The Little River news., 1917-10-31
A.i!HfRIGAI TRDUpFs N FEIhSsT LlAEE:
 TRENCHES OH FRENCH FRONT
United States Artillery Fires First Shot of the War at Dawn of Recent Day, Smelling
 Enemy Positions.

Enemy Positions.
 Wth the Americsn Army in France, Oct 27.-Ameriean troops are in the nYst-line trenches on the French front. The artillery fired the first shot of the war at s o'clock on the morning Of are cent day at a German working party There has been intermittent artillery fighting since.
 'lelmete1 infan,ry marched in with out the knowledge of the enemy, on the same night, through raj il and mud. T'1e I'2eleh soldier ia the trenches vel cu'.cd them enthusiastically. Tie nearest enemy trench is se:eral hundred yards away. The sector is cHe Of the quietest on the front. It has net been taken over, be ng under the COR trni O troops un!er the direction tf ttc fiench.
 G'he Americans have shelled Ge: .nan I.ostions and troops. the enemy send ing shell for shell. The first shell case will be sent to Pres dent Wilson.
 Shot Fired by Rei-Haired Gunner.
 The cf.se is now in the possession of General Sibert. The shot was fired by 8 red-haired gunner 2S his comrades in the ranks and the assembled officers cnCerea. Later a luncheon ;n the field was attended by the American and French sTtillerists in celebration of enemy.
 Guns Hauled by Missouri Mules. It Was soon after lulls in the firing and in the dark that the first machine suns hauled by M ssouri mules, the drivers swathed in ponches and with sharpnel helmets over their eges. cane up on tho road beside a dark canal. ! There was long line Gf tnesc. and then some iIfant@y Go!l..sg kitchens. nyins off g s3To1y oGor of 9arrl food. Al, p2csod in silence I'iae last gun carriage had srrawicI on the form i C 2, solGier who had been taken i'll and who vas being }eid cn by two of his walking com~s 1T ions.
 Through another st.ces p2vcd with coDblo5 all ts side lined with giunt skeletons Of 5teil-wrccEol houses came t,.a soGal of thc tread Of many hobnailei boa;5, and in the darkness the din f2r..s of men could be seen n1arehing.
 The cautious Da5'i O. an electric pocllct lamp disclosed that thcy Wer. f,Mo"ican infantry, packs on tAai backs, rifles alunG CT their 3ho. !dc9s, rain gl.sto@ng on t1eir helmets and coats, tie E'ins Whipping thc bottom 0. their coats around tnc.r legs, which 'y.s,ra moving with mach;ne-likc pre- ciaion
 Ike Americans swung Gown th3 i StEea5 apparently as proud as though oa Gre3s pAraCc, notwithe landing that they had marGhc,: miles fem the bil- lets where thoy Led b.cn aircc com:ns by motor trucks and ra.l.Ealy from the instruction centers. As tie ranks pas scd every now ant. then a soldier could be hoa:t whia.ling softly to himself nearby comrades listening si.satly to sent 'ment&l and po.ulQr pieces.
 AmeXes Whistle "T;ppeg"ry.'
 Finally from the rear came the wl.is- l tln3 ctr~tin of o tu,,o yvb:cb oil Ena4I, and from many places in tho ranks whistles and voices joined in. The tune was 'iT.pperary. It lasted briefly as an officer, turning. ordered stop that noise.
 As the Germans were nearby, much i de@cnded on approaching the scene quietly. The 'roops turned corner ;pd disappeared Gown an ink black screened road, As major standing there listened he looked continuously at an illuminated watch dal. He said:
 The men from the other direction should now be entering the trenches. 1 have been standing here waiting to hear if the Germans discover the move ment.' He paused, listened and then cont nued;
 There is no firing yet, although l expect it, for no doubt We are in for a strafe if the 'boche' knows we are go- ing in
 No 'strafe developed, although the Germans put over few customary sholls--hittng nothing.
 The troops entered the trenches safely, unit by unit passing quickly to the plares assigned them. Quiet ness was essential, but the French wei
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