Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-10-29

AGAINST the enemy, famed a new flame
Of patriotism throughout the country.
The absolute silence with which Sec
retary Baker and War Department Of
ficials greeted the news, however.
showed that although the movement
into the trenches had been expected at
any time. it was regarded only as the
final phase of the mems trainins-a
military finishing school conducted un-
!'der fire-a school of blood and IRON
German shells are breaking about the
! Americans and although they have not
taken over the trench sector. rifles, ma
! chine guns. bombs and bayonets in
American hands will greet any enemy
attack.
The silence Of Secretary Baker in
dicated that no official report of the oc-
+ cupation of the trenches had been re-
! ceived. General Pershing is the judge
! of all matters pertaining to the tram
4 ing of his forces and he probably did
not inform the department Of his plans
! in advance, as every effort was made
! 10 prevent the enemy from learning
| what was afoot
| It is certain. however. that the de-
: pdEktlSH( va luhS pf Spd4tA A'A 49,
I news. Secretary Bakers latest renew
OF the war situation this week indlcat-
+ ed that American troops in rance
were nearing the end Of their strenu-
/ Gus training behind the lines. Events
prove that they have progressed so
rapidly in the art Of modern trench
/ warfare that their commanders and
! French instructors believed them ready
/ for the final lesson.
May Expect Casualty List
! Casualties among the American for
ces are to he expected. Reports from
the front already show intermittent
artillery firing and a well-aimed shell
may claim American victims at any
moment. There is nothing TO indicate.
however. thai an offensive operation
by the Americans and their French
associates is to he expected. outside
| OF possible trench raiding. The Sec
tor where tho front line training
schools has been established is de-
scribed as one uf the quletest on the
/ front and If TINS condition continues,
it will tend to minimize losses.
The report from the front indicates
/ that all American forces will he given
g
/ touch If their preparation. The whole
/ business of relieving and supplying the
! front lines can he carried on under
actual war conditions and under fire.
Il appears to be a military final re-
Narsal for the grim days Of conflict
! 70 come. and such fighting IS may oc-
/ cur probably Will serve only to give
/ the men zest for the greater adventure
ahead.
viii Take Whole Section
In time a complete section of the
front Will be Alnericanized in every
. detail How wide this front viii be,
where on the long line il is to he To-
Gated, and similar questions are mat
lers about which no speculation is per-
mtted. TodaY's announcement brings
appreciably closer, however the day
when the actual fghtinG front OF the
American army in France will be es-
fablished and when American energy
will he engaged directly in the task of
rushing German military power.
The long period Of waiting and prep
eration IS past its first irksnme stages.
From now On the military power of
the United states in France will grow
more steadily and the results of the
months OF army building will begin
10 make themselves felt in hard driven
steel against the German ranks