Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-11-18

and Wisconsin) and Forty Second
(Rainbow) divisions started from the
positions in which they had encamped
on the edge of the American lines.
They were preceded by a small van
guard.
East of verdun, Major X. L. Ewall
of Lexington, Virginia, commanding a
battalion of the First division, led his
men up to the line at $3.50, presented
his orders to the outpost, stepped
across the line and ordered forward
marchp A similar procedure was OBJ
served at other entry points.
Telegraph Lines Picked Up
The various divisions followed eight
main roads toward Luxembourg. The
vanguard of the first division occupied
Etain at six clock. Engineers mark
ed land mines with red flags. German
telegraph lines were picked up and with
in three hours the American division
command was installed in former Ger
man headquarters. All day long the
roads to Luxemburg were crammed
with marching troops flying regiment
al flags. The advance, with clockwork
precision, reached the assigned object
ives early and the troops went into
camp. Thousands of released prisoners,
on the verge of starvation. streamed
back into the American camps. They
Included Russians, Rumarians, Ital-
ians, Belgians, French and n few Brit
ish and Americans. They were picked
up in trucks and sent to the rear. Ev-
cry detail of the advance vas careful
ly planned. Engineers had painted
signs, indicating the towns and the dis
tances between them. AS the columns
rolled forward, various units dropped
out of line to take up previously as.
signed positions.
The whole thing is far from spcctac-
ular, but it is most business like.
Discipline Relaxed
With the exception of those units
actually engaged in the ad vance, the
American armies are fuuctioning as
usual. Behind the lines the only effect
of the armistice has been slight re-
taxation of the iron discipline.
Carpenters are finishing barracks
which were under construction, the sig
nal corps is still building telegraph and
telephone lines and railways are being
laid.
Training schools for Officers are in
session. | saw tank outfit setting up
new machines. while recruits were be-
ing drilled to handle tanks in battle
formo Hon. Aviators also were trying
out planes and practicihg machine
The doughboys already are sRecu-
lating on when they will be sent home.
When do we go home is the
question most frequently on the. lips Of
douehboys and officers. They ask it OF
one another and of every new arrival,
Correspondents are bcsieged with the
Question.
''Who Fired Last shot?"
The next most frequent question is
= Who fred the last shot Of the. war I
OF course, every man at the front
claims the distinction. Thousands OF
men who were in. the front lines when
the war ended had not removed their
clothes for weeks. Troops from Kan
sas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma
had no opportunity to remove their
clothes or bathe for five weeks.
American sanitary Officers Satur'
day were completing the work Of ren.
ovating steuay, which was occupied
lust five minutes before hostilitles
ceased. Hundreds Of doughhoys also
we're busy purging the town Of eyidene-
es OF German occupation, which were
abundant. Every street had been given
a German name. Main street, for in
Stance, was Kronpripz strasse. Resi-
dents insist the street shovld be nam
cd Wilson or Pershing.
When | was in Stenay Saturday
visited the chateau which the former
crown prince occupied during the Yer
dun offensive. 1t had been transform.
cd into an American headquarters and
major was sleeping in the crown
princes room.
French women who actee as care
takers said Frederick william spent
much Of his time during the vedun
fighting playing with his dogs in the
gaden.
!. = = Z K X < < X X X X X X !