The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1917-10-28
OUR REGULARS
IN BATTLE ON
FRENCH FRONT
American Troops are Now
Fighting in the First Line
Trenches.
AMERICANS SHOW GOODNESS
First Taste of Real Trench Fight
ing is Experienced BY Our
Soldiers, Giving Them Chance
to Shell Germans.
AMERICANS SHOW GOODNESS
(By 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 6 o'clock OIL
the morning of recent day at a Ger
man working party There has been
intermittent firing 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 welcomed them enthusias-
tically.
The nearest enemy trench is sew
cral hundred yards away. The sector
| is one of the quietest on the front
1t has not been taken over. being un-
der the control of troops under tse
direction of the French. The Ameri-
cans have shelled German gun posi-.
tions ana troops, the enemy sending
back shell for shell.
The guns 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, projectles falling
closeBto the Americans who joined in
the artillery duel! %iia'sia Jra@--
All THE troops will be relieved after
4 certain period BY others. Thus the
American expeditionary forces are
getting the benfit of actual war con
ditiohs. ""oil#ag risn ~
Standing in little, almost deserted
shell+wrecked village, wel within
hostile gun range and a few kilo-
meters from the trenches, the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent watchful
The troops marcrrrag up in a 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 considerable
more activity on this front than there
had been for some time.
It was soon after lulls in the firing
and in the dark that the first machine
drivers swathed in ponchos and with
shrapnel helmets over their eyes
came upon the road beside a dark
canal There was long line of these
and then came some infantry rolling
kitches, 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
hobnailed boots and in the darkness
the dim forms of men could. be seen
marching. s.,f,os
The cautious fash of an electric
pocket lamp disclosed that they were
American infantry.h packs on their
backs, rifles slung on their shoulders,
rain glistening on their helmets and
coats the wind chopping the bottom
of their coats around their legs,
which were moving with machine
like precision. ro
The Americans swng down the
street apparently as proud as though
on dress parade, Notwithstanding that
they had marched miles from the bill
let's where they had been since COM
| inb 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 comrades listen
ing silently to sentimental and popu-
| lar pieces.
Finally from the rear came the
whistled strain of tune which all
knew. and from many places in the
ranks whistles and voices joins in