The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-07
IUNDER SHE'LL FIRE
| AMERICANS MARCH
ssnmmies- Are Interested Spectators
while PoiIus Go Into Trenches,
Close Behind Rnrraee.

American Field Headquarters in
France, Sept S. (Delayed)-The most
important artillery and infantry ma
neuveres since the arrival of the Sam
mics" took place today. French artii-
lery and French and American infan-
try participated. The maneuveres were
witnessed by General Siebert, Nine
French batteries took part, in the war
game.
Throughout the day there were ex-
hfbitions by the "seventy-ftves'' trench
mortars and 'barraging" machine
guns. concluding with a theoretical
attack on and capture of enemy"
trenches
on the march through the early
morning mists filing the valleys over
the ribbon like roads winding far be-
low distant ehateaux and swinging
through French villages, the Sammies
resemhled English Tommies in their
new English helmets Peasants turn
ing out in thousands all along the
way cheered the marohers enthust-
asticalN. Several French mounted
Il
The line of march led through
deep valley alongside ravine, thence
across a high plateau, from which
the maneuvers were witnessed. In
the meantime. beginning early in the
morning. concealed French batteries
of "seventy-fives" were sending shells
swishing overhead the marching Sam
mics, across the valley and bursting
with dull crashes on the distant bill
L. S~nr
troops were Joined by a division of
French chasseurs.
The Sammies and the chasseurs
stacked their rifles and squatted down
on the piateaus, observing the shells
bursting across the valley.
General Seibert and his staff Of
flcers gathered at the forefront of
the plateau together with French Of
ficers. Following the preliminary FIR
ing the artillery laid a rolling harrage
on the "Mackensen" and "Luden-
dorff' trenches. the seventy -fives''
deluging the shallow trenches. blow
ing up the works ana tearing up
up barbed wire entangiements, while
the American officers and "Sammies"
watched intently the shell explosions
followed by the rise of black and white
smoke columns.
How would you like to be going
over behind THAR" asked a Chicago
Sammy. contemplating the methodical
effectiveness OF the French artillery
fire
Great" came the quick reply. 81
suppose they know what they are
doing. giving us this play business OF
training. but I'd like to go up against
the real thing just to see how old Fritz
likes US"
This was apparently the universal
sentiment among the observing Sam
mics, The barraee fire was followed
by hombardment of the Berlin
works" trench mortars at short range
dropping huge missiles that sent great
clouds of dirt skywards to the accom-
paniment of loud thunder ciaps The
forenoon program ended with a ma
chine gun demonstration The warm
sun that had been beating down upon
the Sammies throughout the long
morning hike had swellca their appe-
lite. They consumed their chow
with great zest. They rested during
the afternoon measures at which they
were only spectators. They took up
positions on a distant hillside and
watched the attack Of the French
chasseurs following a theoretical bar
rage fire upon a theoretical German
lying in the ravine. The chasseuers
advanced in four waves. the first rush
making Nifty meters per minute a
French btplane shot rocket signals up
ward. The blue coated chasseuers
moved down across a clover field and
with rifle and hand grenade occupied
the first detectives, the "Mackensen,"
Van Gluck' nd 'Rupprecht,"
trenches