South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-21

For the frst time since the war
began American regimental colors
have been at the front The colonel
commanding certain unit took the
colors with him and obtained
statement from a French command
er that these were the first regi-
mental colors on the battle front.
It was the same colonel whose
quarters in a chateau just behind
the mes was struck by a German
shell late Monday.
Not Such a Bad Game"
War is not such a bad game 50
far as we have seer" said the
spokesman of a group Of American
soldiers holding a first line trench
on the American sector. But if they
seemed 10 be idling, their eyes were
on the alert, their rifles were tight
ly gripped and every muscle was
taut for instant action.
The statement was made 20 a
group OF American correspondents.
The soldiers were loud in their
praise Of the food served TO them in
the trenches. At the time they were
being served with a lunch Of hot
coffee and sandwiches, made Of thick
slices Of white bread and salmon.
This is the first cold chow we
have had since we got in" said a
Portland Ore, boy. But it tastes
mighty good The trouble is We
just had a good hot feed about four
hours ago and are not very hun
cry"
Dugouts Comfortable.
The dugouts are warm and com
Portable and the only trouble is the
rats that infest the soldiers quar-
ters. In one dugout that accommo-
dates. SO men there are about IS
rats. a Yankee infantryman said,
and the nights are made merry by
| chases after the rodents.
An American sergeant who found
time hanging on his hands went
hunting and ported a mink with a
pistol. He had the skin stretched
or board drying in front OF his
quarters and he said he was going
TO make a cap out of it to wear I'M
der MS shrapnel helmet.
Some Of the American soldiers and
German soldiers as well have been
using wild geese that infest a pond
in No Mans Land as targets to i'm
prove their shooting eyes.
German Guns Open Fire.
AS the correspondents started back
along a communication trench the
German guns, that had been silent
90 rr-hs II,
mel, spraying the trench 200 yards
in front Of the party Soon this
firing ceased but a moment later.
without any warning, two German
batteries opened upon a point behind
the lines and kept up a hot fire for
several minutes.
At one point on the front visited
/ the German trenches were only 700
yards away and were quite visible
as they wound up the hillside. An
| American battery chose the occasion
/ Of the correspondents visit to send
a few shrapnel shells towards the
| German trenches the result OF
/ which could not be foreseen. but
they seemed TO explode uncomfort-
: ably near the Boches. Nearby was
machine gun emplacement for in
/ direct fire.
We played rather a tough trick
I on the Boches yesterday" said an
/ officer. We saw lot Of them hang
ing clothes up to dry and turned q
couple Of machine guns on them
Maybe they didn't scatter
Officer Interrupted.
The. officers remarks were inter
rupted by a noise from the direc-
4 ten of the barbed wire entangle.
ments. In from No Mans Land and
possibly from the German trenches
walked an ordinary yellow dog
wagging its tail il was plainly
arMous 10 make friendly and with
cut any more ado Joined the news
/ paper party.
Colonies Narrow Escape.
Details OF the narrow escape Of
an American colonel from a Ger
man shell Creported in a cablegram
Yesterday were secured by the cor
respondents. They were just enter
ing a small village containing the
A. headquarters Of certain American
regiment near the front when three
/ shells whined overhead and burs'
with a crash just around the curve
Of the street.
= The correspc ndents automobile
drew up in front of a chateau with
an American captain standing ir
front Of the gate.
Been quiet herr asked some.
one