Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-01

conditions in the most satisfactory man.
ner.
With the American Army i'm France,
Oct. 8.-American troops are in the first
line trenches on the French front. The
artillery fred the first shot of the war
at six O'Clock on the morning of a recent
day at German working party. There
has been intermittent artillery fighting
since.
The helmeted infantry marched In
without the knowledge of the enemy. on
the same night. through rain and mud
The French soldiers in the trenches well
coined them enthusiastically.
The nearest enemy trench is several
hundred yards away. The sector is one
of the quietest on the front. 1t has not
been taken over, being under the control
of troops under the direction of the
French.
FIRST SHELL CASE FOR WILSON.
The Americans have shelled German
gun positions and troops. the enemy send
ing back shell for shell. The first shell
case will be sent to President Wilson.
1t IL now in the possession of General
Sibert. The shot was fired by a red-haired
gunner as his comrades in the ranks and
the assembled officers cheered. Later a
luncheon in the field was attended by the
American and French artillerists in cele-
bration Of the first American contact with
the enemy.
The gun used In firing the first shot
was one of the famous French 75s. On
the second day the French shelled Ger
man battery position, which was located
by sound, and the enemy replied vigorous
~. projectiles falling close to the Ameri-
cans. who Joined in the artillery duel.
All the troops will be relieved after a
certain period by others. Thus the Ameri-
can expeditionary forces are getting the
beneft Of actual war conditions.
MARCH IN DRIVING RAIN.
Standing in little almost deserted she'll
wrecked village, we'll within hostile gun
range and few kilometres from the
trenches. the Associated Press CORE.
spendent watched the troops marching ur
In driving rain over roads covered with
sticky mud. The artillery had been firing
all day. and as a result there was con-
siderably more activity on this front
than there had been for some time.
1t was soon after lulls in the firing and
in the dark that the first machine gus
hauled by Missouri mules, the drivers
swathed in ponchos and with shrapne
helmets over their eyes. came up on the
road beside a dark canal. There was q
long line Of these. and then came some in.
fantry rolling kitchens. giving Off a saw
DRY odor Of warm food.
All passed in silence. The last gun car
ried had sprawled on 1t the form of a sol
der who had been taken Ill and who wa.
hoinU ho1d nv,h " tyr ~ 10 wall
rades.
TROOPS MARCHING IN THE DARK
Through another street paved with cob
bles and it's sides lined with gaunt skele
tons Of shell-wrecked houses came thu
soound Of the tread Of many hobnailet
| boots, and In the darkness the dim forms
! of men could be seen marching
The cautious flash of an electric poke
lamp disclosed that they were American
infantry. packs on their backs. rife
slung on their shoulders. rain glisteninl
| on their helmets and coats. the win'
whipping the bottoms of their coat
around legs which were moving will
machine-like precision.
The Americans swung down the stree
apparently as proud as though on dres
parade, Notwithstanding they had marci,
| GU IuilSC ltOtIb Ouc Oil0tb WucTc tuSy Hd
been since coming by motor trucks an
railway from the instruction centers. A
the ranks passed every now and then
soldier could be heard whistling softly t
himself, his nearby comrades listenn
silently to sentimental and popular piece!
Finally from the rear came the whistle
strain Of tune which all knew, an
from many places in the ranks whistle
and voices Joined in. The tune was "Tir
perary." 1t lasted briefly. as an Office
turning. ordered: stop that noise.'
AS the Germans were near by, niue
depended on approaching the zone quietl
The troops turned corner and disal
peared down an ink-black screened roa
As major standing there listened /
looked continuously at an illuminate
watch dial. He said:
THE men from the other directic
should now be entering the trenches.
have been standing here waiting to he,
II the Germans discover the movement
: He paused. listened. and then continue,
There 10 no firing yet. although I g.
: pect 1t, for no doubt we are In for
, strait II the 'boche' knows we are goir
I In"
No ''stran" developed. although II
Germans put over few customary sbel
hitting nothing.
FRENCH GREETING ENTHUSIAST
The troops entered the trenches safel
unit by unit. passing quickly to Il
places assigned them. Quietness W.
r essential. but the French welcome mo-
r the less was heard and it was enthus
:, astio.
d Every American was shaken by 4
n hand. some were Rugged. and even kiss
a on both cheeks. In the French custo,
n Some OF the French troops were tho
who helped to train the Americans.
The trenches were found to be mudd
but. nevertheless. in a condition of o
cellent construction. Greetings bei
: over. the Americans settled down. and
daylight under low-hung. dripping clou,
y they got their first view of the Germ,
) lines. stretching away In the rolling t,
II rain.
1t has rained daily since, and the troo
now are covered with mud. ono,
say they are certain the Germans KIN
the Americans are opposite them. /
there has been no special activity.
!. One American battery observed a
e scattered a marching enemy group w
" | Shell6re w