- 
 ton had served a term in the Navy. On the "Seattle" he met an old friend in 
 the Chief Engineer of the vessel. A generator had been out of service for three 
 or four months and Pemberton set to work to make repairs. His success at this 
 job won for him a comfortable room in the quarters of the Chief Engineer and 
 his reputation for versatility was maintained to the last. 
 
 The voyage continued with its details and inspections, interspersed with 
 moving pictures and athletic contests. In the latter. Ford became boxing 
 champion of the ship, defeating not only the best among the troops but the 
 pick of the Navy personnel as well. 
 
 ■.'& 
 
Chapter XXVII 
 
 From Khaki to ^''Civics'''' 
 
 \ELIGIOUS service aboard the "Seattle" had just been completed on 
 Easter morning when the boat entered New York harbor and the build- 
 ings of Manhattan became visible. The westward bound home seekers, 
 who had left New York — then "an Atlantic Port" — twenty months before, 
 hung eagerly over the rail straining their eyes for familiar sights. It is need- 
 less to discuss the thoughts in their minds as they sailed up the harbor past 
 the famous lady on Bedloe's Island. The vessel neared the pier in Hoboken 
 and familiar faces were seen on the dock, among them Colonel Hubbell who 
 was now out of uniform. 
 
 As the men landed, the Red Cross treated them to mess while Captain 
 Meigs set out to locate somebody in authority. Easter apparently was a 
 military holiday and there were no officers at the pier. Meigs managed to 
 learn that the Battalion was scheduled for Camp Upton. Spying a ferryboat 
 which was approaching the pier, he connived with its Captain to carry the 
 Battalion to Long Island. 
 
 At Long Island City, the boat was met by an officer who was awaiting 
 the arrival of the 406th "Labor" Battalion. During active service in France, 
 the men frequently contended that "Telegraph" Battalion was a misnomer 
 and that "Labor" Battalion was a far more appropriate name. So the 
 officer was not so far from the truth. Once more there were Red Cross repre- 
 sentatives present to distribute chocolate and other delicacies while the Army 
 
 261 
 
26a 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 representatives directed the men to waiting trains with the information that 
 a hot meal would be furnished them upon their arrival at Camp Upton. 
 
 It was almost midnight when the Battalion arrived at the barracks which 
 had been assigned to the organization. Here there was a pile of uncooked 
 
 On the Pier 
 
 rations which had been dumped on the floor but there was no stove, no fire, 
 no cook. The men had had no substantial food since the forenoon and the 
 Battalion cooks went to work to prepare a meal. Meanwhile an artillery- 
 organization which by some error had been assigned to the same quarters 
 arrived. The attack was repulsed. But when the food was ready the artillery 
 men were invited to help dispose of it. 
 
 The next day saw a round of inspections and the men were reequipped. 
 Cantonment lists and other Battalion records were checked and rechecked by 
 Magill and his Headquarters detachment and the clerical forces of the Com- 
 panies. After three days the journey to Camp Dix began. Captain Meigs 
 used his powers of persuasion to secure special cars for the organization as 
 regular trains required several transfers en route. 
 
 Another long round of inspections was started at Camp Dix on the twenty- 
 fourth. All of the records were turned in to Camp Headquarters and the 
 officers and soldiers became casuals. Again the careful work of the Bat- 
 talion's clerical staff was apparent when the Major in charge of the demobiliza- 
 
FROM KHAKI TO "CIVIES 
 
 '63 
 
 tion declared that this was the best set of records turned in by any organization 
 which had passed through that center. 
 
 Captain Meigs had been expending his energy in trying to keep the de- 
 mobilization wheels turning and the men properly cared for. The Captain 
 worked himself to such a point of exhaustion that he became ill and his condi- 
 tion was so serious that Captain Macfarlan, in consultation with the camp 
 physicians, ordered him to the hospital for an operation. Meigs submitted to 
 the decree, disappointed at the thought that he would not be able to accom- 
 pany the Battalion during its two or three remaining days of service. 
 
 A reception in Philadelphia was scheduled for the twenty-fifth. From the 
 time the Battalion left Courcelles there had been little opportunity for drill. 
 Three of the officers, Schmidt, Pearson and Sonner, had been detained for dis- 
 charge at Camp Upton. It fell upon Captain Hasskarl to take the Battalion 
 to Philadelphia and throughout the morning he with Macfarlan and Brittain 
 conducted a vigorous drill at the camp so that the men would be ready for the 
 afternoon exercises. 
 
 Special trains and trolleys delivered the organization at Broad and South 
 Streets, Philadelphia. The men were formed and marched around City Hall 
 
 The Return 
 
i;^^-:;'fi.,H?6«!KS!i5 
 
 THE REVIEW AT BELL PARKWAY BUILDING 
 
FROM KHAKI TO "CIFIES" 265 
 
 and out the Parkway to the Bell Telephone building — Hardtack proudly ac- 
 companying the column as one of its distinguished members. The sidewalks 
 were lined with relatives and friends who cheered the seasoned veterans as 
 they swung along in true military style. 
 
 The Battalion passed in review before a party in which were General Saltz- 
 man representing the Chief Signal Officer of the Army, Mr. Bethell then 
 President, and Mr. Kinnard then Vice-President and General Manager of the 
 Telephone Company, and formed in Hne before the Bell building. The day 
 had been cloudy and when the formal review was completed the snow was 
 driving down the street in a gale. The standards and guidons which had been 
 carried through the entire service in France were returned at this formation. 
 The color guard advanced and as the men stood at salute the band played the 
 National Anthem. At the first note word was flashed through the operating 
 rooms in the Bell Parkway Building and the operators rose from their chairs 
 and remained standing until the last notes had died out. When the music 
 ceased, Captain Hasskarl taking the standards from the color guard, returned 
 them one by one to Mr. Kinnard. Accepting them Mr. Kinnard spoke: 
 
 "Men of the 406th, our own BattaHon: 
 
 "It is a high honor you confer by placing in our keeping your 
 guidons, your standard, your flag. 
 
 "What was mere equipment when you received it has been made 
 sacred by association with you in a glorious service. 
 
 "Your fidelity and the excellence of your accomplishments have 
 more than justified our confidence and realized for us our most 
 ambitious hopes. 
 
 "These symbols of your now famous organization will be cher- 
 ished, reverenced and displayed, so that we may be not unmindful 
 of the great unselfishness of you and your fellows, that the world 
 might be purged of the fearful things that threatened civilization. 
 
 "You bring to us high honor. We accept the custody of your 
 battle flags and give you assurance of our respect, our pride, our grati- 
 tude, our affection." 
 
 The section of the Parkway between i6th and 17th Streets was roped off 
 during the ceremony and now the police lowered the ropes that hemmed in 
 the crowd on the pavements and the soldiers simultaneously broke ranks. Then 
 what a happy bedlam! The soldier boys scattered pell-mell across the Park- 
 way — for each had picked from the comer of his eye the place where his dear 
 ones were standing. And they, not content to wait, rushed forward. The flurry 
 of snowflakes driven furiously downward fell upon the reunited groups, but 
 the unbounded joy of greeting proved the futility of the elements' attempt to 
 dampen spirits. 
 
 Some girls were not quite sure at first that they were kissing the right 
 soldier and some of the boys admitted that they kissed the wrong girl. A 
 
266 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Returning the Standards and Guidons 
 
 mother hugged somebody else's son — but, well, she shifted into her own son's 
 arms so quickly that she scarcely knew the difference. Tears streamed down 
 faces that were at the same time wrinkled with smiles. A soldier's father 
 burst into tears when he saw his boy. Returning fathers clasped wife and 
 baby in one fond embrace — a baby perhaps that they had never seen before. 
 One daddy's little girl didn't know her father, but she soon found out who he 
 was. Sergeant Coates' daughter will always know him now, and she'll be 
 mighty proud of him, too. 
 
 All too soon assembly sounded on the bugles and in a few moments the 
 406th was marching toward Scottish Rite Hall on North Broad Street, fol- 
 lowed by admiring relatives and friends. Before the hall they broke ranks 
 
FROM KHAKI TO "CIFIES" 267 
 
 and joined home folks once again and for almost an hour chatted and em- 
 braced and tried to make up for the months gone by. 
 
 At five o'clock the crowd moved to the banquet room. A number of large 
 place cards told everyone where to sit if they chose to be with the most of 
 their friends. "Jim" Repplier, Chairman of the General Committee for 
 arranging affairs, with a few brief remarks turned the ceremony over to Mr. 
 Kinnard who called upon the Rev. Dr. William M. Auld to deliver the invoca- 
 tion. Mr. Kinnard next called the assembly to its feet and proposed a toast 
 to Private Hollowell and Major Glaspey, who gave their lives to their country 
 over there. He said: "Borrowing the words of the Persian astronomer-poet: 
 
 " 'And when, like her, O Saki, you shall pass 
 Among the guests star-scattered on the grass. 
 And in your joyous errand reach the spot 
 Where I made one, turn down an empty glass.' 
 
 "Private John J. Hollowell, killed in the discharge of his duties 
 near Neuf chateau, February 11, 191 8. 
 
 "Major Rexford Mason Glaspey, died of pneumonia on November 
 5, 1918, at Base Hospital 51. 
 
 "God grant that when taps are blown for us we may have merited 
 in part the great respect their supreme sacrifice commands." 
 
 Mr. Kinnard, with a dramatic gesture, brought an empty glass downward 
 on the table; the crash resounded throughout the hall. The banqueters stood 
 for a moment in silence and then, all as one, resumed their seats. 
 
 They fell to their "chow," and an occasional song either by professional 
 singers or better still, by the revelers themselves, added a zest to the excep- 
 tionally fine food that the committee had provided. 
 
 Speeches were now in order. Mr. Kinnard as toastmaster, first introduced 
 President F. H. Bethell who, imbued with the spirit of the occasion, said that 
 he had no voice to express his gratitude at being able to attend the dinner. 
 And he assured the boys — every bloomin' one — that their jobs were all 
 dusted off and waiting for them just as soon as they finished celebrating and 
 wanted to return. The response to this announcement was deafening. 
 
 General Saltzman, Executive Officer to General Squier and representing 
 him at the dinner, spoke next and said among other things: "Records show 
 that your Battalion had more active service than any other similar battalion 
 in France. It is also a matter of record that General Foch remarked he would 
 rather ride five miles to an American telephone than use a French one." 
 
 So that every one might see them, the three men who were first cited for 
 bravery — Gallo, Grindel and McKay — were asked by Colonel Hubbell, who 
 next addressed the gathering, to stand up. Major Griest succeeded him on 
 the floor and then Captain Hasskarl who, too hoarse to speak smiled an 
 
268 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 affable smile that spoke worlds of things. Captain Macfarlan was next and 
 he took back to camp a hearty testimony to Captain Meigs — for everybody 
 was sorry that the Battalion's popular Commander was indisposed. Captain 
 Macfarlan assured the gathering that he was not seriously ill however, and 
 that he felt worse about not being able to come to the dinner than about being ill. 
 
 The Philadelphia Party 
 
 Colonel Voris was invited but could not attend. The men of the Battalion 
 had a deep feeling for the "Old Man," and appreciated the sentiment which 
 he expressed in the following letter to Mr. Kinnard : 
 
 "I deeply regret that I did not receive your kind invitation to 
 attend the reception given by the employees of your Company to 
 the 406th Telegraph Battalion in time to thank you and write you in 
 praise of the Battalion, for it was impossible for me to attend and 
 sing their achievements in person. 
 
 "I fear the deeds of the Battalion went unpraised, and I regret 
 it. They served in the First Army Corps from February to Novem- 
 ber last year through the three big engagements participated in by 
 the American Expeditionary Forces in France, and I know the diffi- 
 culties under which they worked, and I know the willingness, the 
 intelligence and the efficiency displayed by each and every member of 
 that organization. 
 
 "The several Bell Companies furnished a number of Telegraph 
 Battalions, and every one of them 'delivered the goods' in every way, 
 but none of the other Battalions had the opportunities of the 406th 
 in varied service, such as heavy commercial construction and main- 
 tenance in the back areas, and later the 'rough and ready' construe- 
 
Major James W. Hubbell 
 (later Lieutenant-Colonel) 
 
 Major William P. Wattles 
 
 Major Thomas H. Griest Captain Fielding P. Meigs 
 
 THE COMMANDERS OF THE BATTALION 
 
 36S 
 
ii. ,i. iM.ii *, lii-ii fii 
 
 
 AT C A^ 
 
 370 
 
UPTON 
 
 371 
 
ROSTER 
 
 40GTH TELEGRAPH BATTALION— SIGNAL CORPS, U. S. A. 
 
 April 20, 1919 
 CAPTAIN FIELDING P MEIGS. Commanding 
 
 HEADQUARTERS 
 
 Isl LiKUr. KUWIN P SONVER, 
 
 Adjutdnt 
 Sergeant, Isl Class, Robert W. Magill 
 Sergeant Percy R. Fonnan 
 Sergeant E. V. Mcllhenny 
 Chaufieur, Isl Class, Henry W Taylor 
 Cook Albert L. Custer 
 Private Merritt VV. DcVoe 
 Private Charles A. Slocum 
 
 SUPPLY 
 1st LiEUi. John M. Pearson, 
 Supply Officer 
 Sergeant, Isi Class, Jerome M. Hamilton 
 Corporal George B. Howell 
 Chauffeur, Isl Class, Charles E. Althouse 
 Cli:mffeur Benjamin S. Thorp, Jr. 
 Private, 1st Class, Arthur A. Bennett 
 Private, 1st Class, Alonzo M. Fuller 
 
 MEDICAL 
 Capt, Douglas Macfarlan, 
 Medical Officer 
 Sergeant, 1st Class, John A. Brown 
 Private, 1st Class, John Boyd 
 Private, 1st Class, Bert W. Geldard 
 Private, 1st Class, John Lister 
 Private Jess L, Dilley 
 Private Alfred W Teufel 
 
 COMPANY "D" 
 
 1st Lieut. William W. BrittaiW 
 
 COMPANY " E " 
 
 Capt. Victor L. C. Hasskarl 
 1st Lieut. Benjamin Schmidt 
 
 Henry 11. Cowan 
 
 MASTER SIGNAL ELECTRICL^NS 
 Calvin E. Miller Walter J. Gretzler 
 
 Dolph T. McKay 
 
 Martin U. Huehlcr, sn 
 Harry Jenst-n 
 Robert I. Urffer 
 George D. Woodward 
 
 SERGEANTS— FIRST CLASS 
 Albert Coates Leon O. Bailey 
 
 Walter W. Ryno Charles W. Danley 
 
 Allwrt S. Spears Carl Huckelberry 
 
 Harry C. Viclc Clarence M. Hutchinson 
 
 Herman A. Bohn 
 David McC. Hackett, 2nd 
 John D. McAnallen 
 Edward H. Mumford 
 
 George A Donbaugh 
 Edward T, Mannam 
 Paul R, Knight 
 John Miller 
 Ray C. Tritle 
 
 SERGEANTS 
 
 Harry W. Favinger 
 William Heisler 
 William E. Long 
 Walter L. PemlxTton 
 John E. Twohig 
 
 Edward J. Cavanagh 
 Jesse A, Gaghagen 
 Hiram V. Lindley 
 Frederick Maloney 
 Frank B. Westfall 
 
 Wallie Davis 
 John F. Klingensmith 
 John B. Lynch 
 Clarence B. Vanra 
 
 CORPORALS 
 
 Harry O. Carlson Leo F. Confoy George A. Beck William J. Beck 
 
 Robert Craigmile William J. B. Daniels Clifford H. Drew John A. Dwyer 
 
 Jeflerson Davis Harry F. Devlin Ephraim McC. Echard Tony Gallo 
 
 James M. Forwood Duncan J. Grant William T. Grimm Henry C. Lander 
 
 Walter B. Ilaislop Hubert Harris Harry A. Lowstetter OIlie H. McKinney 
 
 William J, Kelly Myrl K. Miller Timothy J. Manix Myles M. Morcom 
 
 John E. Noone Horace B. Welk Ernest Richards Clyde L. Russell 
 
 Frederick H. Stevens Roy Seybert 
 
 Richard Doyle 
 John Gruningcr, Jr. 
 
 CHAUFFEURS— FIRST CLASS 
 John V. Engstrom Joseph C. Gaus 
 
 Ralph E. Mance 
 
 Leif H. Hallgren 
 Glen Sabring 
 
 John D, Armstrong 
 William Dobbie 
 
 {ohn H. Graham, Jr. 
 rving S, Kreiiler 
 Semon H. Whitlock 
 
 CHAUFFEURS 
 
 John J. Conway 
 
 Chauncey B. Fullerton Howard E. Giles 
 
 Frank E. Huss Ford Lobaugh 
 
 William Smith Ralph C. Rauenswinder 
 
 Leo F, Shaffer 
 
 Joseph E. Burns 
 Ho 
 
 Willard F. Geib 
 Howard F. Henk 
 Alfred E. McCann 
 Chauncey McCann 
 Fred J. Schmitt 
 
 HORSESHOER 
 
 William Robinson 
 
 Howard C. Bolt 
 
 Williard W. Dailey 
 
 William C. Geddling 
 
 John A. Johnson 
 
 Wendell F, Adams 
 James Alfieri 
 Samuel j. Bigham 
 Patrick F Canavan 
 James F. Cannon, Jr. 
 George F, Fennel! 
 John A. Hall 
 Ernest Heyman 
 Herbert \V. Jones 
 Christopher Kilen 
 
 John McC. Koser 
 oseph T. Lord 
 John G. McFarland 
 Fred J. Maurada 
 Allan M. Peterson 
 William C. Simmers 
 Edmond J. Speitel 
 Gino D. Tomaso 
 John Walker 
 Charles H. Whipple 
 
 PRIVATES 
 Charles E. Alber 
 Albert Banholzer 
 William G. Callahan 
 Olan R. Dennis 
 John J. Ford 
 Arno E. Herzer 
 George W. Hoffman 
 John C. H. Kiehl 
 Edward H. Kissenger 
 William J. Lester, jr. 
 John E. Lyons 
 Harold G. Marr 
 William L Oyler 
 Donald M. Shute 
 Harry L.. Spangler 
 William J. Terncson 
 Thomas Tomlinson 
 Leopold C. Walkup 
 Charles S. Worrell 
 
 William J. Adams 
 Carl W. Bielstein 
 James H. Blaisdell 
 Patrick J. Callahan 
 George A. Farda 
 Charles J. Green 
 George E. Guenther 
 Paul A. J. Henry 
 Frank Nf. Hull 
 Jacob Kline 
 Archie L. Lewis 
 Raymond J. McDonald 
 Almon D. McKay 
 Edward P. Mohr 
 Edwin L. Petersen 
 Raymond N. Poole 
 Francis C. Riley 
 Matthew R. Robinson 
 Charles Seymour 
 John Shinfessel 
 Reason O. Swearingen 
 Miller Williams 
 Clarence E. Yeckel 
 
 Raphael C. Barto 
 Earl Bissett 
 William J. Bogner 
 Richard J. Curley 
 August J. Fest 
 Joseph J. Grindel 
 Leiand F. Guiles 
 Thomas E. Hoover 
 Harold M. King 
 Charles L. Lea^ure 
 Earl A. Logsdon 
 John J. McDonell 
 John L. McKinney 
 Emmett E. Moss 
 William C. PfeSerle 
 George D. Reid 
 Vincent P. Roach 
 John D. Ross 
 Alvin C. Sherrill 
 William T. Smith 
 Leslie E, Thompson 
 Michael F. Tormey 
 Bernard H. Wrede 
 
 272 
 
FROM KHAKI TO "CIVIES" 273 
 
 tion and operation of field lines under fire near the firing line. I 
 was acquainted with several of these battalions and their work, 
 and it is difficult to see how we could have gotten along without 
 them; but I know it would have been impossible to have gotten along 
 without the BattaUon so generously furnished and subsidized by The 
 Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania. This is the general 
 feeling of the Staff Officers of the First Army Corps, American Expedi- 
 tionary Forces." 
 
 Out on the banquet floor sat Chauffeur Gruninger (the best chauffeur in 
 the army, 'tis said), and Mr. Kinnard asked him to say a few words. Then 
 Corporal Drew of Company "E," Sergeant Buehler of Company "D," and 
 Lieutenants Price and Dickson were called on. Sergeant Urffer told how the 
 war made him perfectly at home with the boys — but well, he'd have to get 
 used to his old American ways again. He expressed the sentiment of 
 every one in the crowd whose hands and ways were a trifle hardened by 
 vigorous campaigning. Lieutenant Murdaugh arrived at the dinner quite 
 late. He sailed after the Battalion had left and reached America but a few 
 hours before the big party was scheduled. He got there just the same, to 
 the great delight of his ' 'bunkies, ' ' for they had not seen him since he won his bars. 
 
 "I'm damn glad to be here," said Lieutenant Brittain when it was his turn 
 to speak, "and I hope you'll pardon my French, for I learned it over there." 
 He proposed three cheers for Mr. Kinnard that were given with a hearty gusto, 
 and the speaking ended with a few words from Sergeant Major Magill. 
 
 The Battalion was scheduled to return to Camp Dix on the nine o'clock 
 train, so the meeting necessarily broke up all too soon. Happy at the reunion 
 and happy at the sincerity of Mr. Kinnard's parting words — "Just as soon as 
 you're through jollifying, come back to us" — the boys bade their folks farewell. 
 They formed in line outside Scottish Rite Hall and went to their bunks in the 
 Camp Dix barracks, every tongue praising the affair that was tendered them. 
 
 The next day, April 26th, the 406th Telegraph Battalion was mustered out 
 and ceased to exist as a military organization. On that day it passed into 
 history. It was almost to the day, two years after the men had been sworn in. 
 
 There was a party for Company "E" in Pittsburgh a week later — May 
 third. About ten o'clock in the morning a crowd began to gather in the lobby 
 of the Grant Building, attracted by the Welcome Home signs and the presence 
 of Hardtack, the mascot who was in charge of his bodyguard, Chauffeur L. H. 
 Hallgren. Hardtack sniffed disdainfully at the bevy of admiring young 
 women surrounding him, but when one most thoughtful friend, remembering 
 the common failing of man and beast, produced various kinds of dog dainties, 
 he very willingly unbent and speedily demolished the proffered food. This 
 was only the beginning of a memorable day for Company "E's" mascot, who 
 bore all the honors heaped upon him with characteristic soldier calm. 
 
THE HOMECOMING OF COMPANY 
 
 274 
 
FROM KHAKI TO "CIFIES" 
 
 275 
 
 Captain Victor L. C. Hasskarl 
 
 A parade was scheduled for 4 P. M. 
 but long before that hour the clans be- 
 gan to gather. Members of Company 
 "E" from out of town points brought 
 their relatives and friends who helped 
 to swell the crowd. Parade Chairman 
 "Charlie" Lehmann had made complete 
 arrangements with the "weather man" 
 for good weather; and to prove that 
 he was no slacker Old Sol was out in all 
 his glory, smiling broadly upon the 
 throng. At about 3 :30, Top Sergeant 
 Hackett blew his whistle for the line- 
 up. From the lack of speed with which 
 the boys came to attention it seemed 
 that at the moment they were more 
 interested in hearing what "she" was 
 saying, or relating some hair-raising 
 experience to some buddy who stayed 
 at home, than in getting ready for the 
 parade. After the usual preparatory 
 hustle and bustle the parade was formed and it moved out promptly at the 
 hour set. 
 
 Though wearing their red chevrons denoting discharge from the service 
 of Uncle Sam, the boys had lost none of their soldierly bearing and the crowds 
 along the route of the parade were unsparing in their admiration and applause. 
 Behind the overseas veterans came two trucks filled with girls of the Telephone 
 Company and friends of Company "E." The trucks were emblazoned with 
 placards giving the record of Company "E's" achievements overseas, the 
 second one carrying Hardtack who took the cheers and the noise with the 
 composure of a veteran. Following the trucks came the male employees of 
 the Company. There were floats of the Liberty Loan Committee two of 
 which bore machine guns which kept up a continual rat-tat-tat. The route 
 was over the principal streets of the city through packed lanes of humanity. 
 The reviewing stand at the City-County Building was the terminus of the 
 parade. Here Mayor Babcock spoke to the men, welcoming them in the name 
 of the City of Pittsburgh: 
 
 "Pittsburgh is proud of its boys who served in the World War. 
 There is nothing too good for them and we of this great city are wait- 
 ing for them with open arms. I congratulate you on the wonderful 
 record you made in France, for in honoring yourselves by your service 
 in France, you also honored the city which sent you. I also wish to 
 
276 
 
 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 congratulate the great corporation which was instrumental in your 
 organization and which, as your employer, has watched over you 
 during your travels overseas, and now seeks to make your home- 
 coming an event which will live long in your memories. 
 
 'Coming over here, I was talking with one of your ofificials who 
 had journeyed all the way from Philadelphia to be present at this 
 celebration, and I asked him how it happened that he was here. His 
 reply was conclusive: 'I had to come. I simply could not remain 
 at home when a reception like this was being given our boys in Pitts- 
 burgh; my place was here.' This answer is an indication of the 
 love for you which is in the hearts of your countrymen. We are all 
 mighty glad to have you back safe and sound. God bless you all!" 
 
 At seven o'clock the assemblage moved to the banquet hall. All the civil- 
 ians were seated at the tables when the boys marched in to the tune of "When 
 Johnny Comes Marching Home." They lined up in front of the speaker's 
 table, stood at attention while "the Star-Spangled Banner" was played and 
 after a few words of welcome spoken by J. K. Martin, General Chairman of 
 the Committee, they broke ranks and threaded through the aisles to find the 
 places reserved for them among their own particular friends. 
 
 The blessing was asked by Mr. Lehmann. Then the "mess signal" was 
 
 The Harrisburg Dinner 
 
 blown by Bugler Fest after which all "fell to" and did justice to the viands 
 which ha4 been provided. During the dinner, a "jazz band," a male sextet, 
 and other entertainers made the hall ring with music and merriment. All 
 the popular songs, new and old, were sung even to Mr. Badger's favorite 
 "Bashful Emma." 
 
FROM KHAKI TO '' CI V I E S " 277 
 
 After the "eats," Mr. Badger who had been known throughout the Pitts- 
 burgh Division as "the Daddy of Company 'E'," was asked to act as toast- 
 master. 
 
 He called on Mr. Kinnard, who explained that this was the first real oppor- 
 tunity he had found to talk to the boys; on the Parkway the wind had made 
 short work of any efforts to make a speech. He spoke of the anxiety he felt 
 during all the time the men were overseas, feeling in a measure, a personal 
 responsibility for their welfare. He told of the pride which he felt because of 
 their wonderful record in France and extended a welcome on behalf of the 
 entire telephone organization. Mr. Stryker spoke of the excitement he experi- 
 enced when news of the Battalion's embarkation was received and related the 
 story of his stratagem in gaining admission to the pier where the "Seattle" 
 docked. Mr. Lynch told of the deep interest taken in the boys by the women 
 members of the Bell organization, his story of the ovation given them in 
 Philadelphia being particularly touching. Mr. Kilpatrick and Mr. Henderson 
 extended the welcome of the Engineering and Commercial Departments, 
 expressing to the boys the pleasure they and their fellow workers felt at their 
 safe return. 
 
 Captain Hasskarl was still in the grip of a cold, so Mr. Martin expressed 
 for him the pleasure he enjoyed at being associated with the men of Company 
 "E." ". . . a finer set of men he never met ; the memory of their courage 
 and manliness is something that will remain in his memory forever." 
 
 Lieutenants Foust and Collins told the crowd what they thought of Com- 
 pany "E" — and it was aplenty! They expressed regret that they were not 
 permitted to remain with the outfit until the finish, as they had formed attach, 
 ments for the men which they were very sorry to see broken. Following this 
 Mr. Badger called upon a number of men of Company "E" to stand up and 
 let the crowd see them. It was near midnight when the party was over. 
 
 The Battalion boys that lived in Harrisburg were too few for a parade, so 
 the welcome-home reception took the form of a dinner — and a good one at that 
 — on May the ninth. Songs and music and a bit of personal experiences 
 punctuated the spare moments during the meal and then the diners turned 
 their faces and chairs in the direction of the speakers' table. 
 
 The genial toastmaster of the occasion was H. C. Kunkel who, after 
 drinking a silent toast to the departed members of the Battalion, called 
 on Mr. Kinnard who told how proud all were of the achievements of the 406th. 
 Mr. Lynch told of the appreciation of the hazardous tasks faced by the men 
 of the Bell unit. Mr. Kilpatrick and Mr. Stryker expressed their appreciation 
 of the splendid work done by these men. Captain Hasskarl spoke of the 
 honest-to-goodness gladness the men felt in being in the U. S. A. once again. 
 
 Many of the Battalion boys were called upon to speak during the evening 
 and most of them related interesting tales of their experience while over there. 
 
278 THE FIRST BATTALION 
 
 Major Wattles who went to Harrisburg at the invitation of the Hanisburg 
 crowd gave an inspiring talk. For many months Major Wattles was in 
 command of Company "D" — to which the Harrisburg boys belonged — and 
 his speech had a very personal interest to the crowd assembled. 
 
 These parties were the closing chapter. The men of the 406th have re- 
 turned to their telephone plows. They have had an experience which time 
 cannot take from them. They have the knowledge that their little organiza- 
 tion of telephone men gave the A. E. F. two lieutenant colonels — Repp, whose 
 knowledge of telephone engineering made itself felt over the entire allied front, 
 and Hubbell who did such a thorough job in organizing and training the 
 Battalion that he was sent back to the States to train other troops. It gave 
 five majors: Glaspey, who died in the service, Wattles, Griest, Gauss and 
 Winston. It gave three captains: Meigs, Macfarlan and Hasskarl. In addi- 
 tion it gave nearly a score of lieutenants, many of whom would have been cap- 
 tains had the war lasted a couple of months longer. Of the noncoms and 
 enlisted personnel, what need be said? Their accomplishments are set down 
 in these pages. Their service began when the war started. They took part 
 in every phase of the conflict. The reports of the ofificers of the American forces 
 in Europe are sufficient evidence of the reputation they established. 
 
 They are back on their telephone jobs. They are the richer by their 
 experience in having shared in the fight to preserve democracy. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 THE following employees of The Bell Telephone 
 Company of Pennsylvania, The Delaware and 
 Atlantic Telegraph and Telephone Company and 
 The Diamond State Telephone Company entered the 
 Military or Naval Service of the United States during 
 the World War, 1917-1918. 
 
 ■{^ Indicates Killed in Action or Died in the Service 
 as shown by a check of all available records 
 
 Abraham A. Abrahams 
 Charles E. Adams 
 Harry L. Adams 
 "5^ John R. Adams 
 William J. Adams 
 Charles E. Alber 
 Ralph G. Albrecht 
 John J. Albright 
 Fred McK. Alexander 
 Charles S. Allen 
 Robert R. Allen 
 William H. Allen, Jr. 
 Arthur W. Alsberge 
 Charles E. Althouse 
 Marvin L. Althouse 
 French Ammons 
 Paul G. Amon 
 Ralph L. Amos 
 Edwin McK. Amy 
 John W. Anderson 
 Philip M. Anderson 
 John A. Angel, Jr. 
 James L. Archibald 
 Frederick W. Argall 
 John W. Argo 
 Francis E. Armstrong 
 John D. Armstrong 
 Charles C. Ashbaugh 
 Albert W. Ashby 
 Horace G. Atchinson 
 William L. Atherholt 
 Roland G. Aughinbaugh 
 
 Joshua L. Bach 
 Lyall p. Baer 
 Leon 0. Bailey 
 William H. S. Baily 
 Joseph F. Bair 
 Ralph R. Baldwin 
 Lawrence J. Balkey 
 Lloyd McC. Banks 
 Robert J. Banse 
 Thomas Barney 
 John F. Barr 
 William D. Barrett 
 Thomas H. Barron 
 Thomas J. Barry, Jr. 
 Herman Bartenbach 
 Karl E. Barth 
 Horace W. Bartholic 
 "i^ William B. Bartleson 
 George S. Bartlett 
 Raphael C. Barto 
 Raymond A. Baschenecker 
 William H. Bateman 
 Robert E. Bates 
 William J. Battin 
 John A. Bauer 
 John E. Bauer 
 William T. Bauer 
 Frederick J. Baughman 
 Ernest E. Bayer 
 James E. Beam 
 Carl L. Bean 
 William Beards 
 
 281 
 
282 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 William Beattie 
 
 William F. Brandt 
 
 Aubrey DeV. Beauclerk 
 
 Thomas Branson, Jr. 
 
 George A. Beck 
 
 Raymond A. Brauer 
 
 William F. Beck 
 
 Carl W. Bredemeyer 
 
 William H. Beck 
 
 James F. G. Breen 
 
 William J. Beck 
 
 John R. Breen 
 
 George W. Becker 
 
 William F. Breitenbach 
 
 John L. Becktel 
 
 Chester A. Brenner 
 
 Arthur A. Beisel 
 
 Paul Bretherick 
 
 Albert M. Bell 
 
 Joseph Brezee 
 
 ■jJtEmmett L. Bell 
 
 William W. Brittain 
 
 Brooks E. Bennett 
 
 Gerhard J. Brocke 
 
 Levin E. Bennett 
 
 Lawrence C. Brosky 
 
 Walter C. Benz 
 
 Charles B. Brown 
 
 Charles W. Berger 
 
 Neil L. Brown, Jr. 
 
 Francis A. Berner 
 
 Wallace W. Brown 
 
 Karl Bernstein 
 
 Edgar R. Bruder 
 
 Theodore Berrier 
 
 Herbert J. Bruder 
 
 Daniel C. Bertolette 
 
 Jacob S. Brunhouse 
 
 Michael F. Beysan 
 
 Elmer J. Bucher 
 
 E. Cliffton Bickel 
 
 Robert D. Bucks 
 
 Carl W. Bielstein 
 
 Martin H. Buehler, Jr. 
 
 Max a. Bierfreund 
 
 Maurice S. Bulger 
 
 Clarence A. Bierman 
 
 John E. Burke 
 
 Samuel J. Bigham 
 
 Thomas Burke 
 
 Leo E. Bilboa 
 
 John A. Burns 
 
 Milton 0. Billerbeck 
 
 Joseph E. Burns 
 
 Clarence H. Binder 
 
 William R. Burrows 
 
 Paul R. Binder 
 
 Paul Burton 
 
 Stanley G. Bird 
 
 Howard Bushnell 
 
 Howard Bishop 
 
 Edward N. Butler 
 
 Ralph C. Black 
 
 Edward F. Buxton 
 
 William F. Blackmar 
 
 
 Bernard Blank 
 
 Bernard W. Caesar 
 
 Ira Blough 
 
 George W. Cahoon 
 
 William J. Bogner 
 
 George H. Callahan 
 
 Herman A. Bohn 
 
 Patrick J. Callahan 
 
 Howard C. Bolt 
 
 Edric W. Camp 
 
 Hugh T. Boran 
 
 Thomas Campbell 
 
 John 0. Border 
 
 James F. Cannon, Jr. 
 
 Russell W. Born 
 
 Joseph A. Cannon 
 
 Walter H. Bornman 
 
 Harry 0. Carlson 
 
 Earl M. Bossert 
 
 Edwin J. Carr 
 
 Barrett W. Boulware 
 
 Charles H. Carroll 
 
 George P. Bowes 
 
 G. Thomas Cartier 
 
 John T. Boyd 
 
 Russell D. Carver 
 
 Darius Boyle 
 
 Michael J. Cassidy 
 
 Clark S. Bradford 
 
 Leo J. Castle 
 
 William Bradford 
 
 Raymond S. Caton 
 
 Wilfred Brady 
 
 Edward J. Cavanaugh 
 

 APPENDIX 283 
 
 Russell G. Chambers 
 
 Marion K. Cummings 
 
 James H. Chandler 
 
 Raymond D. Cupps 
 
 Albert B. Charles 
 
 John B. Curran 
 
 Charles C. Charlson 
 
 William H. D. Cussack 
 
 John H. Christensen 
 
 Herbert C. Custard 
 
 Edward B. Clark, Jr. 
 
 Albert L. Custer 
 
 James R. Clark 
 
 
 John J. Clark 
 
 Earle V. Dague 
 
 Roland E. Clark 
 
 William W. Dailey 
 
 Robert H. Close 
 
 Anthony J. Dallett 
 
 Morris S. Clouser 
 
 Christopher P. Daly 
 
 Albert Coates 
 
 Floyd L. Daniels 
 
 -jirHoWARD H. COFFAN 
 
 William J. B. Daniels 
 
 James W. Cogan 
 
 Charles W. Danley 
 
 Peter P. Cohen 
 
 Allard J. Davids 
 
 Walter K. Cohill 
 
 Rowland G. Davis 
 
 Austin T. Cole 
 
 Wallis Davis 
 
 Myron F. Cole 
 
 John H. Day 
 
 Raymond S. Cole 
 
 Arthur DeHaven 
 
 George K. Coleman 
 
 Charles A. Deitrich 
 
 Francis E. Colien 
 
 Aniello DeLuco 
 
 Charles H. Collins 
 
 Walter R. Demberger 
 
 John M. Collins 
 
 Harry 0. Dengler 
 
 Arthur D. C. Colvin 
 
 George V. DeRevere 
 
 William M. Colvin 
 
 Caspar Desmone 
 
 Albert R. Compton 
 
 George A. Dessin 
 
 William B. Conley 
 
 Earl A. Detwiler 
 
 Orville G. Conover 
 
 Lyle C. DeVeaux 
 
 Jennie E. Conroy 
 
 William C. Devereaux 
 
 Charles E. Conway 
 
 Harry F. Devlin 
 
 Erle McK. Conwell 
 
 Peter F. Devlin 
 
 Lloyd E. Cook 
 
 Harvey J. Dible 
 
 William L. Cook 
 
 William M. Dickson 
 
 Vincent P. Corcoran 
 
 George N. Dietrich 
 
 Michael J. Corless 
 
 NORBERT F. DiETSCH 
 
 Milton W. Corkron, J 
 
 R. Albert J. Dietz 
 
 Leroy a. Cortwright 
 
 Bartram H. Dilks 
 
 Ralph A. Costley 
 
 Franklin E. Dilks 
 
 Harold G. Cousins 
 
 Frank J. Dillon 
 
 John W. Coverdale 
 
 Charles Dittrick 
 
 Henry B. Cowan 
 
 William Dobbie 
 
 Mortimer W. H. Cox 
 
 Robert G. Dodds 
 
 Robert Craigmile 
 
 Henry G. Doerrmann 
 
 Don S. Crispen 
 
 Martin P. Doherty 
 
 David B. Crissman 
 
 John H. Dolan 
 
 Gertrude L. Crofton 
 
 George A. Domsohn 
 
 Tessie M. Croghan 
 
 Joseph J. Donahue 
 
 Frank S. Crosland 
 
 George A. Donbaugh 
 
 Filbert P. Crossan 
 
 Joseph W. Donnell, Jr. 
 
 Ira R. Cumberledge 
 
 Arthur L. Donoghue 
 
284 APPENDIX 
 
 Thomas D. Donovan 
 
 Harold J. Evans 
 
 John H. Dore 
 
 Oliver E. Evans 
 
 William J. Dougherty 
 
 
 Richard H. Douglas 
 
 -A- James F. Fagan 
 
 Kenneth McI. Downes 
 
 Edwin C. Eager 
 
 Howard G. Downing 
 
 Walter D. Farley 
 
 John F. Doyle, Jr. 
 
 Joseph D. Farrington 
 
 Joseph F. Doyle 
 
 Charles Farwell 
 
 Richard Doyle 
 
 Irving G. Fasold 
 
 Thomas S. Drake 
 
 Harry W. Favinger 
 
 Charles D. Draper 
 
 Courtney Fawcett 
 
 Jacob W. Drase 
 
 George F. Fennell 
 
 Clifford H. Drew 
 
 i^Clarence p. Ferguson 
 
 Eugene Driscoll, Jr. 
 
 John Fernon 
 
 Austin M. Dryden 
 
 August J. Fest 
 
 Leon S. Duckworth 
 
 Albert L. Fetter 
 
 Charles D. Dugan, Jr. 
 
 Raymond H. Fighter 
 
 Martin J. Dugan, Jr. 
 
 Cyril H. Fiedler 
 
 George M. Dulabon 
 
 John H. Filbert 
 
 Myron F. Dull 
 
 Walter F. Finkenhoefer 
 
 Milton R. Dunkle 
 
 Howard W. Fischer 
 
 Robert L. Dunlap 
 
 Herbert Fite 
 
 James H. Dunn 
 
 John Fitzgerald 
 
 •s^Leo W. Durkin 
 
 William K. Flaherty 
 
 
 William G. Flannigan 
 
 William F. Fames 
 
 Alby S. Fleming 
 
 Charles Ebenbach 
 
 Frank T. Floyd 
 
 William C. Eberle 
 
 i^V Walter J. Flynn 
 
 E. McClelland Echard 
 
 Robert L. Fohl 
 
 Edward B. Edwards 
 
 George M. Foliart 
 
 Victor Egbert 
 
 Harry M. Foos 
 
 Kurt R. Egelhaaf 
 
 Lester T. Forbes 
 
 Verner F. Eichholz 
 
 Frederick B. Ford 
 
 Frank Eisenberg 
 
 John J. Ford 
 
 Herman H. Eisenberg 
 
 Joseph F. Forrester 
 
 Joseph Eldridge 
 
 William J. Forsythe 
 
 Kenneth Eldridge 
 
 James M. Forwood 
 
 Ralph S. Eldridge 
 
 Raymond Foulkrod 
 
 William H. Elliott 
 
 Jacob B. Foulkrod 
 
 Paul J. Ellis 
 
 Luther R. Foust 
 
 Raymond W. Ellis 
 
 Herbert Fox 
 
 Thomas F. Ellis 
 
 i!!rJoHN H. Fox 
 
 William W. Ellis 
 
 Floyd M. Frampton 
 
 Frank Else 
 
 Charles H. Francis 
 
 Albert W. Emerick 
 
 Ralph E. Frank 
 
 John V. Engstrom, Jr. 
 
 Paul Frankenfield 
 
 Thomas Ennett, Jr. 
 
 Ralph C. Frantz 
 
 George K. Erb 
 
 Carl R. Freehafer 
 
 Russell F. Erby 
 
 Sylvester D. Freeman 
 
 Roland A. Esslinger 
 
 Hugh B. Frey 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 i%S 
 
 John C. Friel 
 
 ^Rexford M. Glaspey 
 
 Thomas M. Friend 
 
 John S. Gleason 
 
 Harry R. Fritz 
 
 Harold F. Goodwin 
 
 Herman C. Fromuth, Jr. 
 
 Harry W. Gosser 
 
 George H. Fry 
 
 Charles F. Graber, Jr. 
 
 Ross P. Fry 
 
 Armive L. Gracey 
 
 John F. Fuller 
 
 John H. Graham, Jr. 
 
 Chancey B. Fullerton 
 
 Duncan J. Grant 
 
 Marcellus S. Fulmer 
 
 Alfred L. Gray 
 
 
 Earl E. Gray 
 
 Edward W. Gabriel 
 
 John Greeley 
 
 Jesse A. Gaghagen 
 
 Charles J. Green 
 
 John J. Gaghan 
 
 Charles R. Green 
 
 Willard J. Gaines 
 
 John I. Gregg 
 
 Robert C. Galbraith 
 
 Donald Gregory 
 
 Thomas M. Galbreath 
 
 James A. Gregory 
 
 Carlisle Gale 
 
 Walter J. Gretzler 
 
 Cletus M. Gallagher 
 
 Thomas H. Griest 
 
 John F. Gallagher 
 
 Harold J. Griffiths 
 
 Tony Gallo 
 
 Howard N. Grimes 
 
 Walter J. Gander 
 
 William T. Grimm 
 
 John F. Gardiner 
 
 Joseph J. Grindel 
 
 John LaR. Garrett 
 
 William B. Groll 
 
 Ethel F. Garson 
 
 Stewart A. Grove 
 
 Charles N. Gaskill 
 
 Louis A. Gruneberg 
 
 Earl I. Gaskill 
 
 John Grunxnger, Jr. 
 
 Albert C. Gaster 
 
 Leonard C. Grupe 
 
 Clyde L. Gatchel 
 
 Howard W. Guild 
 
 William L. Gauntt 
 
 Walter A. Gulbrandsen 
 
 Joseph C. Gaus 
 
 Arthur R. Gundelfinger 
 
 James H. Gause 
 
 
 William F. Gauss 
 
 David McC. Hackett, Jr. 
 
 John J. Gavin 
 
 Frederick P. Haehnlen 
 
 Albert V. Gee 
 
 Conrad V. Hahn 
 
 Willard F. Geib 
 
 Harry C. Hahn 
 
 William G. Geiger 
 
 William M. Hain 
 
 Wilbur A. Geiselman 
 
 Edgar C. Haines 
 
 ^Wilson D. George 
 
 Walter B. Haislop 
 
 John F. Gerboth 
 
 Charles E. W. Hale 
 
 William R. Gerhard 
 
 Harold L. Hale 
 
 Harry Gianelle 
 
 John H. Hall 
 
 Joseph E. Gibbons 
 
 Leif H. Hallgren 
 
 Theodore W. Gibson 
 
 Henry P. Hallowell 
 
 Enoch T. Gifford 
 
 Irvin Halterman 
 
 Henry D. Gilbert 
 
 Jeffrey A. Halterman 
 
 Howard E. Giles 
 
 Walter J. Hamburger 
 
 Eugene M. Gillespie 
 
 Charles E. Hamill 
 
 Thomas P. Gilligan 
 
 Arthur J. Hamilton 
 
 Edmund W. Gilpin 
 
 Edward Hamilton 
 
 Ralph D. Glancy 
 
 ■sir James Hamilton 
 
286 APPENDIX 
 
 Jerome M. Hamilton 
 
 Herbert M. Higgins 
 
 Raymond Hamilton 
 
 Selmar A. Higgins 
 
 Edward T. Hannan 
 
 Wallace D. Hikes 
 
 Samuel N. Harbolt 
 
 Frank M. Hill 
 
 John W. Harding 
 
 Thomas J. Hill 
 
 George H. Harker 
 
 Mabel Hilsee 
 
 Thomas F. Harkins 
 
 Joseph D. Hines 
 
 i^VRalph E. Harlacher 
 
 Stacy C. Hinkle 
 
 John N. Harlan 
 
 Charles A. Hiss 
 
 Ruthford a. Harland 
 
 Howard F. Hoagland 
 
 Louis A. Harnischfeger 
 
 George A. Hoch 
 
 Clifford W. Harris 
 
 Walter J. Hodrus 
 
 Hubert Harris 
 
 Andrew J. Hoff 
 
 Clarence W. Hartman 
 
 Herman M. Hoffman 
 
 Harold E. Hartman 
 
 William H. Hoffman 
 
 Carl A. Hartmann 
 
 WiLMER J. Hoffman 
 
 Howard D. Hartzell 
 
 Harry Hohnadle 
 
 Francis A. Harvey 
 
 Hampton W. Hoke 
 
 Victor L. C. Hasskarl 
 
 John M. Holdcroft 
 
 Robert V. Hatch 
 
 Alfred J. Holden 
 
 Rowland A. Hauser 
 
 Charles C. Holland 
 
 Theodore Z. Haviland 
 
 Harold W. Hollis 
 
 Harold S. Hayden 
 
 Roy C. Hollister 
 
 Frank R. Heath 
 
 Harry A. Holloway 
 
 William F. Heckert, Jr. 
 
 ■A-JOHN J. HOLLOWELL 
 
 Edward T. Hee 
 
 Stanley T. Holmes 
 
 Harry T. Heenon 
 
 S. Edwin Hood 
 
 Herbert C. Heideck 
 
 Richard T. Hoover 
 
 Jennie T. Heilig 
 
 Thomas E. Hoover 
 
 Joseph E. Heim 
 
 George F. Hopkins 
 
 George F. Heinecke 
 
 Louis G. Hosfield 
 
 William C. Heisler 
 
 Charles A. Hough 
 
 Benjamin W. Heist 
 
 Chester C. Hough 
 
 John D. Helmlinger 
 
 James R. Howe 
 
 William E. Helms 
 
 George B. Howell 
 
 George F. Helt 
 
 William M. Hoyer 
 
 Thomas W. Hemperly 
 
 James W. Hubbell 
 
 Clifford Hemphill 
 
 Richard T. Hugus, Jr. 
 
 Jacob E. Henderson 
 
 Z. Zimmerman Hugus 
 
 Samuel R. Henderson 
 
 Hamilton A. Hume 
 
 Frederick Henger 
 
 George A. Hunt, Jr. 
 
 Howard F. Henk 
 
 Perry A. Hunter 
 
 Frederick Henning 
 
 Warren C. Hurst 
 
 Paul A. J. Henry 
 
 Frank E. Huss 
 
 John W. Herbert 
 
 Theodore H. Husted 
 
 Milton B. Herr 
 
 Clarence M. Hutchinson 
 
 Arno E. Herzer 
 
 Harry K. Hutchinson 
 
 Horace L. Hess 
 
 
 Carl S. Hevener 
 
 Harry D. Inman 
 
 Harry T. Heverin 
 
 George E. Irvin 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 287 
 
 Harry A. Irwin 
 
 John C. Kiehl 
 
 
 Lee S. Izer 
 
 John C. Killmer 
 Charles W. King 
 
 
 Robert A. Jack 
 
 Delancey J. King 
 
 
 Edward S. Jackson 
 
 Harold M. King 
 
 
 George W. Jacobs 
 
 Laurence D. King 
 
 
 Walter James 
 
 Lawrence J. King 
 
 
 Charles W. Jamison 
 
 Vinton P. King 
 
 
 George Jamison 
 
 Oliver Kinnie 
 
 
 Edward A. Jardel 
 
 Henry B. Kipp 
 
 
 Harry Jensen 
 
 John J. Kipphorn 
 
 
 Herbert Jerman 
 
 Elmer S. Kirby 
 
 
 Albert E. Johnson 
 
 Frederic R. Kirkland 
 
 
 Charles E. Johnson 
 
 Paul A. Kirkpatrick 
 
 
 Edward V. Johnson 
 
 Harry F. Kirst 
 
 
 Elsie E. Johnson 
 
 James D. Kistler, Jr. 
 
 
 Howard B. Johnson 
 
 August J. Klein 
 
 
 Hugh W. Johnson 
 
 Carroll W. Kleine 
 
 
 John A. Johnson 
 
 Robert M. Klepfer 
 
 
 Thomas W. Johnson 
 
 John F. Klingensmith 
 
 
 Walter D. Johnston 
 
 William L. Klocke 
 
 
 Frank A. Jones 
 
 Henry R. Knight 
 
 
 Herbert W. Jones 
 
 Paul R. Knight 
 
 
 James P. Jones 
 
 George G. Koch 
 
 
 Orson D. Jones 
 
 George J. Kohler, Jr. 
 
 
 Robert K. Jones 
 
 Webster S. Kohlhaas 
 
 
 T&-SAMUEL J. Jones 
 
 Louis R. Kohlheyer 
 
 
 Vincent P. Jones 
 
 Donald S. Konkle 
 
 
 William H. Jones 
 
 Christian P. Kopp 
 
 
 John G. Josefson 
 
 Benjamin W. Koppe 
 
 
 Charles H. Julin 
 
 Paul E. Kornmann 
 John McC. Koser 
 
 
 Charles A. Kaelin 
 
 John A. Kraus 
 
 
 John B. Kane 
 
 Paul T. Kraus 
 
 
 Joseph Kannaka 
 
 Irving S. Kreider 
 
 
 Charles R. Kay 
 
 -iJirCHARLES B. Krein 
 
 
 James P. Keating 
 
 William J. Kreis 
 
 
 James W. Keenan 
 
 William J. Krohn 
 
 
 George W. Kellogg 
 
 Alfred M. Krouse 
 
 
 George F. Kemp 
 
 Charles R. Kulp 
 
 
 Thomas J. Kennedy 
 
 Harry J. Kulp 
 
 
 Arthur R. Kennedy 
 
 Frank L. Kurtz 
 
 
 Alexander M. Kenney 
 
 
 
 James F. Kenney 
 
 Robert R. Lafferty 
 
 
 Frederick P. Kent 
 
 . Edwin R. Lamon 
 
 
 Frederick C. Kenworthy 
 
 Henry C. Lander 
 
 
 Leo P. Keough 
 
 William J. Landgraff 
 
 
 Paul Kerin 
 
 Oliver G. S. Langer 
 
 
 Joseph L. E. Kerns 
 
 Paul D. LaRoche 
 
 
 William J. Kerr 
 
 Ralph B. Lauer 
 
 
288 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 William P. Lavelle 
 
 Edmund Y. Ludwig 
 
 William La wall 
 
 t^tAlan W. Lukens 
 
 John A. Lawler 
 
 Samuel C. Lukens, Jr. 
 
 Edward S. Lawrence 
 
 -jVMichael S. Lukish 
 
 William L. Lawson 
 
 John F. Lupton 
 
 William C. Legates 
 
 Frederick F. Lutz 
 
 Johanna C. Leahy 
 
 William M. Lycett, Jr. 
 
 Charles C. Leasure 
 
 George B. Lynn 
 
 David W. Lee 
 
 John E. Lyons, Jr. 
 
 William R. Lenox 
 
 •i^ William J. Lyshon 
 
 John A. Lenz 
 
 
 Hugo B. H. Lersch 
 
 John D. McAnallen 
 
 William J. Lester, Jr. 
 
 Harry F. McAnaney 
 
 Bernard J. Leu 
 
 Joseph A. McAndrew 
 
 ^Marshall B. Lever 
 
 James A. McCabe, Jr. 
 
 Morris Levin 
 
 James K. McCannon 
 
 Edward A. Levins 
 
 Alfred E. McCann 
 
 Archie L. Lewis 
 
 Chauncey McCann 
 
 David F. Lewis 
 
 Francis F. McCann 
 
 Vivian Lewis 
 
 T^RONALD H. McCaUGHEY 
 
 Louis F. J. Lhoest 
 
 David McClay 
 
 Arthur W. Lincoln 
 
 John A. McCloskey 
 
 Hiram V. Lindley 
 
 Joseph F. McConnell 
 
 Robert Lindsay, Jr. 
 
 Joseph F. McCormick 
 
 Mack H. Lingenfelter 
 
 William H. McCormick, Jr. 
 
 Fred T. Lipp 
 
 Alexander J. McCullough 
 
 Harry G. Lippincott, Jr. 
 
 i:!rjAMES McCutcheon 
 
 Curt A. Littman 
 
 John P. McDonald 
 
 Thomas A. Livesey 
 
 Raymond J. McDonald 
 
 Nathan A. Livingston 
 
 William A. McDonald 
 
 Francis V. Lloyd 
 
 Francis C. McFarlin 
 
 Ford Lobaugh 
 
 Thomas E. McGann 
 
 Alvin E. Loeffler 
 
 John A. McGinty 
 
 Earl A. Logsdon 
 
 Eugene V. McIlhenny 
 
 Albert G. Long 
 
 Harry E. McIntosh 
 
 William E. Long 
 
 Almon D. McKay 
 
 Valentine D. Longo 
 
 Llewelyn T. McKee, Jr. 
 
 Morris M. Loomis 
 
 John L. McKinney 
 
 Charles F. Loper 
 
 Ollie H. McKinney 
 
 Joseph T. Lord 
 
 William E. McKinney 
 
 ■iiV Joseph W. Lorsong 
 
 James A. McLaughlin 
 
 Charles H. Lott 
 
 Thomas McLaughlin 
 
 Charles J. Lovett 
 
 Bernard M. McNally 
 
 Dory Loving 
 
 William E. McNamara 
 
 Charles C. Lowe 
 
 Clifford H. McNary 
 
 Harry A. Lowstetter 
 
 Albert F. Maahs 
 
 Ivan D. Loy 
 
 Walter S. MacCorkle 
 
 Timothy J. Loyd 
 
 Alistair P. MacFarlane 
 
 Paul DeW. Lucas 
 
 Frank J. Machlan 
 
 Howard M. Ludwick 
 
 Harold D. Macklin 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 289 
 
 James E. MacMillin 
 
 Fred J. Maurada 
 
 
 George MacMurtrie 
 
 George Max, Jr. 
 
 
 ■A-Edward a. MacNally 
 
 Earle LaR. M'axson 
 
 
 David W. MacRonald 
 
 John K. Maxwell 
 
 
 Casper J. Mader 
 
 William M. Mayer 
 
 
 Henry W. Mader 
 
 Russell R. Mayo 
 
 
 Harry D. Madison 
 
 Horatio B. H. Mecleary 
 
 
 John G. Magee 
 
 Fielding P. Meigs 
 
 
 Robert W. Magill 
 
 George A. Melick 
 
 
 Elmer V. Magrath 
 
 Cove C. Melson, Jr. 
 
 
 Paul M. Maguigan 
 
 Garth E. Mercer 
 
 
 John H. Mahan 
 
 Ralph C. Mercer 
 
 
 William A. Mahan 
 
 Alfred A. Merkhoffer 
 
 
 ■i!!rEDWARD F. Maher 
 
 William W. Merrill 
 
 
 Joseph S. Maher 
 
 Claude M. Metelski 
 
 
 William G. Mahon 
 
 Earl E. Metz 
 
 
 Frederick C. Maine 
 
 Usher Meyer 
 
 
 Elwood R. Major 
 
 Harry L. Meyers 
 
 
 Jesse D. Major 
 
 Jacob Meyers 
 
 
 George C. Makin, Jr. 
 
 Charles A. Mick 
 
 
 Earl Maley 
 
 John Mierle 
 
 
 John E. Maley 
 
 Calvin E. Miller 
 
 
 Raymond P. Malley 
 
 George M. Miller, Jr. 
 
 
 Edward Malloy, Jr. 
 
 Granville G. Miller 
 
 
 Frederick Maloney 
 
 Harry N. Miller 
 
 
 Ethel M. Maltby 
 
 Howard A. Miller 
 
 
 Timothy J. Manix 
 
 James H. Miller 
 
 
 Charles I. Manley 
 
 John Miller 
 
 
 Palmeri Manlio 
 
 John Wade Miller 
 
 
 Harry A. Mankin 
 
 John William Miller 
 
 
 William McK. Mann 
 
 Leon B. Miller 
 
 
 Thomas W. Mannix 
 
 Mark W. Miller 
 
 
 Charles C. Mansfield 
 
 Myrl K. Miller 
 
 
 Walter 0. Mansfield 
 
 Reeder Miller 
 
 
 Frank C. March 
 
 George H. Millholland 
 
 
 Bernard A. Margulis 
 
 Harold H. Millin 
 
 
 Francis E. Markey 
 
 Millard F. Mills 
 
 
 Edward J. Marotte 
 
 Carroll Missimer 
 
 
 Harold G. Marr 
 
 Horace H. Mitchell 
 
 
 Raymond B. Marriner 
 
 Peter A. Mitchell 
 
 
 John L. Marsh 
 
 Edward J. Moerk 
 
 
 Alexander S. Marshall 
 
 Edward P. Mohr 
 
 
 Kenneth C. Marshall 
 
 Frederick W. Molly 
 
 
 Claire V. Martin 
 
 Harman M. Molony 
 
 
 Harry J. Martin 
 
 DoMONicK Monaco 
 
 
 Lewis L. J. Martin 
 
 Andrew P. Monroe 
 
 
 Norman G. Marvel 
 
 Helen F. Mooney 
 
 
 William J. Marwood 
 
 James J. Mooney 
 
 
 Charles R. Mather 
 
 Frank R. Moore 
 
 
 liirARTHUR Mattner 
 
 Paul R. Moran 
 
 
290 APPENDIX 
 
 Myles M. Morcom 
 
 Graham L. Ogle 
 
 John P. Morgan 
 
 Milton E. Olson 
 
 James F. Morris 
 
 Joseph J. Olwell 
 
 James T. Morrissey 
 
 WiswELL O'Neil 
 
 James J. Moser 
 
 John A. O'Reilly 
 
 Emmett E. Moss 
 
 Lee J. Orr 
 
 Raymond H. Mounts 
 
 James C. Othus 
 
 Joseph N. Moyer 
 
 James S. Oxenham 
 
 Raymond U. Mueller 
 
 
 Joseph L. Mullen 
 
 Reginald D. B. Pappe 
 
 Elmer F. Muller 
 
 McRea Parker 
 
 Edward H. Mumford 
 
 Robert MacD. Parker 
 
 George L. Mumford 
 
 Ruth M. Parker 
 
 Harold Mumma 
 
 James B. Paterson 
 
 Samuel L. Mumma 
 
 George J. K. Patton 
 
 Albert A. Munch 
 
 Harry L. Patton 
 
 Herbert C. Munyan 
 
 Harry E. Paulsen 
 
 Burton D. Murdaugh 
 
 John C. Pawlowski 
 
 Richard H. Murfit 
 
 Austin Pearce, Jr. 
 
 James F. Murphy 
 
 James W. Pearson 
 
 James T. Murphy 
 
 Joseph D. Pedlow 
 
 Joseph J. Murphy 
 
 John W. Peel 
 
 Michael F. Murphy 
 
 Walter L. Pemberton 
 
 Raphael C. Murphy 
 
 ■i!i-NELS0N W. Ferine 
 
 Sylvanua W. Murphy 
 
 George R. Perrin 
 
 George H. Mussina 
 
 Howard W. Perry 
 
 Russell R. Mutzebaugh 
 
 Allan M. Peterson 
 
 Herbert K. Myers 
 
 Russell H. Pfeil 
 
 Warren J. Myers 
 
 John J. Phelan 
 
 
 Leon H. Phelan 
 
 Adrian R. Naugle 
 
 John E. Phelps 
 
 Edmund J. Nauss 
 
 Mark S. Phillips 
 
 Robert D. Neal 
 
 Reese J. Phillips 
 
 Harry F. Newcomb 
 
 Charles F. Pierce 
 
 Irvin C. Newcomb 
 
 Vernon B. Pike 
 
 Patrick F. Newell 
 
 John V. Pinkerton 
 
 Sylvanius R. Newhart 
 
 George A. Pittman 
 
 Philip W. Nichol 
 
 Charles McG. Pollock 
 
 Robert F. Nichol 
 
 Joseph Pollon 
 
 Charles C. Nickola 
 
 Chester D. Pope 
 
 Howard J. Nicodemus 
 
 Theodore Potts 
 
 Paul Nicoladse 
 
 Jerome W. Poulliott 
 
 ■iirRAYMOND Nicolas 
 
 Charles E. Poust 
 
 Willoughby F. Nicolls 
 
 Albert C. Powell 
 
 Harry N. Niehoff 
 
 William J. Powers 
 
 William Noble 
 
 Russell A. Preble 
 
 Edward J. Noonan 
 
 Donald Price 
 
 John E. Noone 
 
 Richard L Price 
 
 Charles R. Norris 
 
 Shirley C. Price 
 
 ■ii^CLAUD N. Northrop 
 
 William H. Price 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 291 
 
 Homer W. Princler 
 
 Moncure D. Robinson 
 
 
 HiLRY S. PURBAUGH 
 
 Roy T. Robling 
 
 
 Edward N. Purple 
 
 Joseph C. Rodgers 
 Kathryn C. Rodgers 
 
 
 Paul J. Quimby 
 
 Edward C. Rohr 
 
 
 William E. Quinby 
 
 Charles F. Rohrbach 
 
 
 William J. Quinn 
 
 Harry Rohrer 
 Philip H. Rolling 
 
 
 Gilbert B. Radcliffe 
 
 Warren W. Rommel 
 
 
 Charles W. Radetzky, Jr. 
 
 John H. Rose 
 
 
 Flora L. Rall 
 
 Peter Ross 
 
 
 Helen Rauch 
 
 Stanley B. Ross 
 
 
 Dorothy E. Rosner 
 
 Thomas F. Ross, Jr. 
 
 
 Ralph C. Rauenwinder 
 
 Samuel G. Rossiter 
 
 
 Frank C. Reading 
 
 William T. Rousseau 
 
 
 ■A- Joseph A. Read 
 
 John Rowlett 
 
 
 Louis F. Realey 
 
 Maurice E. Rulong 
 
 
 Edgar G. Reed 
 
 Clyde L. Russell 
 
 
 James Reekie 
 
 Charles W. Russell 
 
 
 Edward M. Reese 
 
 Jesse 0. Rutherford 
 
 
 Francis H. Reese 
 
 Edward W. Ryan 
 
 
 John C. Reese 
 
 Walter W. Ryno 
 
 
 George D. Reid 
 
 
 
 Mason D. Reiff 
 
 Max Sandberg 
 
 
 John A. Reilly 
 
 Joseph Santaro 
 
 
 Richard M. Reinoehl 
 
 Westley C. Satterfield 
 
 
 Francis M. Remer 
 
 ■jJrSPENCER H. Sauer 
 
 
 Edward P. Renouf 
 
 George J. Sauerhoff 
 
 
 William F. Repp 
 
 John Saunders 
 
 
 George P. Rese 
 
 Frank Scalese 
 
 
 Charles H. Reuter 
 
 Michael J. Scanlon 
 
 
 Harry M. Reuter, Jr. 
 
 Irvin T. Scargle 
 
 
 NowLAND E. Reynolds 
 
 Charles J. Schaefer, Jr. 
 
 
 John L. Rhea 
 
 Harold J. Schaetzle 
 
 
 Walter A. Rhoades 
 
 Frederick W. Schafer 
 
 
 Howard D. Rhodes 
 
 Gustavus R. Schaffer 
 
 
 Salvatore D. Ricciardi 
 
 Howard W. Scharp 
 
 
 Ernest Richards 
 
 George B. Schatz 
 
 
 George B. Richards 
 
 Howard B. Schauer 
 
 
 Floyd J. Richardson 
 
 Frank M. Scheifley 
 
 
 William M. Richardson 
 
 William M. Schleich 
 
 
 Maurice R. Rickman 
 
 Edward J. Schmid 
 
 
 Francis C. Riley 
 
 Fred. J. Schmitt 
 
 
 Herbert T. Riley 
 
 Byron K. Schneider 
 
 
 William Risko 
 
 Joseph A. Schnitgen 
 
 
 Harry Ritch 
 
 Bessie G. Schofield 
 
 
 Charles L. Ritchie 
 
 Charles J. Schofstal, Jr. 
 
 
 Erastus H. Roberts 
 
 Herbert R. Schooley 
 
 
 Walter H. Roberts 
 
 William H. Schultz 
 
 
 Archibald E. Robertson 
 
 James S. Schwarm 
 
 
292 APPENDIX 
 
 William J. Schwarm 
 
 Charles J. Smith 
 
 Herbert H. Schwartz 
 
 Charles W. C. Smith 
 
 Gregory J. Schwendeman 
 
 i^Clayton T. Smith 
 
 iJtCharles H. Scott, Jr. 
 
 Deily Smith 
 
 James P. Scott 
 
 Edgar L. Smith 
 
 William J. Scott 
 
 Hubert B. Smith 
 
 WiNFiELD Scott, Jr. 
 
 Hugh J. Smith 
 
 John N. Scull 
 
 John L. Smith 
 
 Ralph H. Scutt 
 
 John M. Smith 
 
 Glen C. Sebring 
 
 Joseph A. Smith 
 
 Claude W. Seddon 
 
 Joseph D. Smith 
 
 Raymond E. Seeger 
 
 Leo E. Smith 
 
 Hurvey B. Seibel 
 
 Robert W. Smith 
 
 Edwin W. Seibert 
 
 Roy a. Smith 
 
 William J. Seibold 
 
 Theodore F. Smith 
 
 Carl N. Sellors 
 
 Walter M. Smith 
 
 William J. Semple 
 
 William Smith 
 
 Roy Seybert 
 
 William A. Smith 
 
 Jesse Seybert 
 
 William J. Smith 
 
 Charles Seymour 
 
 Jacob E. Smithoover 
 
 Leo. F. Shaffer 
 
 George A. Snedeker 
 
 Oliver J. R. Shanahan 
 
 Perry L. Snow 
 
 Elmer J. Shaneman 
 
 Frank E. Snyder 
 
 Samuel Shapiro 
 
 Robert J. Snyder, Jr. 
 
 Everett C. Sharpe 
 
 William F. Snyder 
 
 Howard E. Shaw 
 
 Ralph J. Somers 
 
 Leo J. Sheehan 
 
 James F. Spahr 
 
 Henry C. Sheeler, Jr. 
 
 Harry L. Spangler 
 
 Harold A. Shelly 
 
 Albert F. Spears 
 
 Robert F. Shenk 
 
 George R. Specht 
 
 James J. Sheridan 
 
 Edmund J. Speitel 
 
 Charles L. Sherman 
 
 Merritt R. Sperry 
 
 William H. Sherman 
 
 Van C. Spence 
 
 Alvan C. Sherrill 
 
 Frank S. Spring 
 
 John Shimfessel 
 
 Joseph A. Stadt 
 
 Samuel D. Shipley 
 
 Harry St a ley 
 
 Harper M. Shoap 
 
 Edwin B. Stason 
 
 Maurice T. Shore, Jr. 
 
 Jacob A. Staublein 
 
 William H. Short 
 
 Clarence A. Staudinger 
 
 Clellan C. Shull 
 
 Joseph J. Steedle 
 
 Rose A. E. Simendinger 
 
 George T. Steeley 
 
 William C. Simmers, Jr. 
 
 William Steen 
 
 Edgar J. Simons 
 
 Paul Steinburg 
 
 Henry L. Simons 
 
 Otto P. Stemler 
 
 Robert L. Simpson 
 
 Allan G. Stern 
 
 Michael J. Simsack 
 
 Leon M. Sterner 
 
 Walter M. Skillman 
 
 Raymond R. Sterner 
 
 Frank E. Slack, Jr. 
 
 Clarkson G. Stevens 
 
 Andrew M. Slitzer 
 
 Frederick H. Stevens 
 
 Frank H. Smedley 
 
 George L. Stevens 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 293 
 
 Hugh T. Stewart 
 
 Roy D. Thompson 
 
 
 Clarence F. Stifel 
 
 Benjamin S. Thorp, Jr. 
 
 
 Harry C. Stille 
 
 Raymond H. Thorpe 
 
 
 Everett St. John 
 
 William C. Thurston 
 
 
 Raymond Stocker 
 
 Thomas Tierney 
 
 
 John N. Stockley 
 
 Percy E. Tillson 
 
 
 John W. Stone 
 
 William R. Timby 
 
 
 Paul M. Stookey 
 
 Edward F. Timlin 
 
 
 Calvin P. Stouch 
 
 Edwin A. Tomlinson 
 
 
 Robert C. Stoughton 
 
 Thomas Tomlinson 
 
 
 Henry A. Stout 
 
 William H. Tomlinson 
 
 
 Renus G. Strand 
 
 Alfred E. Townsend 
 
 
 Lester G. Straub 
 
 John G. Treichler 
 
 
 William C. Straub 
 
 Ray C. Tritle 
 
 
 Albert LeR. Streck 
 
 Morris E. Troost 
 
 
 Earl E. Strope 
 
 Edward H. Trudell 
 
 
 William G. Stull 
 
 George W. Truman 
 
 
 Earle G. Stump 
 
 George W. Trump 
 
 
 William A. Stumpf 
 
 Fulton G. Turner 
 
 
 Guy F. Stutler 
 
 Paul D. Turner 
 
 
 Leroy N. Suddath 
 
 Robert S. Twiggs 
 
 
 Daniel G. Sullivan 
 
 Alvi T. Twing 
 
 
 Lester E. Summy 
 
 John E. Twohig 
 
 
 Olin M. Sunfield 
 
 
 
 ■si^CHARLES K. SuPLEE 
 
 Russell E. Umbel 
 
 
 William L. Suter 
 
 William A. Underwood 
 
 
 Earl W. Sutvan 
 
 James E. Updegraff 
 
 
 Charles W. Swan 
 
 Robert I. Urffer 
 
 
 Frank Swartley 
 
 
 
 Clarence B. Swayne 
 
 Clarence B. Vance 
 
 
 Charles N. Sweeney 
 
 Claud J. Vanderslice 
 
 
 Norman Sweetser 
 
 Brainerd S. Van Meter 
 
 
 George G. Swilkey 
 
 Morales C. Vendig 
 
 
 Walter L. Swope 
 
 Harry J. Vogt 
 
 
 Walter B. Sylvester 
 
 Frederick Von Goerres 
 
 
 Henry M. Taggart 
 
 Charles C. Wagner 
 
 
 Joseph S. Tatnall 
 
 Fred Wagner 
 
 
 Henry W. Taylor 
 
 Frederick R. Wagner 
 
 
 iIVWaid J. Taylor 
 
 Horace Wagner 
 
 
 William C. Terhune 
 
 Paul H. Wagner 
 
 
 William J. Terneson 
 
 Francis E. Wakefield 
 
 
 Leo F. Tete 
 
 Clarence J. Waldo - 
 
 
 Gaston J. Theriot 
 
 Harry Walker 
 
 
 Nelson Thomas 
 
 John Walker 
 
 
 Peter Thomas, Jr. 
 
 John L Walker 
 
 
 William H. Thomas 
 
 Leopold C. Walkup 
 
 
 Bernard E. Thompson 
 
 Oscar B. Wallace 
 
 
 Leslie E. Thompson 
 
 William R. Wallace 
 
 
 Lyell E. Thompson 
 
 Edward B. Walsh 
 
 
294 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 James V. Walsh 
 
 Charles C. Wilson 
 
 i!!rTHOMAs C. Walsh 
 
 Coffin C. Wilson, Jr. 
 
 Anthony J. Walters 
 
 Edwin R. Wilson 
 
 John C. Walthour 
 
 Edward R. Wilson 
 
 Donald E. Walton 
 
 George W. Wilson, Jr. 
 
 Ray B. Wandel 
 
 Guy McK. Wilson 
 
 Everett W. Wanner 
 
 Thomas M. Wilson 
 
 Norman H. Wanner 
 
 WiLLARD S. Wilson 
 
 William Ward 
 
 Thomas H. Winston 
 
 George E. Warfel 
 
 William C. Winter 
 
 Thomas J. Waring 
 
 Charles W. Wise 
 
 Clarence S. Warner 
 
 Rudolph 0. Woidill 
 
 Allen D. Wassall 
 
 Donald C. Wolfe 
 
 Edward A. Waters, Jr. 
 
 Reginald D. Wollmuth 
 
 Edward Watson 
 
 George D. Woodward 
 
 Walter A. Watson 
 
 Thomas Worrall 
 
 William P. Wattles 
 
 Charles S. Worrell 
 
 Harry G. Weart 
 
 Frank Wright 
 
 Ralph V. Weaver 
 
 George R. Wright 
 
 Clifford T. Weihman 
 
 Robert Wright 
 
 David W. Weir 
 
 Robert J. Wright 
 
 Albert H. Wells 
 
 Elizabeth R. Wunderle 
 
 Joseph A. Welsh 
 
 Luther C. Wurster 
 
 Lester H. Wertheimer 
 
 Raymond T. Wyckoff 
 
 Frank B. Westfall 
 
 Peter C. Wynkoop 
 
 George A. Weston 
 
 
 Charles N. Weyl 
 
 John H. Yearick 
 
 Samuel T. White 
 
 Norman H. Yeatts 
 
 Semon H. Whitlock 
 
 Clarence E. Yeckel 
 
 Charles W. Whittington 
 
 Joseph W. Yinger 
 
 George F. Wieland 
 
 Paul R. Yocom 
 
 Henry L. Wigham 
 
 George E. Yocum 
 
 William T. Wilfong 
 
 William H. Yost 
 
 Raymond W. Wilkinson 
 
 Harry C. Young 
 
 William J. Willenbecker 
 
 Philip J. Young, Jr. 
 
 Edgar G. Willey 
 
 Thomas J. Young 
 
 Arthur McF. Williams 
 
 
 David A. Williams 
 
 Alan S. Zane 
 
 Ernest S. Williams 
 
 Wesley W. Zeh 
 
 Frederick W. Williams 
 
 Clifford H. Zellers 
 
 James S. Williams 
 
 Melvin R. Zerbe 
 
 Lincoln H. Williams, Jr. 
 
 Russell Zimmerman 
 
 Melvin 0. Williams 
 
 Clarence F. Zug 
 
 Miller Williams 
 
 John H. Zundell 
 
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