Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-09-24
American Troops, Near
Fighting Line, Chatting
Under Restraint.
STEAL AWAY TO
VISIT TONNES
Creep Into First Line Trenches to Get
Taste Of Actual Warfare. Until Or
dsrs are Issued Forbiddins Practice
Vanguard q Uncle Sans Forces
campsd on Historic Battlefield Near
British LinsA
tBy, the Associated Press ]

somewhere Along the British Front
In France. Sept. 24.-On a historic bat
tlefeld which merges into the fighting
lines are encamped many American
troops far removed from the rest Of
their compatriots. They form the van
guard Of Uncle Sans expeditionary
force In France.
For military reasons 1t L. impossible
to tell the world Just where these men
are. who they are. or what they are
doing to further the interests Of the
entente allied cause, but it may be
said on authority to friends at home
that they are q credit to the Stars and
Stripes, which for the first time In his
tory ny over camp Of American SOL
dien in thi0 part Of the war-wracked
world.
Some Of them have been working
continually IN . zone covered by Ger
man guns and already two Of their
lumber have been wounded, a fact
whereof they are exceedingly proud.
Anxious % Meet Gsrmans.
Especially are they prepared and
anxious 10 try honoFD With the Ger
mans. n fact their only grievance IS
that for the present they are not per-
mitted. except where necessity de-
mandA to expose themselves to the
enemy's big guns. ~
They want to feel the thrill that one
experiences when explosives are going
up all about, and when shells herald
their approach across No Mans Land
with wicked whine, which gives no.
tice that within q fraction Nof a minute
deadly bits OF ragged steel will be n.y.
ing in all directions.
In fact, until stringent order was
issued recently. the American officers
had hard time keeping their men out
Of the British front line trenches. It
ID said that more than one American
soldier has crept away wheh of duty
and after making friends with the
"Tommies" has taken his place beside
them for few glorious minutes while
: minor battle was progressing.
Officers Eager For Action.
II would have been unwise, perhaps.
Tor the correspondent to inquire too
closely whether any Of the American
officers had done their bit" In this
manner. Nevertheless. the correspond
ent had grave suspicious that some Of
them had been ''over the top with
their allies In early days before orders
forbade it. However. they are good
1disciplinarians, and nobody is disre-
garding the edicts which have been Is
sued by the higher command. altho the
sound Of the artillery brings a wistful
took into their eyes
Msthodieai Activity In Camps.
The correspondent visited two diff
Ierent camps. and in each there were
the same scenee Of methodical activity
Characteristic Of American methods.
Things were moving smoothly and no
false motions were being made. Eff
cheney was the watchword everywhere.
a It was noon when the second camp
was reached and the officers and men
were preparing for mess. Several clean
cut young officers came out to greet
the correspondent, and It was CHEEKY
welcome with firm hand-grip and a
hearty s.I'm mighty glad to see you!"
One would have known he was in an
American camp had he been blind
folded. An invitation was extended to
mess, and II was accepted.
..Tm afraid we can't offer you very
much to eat," said one officer. You
see, our cook il III. and Just at this
moment W are getting along as best
We can. but We can give you plenty
pf beans and. well plenty Of more
beans" he ended, with an apologetic
iaugh. lss
SO Boston baked beans were served.
the ffst the correspondent had seen in
.two years OF knocking about, which
had tlken him from revolution-torn
Dublin to the Mohammedan revolt on
the northwest frontier OF India. And
theyi were the best beans ever canned
Or that ever will be canned. During
The meal the correspondent fell into
conversation with "a young officer who
comes from one Of the famous and
wealthy families Of the United States.
Z Americans Mean Business.
sF1ow do you like It out here?" asked
the correspondent.
The ofiicer gaxed reflectively thru the
open door ofsthe mess room out across
the open and beyond the camp. AS far
a. the eye could reach there was q
scene Of deya4tation and desolation.
Hsro and there shattered walls Of q,
Building marked tlle spot OF where Q ]
/ y Mn u kos,e ~ village had stood
u SsaiI Wae asowing sovsr this waste.