USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > In the World War : Fillmore County, Minnesota > Part 16
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Four Liberty Loans were floated during the war, and the total subscriptions to these amcanted to between eighteen and nineteen billions of dollars. This amount was taken by more than 50 million subscribers, and was to be only an insignificant factor in the financing of the war, according to the Treasury Department. This cost when compared with the total cost of the Civil War for four years-approximately $4,000,000,000-is proof enough that the World War was not comparable with any previous war in history. In April, 1919, following the armistice, another Fifth or Victory Loan of approximately the same dimensions as the Fourth, was floated. The wonderfully prompt and generous response of the nation to each of the calls of the Liberty Loans was one of the greatest sources of inspiration for the men in uniform who had gone to fight for those at home. The same patriotic generosity that marked the success of the Liberty Loan was evident in each of the scores of war work drives that were conducted for the various relief and welfare organizations.
Food conservation-conservation of man-power, the work or fight order, the noble, work of the women who sewed and knitted night and day for the Red Cross and the boys, the curtailment of profits and the simple economy was practiced by rich and poor alike, were but a few of the many war time measures that characterized the life of Amer- ica's hundred and some million during the year and a half during which she was at war. No history of that war will ever have room for a just story of the part played by the loyal home folks-those who waited and prayed, and worked and gave, to kccp the home fires burning.
AN ILLUSTRATED REVIEW
Foremost among the initial problems of America, after preliminary plans for the raising of her army had been laid, was the problem of transporting them to France, so that their strength might be thrown against the Hun on the battlefield. Shipping was not available, and even though it was being increased at maximum capacity, still there was not more than half as much as was needed to transport the men in the numbers they were being trained and in the numbers they were needed by France and England and Italy.
England gladly placed her available shipping at the disposal of the United States, and before the war had ended she had carried more than one million Yanks to the side of her own men and those of the French, or nearly half of those who had gone overseas. The importance of the United States Navy in the war ean hardly be exaggerated. Within less than a month after hostilities were deelared, she had sent a detachment of destroyers to European waters. By October, 1918, there were 338 ships of all elasses flying the American flag in foreign waters. The operations of the Navy during the war covered the widest seope in its history. They operated in European waters from the Mediter- ranean to the White Sea. At Corfu, Gibraltar, in the Bay of Biseay, on the Irish Coast, at the English Channel ports, in the North Sea and at Arehangel, they did ereditable work. This service was not as brilliant perhaps as that of the army, because the nature of its vital work kept it from the front. Even though its activities were probably less glorious, still they were none the less important and necessary to the cause.
Naval men served on nearly 2000 eraft that plied the waters of the globe, on sub- marines that had no fear of the under-sea perils, and in aviation where men of courage fought and prevented surprise attaeks with new-found weapons.
Copyright by Underwood & Underwood. An American Whippet Tank Moving Up to the Support of the French for the Storming of Juvigny, Near Soissons, in the Last Weeks of the War.
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THE GREAT WORLD WAR
Copyright by Underwood & Underwood.
American Doughboys Shown Taking Another Hill After the Usual Spectacular Dash Over the Top.
In diplomaey, in investigation at home and in all parts of the world by naval offieers and civilian agents, in proteeting industry from enemy spies, in promoting new industries and enlarging older ones to meet war-time needs-these are a few of the accomplish- ments that are outstanding in the part played by the Navy in winning the war.
Shortly after the declaration of war, the submarine problem had become so aeute and the merehant ship losses so great, it beeame necessary to adopt more effective methods in dealing with the problem and making shipping safer. The system of eonvoy was adopted at the suggestion of President Wilson. This, although it slowed up shipping by fully twenty pereent, enabled a comparatively safe passage of troops and was probably the greatest stroke of the Navy during the war.
During all the time the United States was engaged in the war the enemy's naval forees, with the exception of the submarines, were bloekaded in his ports. This, of course, prevented naval engagements of a major eharaeter. The destroyers, submarine ehasers and patrol vessels, however, waged an uneeasing offensive against the submarine menaee to shipping and troop eonvoy, and only three vessels were sunk. These were the Antilles, the President Lineoln and the Covington. Each was struek on her return voyage, so that the loss of life was comparatively small. Only three fighting vessels were lost as the result of enemy action-a patrol ship, a torpedo boat destroyer and a eruiser. The other transports and destroyers struek by the enemy during the war reached port without loss of life. Other Transports carrying United States soldiers went down but these were being eonvoyed by the British Admiralty. Chief among these was the Tuseania, sunk off the Coast of Ireland February 5th, 1918, with a loss of 110 lives.
The most serious loss of life in the navy as a result of its war-time activity resulted when 111 offieers and men of the Coast Guard eutter Tampa perished when their vessel was sunk in Bristol Channel, England, in September, 1918. The Tampa had been doing eseort duty in the transport service. It had gone ahead of the convoy and was sunk soon after leaving the party.
AN ILLUSTRATED REVIEW
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British Flyers "Taking Off" at Dawn for a Trip Over the Lines and a Few Fokkers.
With its record of phenomenal transport service in protecting troops and shipping against the enemy submarine offensive; its splendid co-operation with the British Fleet in keeping the German navy in port and Germany herself blockaded; its stellar work with the giant 14 inch long range guns at the front; and its subsequent spectacular feat in first bridging the Atlantic by air, the United States Navy had a share in the World War which although as previously stated is seldom characterized as brilliantly as that of the Army and Marines, still was equally important and essential in keeping the war wheels turning victoriously.
The story of the activities of America's two million doughboys and marines in France is one which should be told in volumes rather than in paragraphs. From the time of their first clash with the Germans on November 3d, 1917, until they "let go" the last unwelcome guests against Fritz's lines early November 11th, 1918-their deeds are a succession of courageous and brilliant performances of duty.
"When I think of their heroism, their patience under hardships, and their unflinching spirit of offensive action, I am filled with emotion which I am unable to express," General
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A Troop of the Famous Australian Camel Corps, So Conspicuous in Allied Successes in the Deserts of Turkey.
THE GREAT WORLD WAR
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A Giant 14-Inch U. S. Naval Gun, Manned by American Jackies, Pounding Away at Fritz at Several Miles' Range.
John J. Pershing declared in commending the officers and soldiers of the line of the American Army. "Their deeds are immortal, and they have earned the eternal gratitude of our country."
This simple tribute to the brave American lads who fought and died in France is indicative of America's reverence for her heroic armies. Their glory and fame will always live by the side of the deeds of their forbears in previous wars.
In May, 1917, shortly after war was declared, General Pershing, well-known for his punitive expedition into Mexico, was selected by the War Department to command the American Expeditionary Forces that were to go to France. After gathering about him a small staff the General set sail. His reception in both England and France was only equalled by the readiness of the commanders of both armies to co-operate with the United States in the prosecution of the war, according to the General's own report.
His general staff was organized in a short time and detailed plans worked out for the organization and training of the millions of American soldiers who were expected in France to help finish the Hun. Training areas, designed to give the final seasoning to fresh troops arriving from the States before their entry into the front lines, and officers schools for the' various arms of the service were established.
Extensive construction provided vast warehouses, supply depots, munition store- houses, and the like for the huge task ahead. Although France offered much in the way of both ordnance and quartermaster property for use by the American Army, still enormous quantities of materials of all kinds had to be brought across the Atlantic.
Flocking into the Army from civil life were thousands of professional and business men with splendid talent along the lines needed to build up this immense service of supply that was to keep the A. E. F. in action. To meet the shortage of supplies due to lack of shipping, representatives of the various supply departments were constantly in search of supplies and materials in Europe. A general purchasing agency was pro-
AN ILLUSTRATED REVIEW
THFIOTTIBORG
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The Guide Post to Headquarters of the German Field Marshal Being Guarded by Austrian Soldiers.
vided, in order to better co-ordinate the purchasing and to prevent competition between departments of the army. So successful was this system in the American Army that it was almost universally adopted by the armies of the Allies before the war had ended.
"Our entry into the war found us with few of the auxiliaries necessary for its conduct in the modern sense," General Pershing declared in his official report. "Among our most importent deficiencies in material were artillery, aviation and tanks. In order to meet our requirements as quickly as possible we accepted the offer of the French Govern- ment to provide us from their own factories with the necessary artillery equipment for thirty divisions. In aviation we were in the same situation and here again the French Government came to our aid until we were able to get our own air service program under way. The necessary planes to train the air service personnel were provided and we secured from the French a total of 2676 pursuit, bombing and observation planes. The first planes to arrive from America came in May, 1918, and a total of 1379 werc received during the war. The first American squadron completely equipped by American production, including airplanes, crossed the German lines on August 7th, 1918. For tanks we also were compelled to rely upon the French. We were less fortunate here, however, for the reason that the French were scarcely able to meet their own production require- ments in this respect. It should be remembered by every American that the French Government always took a most liberal attitute in endeavoring to supply the shortages existing in the American Army."
Speaking of the soldiers in Europe General Pershing outlines with words of praise the work done by the various welfare organizations and of the responsive attitude found among the soldiers by these organizations.
"The welfare of the troops touches my responsibility as Commander-in-Chief to the mothers and fathers and kindred of the men who went to France in the impressionable period of youth. They could not have the privilege accorded the soldiers of Europe
THE GREAT WORLD WAR
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Chateau-Thierry Forever Will be Linked With Most Sacred Memories in America. The Deeds of the 8,000 Heroic Marines Here in July, 1918, Will Never be Forgotten.
during their leaves of visiting their relatives and renewing their home ties. Fully realizing that the standard of conduct that should be established for them must have a perma- nent influence on their lives and the character of their future citizenship, the Red Cross, the Young Men's Christian Association, the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army and the Jewish Welfare Board, as auxiliaries in this work, were encouraged in every manner possible. The fact that our soldiers, in a land of different customs and language, have borne themselves in a manner in keeping with the cause for which they fought, is due not only to the efforts in their behalf, but much more to other high ideals, their discipline, and their innate sense of self-respect. It should be recorded, however, that the members of these welfare societies have been untiring in their desire to be of real service to our officers and men. The patriotic devotion of these representative men and women has given a new significance to the Golden Rule, and we owe to them a debt of gratitude that can never be entirely repaid."
AN ILLUSTRATED REVIEW
The First Division of the American Army, after finishing its preliminary training behind the lines, went to the trenches for the first time in October, 1917, as the first contribution to the fighting forces of the Allies. By the time that the great German offensive in Picardy began, on March 21st, 1918, the American army had four experienced divisions in the line. The great crisis that this drive developed, however, made it im- possible for the Americans to take over a sector by themselves. Gradually, as their numbers increased and more reserves, fresh from the States, were placed in training behind the lines, the American boys went in in substantial numbers. Already they had displayed their splendid fighting qualities and had demonstrated that as soldiers they had no superiors. Incidentally, it did not take them long to convince the enemy that contrary to their own opinions, they themselves were not invincible.
On August 30th, 1918, the American forces took over the first American sector, in preparation for the St. Mihicl offensive. The American line was soon extended across the Meuse River to the west edge of the Argonne Forest. The concentration of tanks, aviation units, artillery equipment, and materials of all kinds for this first great American offensive was enormous. The scores of elements of a complete army were moulded together, with American railroad and American service of supply units throughout. The concentration included the bringing up of approximately 600,000 troops. The French Independent Air Force, together with British bombing units and American Air forces, placed the greatest aviation personnel that ever took part in any Western Front offensive under the direct command of General Pershing.
On the day after they had taken the St. Mihiel Salient a great share of the corps and army artillery that had operated in that offensive were on the move toward the area back of the line between the Meuse River and the western edge of the Argonne. The German General Staff was well aware of the consequences of an American success along this line, and it was determined to use every available American division in an effort to force a decision at this point. The attack began on September 26th. The work of the American army and of the American engineers in this drive will forever remain in
Copyright by Underwood & Underwood. British Official Photo
Desolation of Flanders, Where the Germans Were Trying to Break Through Early in 1918.
THE GREAT WORLD WAR
Copyright by Underwood & Underwood.
British Tommies Shown on Outpost Duty in a Flanders Dugout.
the memory of generations to comc. Forcing their way through the densely wooded and shell torn areas, their fight was one of the most brilliant battles of the war. The offensive was maintained until October 4th in the face of innumerable wooded patches of snipers and concealed machine gunners.
Fresh troops with little experience were thrown in with their seasoned comrades, who had become veterans over night with this most crucial battle as their teacher. The second phase began with a renewed attack all along the front on October 4th. More positions were taken with a precision and speed that always characterized the Yank army. Their dogged offensive was wearing down the enemy, who, continuing desper- ately by throwing his best troops against them, was helpless before the spectacular advance.
At this juncture two divisions were dispatched to Belgium to help the French army near Ypres. On October 23d, the last phase of the Meuse-Argonne offensive began. Violent counter attacks by the enemy lost him heavily, while a regrouping of the Amer- ican force was going on for the final drive. Plain evidences of loss of morale in the enemy forces gave our men added courage and spirit, and finally, using comparatively fresh divisions, the last advance was begun on November 1st. It was apparent at this time that the end was near for the Boche. Our increased artillery support did remarkable work in supporting the infantry, which by its dashing advance of the several weeks preceding had destroyed the Hun's will to resist.
Between September 26th and November 6th they had taken 26,059 prisoners and 468 guns on this front.
AN ILLUSTRATED REVIEW
The divisions engaged in this, the most important of America's battles in the Eu- ropean war, were the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 26th, 28th, 29th, 32d, 33d, 35th, 37th, 42d, 77th, 78th, 79th, 80th, 82d, 89th, 90th and 91st. Many of these divisions remained in line for a length of time that required nerves of steel while still others were put back in the line after only a few days of rest.
When the armistice was signed following a complete routing of the enemy by Amer- icans in the Argonne Forest there were in France, according to General Pershing, ap- proximately 2,053,347 troops, less the casualties. Of this total there were 1,338,169 combatant troops. Up to November 18th the losses were: Killed and wounded, 36,145; died of disease, 14,811; deaths unclassified, 2,204; wounded 179,625; prisoners, 2,163; missing in action 1,160. As against this casualty total, the American forces captured about 44,000 prisoners and 1,400 guns, howitzers and trench mortars.
In this short summary of the principal activities of the United States' part in the great war it is obviously impossible to more than skim over the various features of the great war machinery. The heroism and gallantry of the boys who fought and died over there; the unceasing devotion and courage of the parents and citizens at home who stood by them so unselfishly; and the determination of everyone, young and old, to unite for the common cause, setting aside their personal desires and interests, was responsible for the glorious victory in which America was so conspicuously instrumental in bringing about. Outstripping a hundredfold the dimensions of any previous war of the United
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Devastation Near Town of Albert, After Evacuation by the Germans in October, 1918.
AN ILLUSTRATED REVIEW
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Graves of Marines Who Died "In Flanders Fields."
States, the task accomplished was a revelation to all when viewed in retrospect. The accomplishments of the Liberty Loans, the devotion of the millions of mothers and sisters in behalf of the Red Cross, the wonderful response of the country to the operation of the Selective Service Act in raising an army of millions-the sacrifices of all, at home and abroad, were universal during the year and a half at which Amcrica was at war.
Loyalty and love of country were terms with new meanings. Sedition was lurking only here and there, and this was promptly done away with through the efficient secret service department and popular opinion. The four million American boys who were under arms, many of them at the front and the remainder eager for the chance to jump in, convinced the world that the fighting blood that gave birth to their nation had not been diluted through the riotous living of a century. The brave lads who gave their lives and are now buried over there went to their fate with hearts full of joy, and in a manner that gave courage to the veterans of four years who fought beside them. And their brave mothers in the States who waited in vain for peace to bring their sons back to them, made the greatest sacrifices within their power with a courage and willingness that was unequalled even by the Spartans themselves.
When the history of the great European struggle is permanently written, there will be no more brilliant chapters than those telling of the part played by the United States of America in stamping out militaristic autocracy from the world.
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