Middletown transcript., 1917-11-03
u. S. TROOPS IN
FRENCH TRENCHES
Artillery Fires First Shot at
German Working Party.
GETTING FINAL TRAINING
President Wilson To Get Case From
ShelI-Troops Move Silently Into
Trenches Through Down.
pour Of Rain.

Washington.-Wor that American
troops at last were face to face with
the Germans across No Mans Land,
save the nation its first real thrill.
Announcement by General Pershing
that several battalions of his infantry
We're in the front-line trenches, sup
ported by American batteries, which
already had gone into action against
the enemy, famed a new flame of war
patriotism throughout the country.
With the American Army in France
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 moning of a recent
day at a German working party.
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 un-
der the control of troops under the di-
rection of the French.
The Americans have shelled German
gun positions and troops, the enemy
sending back shell for shell. The first
! shell case will be sent to President
Wilson. The case is now in the pos
session of General Sibert. The shot
was fired by a red-haired gunner as his
comrades in the ranks and the as
sembled officers cheered.
Later luncheon in the field was at
tended by the American and French
artillerists in celebration of the first
American contact with the enemy.
The gun used in firing the first shot
was one of the famous French 75s. On
the second day the French shelled a
German battery position which was To-
Gated by sound and the enemy replied
vigorously, projectiles falling close to
the Americans, who joined in the artil-
lery duel.
All the troops will be relieved after
certain period. Thus the American
expeditionary forces are getting the
benefit of actual war conditions.
1t was soon after lulls in the firing
and in the dark that the first machine
guns, hauled by Missouri mules, the
drivers swathed in ponchOs and with
shrapnel helmets over their eyes, came
up on the road beside a dark canal.
There was a long line. of these and
then came some infantry rolling kitch-
ems, giving a savory odor of warm
food
All passed in silence. The last gun
carriage had sprawled on it the form
o. soldier who had been taken i'll
ald who was being held on by two Of
his walking comrades.
Through another street, paved with
| cobbles and its sides lined with gaunt
| skeletons of shell-wrecked houses,
came the sound of the tread of many
hob-nailed boots and in the darkness
| the dim form of men could be seen
| marching.
The cautious fash of an electric
pocket lamp disclosed that they were
American infantry, packs on their
backs, rifles slung on their shoulders,
rain glistening on their helmets and
coats, the wind whipping the bottom of
their coats around through their legs,
which were moving with machine like
| precision.
The Americans swung down the
street apparently as proud as though
on dress parade, Notwithstanding that
| they had marched miles from the bill
lets where they had been since COM
ips Dy motor trucks and railway from
TIE instruction centres.
AS the ranks passed ever now and
tnan soldier could be heard whistling
so'tly to himself, his nearby comrades
l's.ening silently to sentimental and
popular pieces.
/ AS the Germans were near by, much
depended on approaching the zone
quietly The troops turned a corner
sn1 disappeared down an nkblack
sc. eened road. AS the major, stand
ing there, listened, he looked cOntinu-
! ou4ly' at an Illuminated watch dial He
sad:
The men from the other direction
should now be entering the trenches.
/ have been standing here waiting to
! hear if the Germans discovered the
movement" He paused, listened and
then continued:
There is no firing yet, although |
ex oect it, for no doubt we are in for
strait if the 'boche' knows we are
(, going in"
No strait" developed, although the
! Germans put over few customary
| 81 ells-hitting nothing
The troops entered the trenches
j safely, unit my unit passing quickly
to the places assigned them. Quiet
ness was essential, but the French vel
&C me none the loss was heard, and it
VS. enthusiastic.
Every man was shaken by the hand,
sc-me were hugged and even kissed on
| beth cheeks in the French custom
1",e trenches were found to be muddy,
but nevertheless in condition of ex-
cellent construction. Greetings being
over the Americans settled down and
at daylight, under low-hung dripping
clouds, they got their first view of the
| German lines stretching away in the
rolling terrain.
| Officers say they are certain the Ger
Eoacs know the Americans are opposite