Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-04-29
AMERICANS HOLD
SECTOR IN GREAT
WORLD STRUGGLE
Are Facing Kaiser's Army at
Peak Of One German
Salient
AT SOME POINTS ONLY
200, YARDS FROM ENEMY
Old Glory On the Battle Line
Troops Are In Highest
Spirits
By Fred s. Ferguson

(united Press staff correspondent
With the American Army in North
ern France, April 2S.--American fore
es are now fighting beside the French
in northern France, holding a sector
in the heart of the worlds greatest
battle.
This announcement Is now possible
after three weeks silence regarding
the movement of troops.
Infantry, artillery, machine gunners
aud other branches Of the service are
in line.
The Americans face the German ar
my at the peak of German salient.
The outposts are only 200 yards apart
at some places At some positions are
maintained In shell holes.
As soon as all troops and guns were
In position the sector was formally
taken over from the French. Tire Am
erican commander, who is under u
French corps commander, expressed
the greatest confidence in the French
leadership.
The entire country here is open and
rolling, with very few woods Or other
screening facilities and no trenches.
The entire problem is one Of open fight
ing.
French can il Quiet
The boehe artillery, which is active
in shelling all roads and villages with
in range, is visible from an American
observation post.
Although the French characterized
this sector as "quiet'' the present. fire
is the heaviest the Americans have yet
faced
The skies are abfaze every night
with the flash Of guns and the air
quivers with the roar of ARTILLERY and
exploding shells. As the high explosives
pound the American hnes, the soldiers
dive into the shallow cover Of bitches
and shell holes.
One American outfit carried its
flag into the front line. Although fnrl-
ed in waterproof case, Old Glory is
on the battle line.
The Americans entrance into the
battle line in northern France follow
ed trip partly by rail and PARTLY BY
marching
The troops were in the highest spir-
its throughout. They cheered the vii
layers from their freight cars and flat
ears as they passed through the towns
Rolling kitchens, mounted on flat cars,
kept them supplied with hot "slum.
Marched to Front
Leaving the train after two days
and nights Of riding, they marched to
the mobilization area, where they were
billeted in villages and chateaus.
They rested in reserve three days,
then began the march Of marches to
the lint.
They swung through villages singing
"Hail, Hail, the Gangs all Here
Big camouflaged American guns roll
ed across the plains for the first time,
The march was made in stages OF
from Is to 20 miles day, the men
s'eeping in barns, mills, anywhere, at
night.
Strict censorship for military reas-
ons prevented disclosing all movements
after departure from the original Am
eriean lines to the south.
Prior to their departure from cer-
tain village, an important conference
was held at headquarters, in which all
officers participated and received theif
final instructions,
The boche and American outposts are
only 200 yards apart in some places ana
in other are 400 yards and upwards.
Americans lying in shell holes snipe
away at the German lines. The Ameri-
can artillery has been exchanging shots
under enemy fire.
This dispatch is written from a vii
lage repeatedly under shell fire.