With the Yankee Division in France

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VH Going Into The Tom, Sectob On March 10, after the conflicting desires of the French army and our own officers had reached General Headquarters, the decision was made by General Pershing to relieve the Twenty-sixth from the Chemin-des-Dames sector on March 18. This gave the Division ten more days in sector than originally provided by the training schedule. The French wanted to keep the Yankees on, but the American general officers had reported that in their opinion the Division ought to come out. The telegram from Headquarters to Colonel S. R. Gleaves, liaison officer with the French corps, settled it. This read: "The commander in chief desires the relief of the 26th Division to take place on 18th as previously arranged. He desires you to say to the French commander that considering the condition of the Division as he found it, and also considering the presence of contagious disease in part of the Division, he, the commander in chief, has decided that it will be best to relieve the Division as originally contemplated. He also desires that in returning to the training area at least four days' march be made by marching. Orders for march emanate from corps headquarters. It is desired that arrangements be made which will permit part of signal battalion and one field hospital and one ambulance company to reach the training area five days ahead of the arrival of the troops. Acknowledge." The telegram interested me, because of the reason -- the contagious disease -- given for relieving the Division. General Pershing in his visit to the Division saw very little of the condition which he gave as another reason for relieving the Yankees. As to the scarlet fever, of which we had very few cases, -- it was absolutely in hand. The men had...