Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-10-31

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 recent day at German
working party. There has been In
termittent artillery fighting since. 4 4
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 welcomed them enthusiastic
cally. sI3I
The nearest enemy trench Is seve.
raj hundred yards away. The sector
is one Of the quietest on the 'front.' 1t
has not been taken over, being-,ander
the control Of troops under the direc-
tion of the French. The Americans
have shelled German gun positions
and troops, the enemy sending back
shell for shell. The first she'll case
will be sent to President Wilson. The
case Is now in the possession Of Gen,
Sibert. The shot was. fred 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 Americana
and French artillerists 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 a German battery position
which was located by sound and the
enemy replied vigorously, projectiies
falling close to the. Americans, who
joined in the artillery duel.
VIII Re RoItoynd s4EWN u
All the troops will be relieved af-
ter certain period by others. * Thus
the American expedition forces are
gditions. n
Standing in a little, almost desert
ed shell-wrecked village, well within
hostile gun range andS a. few ONES
ters from; ztgennl iea lE EsS 0oia tss
Sad#Press correspondent watched the
troops marching up in a driving rain
over roads covered with sticky mud,
The artillery had been firing all day,
and as result the impression was
given that there was considerably
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 ma
chine guns, hauled by Missouri
mules, the drivers swathed in pom
chos and with shrapnel helmets over
their eyes, came up on the road be-
side dark canal. There was a long
line Of these and then came some in
fantry rolling kitchens. giving off a
savory odor of warm food.
All passed In silence. The last gun
carriage had sprawled on it the form
Of soldier who had been taken Ill
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 hobnailed boots and in the
darkness the dim forms of men could
be seen marching.
The cautious flash of an electric
pocket lamp disclosed that they we're
American infantry, packs on their
backs, rifles slung on their shoulders,
rain glistening on their helmets and
coats, the wind whipping the bottom
or their coats around their legs,
which We're moving with machine
like precision.
Proud Of Honor.
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 instruction centers. AS the
ranks passed every now and then
soldier could be heard whistling
softly to himself, his nearby COM
rades listening silently to sentiment
tai and popular pieces.
Finally, from the rear, came the
whistled strain Of tune which all
knew, and from many places in the
ranks whistles and voices joined in.
The tune was "Tipperary." 1t lasted
briefly, as an officer, turning, order
ed, "Stop that noise!"
AS the Germans we're nearby much
depended on approaching the zone
quietly. The troops turned a corner
and disappeared down an ink-black
screened road. AS a major standing
there listened he looked continuous
ly at an illuminated watch dial. He
said:
"The men from the other direction
should now be entering the trenches.
have been standing here waiting to
hear If the Germans discover the
movement" He paused, listened
and then continued:
There Is no firing yet. although 1,
expect It, for no doubt we are in for
a 'straff' II the 'bocle' knows we are
going in."
No "straff' developed, although