The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-10-29
Troops, Exultant Over Sue
cess, Eager for the
Second Trip.
FLARE FAILS GERMANS
French Go With Our Men,
Who Wriggle to Enemy
Trenches in Rain.
BOYS MARCH TO SONGS
Subway Joke Sprung by One
Of Contingent on Way
to Front Line.
FLARE FAILS GERMANS
BOYS MARCH TO SONGS
~ . sta1 Correspondent Of The Sen.

~ . star Correspondent Of TIE Sux.
cosyrcAs. 1917. eli rioAfs essevred.
AsEMcAN FIELD HEADQUARTERS.
france, oct 2s.-The American infan-
try have made their first expedition into
No Mass Land" between their own
trenches and those Of the GermanA
This nrst detachment Of our troops that
ever went "over the top" penetrated Into
the wilderness Of barbed wire and shell
craters and returned without . scratch.
rhe number Of men who went and the
time cannot be stated. but It was at
night ard they were accompanied by
french troops.
This Franco American patrol clam
bered from the trenches UP the scaling
ladders, equipped with hand grenades,
rifles, revolvers and trench knives. their
steel helmets strapped tightly beneath
their chins. First went q Frenchman.
then an American then another French
man and another American until finally
the whole patrol had set foot on the mar
row strip of ground separating the hrst
lire trenches from our own barbed wire.
The most minute directions had been
siven to each American as to just where
his place would be and what he was to
do, especially in case they ran into .
German patrol. as an American Lieuten-
ant did on the first night. Headed by
the squad leader. they set of on tiptoe
until they reached their own barbed
wire. along which they felt in the dark
ness until they found the prepared gap.
There they stopped for a moment for a
last word Of caution. Then they stepped
through. actually into mo Mans Land"
Americans Overjoyed.
Everything was-pitch black rain was
falling, hut as they slipped and slid
along the Americans had hard time to
keep from yelling from sheer exultation
at being in the big game at last or to
pause and crane their necks as they
pseeed around the shell holes In glow
Of excitement. with the knowledge that
they we're approaching closer and closer
10 the German lines.
"Alerte." whispered the French patrol
leader, and Frenchmen and Americans
Became rigid. Then they dropped to the
ground, 70, not far ahead, Just visible
through the mist and rain. were the
first strands OF the German baroed wire'
Ike gray spider web in dark corner
.\''er that II was nervous. touch ana go
work for the slightest noise might at
lract the attention of the Germans; but
tho French and Americans set about the
work. they had come to do, In which the
Nnericans' part was no mean one.
Il ls not advisable Just now to go into
,.ai.s. but it can be said that the Amer
cans vriggicd along OH their stomachs,
I.'olyers in hand. and did a workman
20 JON as coolly as II a night patrol in
No Mans Land" was regular thing.
when the last man whispered down the
ne "Nll done or its French equivalent
Tout fait." the patrol crept back as
,licntly as II had come. stopping now
ID then when any noise was heard,
There was one breathless moment
lsu the Germans sent up a flare light
'.cd TO balloon. which hung overhead
Ike lantern for what seemed hours
rdt tho German eyesight was poor. and
'i"y never saw that patrol and missed
tHojr ohance 10 take the first American
Nr, '"nsr and get the iron cross and the
Other rewards. although perhaps that
American prisoner would have come
high and cost enough to buy several iron
OsseS.
Back safe and sound.
Quietly the patrol slipped through its
own barbed wire and back again into
me trench from which 1t came. There
It was quickly surrounded by a little
knot Of helmeted Americans eager tt
hear all about II and struggling between
admiration and a bit of jealousy. A!
such affairs go. 1t really was quiet little
party, but II was our first and We did II
nicely. thanks to our French guides anC
perhaps to the fact that this is a pretty
good lot Of young soldiers we have ovei
here. As to the Americans who wen
over the top in that patrol, they wanted
to do It all over again that same nigh
hrtn I'll, rnrlu
The transfer Of the first American
troops to the actual battlefront and intt
the trenches under the German gun!
vas delicate and difficult task for mer
70 whom every detail was new. Ever
by the French, who have been doint
Il for years. the relief of the men II
the trenches Is carried out with th
greatest circumspection and care, ant
It was largely through their whole
souled hearty cooperation that th
operation was completed for the frs
time ay the Americans In a manner tina
reherred the highest credit upon all con
csrne1 IN IL.
We had been getting ready to ente
N" trenches for some time and wer
n'rfecting the plans when one day tn
french division camped with tn
Amricans marched away. This mean
hat the American troops would sool
N''in " pcklu tHciT HTst
N The real trenches on the battlefront
ace 10 face with the Germans. and 4
set their baptism Of fire. without whicl
ne subsequent work laid out for then
."plf not be we'll done.
Then ono beautiful morning the In
hntry were loaded onto trucks an,
started merrily for the front. the artil
cry meantime coming from their camp
part OF the way by railroad. then hauling
thelr guns and caissons with horse
aong the broad French roads. cheere,
ny tho peasants in the little villages the!
reached
blllets already had been chosen a fey
miles behind the front and the men re
NAMED there few days while tn
Am"rlcan officers went through tn,
"'hches, studying the ground. watchin