The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-11-19
AMERICANS NOW IN
MOUzON TERRITORY
Pershing's Men Occupy
Ground Abandoned
by Hun Forces.
NO CHANCES TAKEN
ON FORWARD MOVE
Engineer Units Prsceds Soldiers in
Search for Mines and Tainted Wa.
ter-March Toward Rhine Be.
tween Thiaueourt and Mouzon
in Cold and Mud.

in Cold and Mud.
With the American Army in
France, Nov. II, 1880 P. M.-Gener-
al Pershing's forces moved forward
early today in territory just aban-
doned by the German troops. On
the old line between Mouzon and
Thiaucourt lying from the region of
Sedan to the south Of Metz, the
troops had been stationed to await
orders for the advance and at $50
o'clock this morning the patrols
marched out, not in line Of battle,
but in columns along the high roads
which are only slightly impaired.
The first steps Of the Americans
into regions so lately controlled by
Germany were not spectacular. The
men were keyed up and keen for
the new adventure, but like they
were on the day Of the signing Of
the armistice there were compare
lively no demonstrative manifesto
tions of their enthusiasm.
Every Soldier polished"
Many Of the men had been newly
uniformed and all Of them were
polished" as though for inspection.
The men appeared eager for the
word to 60 forward.
The relatively small units that are
moving forward as advance guards
were sent to the line before daylight.
The night had been cold and the
mud that yet marks the roads, not
withstanding there have been two or
three days without rain, was slightly
frozen. The men shivered as they
rested by the roadside.
When the command finally was
given for the advance, the elements
who were to push forward, in some
cases miles apart on the long line
between the extreme left and right,
moved off into the mists that appear
always to shroud this part of the
country and disappeared.
For the first time since the Ameri-
cans had been ordered to advance
into enemy held territory there was
assurance that they would encoun-
ter no hostility. The intelligence de-
partment, which has never ceased to
function, had accurately reported
that the Germans were carrying out
their agreement of evacuation and
there was evident the belief both by
officers and men that no trap was
awaiting them.
No chances were taken, however.
The engineers were the second units
to press forward and they carefully
began their work of looking out for
mines and tainted water. Every OBJ
stacle was tested before it was mov-
ed in order to find out if it masked
explosives. For some time the Ger
mans have shown a spirit of cooper
alton in informing the Americans
where mines were located and in
themselves destroying them.
Entire Army Moving.
1t was some time after the engi-
neers moved forward before the
heavier columns took the roads. The
entire army finally was moving, and
moving along the lines of peace days
But it was in such order that it
might be quickly transformed into
battle array. Each brigade was COW
Grad by regiment of IT'S, the heav-
ier artillery following close behind.
1t has been impressed on officers
and men alike that this is an oper-
alton under an armistice, that war
still exists and that the possibility
remains that at any time it may be
necessary for them to play their part
with the same grimness of the past
year.