Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-28
FIGHTING MACHINE
OF UNCLE SAM In
ACTION AT FRONT
long g-expected News That
the Sammies Are in the
Trenches Comes at Last
News Thrills Soldiers Of
Overseas Army.

-NeWS 1HrlllS 0OluleTS OF
Overseas Army.
BY J. w. PEGLER.
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent.)
American Field Headquarters in
France, Oct. 27.-American infantry
men are in the French trenches. Amer
lean artillerymen are working with
French gunners, hurting shells over the
German lines.
Some battalions" OF infantrymen
and some batteries" of artillery now
represent the first tangible evidence to
our alies-an to Germany, IL Ger
many cares to seek brush--that
Americas fighting machine is reach
ing the point OF active participation.
How many battalions how many bat
teries, by whom commanded or on
what date American fighting men thus
began their stand shoulder to shoulder
with Petain's heroic poilus, may not
now be told.
FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE.
The battalions and batteries are
conditions. Then they Will go back to
their training camps to instruct other
American Sammies in the tricks OF the
war trade. other battalions and bat
teries will replace them and others and
others.
Historic announcement Of Americas $
first fighting men on the line was
made today In formal statement is
sued by American headquarters.
A red headed American artillery
captain and his husky gun crew of an
American battery had the honor, the
morning before the infantry marched
quietly into the trenches, of firing the
first shot of Americas war on land
against Germany.
FIRST AMERICAN SHELL.
II was on a certain misty, gray
morning. Precisely at o'clock the
men stood tense and alert. their gun
ranged far away across the sky, the
American captain gave the short COM
mand to fire. The gunner jerked the
lanyard A sharp roar-and the first
American shell sped screamingly to-
ward a German battery and America
had literaIy and formally entered the
war.
Eager hands clasped the brass shell
cases as it came hot from the breech
and zealously guarded 1t. Some time
soon II will reach President Wilson,
the gift of Ma jor General Sibert.
Throughout the day, with veteran
French gunners beside them. likewise
serving guns, the American battery
sent its shells hurtling across. search
ing out the Germans.
TRUpGED ALONG IN DARK.
Back to the rear, American infantry
in their billets, heard the song OF the
shell, knew their brothers of the field
piece were .in action" and waited inn
patiently for the night to come when
they too. should take their place in
line.
When night had covered the roads
with its darkness. the American in
fantry men swung out. 1t was raining.
In pitch dark they trIdged along with
the elastic step that ij the marvel of
both their British and French broth
ers- in arms.
/ saw them as they trudged through
the smudgy blackness, rain pelting
down on their closely buttoned over
| coats, dripping from their trench he'll
NETS Of dun colored steel, over rifles
| slung across their shoulders. and packs
| that loomed dim in the night.
1.-THE BOYS ARE MARCHING"
Their serviceable shoes clamped ov-
| or the pave Of the street of certain
| little town and echoed softly in the
sodden rain soaked air. There was a
| faint hum in the ranks.~ Then came
voices lifted up in the hallowed civil
war refrain, Tramp, Tramp, Tramp
| the Boys are Marching"
| 1t was softly sung but II carried
clear on the still night air. A dozen
voices. raucous. rough, objected.
"Cut it out! Shut up! The boches'll
hear you"
The song and the indefinable hum
was silenced. On the ranks passed
trench shoes scuffling.. pounding in
another softer chorus of sound-the
actuality OF the Tramp, Tramp
Tramp, the Boys are Marching"
| Their shadowy forms merged into
the darkness ahead-there where even
darker spots proclaimed sheltered
roads against the German shell that
might possibly leap suddenly out OF
| the sky. Then came the srunchiug, me-
tallic roll of wheels that supported fan
tastIc numbering cauldrons-the roll
ing kitchens" TO deal out hot stom-
achic comfort for the fighting men
Boxes of food on other wheels rumbled
by. The shapes ceased. The Sam
mics had really and truly reached
"oyer there
HAILED As BROTHERS.
Ahead in the trenches they took theil