The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-10-29
AMERICAN SOLDIERS
HAVE FIRED FIRST SHELL
Troops Fight Their First Battle Sat
urda. -Irom French Trench The
"Sanlmic~' Fire Thcii. First Bull
lets a. Tiir TeutOnN.

! W ltn me y AMERICAN Army III
/ France. oct American troops
are in the first line trenches Oh the
! French front. The artillery fired the
/ first shot OF the wal at o'clock on
/ the morning Of Il recent day AT d
/ German working party. There has
! been intermittent artillery lighting
I since.
The keimctcd infantry marched in,
without the knowledge OF the eHpmy,
. on the same night, through rain and
mud The French soldiers in the
trenches Welcomed Them enthusiast
tiralil.
The nearest enemy trench is srv-
eraI hundred yards away The sec
tor is one of the QuieSteS on the
front II has not been :aken over,
being under the control of troops un-
der the direction of the Franch,
The Americans have shelled Ger
man gun positions and troops, the
enemy sending back shell for shell.
The first shell case viii be sent to
President Wilson. The case is now
in the possession of Gen. SibeTt. The
shot was fired by ii red haired gun
ner as his comrades in the ranks and
the assembled officers cheered.
Later q luncheon III the field was
attended by the American and
French artillerists in celebration OF
the first American contact with the
enemy.
The gun used in firing the first
shor was one of the famous French
Us On the second day the French
shclled 1t German battery position
which was located by sound and the
enemy replied vigorously, projectiles
falling close to the Americans. who
Joined in the artillery duel.
MI the troops will be relieved af-
ter d certain period. Thus the
American eXpcditionary forces are
getting the benefit of actual war con-
ditionS
standing in a little almost desert
ed shell-wrecked village, well within
hostile gun range and 4 few kilo-
metres from the trenches, the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent watched
the troops marching up in Il driving
rain over roads covered with sticky
mud The artillery had been firing
all day and as d result the impress
sion was given that there was con-
siderable more activity on this front
than there had been for sometime.
It 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,
came up on the road beside Il dark
canal. There was a long line of
these and then came some infantry
rolling kitchens, giving off a savory
odor of warm food.
All passed in silence. The last
gun carriage had sprawled on il the
form of soldier who had been taken
i'll and who was being held on by two
of his walking comrades.
Through another street, paved
wftn cofJ1ies and its sides lined with
gaunt skeletons of shell-wrecked
houses. came the sound of the tread
of many hobnailed boots and in the
darkness the dim form 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 bottom
of their coats around through their
legs. which were moving with ma
chine-like precision.
The Americans swung down the
street apparently as proud as tho
on dress parade, Notwithstanding
that they had marched miles from
the billets where they had been since
coming by motor trucks and railway
from the instruction centres.
As the ranks passed every now and
then a soldier could be heard whistl-
ing. comrades listening silently to
sentimental and popular pieces.
Finally from the rear came the
Whistled strain of a tune which all
knew, and from many places in the
ranks whistles and voices Joined in.
The tune was "Tipperary." 1t las
ted briefly, as an officer, turning, or
dered stop that nOise!'
As the Germans were near by,
much depended on approaching the
zone quietly. Tn etToopS turned
corner and disappeared down an ink
black screened road. AS the major,
standing there, listened, he looked
continuously at an illuminated watch
dial He said:
The men from the other direc-
tion should now be entering the
trenches l have been standing here
waitig TO hear if the Germans dis
covered the movement" He paused,
listened and then continued:
There Is no firing yet, although
| expect it. for no doubt we are IN
for a strait if the 'boche' knows we
are going in.
No strait" developed. although
the Germans put over few cuSto-
mary shellS-hitting nothing.
The troops entered the trenches
safely. unit by unit passing quickly
to the places assigned them. Quiet
ness was essential. but the French
welcome none the less was heard.
and it was enthusiastic.
Every man was shaken by the
hand, some were hugged and even
kissed on both cheeks in the French
custom. Some OF the French troops
were those who helped to train the
Americans The trenches were found
to be muddy, but nevertheless in a
condition of excellent construction.
Greetings being over, the Americans
settled dow and at daylight, under
low hung dripping clouds, they got
their first view of the German lines
stretching away il the rolling ter
rain.
1t has rained daily since and the
troops now are covered with mud.
Officers say they are certain the Ger
mans know the Americans are op-
p0site them, but there has been no
special activity.
one American battery observed
and scattered marchinG enemy
group with Shellfre.
RELIABLE BOY WANTED.
10 learn q trade that haS short