The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-10-30
SENDS CHALLENGE Of
STEEL TOWARD ENEMY
PERSHING'S MEN IN FRONT
LINE TRENCHES.
Case of the First Shell Will Be
Sent to President
Wilson.

With the American Army in
France, Oct. 29.-American troops
are in the first line trenches on the
French front. The artillery fred
the first shot of the war at o'clock
on the morning of recent day at
German working party. There has
been intermittent artillery fighting
since.
The helmeted infantry marched in
without the knowledge of the enc
my, on the same night. through rain
and mud. The French soldiers in
the trenches welcomed them enthu-
siastically.
The nearest enemy trench is sew
eral hundred yards away. The sec
tor is one of the quietest on the
front. 1t has not been taken over,
being under the control of troops un-
der the direction of the French. The
Americans have shelled German
gun positions and troops, the enc
my sending back shell for shell. The
first shell case will be sent to Presi-
dent Wilson. The case Is now in the
possession of General Sibert. The
shot was fired by a red haired gun
ner and his comrades in the ranks
and the assembled officers cheered.
Later luncheon in 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
shot was one of the famous French
shelled 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.
Will Be Relieved.
All OF the troops will be relieved
after a certain period by others
Thus the American expedition forces
are getting the benefit of actual war
conditions.
Standing in little, almost de-
serted shell wrecked village. we'll
within hostile gun range and a few
kiInmeters from the trenches. the
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 this front than there had
been for some time.
II was soon after lulls in the fir
ing and in the dark that the first
machine guns hauled by Missouri
mules, the drivers swatched in pom
chos and with shrapnel helmets over
their eyes, came up on the road be-
side dark canal, There was a long
line of these and then came infantry
rolling kitchens, giving off a savory
odor of warm food.
All passed in silence. The last
gun carriage. had sprawled on 1t the
form soldier who had been taken
filt and who was being held 'on by
TWO Of his walking comrades.
Through another street paved
With cobbles and it's sides lined with
Eaant skeletons of shell wrecked
houses came the sound of the tread
OF many hobnailed boots and in the
darkness the dim forms of men
could be seen marching.
The cautious flash of an electric
pocl<At lamp disclosed that they
were American infantry, packs on
their backs. rifles slung on their
shouiders, rain glistening on their
helmets and coats. the wind whip
ping the bottom of their coats
around their legs which were NOV
ing With machine-iike precision.
Proud of Honor.
The Americans swung down the
street apparently as proud as
though on dress parade. notwith-
e(apdipg that they had marched