The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-03-11
AMERICANS BEG TO
STAY ON BATTLE FRONT
NOT ALLOWED TO REMAIN
BUT FEW DAYS ON FRONT
LINE.
LBv the Associated Press.l

(By the Associated Press.)
With the American Army in
France, March 5--Some OF the
American troops in the Chemin des
Danes sector are having an expe- !
rieuce OF cave life behind the front
trenches, their bilets being deep un-
derground quarries. The CORE
spondent on a visit to this sector
found them occupying positions held
| by the Germans less than a year
ago. Most Of the Americans, how
ever, are living in the trecnhes and
accompanying dugouts. The front
line trenches here have been clean
ed, strengthened and improved and
are we'll protected with barbed wire
ontanglements.
The underground billetS, some of
them old limestone quarries, and
others partly natural in formation
and improved through blasting op-
crations by the Germans who oc-
cupicd them for nealry three years,
are yariously named. One of them
is called the Pantheon 1t ac-
commodities a thousand men. The
correspondent found French and
American soldiers living together
there in perfect harmony.
Living quarters OF the Americans
in this cave are y feet under
ground. Fresh air is supplied by
large air pumps. The cave is in
part electrically lighted. Elsewhere,
acctylene lamps and oil lanterns are
employed. The men usually remain
i'll this cave from four to six days
each, a company being assigned a
certain portion Of the excavation.
The men are not permitted to roam
about or to go outside except on
duty, lest they be detected by enemy
airmen.
Bunks and Straw.
The troops here sleep on low,
I, double TERED wooden hunks cover
cd with straw. The company Off
, GERS are provided with small rooms
with wooden partitions. A small
, railway for carrying supplies runs
i through the cave. A sign over one
entrance reads: East Boston tun-
$ near remarked: THAT reminds me
y mel and one of the men tsanding
) OF home
see a soldier replied to a ques-
ton as to how the men were fed
: At another point, the correspond
ent saw some men who had just
completed their round of trench
duty. The general in command sat
they had begged to be allowed tc
stay in the line a few more days
why, they took us out before W.
even had a decent scrap" said ;
machine gunner.
: AS soon as the Germans Learned
the Americans were in the trenche
opposite them, they put up Sigr
reading: Welcome Yankees" bu
the infantrymen riddled it with bul
lets until it looks like a sieve.
All the soldiers with whom tn
a visitor talked expressed pleasure a
y being in the trenches rather thai
d = training camp.
y Come into the cook shack an,
9 In the shack a meal of fresh beef
u u potatoes, onions, canned corn
>. white bread, coffee and canne
d peaches was found in preparation.
n Al the Generals Headquarters.
l. The general took the party O
q correspondents to his headquarter
y and pointed out the location of hi
70 troops on large map.
r How much No mans Land
10 there between the trenches at thi
,,e point?' asked one of the visitor!
3 pointing to the map. There is n
IA No Mans Land there; it is a
a American land replied the genera
1 A French captain sustained tn
" generals statement by saying tn
- Americans had assumed control {
No Mans Land soon after enterin
ly the trenches in that sector.
III III German prisoners, captured in pa
h troll fighting there, stated that tn
e. handful of Americans attacked wit