The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-03-29
GETS
BAPT|SM OF FIRE.
Visits First Line Trenches Held
BY Americans
ne ENTERS ALIsTENING POST
son Frontier OF Freedom" He Says,
Gazing Out over No Mans Land
Calls on Archie Roose-
Welt In Hospital.

American Army in France -Secre-
tary Baker had his baptism Of fire IN
the front-line trenches, and while he
was returning German shell burst
within less than so yards of his mo-
tor car. He was not injured.
The SECRETARY went into the trenches
In a sector, the location of which must
not be revealed, where American
troops face the enemy nearby For
half an hour he plodded over the duck
boards. The Germans maintained in
active fire with heavy pieces and ma
chine guns. Nevertheless Mr.. Baker.
made his way to an advanced sap,
entered a listening post and talked
for several minutes with the soldier
on duty there.
But the narrowest shave was on his
return to headquarters. The German
shell of los millimetres roared down
and burst clearly less than so yards.
from the automobile containing the
Secretary of War and the escorting
officers. The shell hit a roadside dug
out, digging big crater. Mr.. Baker
wished to stop and ascertain whether
there were men in the dugout, but
the chauffeur, realizing the danger,
opened the throttle and made his best
speed until the danger zone was,
passed.
1t was the Secretary's hardest and
most exciting day in France. On Mon
day evening, accompanied only by
general commanding a division and
one other officer. he motored to
point accessible to the sector selected
for his inspection. He dined and slept
in the chateau of French friends of
the officers. Retiring early, the Sec
-etary arose at 4 o'clock in the dark
of an overcast, chill March day. TAX
ing breakfast quickly, he5 drove
through the misty dawn to his destina-
ton ST e
AS the lines were approached the
steady reverberation of guns signaled
great activity of the artillery. This
was confirmed when, on arrival, it
was found that the road selected for
approach to the trenches was under
brisk shellfire. Indeed, the firing was
so active as to cause the General con-
siderable apprehension for the safety
of his distinguished guest. He en-
deavored to dissuade Mr. Baker from
going on with the expedition, explain
ing the danger But the Secretary
over-rode his protest. Accordingly
another route was reluctantly Sc
lected M
The party re-entered the motor and
was driven to the selected point as
far forward as motoring was safe.
With the General and the other officer
Mr.. Baker walked over the shell-crat
cred region to a communication
trench. He wore civilian clothes, COW
cred with trench coat, khaki
breeches and boots borrowed from
colonel of about his size. He also put
on shrapnel helmet
The Secretary was first put through
the regular gas mask drill. He carried
his mask slung at the prescribed posi-
ton when he went in. A sentry halted
the party as it was entering the trench
and demanded a pass.
Divisional Commander and Secre-
tary of War;" replied the General
Mr.. Baker displayed the keenest
curiosity in the surroundings SO
strange to him. asking explanations of
every unfamiliar thing, its. purpose
and use, and frequently breaking in
with interrogations as technical mat.
tiers were being explained:
Troops from Ohio were among those
in the trench. Several of the men
were known personally to Mr.. Baker
and he talked freely with them about
their homes and families. One man
said he was from Iowa, another from
Chicago. The Secretary kept up run
ming comment upon the strangeness
of the circumstances under which men
from all over America were fighting
in distant France Once he remarked:
Il have been from farm to factory at
home, and now am in the front line"
Finally, Notwithstanding the pro-
tests of the officer, Mr.. Baker made
his way through the sap to the listen
ing post. Peeping over the parapet
into No Mans Land, he said:
Now am on the frontier of free
DOM 4
The Secretary asked the listening
post sentry if he saw Germans often.
Not very often, SIR" was the re-
Spouse. Then he asked whether the
Americans shooting was bette rthan
that of the enemy and seemed greatly
pleased at the emphatic reply Eyes
It is"