East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-11-07
A WAR IS A
VERY IMPORTANT ITEM
I.EW PEOPLE KNOW THAT SUCH
THING EXISTS BUT ITS
QUITE ESSENTIAL.
(Ry William Phillip Simms, United
Press staff Correspondent


Press staff Correspondent
PARIS. oct. 2o--(By Mail TO New
York. Policing war is Just as i'm
portant as policing a city, yet the
man-in-the-street probably doesn't
know any such thing exists. In fac;
war policemen" are more important
than city policemen since not frequent
ly the fate OF a nation depends upon
efficient work by this body Of men.
While Rheims was being lombard T.
ed by the Germans I spent two fun
DAYS in the quarters Of Colonel Jolly
who was then in charge Of the work
II policing the front in that immedi-
ate territory. six spies were shot
two being wOmen-while was in the
vicinity and dozens OF suspects were
thought in. Spies are the big game
war policemen" must be on the look
out for.
The war on the French side is pO-
Iced and kept orderly" as far as
possible by the gendarmery. The
sendarmes are professional soldiers
corresponding 10 cycle or mounted
policemen in the United States who
police country districts and who. an
certain parts OF the country. are call
ed "county policemen" In France
Le polices the country and cities as
Well paris excepted) in time Of peace.
while during the war he polices the
country Immediately back OF the FIR
inl line.
While the French were retreating
before the Germans. the war police
men lad little to do. comparatively
speaking. but while advancing as was
the case from Paris to the region be-
twec1 Sompiegne. scissors and
Rheims. the gendarmes had their
hands full.
Here is why.
While the Germans were going back
they left many soldiers in French ter
ritory. Some Of these soldiers were
ordinary deserters. Some were in sit
liens clothes, spoke French perfectly
and acted as spies. Others were iso-
lated groups OF soldiers, lost from the
main body. and who lived in the
woods by day and roamed the coun-
tryside at night looking for food, al
so for means of rejoining their regi-
ments.
French hooters are dealt with mer-
cilessly A soldier who took a few
trifles from the pockets OF dead
trooper, trifles not worth more than
a few cents all together. was given
three years in prison, remarked TO
the Colonel that the sentenced APP
peared rather too heavy.
Yes" he admitted frankly. 1t was
heavy But we cannot tolerate pill
fering in the army"
So well is the French army po-
Iced that throughout a long trip
through country literally swarm
ing with hungry and tired and smoke
craving. but tobaccoless soldiers. not
q cracker or cigarette or tablet OF
chocolate was taken from our party /
of four though We left such things /
unguarded for hours at a time within /
easy reach and plain sight OF the men. |
''Polioe headquarters" in the army |
are often crude. uninviting places. The j
cooler" at Colonel Joly's headQuar- /
ters near Rheims was stable. the ]
floor Of which had been cleaned off |
and straw about a foot thick put in. |
Here the receiving sergeant held /
forth and here. too. German. French 1
and other prisoners had 20 sleep. all |
together. in their clothes and on the |
hay. Newspaper correspondents have |
been known 20 sleep in this particu-
lar cooler" for having come too near 4
the zone Of operations without proper /
permits Next door TO this wartime 1
prison cows munched cOntentedly.
The colonel himself. with his staff ]