Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-07
FRENCH TROOPS
GIVE REAL WAR
DEMONSTRATION
Chasseurs Give Instructions
in Trench Fighting to
American Soldiers.

American Training Camp in France
Sept. 7.-(By the Associated Press)-
The American soldiers training in
France had their second demonstra-
ton yesterday Of artillery fire by an
entire French regiment Of famous
75's n earned something more of
the vagaries and intricacies Of rolling
barrages, annihilating bombardments,
minenwerfers and Flying pigs" AS a
matter Of fact, the pigs" made a far
deeper impression on troops than
the delicate timing and placing Of the
perfect French curtain of fire.
Fired from nearby trench mortars
at very low velocity, the flying pork
ers came ambling through h air at
a most ungainly gait and pace, ex-
ploding in or neal the practice
trenches with a roar that filled all the
air and the surrounding hills with
terrific echoes.
"F1ying Pigs Invite. Respect.
The soldiers liked the shells, be7
cause they could see them coming and
wait for the big blow up. The trim,
true shells from the French rs guns
slipped by so noiselessly overhead
without being seen that the troops
rather were inclined to underestimate
their effectiveness until the barrage
curtain vas fully built and maintained
across a space of nearly a thousand
yards. The flying pigs" roared with
the explosive force of a fifteen inch
shell, calling forth Immediate atten-
ton and respect.
Therefore. the morning was given
over to artillery display, including
gun fire and all the various examples
of military preparation, concluding
with the lbarrage intended to break up
an enemy counter attack.
Virtually all the American troops in
training saw the demonstration from
n~eighboring hilltops.
The American officers followed
every phase Of the demonstration with
studious attention. The ordinary
thick of the shell fire before it makes
a particularly personal impression on
him. The infantry attacks yesterday
afternoon were more to his liking.
The French went cover the top" in
four successive moves, taking three
lines of trenches and beating off the
oretical counter attacks. z
Impressive War Scene.
The French attack was carried out
precisely as if intended. Artillery
barrage was being laid and a low
flying atrplane co-operated both as an
artillery observer and in iaison with
the infantry commander, signalling
him constantly the position Of his for
ward units. The first system of
trenches attacked were known as
Mackensen's trenches, the second Won
Kluck's and the third Crown Prince
Rupprecht's. Several strong points or
works, such as quarries, tunnel
mouths, ETC., also were included in the
operation.
1t was an impressive picture as un-
der the dazzling hot September u
the blue French waves swept for
ward hurting bombs and firing rifles
and rifle grenades in exact stimulation
of a real attack.
Today saw the, farewell display of
instructions from the French chas-
seurs who have been with the Ameri-
can troops ever since they went into
training here. Other French troops
will be brought in from the firing line
to take up the york with the Amert-
cans, but the first expeditionary force
will ever be grateful to and ever feel
the bond of comradeship with the
first French troopers whom they have
come to admire SO much.