The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-05
HUGE CAVE BACK
OF U.S.. TRENCHES
IS now HONE" TO
1000 SOLDIERS
Old Limestone Quarries
Occupied by Germans
For Three Years
ELECTRIC LIGHTS
AND TINY RAILROAD
Fresh Air Is Continually
Pumped Into the Long
+ Galleries
(Bv Associated Press.l


With The American Army In
France, Sunday. March 3.-Some of
the American troops in the Chemin
des-Dames sector are having an eX-
perience Of cave life behind the front
trenches, their billets being deep un-
foreground quarries and natural
recesses beneath the surface. The
correspondent on visit to this sec
tor found them thus quartered, oc-
cupying positions held by the Ger
mans less than year ago. Most Of
the Americans, however, are living
in the trenches and accompanying
dugouts. The front line trenches
here have been cleaned, strengthen
ed and improved and are well pro-
tected with barbed wire entangle-
ments.
The underground billets, some of
them old limestone quarries and 9TH
ers partly natural in formation and
improved through blasting opera
tions by the Germans who occupied
them for nearly three years, are
variously named. One Of them is
called the Pantheon" It accom-
modates q. thousand men. The cor
respondent found French and Ameri-
can soldiers living together there in
perfect harmony.
The living quarters of the Ameri-
cans in this cave are 70 feet under
ground. The cave consists of long
galleries with cement ceilings. Fresh
air is supplied by large air pumps.
The cave is in part electrically light
ed. Elsewhere acetylene lamps and
oil lanterns are employed. The men
usually remain in this cavern from
four to six days each, a company be-
ing assigned certain portion of the
excavation. The men are not per-
mitted to roam about at will for fear
of their being lost, or to go outside
except on duty, lest they be detected
by enemy airmen.
Railway In Cave.
The troops here sleep on low,
double TERED wooden hunks COW
cred with straw. The company Of
ficers are provided with small rooms
with wooden partitions. A small
railway for carrying supplies runs
through the cave. A sign over one
entrance reads: East Boston tun-
mel" and one Of the men standing
near remarked, THAT reminds me
OF home"
At another point the correspon-
dent saw some men who had just
completed their round OF trench
duty. The general in command said
they had begged to be allowed to
stay in the line a few more days.
sWhy, they took us out Before We
even had a decent scrap" said a
machine gunner.
AS soon as the Germans learned
the Americans were in the trenches
opposite them they put up sign
reading: Welcome Yankees" but
the infantrymen riddled it with bull
lets until IL looked like sieve.
All the soldiers with whom the
visitor talked expressed pleasure at
being in the trenches rather than in
a training camp.
Come into the cook shack and
see" a soldier replied to a question
as to how the men were fed. In
the shack q meal of fresh beef,
potatoes, onions, canned corn, white
bread, coffee and canned peaches
was found in preparation.
Control No Mans Land.
The general took the party of cor
respondents to his headquarters and
pointed the location Of his troops on
4. large map. How much No Mans
Iand Is there between the trenches
at this point?" asked one Of the
visitors, pointing to the map. There
il no NO man y L&L4Au L4lSI0E II II e&4A
Americas land" replied the general
A French captain later substantial
ed the generals statement by saying
the Americans had assumed control
Of EMO Mans Land soon after en-
tering the trenches in that sector"
German prisoners captured in
patrol fighting there stated that
the handful Of Americans attacked
with so much force and vigor that
the Germans threw UP their hands
and shouted ''Kamerad," in the be-
lief that there were many more in
the attacking party.
Although numerous daring, cour-
aReous deeds have been performed
by the Americans in that sector.
one Of the most interesting is that |
Of q German born sergeant, who. |
with a small detail, took a German
prisoner in a patrol fight but lost his
way with the result that the party |
wound up at the German barbed |
wire where they could plainly hear
the Germans talking In their dug |
outs. The sergeant pointed a revolt /
yer at the prisoners head and |
in German: Maybe they /
will get us before we can get back, 1
hut ff they try IL, will kill you first. /
Now don't you utter a sound, and /
lead us back to our line"
The German prisoner silently led
the Americans back to their own 4
trenches, the sergeant following
close behind him with drawn revolt
yer. The prisoner was turned over
10 the intelligence officer Of the unit
who gained much valuable informa-
ton from him.