The A. E. F.

Foreword

We all have hobbies. Some of us who have been in the service have developed a hobby for ^' ducking'^ details (i. e. avoiding work), others for concocting new rumors to spread among the more credulous of our ^^ buddies." My particular hobby has been to accumulate, not guns and helmets, but facts and figures. During the twenty months I have been in the Army, I have been stocking my little note-book with bits of information about army organization, divisions, insignia, casualties, dates, awards of medals, and a dozen other subjects of interest to soldiers.

While in the dugouts, billets and hospitals in France and in the demobilization camps in the United States, my little scrap book often came into prominence during arguments and discussions, and many expressed the wish that they had the items of my little book in some permanent form. One *^ buddy'' said, **Why not let your scrap book be a scrap book for us all?'' Acting upon this suggestion, I decided to rearrange the information of my little book, verify it, add new items of interest, and explain in terms any civilian

8 FOREWORD

can understand the system by which the American Army accomplished its work in France. As a result of this work, I have gathered together for the boys of the A. E. F. and their hundred million American friends the following facts, figures and reminiscences.

If the pages of this little book bring a clearer conception of the Great War and of the work of the American Expeditionary Forces: if the insignia call to mind the achievements of each division: if the reminiscences bring back a bit of the good fellowship of the old days, my little book shall not have failed in its mission.

Philadelphia, November, 1919.

PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

In compiling this little volume every available safeguard has been used to insure the accuracy of the facts, figures and insignia contained therein. The author begs to offer grateful acknowledgment to the following persons who have generously assisted him:

To Colonel C. W. Weeks and Mr. R. S. Thomas of the Historical Branch of the Army War College for valued assistance and suggestions.

To Major J. M. Swing, Assistant to the Chief of Staff, for certain records and reports and helpful suggestions.

To Mr. Aaron Rachofsky and his assistants in the War Department News Bureau and to Mrs. B. B. McCliment of the Adjutant GeneraPs office, for tables of statistics, data on divisions, and other valuable information.

To the Stars and Stripes^ that most excellent paper of the A. E. F., for several tables indicated in the text.

Finally to my publishers for their generous assistance and suggestions in the preparation of this book.

10 PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

If despite precautions, error is discovered within the pages of this book or any insignia has been omitted the author will consider it a personal favor to be advised of such inaccuracy in order that correction may be made in subsequent editions.

Willis R. Skillman.

CHAPTER I PAGE A Soldier's Survey of the World War 13

How the War Started — Notable Dates in the History of the War — Nations Engaging in the World Conflict — Men in Arms and Casualties of the World War — Extent of Front Line Held by the Various Nations — The Cost of the War.

CHAPTER II America's Part in the World War 23

Why the United States Entered the War — ^American Red Letter Days in the World War — Army Organization — Growth of the Army and Sources of Growth — America's Losses in the World War- Greatest Strength of U. S. Forces in Important Wars — U. S. Casualties in Important Wars — A. E. F. Battle Losses Compared with Battle Losses in the Civil War.

CHAPTER III System of Command 37

Organization of the American Expeditionary Forces —How an Offensive Battle Is Fought— The Zone System — The Three Armies — The Nine Army Corps — Troops Engaged in Actual Combat — The Twelve Greatest Engagements of the American Forces — Prisoners and Guns Captured by American Troops.

CHAPTER IV The American Divisions .58

The Division as a Fighting Unit — Strength and Equipment of a Division — Organization and Work of a Division — Brief Histories of the American Dill

12 CONTENTS

PAOZ

visions — Statistics of Battle Deaths and Prisoners by Divisions — Replacements to American Divisions — Distinguished Service Crosses Awarded to Divisions — Kilometers Advanced by Various Combat Divisions.

CHAPTER V The Branches op the Service 114

Increasing Complexity of Military Work — Growth of the Army by Branch of Service — Work and Insignia of the Following Branches of the Service: Infantry and Machine Gun Battalions; Engineer Corps; Artillery, Field and Coast; Ammunition Train; Medical Department; Quartermaster Department; Ordnance Department; Signal Corps; Cavalry; Air Service; Motor Transport Service; Tank Corps; Chemical Warfare Service; Other Branches — Battle Deaths by Branch of Service — D. S. C. Awards by Branch of Service.

CHAPTER VI Army Honors and Symbols 147

Medals and Awards in the A. E. F. — Foreign Medals and Awards — Officers' Insignia of Rank — Pay of Officers and Enlisted Men — Chevrons, Sendee and Wound Stripes, Brassards and Hat Cords — Army Brieflets.

CHAPTER VII Reminiscences 163

Famous Initials — French that Every Soldier Knew — Confidential Guide (What Not to Feed the Returned Soldiers) — General Orders (Revised) — Lest We Forget — Rumors — Familiar Expressions — Comfy Hospital— -Who Won the War?

Appendix

Units Comprising the Division 180

Index I85

Shoulder Insignia of the U. S. Army (Colored) Frontispiece

TACINa PAGE

General Pershing 36

Chart Showing Coordination of Military Forces at the Time of the Grand Allied Offensive of Sept. 26, 1918 40

Diagram of Battle Formation 44

Map Showing Where the Twelve Greatest Battles Were Fought 66

Collar Insignia of the Branches of the Service .... 114

Officer^s Insignia of Rank 150

Chevrons . . » 152

CHAPTER I A soldier's survey of the world war

When the Serbian student fired the automatic pistol that killed the Archduke of Austria-Hungary, the world little realized that this assassination was the spark which was destined to kindle the greatest military conflagration in history. The world little realized on that June day that five weeks later Europe would be aflare with war, and that within a little more than four years twenty-eight nations would have taken up arms. It little knew that war or war work would be the occupation of more than eighty per cent of the population of the world; that war would be carried to every continent, and that war would be waged on or under every sea; that war debts amounting to more than two hundred billion dollars would be accumulated; that more than seven million men would be slain in battle, and that seventeen million more would be wounded or would die of disease.

Such has been the cost of the World War — a war in which autocracy was destined to be crushed and the forces of liberty and democracy triumph; a war in which the race of competitive armaments would be run to the finish ; a war which would give birth to the League of Nations, the world ^s first bond of nations mutually agreed to enforce peace.

Herewith are presented in chronological order the most important events of the World War.

NOTABLE DATES IN THE HISTORY OF THE WAR

June 28 Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand assassinated at Sarajevo.

July 23 Austria-Hungary sends ultimatum to Serbia.

July 28 Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.

July 29 Austria attacks Serbia.

July 31 Russia orders general mobilization.

August 1 Germany declares war on Russia.

August 2 Germany sends ultimatum to Belgium demanding free passage for troops across Belgium.

August 3 Germany declares war on France.

August 4 ..... .Germany invades and overruns Belgium.

August 4 Great Britain declares war on Germany.

August 6 Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.

August 10 France declares war on Austria-Hungary.

August 12 Great Britain declares war on Austria-Hungary.

September 6 French stop Germans at Marne.

October 10 Antwerp falls.

November 5 Great Britain declares war on Turkey.

December 24 First German air raid on England.

1915 January 1 to February 15 . . Russians attempt to cross the Carpathians.

April 23 Germans first use poison gas.

May 7 Lusitania torpedoed and sunk ; 1,134 lost,

(114 Americans).

May 23 Italy declares war on Germany.

August 4 Germans take Warsaw.

October 12 Edith Cavell executed.

October 13 Bulgaria enters war allied with Central

Powers.

February 22 .... German drive for Verdun begins.

May 31 British win Jutland battle.

July 1 Allies begin Somme offensive.

September 14. . . .British first use tanks.

October 24 French stop Verdun drive.

December 19 ... . Allies reject German "negotiated peace" offer.

January 31 Germany announces "unrestricted" submarine warfare.

April 6 United States declares war on Germany.

August 15 Peace proposals of Pope Benedict revealed.

August 28 United States rejects Pope's peace proposal.

September 20 ... . British defeat Germans at Ypres.

October 24 to December 1 . . . Great German-Austrian drive into Italy.

November 22 to

December 13 . . Cambrai offensive ; Cambrai taken November 26.

December 2 . . . . German counter-attack compels British to give up one-fourth of ground gained in Cambrai offensive.

December 7 United States declares war on Austria-Hungary.

December 8 . . . . British capture Jerusalem. December 14 ... . German armistice with Russia effective.

January 5 President Wilson announces "14 peace

points."

February 5 Troop ship Tuscania torpedoed (loss, 101).

February 6 Allied naval forces bombard Ostend.

March 21 German drive on Amiens starts.

March 29 German "mystery gun" kills 75 in Paris.

April 4 Germans start Channel port drive.

May 5 Austrians start drive on Italy.

May 27 Germans start drive on Mame.

June 1 Germans cross Marne, 46 miles from Paris.

July 15 Last German offensive ; up Mame toward

Paris.

July 18 Foch counter-offensive begins.

August 2 French retake Soissons.

August 20 French advance between Oise and Aisne.

August 30 Germans driven across Somme.

September 8 . . . British regain positions lost in March, September 12 . . . First All- American offensive at St. Mihiel. September 26 . . . Americans begin Argonne offensive. September 29 . . . Americans smash Hindenburg line. September 30 . . . Bulgaria surrenders to the Allies.

October 1 French take St. Quentin.

October 5 Germans abandon Lille.

October 21 Allies cross the Oise.

November 1 . . . Turkey surrenders. November 3 . . . Austria surrenders.

November 6 . . . Allies advance along line from Belgian borders to the Meuse. Americans occupy Sedan.

November 10 . . . Kaiser and Crown Prince flee to Holland. November 11 . . . Germany signs the armistice.

April 29 League of Nations completed and unanimously adopted as part of Peace Treaty.

May 7 ;. Peace treaty submitted to Germany.

June 28 Germany signs Peace Treaty.

The events which have just been recorded eventually drew twenty-eight nations to take part in the World Conflict. What nations these were, what their population was at the last census, and the date on which they entered the war is recorded in the following table.

NATIONS IN WORLD WAR

POPULATION AND DATE EACH ENTERED WAR

Allies

Nation Population Date Entered War

Montenegro 520,000 August 9, 1914

THE A. E. F.

NATIONS IN WORLD WAR (Continued)

POPULATION AND DATE EACH ENTERED WAR

Nation TTnited States

Cuba

Panama ....

Greece

Siam

Liberia

Allies Population

Brazil 24,628,429 October 26,

Hayti

Honduras

Total Population Allied Nations. .1,249,559,803

Central Powers

Nation Population Date Entered War

Total Population of the Allied Nations 1,249,557,803

Total Population of the Central Powers 123,769,993

In addition to the 24 nations which were allied against the Central Powers, the following nations severed diplomatic relations but did not declare

war:

Bolivia San Domingo

Ecuador Uruguay

Peru

Of the twenty-eight nations which severed diplomatic relations fourteen took some part in the great struggle centered in Europe. Nine of these nations suffered casualties. Which nations these were ; how many men each nation had under arms ; how many of the men of the various nations died in battle ; and the total casualties of each nation, are shown in the following table:

MEN m ARMS AND CASUALTIES OF THE WORLD

WAR

Allies

Men in Died in Total

Arms Battle Casualties

1 Includes British Navy.

Central Powers

Men in Died in Total

Arms Battle Casualties

Figures unofficial except for the British Empire, France and the United States.

In comparing the part that the various allied nations had in holding the front line of the Western Front against the Germans and Austrians, the following two tables are interesting, the first showing the extent of the American front in kilometers, the second showing the rate of increase in per cent of the front held by the United States during the last year of the war.

KILOMETERS OF FRONT LINE HELD BY ARMIES OF EACH NATION AT DIFFERENT DATES IN 1918

Belgian French British U.S. Total

THE A. E. F.

PER CENT OF TOTAL FRONT HELD BY ARMIES OF EACH NATION AT DIFFERENT DATES IN 1918

Belgian French British U.S.

January 31 5 G9 25 1

September 30 6 58 18 18

COST OF THE WAR

The following figures of war expenditures, kindly furnished by Leonard P. Ayres, Colonel, General Staff, Chief Statistics Branch, give the limits within which the correct figures will fall. The first column gives the total cost of conducting the war up till April 30th, 1919. The second column gives the total loans to Allies. All figures are in billions of dollars.

War Loans Expenditures to Allies

United States 22 9

Great Britain & Colonies . . . 36^0 7

France 24-28 2

Russia 18-20

Italy 12-14

Germany 37-39

The cost of the war can also be approximated by showing the public debt.

Public Debt Allies Central Powers

The war expenses of the United States amounted to about one million dollars an hour.

The total cost of the war to all nations has recently been estimated at one hundred and eightyfive billion dollars.