The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-29
Sammies Had 3 Months Inten-
? siVe Training There.
Actually in Trenches s Months
After War Declared.
NUMBER THERE KEPT SECRET
Recalls Assistance Lafayette
Brought to America.
Baptism of Fire Is Final Stroke
in ThOrO Training.

Washington, Oct. 29.-Announce-
fnent from General Pershings head
Quarters that American troops were in
the front line trenches in France,
marks the beginning of the culminat-
ing phase of the training of the
American war army.
Neither Secretary Baker nor any
war department officials would COM
ment upon the news from abroad.
1t was plainly indicated, however,
that the movement was regarded
simply as the final course in instruc-
ton and not the real initiation of par
ticipa ton by the United States troops
in the war.
The fact that a quiet sector of the
French line has been selected for this
training work is evidence that the
actual American front will be located
ELSEWHERE.
B., It has been the custom of the Brit
ish army to harden their new units
gradually to the shock of shell fire be-
fore making them responsible for the
holding of any portion of the front.
The section in which the American
infantry and artillery is at work is a
finishing school for the military edu-
+ cation of the men and particularly of
the gunners apd when a sufficiently
seasoned force has been developed the
Americans will take over a portion of
tho front.
Many More Sent There.
The first American troops arrived
in France in the first week July-ap-
proximateIy four months after Presi-
dent wilson's request for declaration
of a state of war against Germany
chad been approved by congress
1t is now as little less than three
months since the first American CON
tingent'' began it's intensive training
for the lighting line.
Military rules forbid even specula-
ton as to the various units now
abroad or as to their officers below
the rank of general. Military pru-
dence also dictates Withholding the
exact number of American soldiers
who have been transported across the
seas to wage America tlSht TO IHdhe
etbe world safe for democracy.
American Sammies in France nave
had the benefit of training under both
French and British veterans. me
men now in the trenches and now
serving guns side by side with Gen
ieral Petain's poilus probably DO not
feel unaccustomed to conditions there
EVERY effort has been to make their
Ipreparation for the actual Ilghuh8
lime as realistic as possible. Irehches
have been dug; batteries nave peel
constantly practicing-and all TINS
under the instruction of French and
british soldiers who have been thru
the mill"
Thrill for Two Nations.
France
with the thought American soldlers
are now actually where the bullets fly
Ibeside French fighting men. II Is
.America's repayment for the MARQUIS
de Lafayette and his brave french
linen who unselfishly and couraSeous us
Inv fought shoulder to shoulder with
NYashington's revolutionary warriors
The press dispatch, as received, does
not specify the exact date when Amer
lean soldiers actually went TO the
nd
ready for fighting. 1t described the
usual method of sending troops to
trenches under cover of night in order
that their presence might not be, made
Known to the enemy.
T. The language of the announcement
of American headquarters indicates
that the American battlers and bat
teries are in the actual fighting zone
not so much to take part in fighting
as simply to gain by actual first hand
fsxperience some of the knacks of
fighting under fire, so they, in turn
NAV transmit these tricks of the trade
10 other American troops.
Their Baptism Of Fire.
q The American army plan. as an
nounced some time ago was for
American troops, in varying detach-
nents. to gain first hand knowledge
of fighting conditions by actual as
Isolation with French and British
fighters, before the American con-
-tinEent would actually take over and
maintain any sector of the fighting
front.
The American troops thus underg-
ling their battle baptism" are fully
prepared to fight, however, and &C
cording to German comment will eX-
perience some Hun strafing'' either
By shell fire or infantry charges the
moment the presence of Americans
in the French trenches becomes
known to the German general staff.