The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-12-06
N0R1HCl|FFE0 ON
AMERICAN LADS
OVER IN FRANCE
British Observer Pays Round of
Visits to Trenches and Train
ing Quarters.
MEN BEAs Ase%%.}E51 i IL:
a.. CHI. OF a pecv CLIMATE
Air Thuds With Sound of Great
Guns which for Three Days
Have Been in Action.

Paris, Dec. G.-Viscount Northcliffe
has write nt.Ie following impressions
OF his visit to the American forces in
the field for the Associated rress:
Il saw today the spearnead of the
great American army OF the future. |
had the honor of being invited ~
.eneral Fefsning to accompany Gel-
eral Bliss, Colonel and MRS. House,
AMBASSADOR and Mrs. Sharp, Admiral
Benson, MIR. Crosby of the treasuI y,
sir. Colby, Mr.. Crawford and Mr.. All
hinc]oss in the long round journey
rom Paris to the American headqdar-
ers and the front.
Leaving Paris at in the morning
ve returned at 10 o'clock at night
which may give some idea of the dis
ance on the American map in France.
The journey in nexcellently appoint.
I'd special train brought US to tiny
ailway station where the guard Of
lonor was waiting to receive General
oershing, General Eliss and Colonel
House and we passed through half q
mile of grim, hardy young mericans in
trench helmets standing at attention.
They are in fine health and spirits.
Boys Bearing Well.
Eastern France was under frost,
not the dazzling, keen atmosphere Of
New York, but sunny, damp atmos
here to which Americans are unac.
;ustomed; but which they are bear.
.ng we'll. The air was full of the
budding of great guns in an artillery
,attle which, as young West Point
,fficer told me, had now been proceed
ng without cessation for three days
md nights, some miles away to tho
East.
"Our immediate objective was Wis.,
to the intensive training camp, or
inishing school for the war at-Ode.
eted). American planes were circling
overhead, indicating our destination.
which was also marked by the vio-
ent clangs Of bursting hand grenades
1t the bonn oing school.
"Our procession of American auto
mobiles went stranght across the coun.
ry, ignoring the roads, until we ar
lived at the crest of low ravine,
yhere some thousands of the first
ontingents of the American expedi-
ionary forces are being trained. First
We went to an exhibition of rifle prac-
ice with landscape targets. 1t was
good shooting, the high average Of
,eventy-five per cent of hits being
cached.
Quick in "catchins On"
oux1f,
.te work with a certain trench mortar
we'll known to the Eritis harmy. The
men have mastered the principles of
his very handy gun quickly. Later
he spectators, men and women, were
delighted at the proficiency of some
If the bomb throwers and noted par
icularly that the throw is not the
,aseball pitch, but complete over
.rm, semi circle, somewhat resem'
bling overarm cricket bowling.
eve stood we'll out of the reach
If the decorating bombs and the
hrowers bent low in the trench after
he projection of the missile and un-
il it's force and detonation threw up
earth and stones in every direction.
Then came an exhibition of trench
lighting, bayonet practice and very
inc quarter-hour of work with the
french seventy inch-at a
'ange of a mile and a half. The tar
get was a small wood and after the
irst four shots the gunners got the
.ange almost every time. The spot.
ing was done by an airplane which
lowered overhead and indicated the
tits by wireless.
House a Rifle Shot.
Colonel House manifested his Mex.
ian origin by some excellent rifle
Continued on page four)