Westbrook Pegler

Sacramento Star/September 4, 1917

American Field Headquarters in France, Sept. 4. American troops will learn by personal experience what a creeping barrage is tomorrow.

The first contingent will assemble in the first line American trenches on the training ground side by side with the French veterans, who are their instructors. Behind French guns will roar out and the French poilus will go “over the top.” They will follow the line of death marked by advancing French artillery fire, while the Americans remaining behind in the trenches watch how it is done. Some day soon the Americans will go forward with the French just behind the barrage curtain.

Announcement was made today that preparations are in the making to teach a big contingent of intensely trained American officers in practical war innovations. A number of Americans bidding British commissions probably will come to the training camp to aid in this instruction.