New-York tribune., 1918-02-03
Try Tho Associated rrcss1

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Friday, Feb. 1.--American
troops in trenches on the French front
at one place are only sixty feet from
the German line. In another place q
mile of ground separates the opposing
positions. At this point, however, there
number of ponds, and neither side
apparently desires to occupy the water
covered ground.
The American trenches all are in
more or less marshy ground, making
the use of duck boards" necessary at
all times except when the trench water
and mud are frozen. The trenches
we're shallov when the Americans
moved in, but since then they have
been deepened and improved.
In every dugout the soldiers work
almost constantly at the pumps keep
ing out the water which seeps in. But
the watery conditions are unfavorable
for trench rats and few of them are
seen. One unit spent more than week
in the line before seeing rat, and he
appdftllNAy Was III q hurry W ScI SOIuC
place where the ground was drier.
ArtiIlerymen Keep Dry
In some places the artillery is on
ground but little higher than the
trenches, although number of our
batteries manage to keep "dry feet"
most Of the time. The enemy artillery
in some places is on higher ground
than the American, and within sight of
one OF our positions there is German
observation post overlooking much ter
r;tory. This has been shelled repeat
edy, and doubtless has been hit on
several occasions. On clear nights the
hill upon which this post stands out
against the sky is illuminated occasion
ally by rockets sent up by one side or
may see the shadows which mean that
the enemy is near.
The scene at night is thrilling and
inspiring. On the firing platforms the
mcn stand neay their rifles. Others
splash through the trench, sometimes
Slipping FROM the 'duck- boards" into
water above their knees. They are
probably going out on patrol. If the
position is near the enemy lines hardly
a word is ever spoken, and when word
is necessary it is spoken in whisper.
Far away to one side of the position
white stream shoots up to the sky
and breaks into white balls that throw
a light as if from powerful electric
batteries. The reflections show wire
entanglements and scrubby bushes on
the hills nearby; then the lights die
out.
Roar of Guns Steady
All the while there is the intermit-
tent roar of guns and whistle as Of
express trains as projectiles of differ
ent calibres go rushing over the Amer
lean trenches seeking a German target.
The American soldiers have become so
accustomed to such sounds that now
they apparently pay no attention to
them. Every now and then the sound
OF she'll explosion is audible, but most
OF the time the artillery targets at
night are too far back from the
trenches for the men to hear the pro-
iectiles explode.
mas his eyes open for two kinds of col
ored rockets One is green and the
other Is red The first means asphyxi-
atlng gas and the other calls for a bar
rage. And the green light to the men
IN the line means more than anything
else, Tor IN gas attack they know that
tnelr lives often depend upon the speed
IN which the gas masks are adjusted
after an alarm is given.
=, lntermittently during the night
tnere comes from different parts of
the line the single crack of rifle, as
snlper tires, or the rapid spit of a
hachlne gun at some suspected point
or object, for the machine eunners
shoot first and ask questions after
ward.
In the daytime it is different, be-