The Lost Battalion: Getting Orders

Summary

In this intense military dialogue, Major General Alexander orders an attack on the heavily fortified Argon Forest, with three divisions preparing for the assault. Despite their dire situation—lacking supplies and facing the risk of heavy casualties—Major Wle expresses serious concerns about the mission's feasibility. He challenges the General's strategy, citing the need for more time and resources. Tensions rise as the General dismisses these concerns, and Major Wle, now resolute, prepares to lead his Battalion into what seems like a suicide mission, underscoring the dire stakes of the upcoming battle.

Takeaways

• 😀 Major expresses concern about the risk of attacking the Argonne Forest without proper preparation.
• 😀 General Alexander is focused on advancing the operation, disregarding the Major's concerns about being unprepared.
• 😀 The 77th Division has orders to clean out the Argonne Forest, but the Major's Battalion is assigned a specific task to hold Shavo Mill.
• 😀 Major emphasizes the need for resupply of essential resources like food, ammunition, and medicine before launching the attack.
• 😀 The General accuses the Major of still being attached to civilian politics that led to the country's unpreparedness for war.
• 😀 The Major warns that sending troops into the Argonne Forest under current conditions is tantamount to suicide.
• 😀 General Alexander dismisses the Major's concerns, calling him a 'New York lawyer' and questioning his commitment to the military cause.
• 😀 The Major expresses doubt that he or his men will survive the mission, highlighting the severity of the situation.
• 😀 The Captain is tasked with ensuring that replacements are ready for the mission, showing the high stakes involved in the operation.
• 😀 The dialogue reflects the tension between military leadership and the pressures of executing an operation with high risk and limited resources.

Q & A

What is Major General Alexander planning in the script?

Major General Alexander is planning a large-scale attack with three divisions, two American and one French, to advance along the Argon sector.

What specific task is given to Major Wle in the mission?

Major Wle’s Battalion is assigned to take and hold Shavo Mill as part of the operation.

Why does Major Wle express concern about the mission?

Major Wle is concerned because he lost a platoon while probing the Argon Forest earlier that day, and he believes the mission is too dangerous given the current unpreparedness.

What does General Alexander mean by 'acceptable losses'?

General Alexander implies that the soldiers' lives are expendable in the pursuit of the mission, suggesting that casualties are expected and necessary for success.

What does Major Wle suggest about the readiness of the troops?

Major Wle suggests that the troops are unprepared for the attack, lacking sufficient supplies like food, ammunition, and medicine.

What is General Alexander's response to Major Wle’s concerns about the attack?

General Alexander dismisses Major Wle's concerns, criticizing him for possibly being too influenced by civilian politics and for not having the mentality of a soldier.

What is the historical reference to 'Wilson's Too Proud to Fight'?

The phrase refers to the period when President Woodrow Wilson maintained a stance of neutrality during the early years of World War I, a sentiment that Major Wle might still carry in his views on war.

How does Major Wle respond to the orders despite his doubts?

Major Wle reluctantly agrees to lead his Battalion into the Argon Forest, but he expresses his doubts by saying he might not return.

What is the significance of Captain's role in this conversation?

The Captain is tasked with checking on the replacements, indicating that reinforcements are necessary for the mission and the soldiers' survival.

What does the interaction between General Alexander and Major Wle reveal about their relationship?

The interaction highlights a tension between military duty and personal convictions, with General Alexander focusing on the mission's success at all costs, while Major Wle is concerned about the morality and practicality of the attack.