The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-10-28
Pershing's Men Brave and
Happy in. Entering Initial
Actions Against Foe.
FRENCH ENTHUSIASTIC
Bochcs Taken Unaware by
Infantry's Night Invasion
of Battle Front.
LUCKY OMENS AT START
Red Headed Irishman Fires
First Big Gun Shot, Which
Strikes Teuton Squad.
LUCKY OMENS AT START
Bv st16 Correspondent o. TIE srs.

Nv st1T Correspondent o. TIE srs
Copyright. 1917. oN rtohs reserrsd
AMERICAN FIELD HEADQUARTERS.
France. Oct. 27.--American troops
have gone into action. with American
shells from American guns scream
ing over their heads. One Of them
has been over the top and has come
hack after close quarters heht in
No Mans Land with the Boches. The
first shell was a hit; the first raid
a success.
What the Germans think Of IL. we
do not know: the only thing they
have done so far is to fire a few in
effectual rounds from machine guns
What Gen. Pershing's men think Of
1t fs briefly told-they arc tickleA
The lucky $50 they called themselyes)
contingents selected for the honor OF
being the first under the Stars and
Stripes in the front line trenches
marched through a drenchins rain at
dead Of night, singing, They .anE
until they were silenccd hy cautions.
New Notch in History.
True. the Americans are In a quiet
sector OF the front held by the French.
and true. II Is only n part Of their
training. But from officers down
through all the ranks they foel them
selves the legitimate and worthy his
torical descendants OF the men who
f,red 'rhe nrst hfnfIock. at Lexington
the shot that rang round the world"
as will their first vo.ley.
The first man over the top was a
Li"utenant-unfortu he must hs
nainelese here. His adventure. as Tho
incident that really opened the war in
Europe's hatflefelds for our army. Ia
destined to become historic.
The American contingent entered q
section Of the French line by night
as has been stated--to relieve IN.
poilus. In order to keep the Germans
from creeping across while the change
was heine made, a French patrol ~
thirty men was sent out into No
Mans Land To grope It's WAY t,warr
the German front line and sec that
all was we'll
In the DARK IN No Man. Inpd,
The young lieutenant begged 30
hand to he permitted to 60 along that
n" could not he refused So thov
started. painfully crawling through
tho French wire ents clements into
the shell p!tted ground beyond ON
hands and knees they made their vsy
forward, with all the stealth the, n.
dams taught our army I'm the A "a
before Custer
They were almost 20 tho German
oarhed wire when streak ~ fame
leaped out Of tho darknass-thcv had
been discovered by German pstrol
start!ng out on a mission Identical with
theirs. The night was stabbed with light
and sound. Roth hoches and Frcnch
popped val!artly with their rifles The
excitement was too much for the Young
Lieutenant he was no neutral observer
anyhow.
So he drew his automatic and bIaz.d
away-twice. Rushing forward with the
rest OF the patrol, he discovered ana
German dead and two lying wounded
Perhaps he accounted for one OF t..
three It never will worry him II h, dld
The patrol scuttlcd back To safety total
casualties. one Frenchman slightly
wounded in the leg
Perhaps II wasn't quite fair 10 say
tho first American over the top vase cy-
cited. for II develops now that amid all
the popping he caught the two shells
from his utomatic as the, were elected
Hes going TO keep them always. he .a,s
though he may give ono away to =.
certain person"
First American she'll Fired.
There was not SO much thrill and
there was no ceremony AZ all about the
firing Of the first big American shell nv
An American gun crew but thrill
enough for those who reflected upon
what It meant in the world drama
An American observer srotted ths
Germans working in salient OF ths
trenches. He gave the range. The sur-
ners slipped the shell in tho breech.-all
with proper neatness and despat tch, Just
as In drill. II was sighted as II in prac-
tice- II there were any excited Yanks
no tremble OF finger BETRAYED II.
Ready" said the commander.
Then at a downward sweep Of his arm
a red headed Irishman In khaki pulled
\ lanyard and Uncle Sans substitute
FOR his erstwhile notes was screaming
,n It's way. From the trenches in from
anne back the faint sound of a cheer
War works miracles TIVE infantry
with dirt behind their cars" were so-
'unlly whoopng II IN for their peace
lime harrack foes, the artillery.
There was a ruir OF white smoke over
limos a NO OH