The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-11-08
u. S. ARTILLERY
RETURN FROM The
TRENCHES UNHURT
Despite Hardships Men Are
Eager to Get Back to
the Front.

With the American Army in France,
"Wednesday, Nov. 7--By The Asso-
ciated Press. 1.-The first American ar
tillery unit to establish contact with
the Germans came back, to it's billet
today. The men were tired and mud
dy. but still as enthusiastic a lot of
soldiers as ever came out of gun pits.
The artillery had longer stay at the
front than the infantry, and they
came back, men and horses, wet to
the bone. covered with mud and ready
to sleep.
Their "homa coming was one that
will long he .menlbered in this sec
ton of France. 1t was late in the
day when long lines of marching sol
diers and straining horses were seen
rounding a small, mountain many
miles AWAY. The column could be
seen winding around the mountain to
the valley, UP on a nearer hill and
then down again. The rain was beat
ing in their faces and a village snug
Cling in valley came into their view
as they CROSSED the crest of the hill.
Below them stood a group in uni
form. Above the group foated the
American flag, and a. number of chill
dren were gathered about, Suddenly
the band-for the group in uniforms
was a band-started tune that
brought smile to the face of even
the most tired artillerymen in the col
umn It was "T,he Campbells Are
Coming" Some of the artillerymen
cheered and the bearers of the red
battery pennant raised themselves in
their saddles and waved the pennants.
The entire command was imme
diate1y drawn UP on a hillside and a
gun, covered with camouf1age paint,
was drawn out in front. On the gun
shield an artilleryman had written in
chalk: 1.-THE first gun for the Ger
mans" The colonel in command
spoke to one of the, townspeople a
moment and, addressing the men, told
them the people of the village wish
ed to do honor to the gun and it's
crew and to the American army. The
children gathered around and placed
a floral wreath over the grim barrel
and bunch of wild flowers inside the
empty case Of the first shot fired. The
regimental band then played the
American and French national an
thems.
That was all the ceremony, but the
sight of Americans returning from
combat with the Germans cheered the
populace of the village so that when
the troopers dismounted many old
men and many women came up to
them either to shake hands or to put
their arms affectionately around their
their shoulders There is not much
sentiment in the makeup of an Amer
lean artilleryman. His one idea is
that he is in France to fight, so it
took a moment or two for the men to
L -
approval. Even when this was done
the Americans were more or less en-
barrassed and many actually blush
ed.
Tonight the artil1erynen turned in
be called out until hours after regu-
lar time. The men were very tired,
having marched for many hours up-
der unfavorable conditions and eaten
their short ration while perched
astride horse or swinging on top Of
gun carriage. The horses were
worn out and some lay down as soon
as they reached their beds of straw.
Despite the hardships not man
was heard to grumble except labout
the fact that no mail from home was
! waiting for him. Every one declared
enthusiastically that the firing of
shells at the Boche would be ''fine
business All were anxious to go
back again
J In this command there was not one
casualty, despite the length of its stay
at the front and the fact that the Ger
mans shelled the American artillery
! heavily several times. The officers
said the night that the American
trench was raided the artillery got
! into action quickly and poured
counter barrage into No Mans Land