The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-10-27
ARMY Of DEMOCRATIC AMERICA
ENTERS FIRST LINE TRENCHES
AND OPENS AGAINST THE ENEMY
FIRST CANNON SHOT is FIRED BY REDHEADED YANKEE
ARTILLERYMAN AND FRENCH AND AMERICAN
TROOPS CHEER-THIS EMPTY SHELL TO BE
SENT TO PRESIDENT WILSON.
Ry the AssocIated Press.

By the Associated Press.
With the American Army in France
oct. 27,-American troops are In the
first line trenches on the French front
The artillery fired the first shot of the
war at six o'clock on the morning of q
recent day al n German working party
There has been intermittent artillery
lighting since.
Helmeted infantry marched in with
gu. the knowledge of the enemy. on the
same night. through rain and mud. The
French soldiers in the trenches welcom.
cd them enthusiastically.
The nearest enemy trench Is several
hundred yards awny. The sector is one
Of the quietest on the front. II has
not been taken over. being under the
control OF troops under the direction OF
the French.
First Empty Shell to Wilson.
The Americans have shelled German
positions and troops. the enemy sending
shell for shell. The first shell case will
be sent President Wilson.
The case is now in the possession OF
General Sibert. The shot was fired by
"A red-haired gunner and his comrades
in the ranks and the assembled officers
cheered. Later a luncheon in the field
was attended by the Americans and
French artillerymen in celebration 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
German battery position which was
located by sound. and the enemy replied
vigorously, projecties falling close to
the Americans who joined in the artil-
lery duel. All the troops will he re-
iieved after a certain period by others.
Thus the American eXpeditionary forces
are getting the benefit of actual war
conditions.
American Host Marches in Dark.
Standing in n little. almost deserted
shell wrecked village. well within hostile
gun range. and a few kilometres from
the trenches, the Associated Press cor
respondent watched the American troops
marching in with n driving rain over
roads covered with sticky mud The
artillery had been firing all day. and
as "a result the impression was given
that there was considerably more ac-
tivity on the front than there had been
for some time.
1t was soon after lulls in the firing
and in the dark that the first machine
guns, hauled by Missouri mules. the
drivers swathed in ponchos and with
shrapnel helmets ove.- their eyes. came
up on the road beside Il dark canal.
There was n long line of these and
then came some infantry rolling kitch-
ems, giving Off a savory odor of warm
food.
All passed in silence. The last gun
carriage had sprawled on it the form
of a soldier who had been taken i'll and
who was being held on by two of his
walking comrades.
Through another street paved with
cobbles and its sides lined with gaunt
skeletons of shell-wrecked houses came
the sound of the tread of many hob
nailed boots. and in the darkness the
dim form of men could be seen march
ing.
The cautious flash OF an electric pock-
ct lamp disclosed that they were Amer
lean infantry. packs on their backs.
rifles slung on their shoulders. rain Slis-
tening on their helmets and coats. the
wind whipping the bottom of their coats
around their legs. which We're moving
with machine-lke precision.
Sing as They March.
The Americans swung down the
street apparently as proud as though on
dress parade. Notwithstanding that they
had marched miles from the billets
where they had been since coming by
motor trucks and railway from the in
struction centers. As the ranks passed,
every now and then a soldier could be
heard whistling softly TO himself his
nearby comrades listening silently TO
sentimental and popular pieces.
Finally, from the rear. came the whis
tied strain of a tune which all knew.
and from many places in the ranks
whistles and voices joined in. The tune
was "Tipperary." II lasted briefly. as
an officer, turning, ordered stop that
noise" As the Germans were nearby.
much depended on approaching the
scene quietly. The troops turned a
corner and disappeared down an ink
black screened road. As major stand
ing there listened he looked continuous
ly at an. Illuminated watch dial. lie
said.
THE men from the other direction
should now be entering the trenches.