. Illinois in the World War; an illustrated record prepared with the coöperation and under the direction of the leaders in the state's military and civilian organizations. THE 131ST INFANTRY 237 take over the Fromereville sector, relieving the Sixty-eighth French Infantryand becoming the regiment in reserve for the Dead INIans Hill (MortHomme) sub-sector. While battle training was continued, it was obvious that an offensivewas impending. At night guns of all calibers, some pulled by steam tractors,rumbled forward. Motor lorries carried a constant stream of Americansinto the area, and all slowl
. Illinois in the World War; an illustrated record prepared with the coöperation and under the direction of the leaders in the state's military and civilian organizations. THE 131ST INFANTRY 237 take over the Fromereville sector, relieving the Sixty-eighth French Infantryand becoming the regiment in reserve for the Dead INIans Hill (MortHomme) sub-sector. While battle training was continued, it was obvious that an offensivewas impending. At night guns of all calibers, some pulled by steam tractors,rumbled forward. Motor lorries carried a constant stream of Americansinto the area, and all slowly crawled forward to the jumping-off point forthe big drive that was to come. On the night of September 22-23 the second battalion of the 131st, fullyequipped for attack, took over part of the Jacque strong-point on DeadMans Hill and proceeded to reconnoiter and patrol No Mans Land. Two. IN FORGES SWAMP Where the 131st advanced from Dead Mans Hill to take up its position for the attack on the morning of September 26. nights later the third battalion followed, with attached machine gun unitsand gas companies. The men were crowded so closely in the trenches that they could notrest. Repose would have been difficult in any case, for huge rats and othertrench pests were numerous and bold. They thrived in this sector—a charnelhouse where more than a million men had lost their lives in the struggle forpossession of Verdun. Every turn of the spade uncovered skeletons. Fromthe walls of the trenches jutted the bones of heroic Frenchmen, who haddied on the hill to make good their pledge to France: On ne passera pas! The morning of September 26 brought the expected attack. Duringthe night scouts had cut innumerable paths through the tangle of wire whichguarded the approach to Dead Mans Hill and had stretched white tapethrough the maze to guide the attacking troops. Soon after m
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectworldwar19141918
