Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-29
FRENCH LINE
is SBRACED BY
YANKFORCES
Pershing's Men in Action
on Front Barring Huns
From Paris.

With the American Army in
Northern France. Sunday. April
D. tBy the Associated Press.
American troops have taken
Nd positions on the French bat
nefr0Ht. Under the French
high command i'm which all
ranks have supreme confidence,
the American forces face the
enemy on the line barring TIE
Germans from Paris and
Imiens. where they have been
a certain number of days.
The Americans on entering the
line. found their position in a roll
ine terrain. The artillery was the
frst on the line. entering on dark
night which was made red By con-
tinuous flashes Of friendly and hos
tile guns. Under a fire. WHICH IN
some cases was rather heavy, the
American gunners took up the po-
sifious of the French batteries and
completed the work Of digging i'll
Raked With ShrapneL
When The infantry moved in. tho
firing was Just as intense. IL some
places our troops after passing
through villages were raked now
and then with shrapneI. In sew
eraI instances they found the
trenches shallow while in other
cases there were no trenches at
all. By this time. the positions
have been improved greatly and the
she'll holes connected.
The American lines generally
are about two hundred TO four
hundred yards apart and the hign
ground is about evenly divided.
What the future holds for the
American forces, is unknown, but
the Americans are confident that
under the efficient French direc-
ton. although the tasks may be
difficult, will give a good account
Of themselves and strike the bOche
blow if opportunity offers.
More Active Front.
Il should be understood that this
sector is not especially active il
comparison with others TO the
north, although it is more active
than those the Americans previous
II had faced. The artillery fight
ing is heavy and intermittent. the
German shells whizzing over the
lines into towns in certain rear
areas.
There has not been a raid on
either side Of the line for several
days. but al night the patrols are
active, Americans approaching close
70 the enemy's lines. All during
the night rapid machine gun and
Fl1e fire indicates where the Ameri-
can bullets are keeping out enemy
patrolling parties.
March Is Impressive.
The march from the billet bases
70 the line was very impressive.
Many units started off with the
strains Of The Star Spangled Ban
ner, played by regimental bands,
Ia their ears At one place, the
tune must have reached the Ger
man lines, so close was the band,
the gun flashes being reflected oil
NE instruments. The constant roar
o. artillery was deafening as the
americans, marching as if in pa
fade. disappeared down the road
past the American batteries which
we're sending many shells into the
enemy lines.
First Reported by Paris.
announcement that American
lfoops had entered the allied line
L Picardy east Of Amiens was
hade by the Paris war Office last /
seanesday night The Germans /.
nat day attacked the British, /
french and Americans along i
.sAgthy front from north Of Somme /
. below easel Particularly stub I
Sorn fighting occurred around /.
hangard. from which the French |
sefe driven, but part Of which they /
'ega'ned Friday.
Farls announced that more than +
gae hundred wounded Americans 4
a~q reached Paris hospitals from /
ne battlefront.
Glad To Get Papers.
ne training period for the 6
=. aaleFlcan troops lasted few days .
! a-ler which they moved up TO with .
: sound Of the guns to await or +
sis 70 90 into battle. Many an in I
s,eu'ryinan - curled up in his blank /
under The stars. the more lucky /
ing beds Of straw in houses or I.
selns The officers Jared about the .
All appeared 10 be unmind- I
OF their hardships. They are .
Aea4thy. enthusiastic and happy /
~ as ever shOuldered q rife. The
! s ieaHs are greatly Interested 4
sass NJ battle progressing in their
-, ,sa9orhood and every French !
- EAgilsh newspaper brought us
,ssSso - through hundreds Of hands
~ -. = read until IL is in pieces. AS
s.F as 10 men may be seen read I
a.. re paper al the same tlme. the
sr,. plhce reports receiving first at