Memorandum of Operations of the 129th F.A. in the Argonne

-d OF OPFRATIONS OF 2115 DO 460 - On the afternoon of the 27th of September, the Battery Commander, went forward by ordor of Major liarvin H. Gates, Commanding officer of Captain Harry S. Truman, and the Linison officer, Lieutenant Leslie N.° the Zemer, Second Battalion of the 129th Field Artillery, to observe the effect of the fire of the Second Battalion on Charpentry and Baulny. They vent forward down the Route Nationale and eastward over the hill to a point at about 3161, being about 700 meters south of Charpentry. The German front lines at thot were about 100 motors south of Charpentry at the foot of a hill. The town time of Charpentry was plainly visible from the point where the officers were post'ed und they could see the offect of the fire of the Second Battalion on This was about two o' clock on the afternoon of the 27th of Sep- Charpentry+ tombor Throe American tanks went into Charpentry and wore drivon out by the Gormans Batterics of German Artillery in the Argonne forest were fir to the right of Route Nationale. The infantrymen at this time fell back ing on these tanks and also on the American infantrymen in the open field 200 neters and Captain Truman and Licutenant Zomor also found it necessary to fall back. They established an observation post at 2955, above Mont- blainville. The telephone detail of the battalion wn.s having a hard time establishing communication, because the infantry continually broke the tol- ophone line by walking over it. Communication wes finally established about 5:30 o' clock in the evoning whon the firo of Battery D was directed on a German battory in position just east of Nomblainville at L1455. Shortly afterwards it becamo to dark to see and Captain Truman returnod to the battery position Bocause the battery had been located and attacked during the day by an airplane, whie destroyed some telephone equipment but causod no casual- ties, the battory was nored to a new position on the road between Cheppy and Varonnes. Tho next morning Captain Truman went forward again to the observa- tion Oje P. Chonne Tondu at 13252, at 9:30 A. Me, causing the Germans to desort it. post, which he had established the day. before and firod on the German At 11 fire was directed on a batt ory noving down the road at 8666. Forty-three shells were dropped on this train in less than two minitos, caus- ing the Germans to abandon the carriages and leave then on the road. No further traffic was observed on this road during the day. When first observed throe carriagos were plainly visible, harnessed and moving Some time after the Armistice, Colonol Burleson of the 28th Division informod Captain Truman that at the point in question he found six abandoned German guns. Zemu Kelly Luftritis OHan malenfilth