Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-02
PERSH|NG'S TROOPS
HOLDING TRENCHES
NEAR GERMAN LINES
Only so Feet From Foe at One
Point and All the Positions
Are Marshy.
NOW ACTUALLY ON FRONT
Hy Associated rross To Every Evening


French front at one place are only 6u
feet from the German line. In another
place n mile of ground separates the OPP
posing positions. Az this point, however,
there are n number of ponds and neither
side apparently desires tn occupy the
water covered ground.
The American trenches all are in more
or less marshy ground. making the use
Of duck boards necessary ut all times
except when the trench water and mud
are frozen. The trenches were shallow
when the Americans moved in, but since
then they have been deepened and inn
proved
In some places the artillery is on ground
but little higher than the trenches, al-
though n number Of our batteries man
age to keep 'dry feet" most Of the time.
The enemy artillery in some places IL on
higher ground than the American and
within sight Of one Of our positions
there is a German observation post
overlooking much territory.
The scene at night is thrilling and
inspiring. On the firing platforms the
men stand near their rifles Others
splash through the trench, sometimes
slipping from the duck boards into water
above their knees. They are prob
ably going out on patrol.
Far away to one side of the position
white stream shoots up 10 the sky
and breaks into white balls that throw
p light as If from powerful electric bat
teries. The reflections show wire on
tanRlemcnts and scrlIbby bushes on the
hills nearby, then the lights die out.
BIG GUNS ROAR CONSTANTLY
All the while there Is the intermittent
roar Of gums and whistle as Of express
trains as prolectiles Of different calbrcs
go rushing over the American trenches
seeking q German target
During the past few days there mas
been no aerial activity because Of the
fog, but during the clear days preccd-
ing the bad weather the men in the line
witnessed many thrilling fights IN the
air German airplanes, coming over at
a considerable height on observation trip
would be shelled vigorously rs they came
within range.
On ct least one occasion the men have
seen machine come down. II fell
within the German line.
Today the whole American position
is bathed in white Fog has frozen 70
trees. bushes, poles. wires and the ground
All the men apparently are well salts
fed with the food Two meals a day
ALWAYS are served and sometimes there
arc three.
Within certain radius Of the front line
every member of the American forces
Is now required TO wear his gas mask
1T an alert position and never to he with
out his shrapncl helmet The American
regimental headquarters just back of
the line Is established in dugouts under
the ruins Of houses long since Knocked
down by German shells.
Capt Roald Atnundsen. the N0rwtg an
explorer, and Capt Oberdyng, Of the
Swiss General Staff. are visiting the
American army eamp Capt Amund-
sen came by arrangement with the State
Department for the purpose OF obtaining
information concerning the American
expeditionarv force for the newspapers
remain for 4 week, visiting all points
In the zone
SMASH SNIPING POST.
American gunners and rifemen have
made IT hot for enemy snIpers during the
last twenty-four hours One German
sniping post discovered by a patrol, was
obliterated completely by artillery fire
An enemy machine gun secretly placed
during q fog where it could enhlade our
lines had 10 be withdrawn. American
machine guns concentrated on nest of
busy enemy snipers and compelled them
all To seek cover.
American artillery shelled the enemy
first lines accurately with high explosives,
and responded almost instantaneously TO
call for barrage from the front line
when the men there saw movements on
the other side of the wire. When the
artillery fire ceased no Germans were
visible
THREE CASUALTIES REPORTED.
Three casualties were reported. Two
were caused by accidental bullet wounds
and one by shell fire
Observers report the Germans are be-
coming nervous and iumpy This is in
dicated especially by the unusual number
of flares sent up during last Thursday
night. After one series the Americans
got their first experience with the en-
eny,s flying pigs, number OF which
were aimed at an observation post with
out result
During the early hours today Friday
the enemy attempted to set up a machine
gun in position close to a certain Ameri-
can trench Effective use of rifles and
grenades forced the Germans TO withdraw
Two American patrols had hard luck
early today friday One was discovered
by Germans in hiding and subjected to
machine gun fire, but none OF the Ameri-
cans were hit One group of American
! snipers discovered enemy snlpers and fred
so well the enemy retired hastily. 1t is
believed some German casualties were