The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-07-31
men
TO FACE ENEMY
IN 8 OR 4 WEEKS
U. s. Troops Will Soon Occupy
Portion of First Line
Trenches.

! washington, july Sl.-Am0rlCaH
troops of the Pershing expeditionary
force will be in direct contact with the
Germans Within the next three or four
weeks, if present plans for mobilization
and intensive training of American
units are followed out.
This plan is for the Sammies to take
over limited portion of first line
trenches, to accomplish the double
purpose of breaking the ice for Amer
teas participation in the actual fight
ing and giving the most seasoned men
q chance at modern trench warfare in
order that they may get accustomed to
it THEMES Ives and be in position to
help in the training of other units.
Unless sont emergency arises it is
not proposed to send American troops
in large number into the trenches in
the immediate future.
The idea is to have these troops take
charge Of limited line, primarily for
training purposes. But the American
troops will be in shape to take care of
themselves in case the Germans oppo-
site them show a desire to precipitate
matters. Unusual activity, however, is
not expected on the sector where the
Americans will be placed, until they
ciimated. so to speak.
Il Army officers here say the most i'm
portant result perhaps will he achiev-
ed by getting American officers, espe-
|cfally the younger ones, accustomed
to the deafening blasts of heavy gun
nre. There is no way for this and
other incidental lessons to be learned
except by being in the trenches under
nre from enemy vuns. All the theo-
retical exerience in the world. it is
said, will not equal an hours practical
experience in this respect.
BY way Of example 1t is pointed out
that the first British volunteer forces,
k1tchener's army. were absolutely at
sea when they first undertook to man
first line trenches, although they had
months of training. These troops
were ordered to take over a certain
line Of trenches, and while doing so
the German guns broke loose with a
terriffce commandment
me men underground thought the
| ground about them was being torn to
pieces by the volcanic eruptions caus-
| ed by the explosive Shells The Young
omcers, rightfully solicitous about ex-
posing their men : needless sacri-
hces ordered them to the rear. The
Br1t1shers, calmly and with no sign
of panic, simply left their trenches on
the principle that committing suicide
was not part of their duties.
| Several British cavalrymen were
not far distant, and their officers AT
once perceived what was going on.
They ordered the men to tie their
horses and go into the trenches they
evacuated. When the infantrymen
saw this they too returned. They
too up their positions and remained
there practically unmolested for
months They were, in reality, in
| little danger. although even the of.
| ficers thought otherwise.
Sound judgment as to when danger
does or does not exist can only be
given by officers who have had actual
experience it is pointed out In cases
| where position is really untenable
they may think it safe, and con-
yersely when there Is only the Gus
tomary artillery bomhbardment go.
ing on the positions may seem unten-
able
1t is probable that American of.
ficers and troops, after getting theil
first taste of actual warfare with the
Germans, will be relieved by other.
while they capitalize their experienced
with men behind the lines. This in.
tensiye training of the men behin6
the lines is an all important feature
for the American forces. At presen
French officers are imparting thi.
training to their American allies.
There are American troops now no
far from the front. They are close
| enough to hear the sound of the f1eav,
guns when the wind is right, ant
twice they have seen German aircraS
driven off by Entente ayiators. The,
have also seen how the anti-aircraf
guns work in preventing German
machines from getting close enough
to make valuable observations.
With every American battalion nov
there is a French battalion, and tn,
French are diligently teaching tn,
Americans the best ways of diggin,
trenches and using hand grenades ant
gas masks.
FINED FOR TRUCK THEFT.