Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-11-01
j. S. SOLDIERS
FIGHT KA|SER'S
MEN IN FRANCE
Pershing's Guns Roar on Fight
ing Front.
FIRST PRISONER is TAKEN.
American Troops March Into First
Trenches on French Front
Through Rain and Mud-Given
an Enthusiastic Welcome.

With the American Army in France,
Oct. 29.-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 in 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 welcomed them enthusiast
tically. &
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 direc-
ton Of the French.
The Americans have shelled German
positions and troops, the enemy send
ing shell for SHE'LL
The gun used in firing the first shot
was one Of the famous French 75-S.
On the second day the French shelled
a German battery position which was
located by sound and the enemy re-
piled vigorously, projectiles falling
close to the Americans who joined in
the artillery duel.
The case is now in the possession
Of General Sibert. The shot was fired
by a red-haired gunner as his COM
rades in the ranks and the assembled
officers cheered. Later a luncheon in
the field was attended by the Ameri-
can and French artillerists in celebra-
ton of the first American contact with
the enemy.
Following is the first official state
ment issued by the American head
quarters:
"In continuation of their training as
a nucleus for instruction later, q con-
tiDgent Of some battalions of our first
contingents, in association with vet
eran French battalions, are in the
first line trenches of a quiet sector on
the French front.
"They are supported by some batter
les of our artillery, in association with
veteran French batteries.
'The sector remains normal. Our
men have adapted themselves to act
ual trench conditions in the most sat-
isfactory manner.
Irishman Fires First Shot.
A red-haired Irish gunner fired the
first American shot in the war on
French soil.
Infantry Exchanges Shots.
The American infantry, Wallowing
in their first line trenches, also ex-
changed volleys with the German
regiments opposite and were in high
spirits over their first chance to "pOt
Fritzy" despite the steady, depress-
ing drizzle which has continued for
nearly forty-eight hours, turning the
American dugOutS into canals of mud.
Under these conditions the Ameri-
cans are fast learning the details Of
trench life preparatory to "gOing over
the top" at the enemy.
u. S. Men Take First Prisoner.
With the American Army in France,
Oct. Bottle first German prisoner Of
war was taken by the American expe-
dictionary forces died in an American
field hospital, having been snot when
he encountered an American patrol in
No Mans Land in front of the Ameri-
can trenches.
He, with another German, was dis
covered Saturday night by the patrol
and was called upon to halt. The Ger
mans ran, the patrol fired and one Of
the enemy was hit The prisoner de-
clared that the German soldiers did
not know that Americas were on the
front or even in France, the officers
telling them nothing.