Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-10-29
U. S. TROOPS
Continued from Page y

American troops are in the first line
trenches on the French front The ar
tillery fired the first shot of the war al
6 O'Clock on the morning Of recent
day at German working party. There
has been intermittent artillery fight
ing 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
cally.
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.
First Shell Case to Wilson
The Americans have shelled Ger
man gun positions and troops. the
| enemy sending back shell for shell. The
flrst she'll case will he sent to Pres
/ ident Wilson. The case is now in the
possession of General Sibert. The
, shot was fired by a red haired gun
ner as his comrades IL: the ranks and
tho assembled officers cheered Later
{ - iulAShSOlI III lIit HSlu was 3ltGnUSl
by the American and French artiller-
lists in celebration of the first Ameri-
can contact with the enemy
The gun used in firing the first shot
was one Of the famous French 75's.
On the second day the French shelled
German battery position which was
! iocated by sound and the enemy re
piled vigorously proiectiles falling
close 70 the Americans who Joined in
the artillery duel
All the troops will he relieved after
q certain period by others Thus the
American eXpeditionary forces are
getting the benefit Of actual wa, con
ditions
Standing in a little almost deserted
sheH-wrecked village well within hostile
gun range and few kilometres from the
trenches. The Associated Press cor-esporl :
dent watched the troops marching I'D 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 consdera ble
more activity on this front than there
had been for some time
First Machine Guns
1t was soon after lulls in the firing and
in the dark that the first machine guns
hauled by Missouri mules, the drivers
swathed in ponchos and with shrapnel
helmets over their eyes, came W on the
road beside a dark canal. There was a
long line OF these. and then came some
infantry. rolling kitchens giving off a saw
ory odor OF warm food
All passed In silence. The last gan car
riage had sprawled on it The form Of a
soldier who had been taken Ill and who
was being held on by two OF his walking
comrades.
Through another street paved WITH cob
bles and its sides lined with gaunt skele-
tons Of shel-wrecked houses came the
sound Of the tread Of many hobnailed
boots and in the darkness the dim form
of men could he seen marching.
( The cautious fash Of an electric pocket
lamp disclosed that they were American
infantry, packs on their hacks. rifles
slung on their shoulders. rain glistennG
on their helmets and coats. the wind
whipping the bottoms of their coats
around legs which were moving with ma
chine-lke precision.
The Americans swung down the street
apparently as proud as though on dress
parade Notwithstanding tina. they had
marched miles from the bilets where
they had been since coming hv motor
trucks and railway from the instruction
centers.
As the ranks PASSED every now and
theu a soldier could he heard whistling
softly To himself His nearby comrades
listening silently to sentimental and
popular pieces.
To Tune Of Tipperary
Finally from the rear came the whis-
tied strain of tune which all knew.
and from many places in the ranks
whistles and voices Joined in. The tune
was "Tiperary." 1t lasted briefly as an
officer turning ordered Stop that
noise
As the Germans were nearby much
depended on approaching the zone
quietly. The troops turned a corner
and disappeared down an ink black
screened road. AS major standing
there listened he looked continuously
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" RE paused. listened and
then continued; There is no firing
yet, although I expect il. for no doubt
We are in for 'strafe' if the 'hoche'
knows We are going in
No 'strafe" developed. although the
/ Germans put over a few customary
Substituting nothing
The troops entered the trenches
safely. unit by unit. passing quickly ia
the places assigned them. Quietness
, was essential. but the French welcome
none the less was heard and it was en-
! thusiastic.
Kissed by French
Every American was shaken by the
/ fand. some were hugged and even
kissed on both cheeks in the Fyench
custom. Some of the French troops
were those who helped to train he
Americans.
The trenches were found to be mud
dy, but nevertheless in a condition of
excellent construction Greetings he
ing over the Americans settled down
and at daylight. under ow-hung drip
ping clouds. they got their first view
of the German lines stretching away
| in the rolling terrain.
-.