Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-10-28

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raidlnR. The sector whore the front
line training school has been estab-
lished Is described rs one Of the quiet
est on the front and II this condition
continues It will tend to minimize
losses.
The story which thrilled the nation
today came from the Associated Press
correspondent with the American
armies In France.
| Standing in a little. almost deserted
shell-wrecked village. we'll within hos
tile gun range and few kilometers
, from the trenches. the Associated
Press correspondent watched the
troops marching up In a driving rain
over roads covered with sticky mud.
The artillery had been firing all day
and as result the impression was
given that there was considerable
more activity on that front than there
had been for some time.
March Described.
Ii was soon after lulls In the firing
and In the dark that the first machine
guns hauled by Missouri mules the
drivers swathed In ponchos and with
shrapnel helmets over their eyes.
moved up the road beside a dark ca
nal. There was long line of these
and then came some infantry rolling
kitchens giving off savory odor of
warm food. All passed in silence The
last gun carriage had sprawled on 1t
the form OF a soldier who had been
taken Ill and who was being held on
by two OF his walking comrades.
Thru another street paved with
cobbles and It's sides lined with gaunt
skeletons of houses. came the sound
OF the tread OF many hob nailed boots,
and In the darkness the dim forms of
men could be seen marching.
The cautious flash 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 bottoms
of their coats around their legs, which
We're moving with machine-like pre-
cision
Gay Procession.
The Americans swung down the
street apparently as proud as tho on
dress parade, Notwithstanding that
they had marched miles from the bill
let's where they had been since COM
ing by motor trucks and railway from
the instruction centers. As the ranks
passed every now and then a soldier
could be heard whstling softly to
himself. his nearby comrades listening
silently to sentimental and popular
pieces.
Finally from the rear came the
whistled strain of u tune which all
knew, and from many places in the
ranks whistles and voices joined In.
The tune was "Tipperary." 1t lasted
briefly. as an officer. turning, ordered:
stop that noise"
AS the Germans were nearby, much
depended on approaching the scene
quietly The troops turned a corner
and disappeared down an ink-black
screened road. AS a major standing
there listened he looked continuously
at all illuminated watch dial. He said:
The men from the other direction
should now be entering the trenches. l
have been standing here waiting TO
hear II tho Germans discover the
movement" He paused, listened, and
then continued:
There is no firing yet, altho ex-
pect IL, for no doubt We are In for q
strafe' IL the Boche knows we are GO
ing in
No 'istrafe" developed, altho the
Germans put over few customary
shells--hitting nothing.
Welcomed by Frcnchmcn.
The troops entered the trenches
safely. unit by unit, passing quickly to
the places assigned them. Quetness
was essential, but the French welcome
none the less was heard and 1t was en-
thuslastc. Every American was shak-
en- by the hand some were hueged
and even kissed on both cheeks. IN
the French custom. Some or the
French troops were those who helped
to train the Americans. The trenches
were found to be muddy. but never
thcless in good condition. Greetings
being over. the Americans settled
down and at daylight, under low-hung
dripping clouds they got their firN
view OF the German lines stretching
away In the rolling terrain,