The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-10-27
AMERICANS IN
FIRST LINE Of
FRENCH DEFENSE
Enter Trenches with Seasoned
Veterans Supported by our
Artillery
MEN ADAPT THEMSELVES
TO WAR CONDITIONS
Line Selected is in a Quiet Sector
of the Allies Battle
front

| 1lO1G
| With the American Army in France,
Oct. 27.-Following is the first official
statement issued from American head
quarters
'In continuation of their training as
a nucleus for instructions later, con.
tingent of some battalions of our first
cOntingents, in association with veter-
| an French battalions, are in the first
! line trenches of a quiet sector on the
French front. They are supported by
some batteries OF our artillery in as
sOciatiOn with some French batteries.
The sector remains normal. Our
men have adapted themselves to ac-
tual trench conditions in the most sat.
| isfactory manner"
First Shot Of War;
American troops. are in the first line
! trenches on the French front. The
artillery fired the first shot of the war
at o'clock on the morning Of a. re-
cent day at "a German working party.
There has been intermittent artillery
fighting since. -
The helmeted infantry marched in
without the knowledge of the enemy
on the same night, through rain and
mud The French soldiers in the
trenches welcomed them enthusiastic
ally.
The, nearest enemy trench is sew
eral hundred yards away. The sector
is one of the quietest on the front. 1t
has not been taken over, being under
the control of troops under the direc'
ton of the French.
To Send List to Wilson.
The Americans have shelled Ger
man positions and troops, the enemy
sending shell for shell. The first cas-.
ualty list will be sent to President
Wilson.
The empty case of the first shell
fred will also be sent to the presi-
dent. 1t is now in possession of Cen
red haired gunner and his comrades
and officers assembled in the ranks
cheered. Later a luncheon in the field
was attended by the American and
French artillerymen in celebration of
the first contact with the enemy.
The gun used to fire the first shot
was one of the famous French 1873.
On the same day the French shelled
the German positions and the enemy
replied vigorously, the shells falling
close to the Americans, who joined in
the duel
To Be Relieved.
All troops will be relieved after O.
certain period by others. Thus the
American expeditionary forces are
getting the benefit of actual war con
ditiOns.
Standing in little, almost deserted.
shell-wrccked village we'll within the
range of enemy guns, the Associated
Press 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 a result, the impression was
given that there was considerably
more activity on this front than there
had been for some time.
Missouri Mules Haul Guns.
It was soon after lulls in the firing
and in the dark that the first machines
hauled by Missouri mules, the drivers
swathcd in slickers and with shrapnel
helmets over their eyes, came up on
he road beside dark canal. There
was a long line of these and then came
some infantry rolling kitchens. giving
off savory odor of warm food.
All passed in silence. The last gun
carriage had sprawled on it the form
of soldier, who had been taken i'll
and who was being held on by two
If his comrades.
Through another street, paved with
.obbles and it's sides lined with gaunt
skeletons of shell-wrecked houses.
zane the sound of the tread of many
hobnailed boots, and in the darkness
he dim forms of men could be seen,
The cautious flash Of an electric
pocket lamp disclosed that they were
American infantrymen, packs on their
packs, rifles on their shoulders, rain
on their helmets, the wind
whipping the bottoms of their coats
round their legs which were moving
With machine-like precision.
Had Marched Miles.
The Americans swung down the
street apparently as proud as on
lress parade, notwithstanding they
lad marched miles from the billets
where they have since been coming
" motor trucks and railways from
he instruction centers. AS the ranks
passed, every now and then sci
lier could be heard whistling softly
@ himself, his nearby comrades lis
,ning silently and sentimentally to the
popular pieces.
WhistIed "Tipperary."
Finally from the rear came the
strain of new tn.ie, ant
CONTINUED on Page Three)