Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-09
u. S. ARTILLERY UNIT
BACK TO ITS B|LLETS
Men in Enthusiastic Mood as They
Return From First Contact
With Germans.
HOME COMING" ENTHUSIASTIC
People Of Village Place Floral
Wreath Ovcr Grim Barrel of Gun
and Bunch Of Wild Flowers Inside
of Empty Case OF First Shot Fired.
TRy Associated pre.sl

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Wednesday. November T.
The first American artillery unit to
establish contact with tho Germans
came back to it's billets to-day. The
mon were tired and muddy. but still
as enthusiastic lot OF soldiers as
ever came out of gun pits. The artil-
lcry had a longer stay ut the front tina II
tho infantry, and they came back. men
and horses. we. to the bone. covered
with mud and ready TO sleep.
Their home coming" was one that
will long be remembered In this sec
ton of France. II was late in the
day when long lines of marching SOL
diers and straininG horses were seen
rounding a small mountain many miles
away. From the village toward which
they were marching. tho column ,ouId
lie seen winding around the mountain
to the valley upon near hill and then
down again. The rain was beating in
their faces. and d village. snusglcd
in a valley, came into their Wow as
they crossed the crest of the hill
The command was drawn up on Il
hillside, and gun, covered with
camoufiaSe paint. was drawn out in
front. On the gun shield an artillery
man had written in chalk: The first
gun for the Germans" The colonel
in command spoke TO one of the towns
people moment, and addressing the
mon. told them the people of the viii
lagc wished to do honor to the gun
and its crew and to the American army.
The children gathered around and
placed a floral wreath over the grim
barrel and a bunch Of wild flowers
inside the empty case Of the first shot
fired. The regimental band then
played the American and French ma
tional anthems.
Old MEN AND WOMEN
GREET THE TROOPERS
That was all the ceremony. but the
sight OF Americans returning from
combat with the Germans cheercd the
populace Of the village so that when
the troopers dismountcd. many old men
and many women came UP to them TO
shake hands or put their arms aYcc-
iionately around their shoulders.
Tonight the artillerymen turned in
ut 3 o'clock. Tomorrow they will
not be called out until hours after
the regular time. The men were very
tired, having marched for many hours.
Despite the hardships. not man was
heard to 6rumble. except about the
h"'I tHdt ~ Hldlt from nome was
waiting for him. Every one declared
enthusiastically that the firing OF
shells at the Boche would be "fnc
business" All were anxious to go
back again.
In this command there was not one
casualty. despite the length OF it's ay
at the front, and the fact that the Ger
mans shclled the American artillery
heavily several times. The officers
said that tho night the America n
trench was raided the artillery got
into action quickly and poured a
counterbarraEe into mo mans lind"
They were sure they prevented all the
Germans from reaching the trench, and
th,t some OF the Germans never got
L;s * alive.
he members Of the crew which fred
'he first shot at the Germans admitted
that they enjoyed the experience
greatly. One gunner remark he
would rather have had that experience
and honor IS a buck private" than to
be major-general The crew is com
posed of youngsters. They come from
south Bend. New York. Minneapolis.
Chicago Baltimore. New Orleans and
Douglas. Ariz.
Sittr d short rest this artillery con-
unscnt will be sent to other camps to
instruct other artillerymen who have
not yet been at the front