Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-30
RED-HA|RED
AMERICANS
FIRST SHOT
IS CHEERE!D
Old Glory Is Carried To
Front Line Trenches BY
Artillerymen and Infan-
try Units While Opposing
Armies Big Guns Roar.
JOYOUS FRENCHMEN
KISS YANKEE ALLIES
rBy The Associated Press.

IBy The Associated Press
With the American Army in Franco
Oct. 27.-American troops are in the
first line trenches on the French front
The artillery fired the first shot Of
the war at O'clock on the morning OF
4 recent day, at German working
party. There has been intermittent
artillery fighting since.
Following is the first official state
usent Issued from the American head
quarters:
IN QUIET SECTOR.
I'm continuation Of their training as
q nucleus for instruction later, con-
tjnoent Of some battalions Of our first
eone5noents, In association with vet
seoa French battalions, are in the first
line trenches Of quiet sector on the
French front. They are supported by
oossse batteries Of our artillery, in as.
ooclntaon with veteran French bat.
tsrtes.
s1he sector remains normal. Our
usm Rave adapted themselves to actual
tyeneh conditions in the most salts
factory manner"
WELCOMED BY PoiLus.
TIE heImeted infantry marched in
without the knowledge Of the enemy,
a. the same night, through rain and
mud. THE French soldiers in the
trenches welcomed them enthusi.
astieaiiy.
The nearest enemy treach is sew
esai hundred yards away. The sec.
~ 10 one Of the quietest on the front.
- - heinz n.
der the control Of troops under the d.
rection Of the French.
SEND SHELL FOR SHELL
The Americans have sheiled Ger
man positions and troops, the enemy
sending shell for shell.
The first shell case will be sent
70 President Wilson. The case is now
In the possession of General sihert
REpAAlRED GUNNER STARS.
The first shot was fired by a red
haired gunner as his comrades In the
ranks and the assembled officers
sheered.
Later luncheon in the field was at
tended by the American and French
artillerists In celebration Of the first
American contact with the enemy.
USE FRENCH ISIS
The aun used in firing the first shot
vvas one Of the famous French 75's- On
the second day the French shelied a
cerman battery position which was To-
Gated by sound and the enemy replied
vigorously, proiectiIes falling close to
the Americans, who Joined in the ar
tuIesy duel.
All the troops win be relieved after
4 certain period by others. Thus the
: American expeditionary forces are get.
e3Du the benefit Of actual war condi.
MARCH IN NIGHT RAIN.
Shodine in 4 little, almost deserted
shssssreeked village, we'll within hos
~ gun range and few kiiometers
frpm the trenches, The Associated
Press correspondent watched the
1oops marching up In a driving rain
lover roads covered with sticky mud.
NE artillery had been firing all day
yuod - q result, the impression was
S1vo0 that there was considerable
ooss activity on this front than there
i1od been for some time.
MISSOURI MULES IN LEAD.
q vas soon after luIls In the firing
end Ia the dark that the first machine
1uns, hauled by Missouri mules, the
s1Tsvees sW1thed In ponchos and with
shsapnei helmets over their eyes, came
- on the road beside dark canal.
ItAsre was long line of these and
t1sen came some infantry rolling ki.ch-
ses, giving off sasory odor Of warm
lfood
An passed IN silence> The last gun
,earriaue had spr1wled 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 shen-wrecked houses,
came the sound of the tread of many
hoo-nailed boots and in the darkness
the dim forms Of men could be seen
marching.
The cautious fash of an electric
pocket lamp disclosed that they were
American infantry, packs on their
backs, rifles slung on their shoulders,
rain glistening on their helmets and
coats, the wind whipping the bottom
OF their coats around their legs which
were moving. with machine-like preci-
sion.
SING ON WAY TO POSTS.
The Americans swung down the
street apparently as proud as though
on dress parade, notwithstanding that
they had marched miles from the bill
lets where they had been since coming
by motor trucks and railway from the
instruction centers. AS the ranks
passed, every now and then a soldier
could be heard whistkng softly TO him
self. his nearby comrades listening ST.
iently to sentimental and popular
pieces.
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 "Tipperary." 1t lasted brief
~, as an officer turning, ordered stop
that noise"
As the Germans were nearby much