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National Geographic : 1919 Dec
Contents
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE vember II. It was 42 days in quiet sectors and 26 in active; advanced 28/2 kilometers against resistance, captured 1,876 prisoners, and lost 1,392 killed and 5,885 wounded. The insignia consists of the letters T and O in monogram, the initials of two of the States from which the personnel came. 88. The Ninety-first Division, formed by men from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Cali fornia, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah, was stationed at Camp Lewis, Wash ington. It went to France in July, 1918, and served in the Meuse-Argonne offensive Sep tember 20 to October 3; west of Escaut River, Belgium, October 30 to November 4; east of Escaut River, November io to II. The di vision spent 15 days in quiet sectors and 14 in active; advanced 34 kilometers against resist ance, captured 2,412 prisoners, and lost 1,414 killed and 4,364 wounded. The fir tree was selected for the insignia as being typical of the Far West, the home of the Division, and also, being an evergreen, was emblematic of the state of readiness of each unit of the organization. 89. The Ninety-second Division was formed of colored troops from all States, and before leaving for France, in June, 1918, was divided among several camps-Dodge, Dix, and Meade containing the largest units. It served in the St. Die sector, Vosges, August 29 to Septem ber 20; Meuse-Argonne offensive, September 24 to 30; Marbache sector, October 9 to No vember II. It was 51 days in quiet sectors and 2 days in active; advanced 8 miles against resistance, captured 38 prisoners, and lost 176 killed and 1,466 wounded. The buffalo was selected as the divisional insignia because it is said the Indians called colored soldiers "buffaloes." The color of the buffalo varies according to the arm of the service. 90. The Ninety-third Division was never complete. It was formed of colored troops from all sections and went to France in April, 1918. There a provisional division was or ganized of these scattered units. It never had any artillery and was brigaded with the French from July i until the signing of the armistice, losing 584 killed and 2,582 wounded. Owing to the fact that it was incomplete, and never participated in action as a unit, the other statistics for it are not applicable. The official insignia is a French helmet, but a bloody hand, said to have been assumed from the insignia of a French colored colonial division with which the Ninety-third operated, was more common in actual practice. 91. The First Corps-Normally a corps was supposed to consist of four divisions, but this was by no means always followed. Neither was any corps constant in the divisions as signed to it. One would be withdrawn and another substituted, according to the exigencies of the occasion. So it is impossible to give the composition of the corps which will be correct for all dates. During the St. Mihiel offensive the First Corps consisted of the Second, Fifth, Eighty second, and Ninetieth Divisions and the Seventy-eighth in reserve and was the right of the attack, the Eighty-second being the pivot on which the right wing turned. At the beginning of the Meuse-Argonne operation the First Corps consisted of the Thirty-fifth, Twenty-eighth, and Seventy seventh Divisions in the line, with the Ninety second in reserve. On this occasion it was the left of the American army, the Seventy-seventh Division being on the extreme left, next to the French, until relieved by the Seventy eighth, which was later relieved by the Forty second. After the armistice the First Corps consisted of the Thirty-sixth, Seventy-eighth, and Eightieth Divisions 92. The Second Corps contained only the Twenty-seventh and Thirtieth Divisions and operated with the British. The insignia, the figure "2" in Roman characters, having the American eagle on one side and the British lion on the other, is emblematic of this service. 93. The Third Corps during the St. Mihiel offensive was on the Meuse, making prepara tions for the forthcoming Meuse-Argonne drive, which it opened with the Thirty-third, Eightieth, and Fourth Divisions in the line and the Third in reserve. It was the right wing of the operation, the Thirty-third being the extreme right of the movement along the Meuse for the first few days. In the reorganization after the armistice the Third Corps consisted of the Second, Thirty second, and Forty-second Divisions and was stationed in the occupied German territory. 94. The Fourth Corps at St. Mihiel con sisted of the First, Forty-second, and Eighty ninth Divisions, with the Third in reserve. It was the left wing of the attack from the east side of the salient. The Eighty-ninth was next to the First Corps, on the right, while the First was the left flank of the movement, mak ing contact with the attack from the west side the second day. During the Meuse-Argonne drive the Fourth Corps held the St. Mihiel sector, but with different divisions. In the reorganization after the armistice the Fourth Corps consisted of the First, Third, and Fourth Divisions and was stationed in the occupied German territory. 95. The Fifth Corps at St. Mihiel con sisted of the Fourth, Twenty-sixth, and one French colonial division. It was the left wing. attacking from the west side of the salient. The Fourth Division was no the extreme left, the pivot of that flank, and the Twenty-sixth on the right, making contact with the First Division from the other side of the salient on the second day. In the Meuse-Argonne the Fifth Corps com menced the attack with the Seventy-ninth, Thirty-seventh, and Ninety-first Divisions in 524
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