The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-10-28
Not Long There Before
Artillery Exchanging Shots
With Teuton Enemies.
SHE'LL POSITION
OF HUNS QUICKLY
Red-Haired Gunner Fired
First Charge While His
Comrades Cheered.
ASSOCIATED PRESS SUMMARY

ASSOCIATED PRESS SUMMARY
With the American Army in France,
Oct. 27.--(By the Associated Press.)
American troops are in the first
line trenches on the French front.
The artillery fired the first shot of
the war at o'clock on the morning
of a recent day at a 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 the rain
and mud. The French soldiers in the
trenches welcomed them enthusiastic
ally.
The nearest enemy trench is sew
eral hundred yards away. Tn esector
il 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.
The Americans have shelled Ger
man gunpositions and troops, the
enemy sending back shell for she'll
The first shell case will be sent to
Preident Wilson. The case is now
in tae possession of General Sibert.
The shot was fired by a red-haired
gunnes as his comrades in the ranks
and tn assimbled officers cheered.
Later alunneon in the field was at
tended b ne American and French
artillerlstsn celebration of the first
American intact with the enemy.
The gunNsed in firing the first
N shot was O of the famous French
\ 75's. On second day the French
sneiled srman battery position
which was hted by sound, and the.
lnemy repiitvigorously, 1projectiles
falfing close, the Americans who
pined in thetillery duel.
Al the trooo viii be relieved after
certain perl'by others. Thus the
mercan exitionary forces are
citing the lefit of actual war
enditions.
Standing In Attic almost DESERT
ed shell-wrenedillage, well within
hostile gun rang and a few kilo-
meters iron the inches, The Asso-
eiated PSss corfoondent watched
the troo's marchln, up in a driving
ram o,TTi ioads coFed with sticky
mud. The artillery ad been firing
all day and as a resul+ba ;nonression
wa5 given that there We considerahIIy
more activity on this t,nt than there
aad been for some time
It was soon after lus in tho fir
ing and in the dark tit tbe first
machine guns hauled " Missonr;
mules, the drivers swathesin noncbes
and with shrapnel helmetsover their
eyes, came u on the roa beside q
lark canal. There was alone line
d these, and then came som. infa ntrv
rolling kitchens, giving off savory
odor of warm food.
All passed In silence. Ta lac.
gun carriage had sprawled omit the
torrn of a soldier who had beentaker
III and who was being held on by two
of ms walking comrades.
through another street paved VIII,
cooDies and its sides lined with gam,
skeletons of shell-wrecked bo,sa,
came the sound of the tread of man,
noo-nailed boots and in the darknes,
the dim form of men could be see,
marching.
Inc cautious flash of an electri
pocket lamp disclosed that they wer
american infantry. packs on thei
PACKS, rifles slung on their shoulders
ram gllstening on their helmets an
coats, the wind whipping the bottom
OF their coats around their legs
which were moving with machine-Iik
precision.
The Americans swung down tn
Sstreet, apparently as proud as thoug
on oress parade, Notwithstanding tha
10y Adu HlaTcneQ miles from che bill
,ees where they had been since comm,
ny motor trucks and railway from tn
A instruction centers. AS the rank,
passed, every now and then a soldie
could be heard whistIing softly t
nimsef, his nearby comrades listen
ing silently to sentimental and pop
ular pieces.
FINALLY from the rear came th
whlstled strain of a tune which al
knew, and from many places in tn,
1anks =, whistles and voices Joined in
ne tune was "Tipperary~ It Taste,
DDcci.e1Iy. as an officer, turning, ordere,
stop that noise!"
as the Germans were nearby, mucl
avpended on approaching the zon,
auseiy. The troops turned a corne,
nu disappeared down an ink-blacl
t6sehed road. As major standins
~ listened he looked continuousl,
sa;sa an illuminated watch dial. HI,
sh,l,e Inc men from the other directio,
L now be entering the trenches
n 1--we been standing here WAITING
tba near If the Germans discovered
ana movement" He paused, listened
ana t,en then continued:
oe mere Is no firing yet. although
pecc It, for no doubt we are in 70,
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