The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-11-09
FIRST RETURN FROM
THE FRONT
OF American Soldiers Greeted by the
French with Great
Enthusiasm
(Associated Press)

l
With the American Army in
France, Nov. 8.-The first American
al tillery unit to establish contact
with the Germans came back to its
billets today. TIE men were tired and
muddy, but still as enthusiastic a lot
of soldiers as ever came out of gun
pits. The artillery had longer stay
at the front than the infantry ana
they came back, men and horses wet
to the bone, covered with mud and
ready to sleep.
4 Their "home coming" was one that
will long be remembered in this sec
tion of France. It 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 the column
could be seen winding around the
mountain to the valley upon near
hill and then down again. The rain
was beating in their faces and vii
lage, snuggled in valley came into
their view as they crossed the crest
of the hill.
The command was drawn upon on a
nil side and gun, covered with
camoufage 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 townspeople moment
and addressing the men told them the
people of the village wished to do
honor to the gun and its crew and to
the American army. The children
gathered around and placed floral
/ wreath over the grim barrel and a
bunch of wild flowers inside the emp
ty case of the first shot fired. The
regimental band then played the
American and French national an
lthems. That was all the ceremony,
but the sight of Americans returning
from combat and the cheering of the
populace, including many old men
and old women who came up to
shake hands with them or put arms
affectionately around their shoulders,
was heartening.
Tonight the artillerymen turned in
at 6 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 a
man was heard to grumble except
about the fact that no mail from
home was awaiting him. Everyone in
the body spoke enthusiastically of the
firing of shells at the Boche. They
4 want to go back. There was not a
casualty during the stay at the front,
and the fact that the Germans she'll
ed the American artillery several
times augurs well for the trench de-
fenses. An officer said that the night
the American trench was raided the
artillery got into action quickly and
poured counter barrage into no
mans land. They were sure they pre-
vented all the Germans from return
ing and many of them surely did not
get back alive.
1 Many of the men admitted that they
enjoyed the. experience greatly. One
gunner remarked that he would rath-
er have had that experience and hon.
or as a buck private than to be a
major general The crew is composed
: of youngsters. They came from
South Bend, New York, Minneapolis,
: Chicago, Baltimore, New Orleans and
!. Douglas, Ariz.
After short rest this artillery con-
tingent will be sent to other camps
to instruct other artillerymen who
, have not yet been at the front.
The first three American soldiers
killed in the trenches in France to-
night are sleeping in French soil
/, honored by the American army and
a the people and army of France. Their
final interment took place yesterday.
] With a guard of French infantry.
men in their picturesque uniforms Of
{ red and horizon blue standing on one
D side and a detachment of American
e soldiers on the other the flag was
: wrapped around the caskets and they
e were lowered into the grave as bug
0 Ter blew taps and the batteries at the
e front fired minute guns. AS the min
ute guns went off the French Officer
I commanding the division in this sec
Z ton paid tribute to the fallen Amer
leans. His words which were punct
:. uated by the roar of the guns and th'
: whistle of shells, touched both th'
e French and the Americans. In con
|. clusion the French officer said:
J, "In the name of-the division
J. in the name of the. French army ant
: in the name of France, bid farewell
; to Private Enright, Private Gresham
:. and Private Hay, of the American
l. army.
Il "Of their own free viii they ha'
:. left a prosperous and happy countr,
I to come over here. They knew wa
: was continuing in Europe; they kney
that the forces fighting for honor