of the 30th Division had been held up in front of Mazingheim, after sustaining a considerable number of casualties. Mazingheim at this time constituted a serious menace to the right flank of the 27th Division, but on the other hand the position of the leading troops of the 27th Division constituted a menace to the right flank of the German forces at Mazingheim. Accordingly arrangements were made over the telephone between the headquarters of the 27th and 30th Divisions that reserve troops of the 27th Division would move into the area of the 30th Division and threaten Mazingheim from the north. While arrangements were being made to carry out this plan troops of the 30th Division were reorganized for a renewal of their attack on Mazingheim. The reserve troops of the 27th Division organized for the flank attack were constituted of one troop of the 20th British Hussars, one platoon of Company B, 104th Machine Gun Battalion, and Company F, of the 102d Engineers. This detachment having gained the orchard in R.26.d., deployed and began skirmishing toward the south. The demonstration was sufficient to cause the withdrawal of the German troops from Mazingheim, and shortly thereafter troops of the 30th Division entered that place and extended their line to the left so that contact between the two divisions was reestablished.

On the night of October 19th the 108th Infantry relieved the 107th Infantry. This relief was completed by 2 o'clock in the morning of October 20th. The 108th Infantry pushed out patrols to the Catillon-Bazuel Road, overlooking the town of Catillon and the Canal de la Sambre. On the right half of the divisional sector the 105th Infantry, with the survivors of the 106th intermingled with them, pushed out their patrols to the right at R.22. central, also overlooking Catillon. The main line of resistance was established along the easterly bank of the St. Maurice River.

Special credit is due the 105th and 106th Infantry Regiments for the fortitude displayed by officers and men in their continuous effort without relief from the beginning of the battle on October 17th. By this time the entire fighting personnel of the division was on the verge of complete exhaustion. Since October 11th they had been continuously under shell fire and gas bombardment, the leading elements always under machine gun fire.

The troops, however, were required to hold their positions throughout the day of October 20th, the divisions on the right and left in the meantime getting forward in prolongation of the 27th Division line. The 50th British Division on the left captured Bazuel and secured the left flank of the 27th Division. Finally the 27th Division was relieved on the night of October 20th-21st by the 6th British Division. What was left of the infantry of the division assembled in the vicinity of St. Souplet and Busigny on October 21st. At St. Souplet the Red Cross detachment under Captain Stephen N. Bobo rendered particularly effective service in supplying the men with hot chocolate and cigarettes as they were marching through that place.

During these operations the division captured a very large number of prisoners. They were so numerous at times that count was not made of some of the detachments going to the

Some detachments of prisoners were taken direct to the corps prisoners-of-war cage, while others were taken into the area of the 30th Division. However, the records of the divisional prisoners-of-war cage show that in these operations the division captured and recorded the capture of 48 officers and 1,463 other ranks.

The casualties in these operations were 12 officers killed, 33 wounded and 22 gassed; enlisted men, 156 killed, 36 died of wounds, 833 wounded and 401 gassed. No officers or men were captured by the enemy. The total casualties, therefore, were 194 killed and died of wounds, 866 wounded and 422 gassed.

A very great quantity of enemy armament, stores and material was captured during these operations. So few men were available, however, for any other purpose than fighting, that little effort was made to gather the captured property. The division found it difficult through lack of numbers efficiently to evacuate the wounded and bury the dead, without further depleting its strength to make up details for marking and recording captured material.

The conduct of officers and men of the division throughout the trying period of Le Selle River operations was magnificent. Always there was loyal response to the demands made upon them, and at times and particularly toward the end of the operations it must have seemed to the men of the infantry regiments par

ticularly that they were being pushed beyond the limit of human endurance. It is difficult to imagine any sentiment of the human heart more worthy than the sentiment of enduring self-sacrifice for the common good. This sentiment was exemplified in superlative fashion by the officers and men who made up the depleted combat units of the 27th Division during the operations of Le Selle River from October 11 to 20, 1918.

On the morning of the relief the Division Commander and one or two of the Staff saw the survivors of the 54th Brigade go through St. Souplet on their march to the rear. Some of the men were apparently asleep while they walked. They were cov ered with mud and many of them were bleeding from cuts and minor injuries. At first glance they seemed to be in a semistupor, but everywhere individual men upon seeing the inspecting party made a supreme effort, if only by a glance, to indicate that their spirit still survived. It is natural for every commander of troops that have behaved well in war to feel pride in the conduct and record of men he has commanded under the extraordinary and trying conditions of active operations. Nevertheless, making due allowances for this natural feeling, it is the deliberate opinion of the writer that no general officer in war ever commanded more intelligent, determined, better disciplined and loyal military organizations than those which made up the 27th Division during the period of the World War.

KILLED AND DIED OF WOUNDS, ACCIDENT AND DISEASE-WOUNDED

NOTE

The statistics given under the above headings are incomplete. The total number of 71st Infantry casualties would be much greater if it were possible to get complete reports. In this connection it should be borne in mind that the 805 casualties referred to above occurred in about 60 per cent. of the Regiment as only about 60 per cent. of the Regiment served as combat troops.

DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS

NOTE

The Decorations and Citations listed here are incomplete and possibly contain misspelled names and other errors. The items were gathered from various sources. It will be readily understood that in a case like the 71st Infantry where its men served in about 350 different organizations and in many Divisions, it is impossible to get together a complete list of all of the Decorations and Citations. Those listed have been gathered from the War Department, the State of New York, various Histories and copies. of original documents.

In considering the number of Decorations and Citations listed above, it should be borne in mind that only about 60 per cent. of the 71st Regiment served as combat troops.

AMERICAN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

EDWARD N. THOMSON, First-Sergeant, Company I, 105th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Mont Kemmel, Belgium, August 31, 1918. When the two platoons commanded by him met with heavy machine-gun fire, Sergeant Thomson placed his men under cover, and, single-handed, went forward to reconnoiter his objective in the face of heavy shell and machine-gun fire. Residence at enlistment: 617 West 152nd Street, New York, N. Y.

SAMUEL V. BOYKIN, Sergeant, Company B, 105th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action east of Ronssoy, France, September 20, 1918. During the operation against the Hindenburg Line Sergeant Boykin, with an officer and two other sergeants, occupied an outpost position in advance of the line, which was attacked by a superior force of the enemy. Sergeant Boykin assisted in repulsing this attack and in killing ten Germans, capturing five, and driving off the others. The bravery and determination displayed by this group were an inspiration to all who witnessed them. Residence at enlistment: 117 East 11th Street, New York, N. Y.