American Troops Battle Mud in France As They Fight Enemy Soldiers, 1917

“American Troops Are Battling in the Mud,” from the Nov. 1, 1917, issue of The French Broad Hustler. The Hustler, Henderson County’s Leading Newspaper. Price Five Cents.

They Are Constantly Under Fire and Constantly Have Their Guns on the Enemy

With the American Army in France Monday, October 29—(By the Associated Press)—The first Americans to establish contact with the Germans today are battling in the mud of eastern France. They constantly are under fire and constantly have their guns on the enemy.

American shells have been hurled into German territory and they have exploded near the enemy line.
On a hill to the right of the explosions cataracts of mud are to be seen. On one side an American officer is looking on the scene through his field glasses. He is trying to see what damage has been done by the artillery to the enemy and his barbed wire entanglements.

Closer to the enemy in the first line of trenches is the infantry with the shells of both American and German guns whizzing over their heads. The men are rubber-booted and ponchoed. Rain, mixed with snow, pelts their helmets. No clothing, however, is able to withstand the wind-driven drops of rain and snow, but gunners and infantrymen, although they were wet, are satisfied, feeling that the honor of having been the first Americans in action is more than sufficient recompense for their discomfort.

The correspondent raced the American position after a long motor ride through shell-battered towns. Leaving the motor in one of the towns, he walked the rest of the way. Motor cars attract the eye of the Germans and they are likely to drop a half dozen shells in the direction that any machine is seen. The first American has been almost walked upon before it was discovered. It was so well hidden under trees and with foliage about it on a low-wire netting. Under the net, water dropped steadily. Some of the gunners were digging another pit in the mud along side their hidden gun.

Through the foliage in every direction, the ground in undulating. At that moment there was a flash of flame. It was the crack of a .75 gun and following it closely came the noise of the shell rushing through the air, becoming fainter and fainter as the projectile went on its way to the German position over the crest of a hill farther along. The mud digging artillerists continued their work without even looking up.

A lieutenant from Georgia emerged. He was the officer who directed the first shot. He led the way down the slippery, muddy hill to a dug-out covered with sandbags and logs. There was met a lieutenant from Indiana of the same battery who directed the first 18 shots of the war against Germany from an observation point.

On the other side of the hill was found the first gun fired. The muddy gunners were hard at work cleaning their guns.