The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-11-26

Roanne, Central France, Nov 26- "Achtung.'' was the German command of attention given by a German ser geant-major, in trim German uniform to 1,500 German soldiers, all in their gray-green uniform with red edged caps, ranged in deep long ranks twen- ty deep along the court yard of the barracks of Roanne. The sharp and gutteral German command sounded strangely in this French setting with French officers receiving deferentia1 saIutes and giving directions, and French soldiers in their vivid red-blue uniforms standing at shoulder-arms at all the exits.
 These long line of German soldiers were typical of the scores of German prison encampnentss scentering at this little town of Roanne, and radiating from here to the Spanish frontier and over the French colonies in Africa in all some 100000 German prisoners gathered up from Champagne and along the -7fnanoeuvring under German officers in the prison court yards, working the farms. running the steam thrashing machines, binding hay in bundles for the French artil- lery and cavalry horses, and helping to supply France. with it's sustenance for the army and the people.
 Here at Roanne, too, is the center of another form of German industry on French soil. with thousands of Ger man-Po1ish soldiers doing the same work they did in the coal mines in Poland, digging the coal from the rich deposits of Central France, offsetting the loss of the French coal fields of Pas-de-CaIais in the northeast which has passed into the hands of the invad CTS.
 | The Associated Press was given the ToT aI1kaF- of these German encampments,. and typi- cal scenes of the soldiers doing agrt- cultural and mining work, the party being arranged by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and under the escort of French army officers, Lieut.. Brunei and Lieut.. Garcin.
 In the courtyard of the Roanne barracks the Germans had drawn up to give the visitors a typical instance of their appearance. They looked rath- CT s1ouchy until the word, of command was given; their uniforms were stain ed and, dirty, showing result of life in the trenches; they were irregular in height, big bearded Bavarians and short stocky men.
 Bring them to attention, and have them take three steps forward, turn, and three steps backward" said the French commandant.
 The direction was interpreted to the German sergeant -maJor. and then rang out his "Achtung'' The effect was electrical on these soiled and slouchy ranks. They sprangz into even lines, every head straight and should CTS back, transformed from an irreg- u1ar mass into a perfectly aligned platoons which would have done cred it to a parade ground. That at the command of three steps was given in German. the long line of heavy wood en sabets came up into the German goose-step, and fairly crashed back and forth over the stone pavement. In an instant the -goose-step and the chashing sabots stopped and the lines were rigid. It was little short of sen sationaI, this galvanizing of a whole regiment of mud-stained men into a body fairly vibrating with energy and force, and automatic military pre- cision.
 Six hundred of these men had been captured in the French advance In Cham pagne, but they were mingled indiscrimfhately with the others. One large dormitory, however, was given over chiefly to Champagne prisoners. This, like the rest of the rooms, were scrupulously clean and in good cond1- 'tion, with mattresses and blankets for each man, rooms for shower baths' and the equipment of wel1-ordered barracks The same place has been used before for French soldiers, and Germans are getting practically the same accommodations. In the dining hall, besides the regular menu printed in German, was 8. list of extras on the bu11etin-board, which could be bought-butter, tea. cheese, soap. cig- ars, tobacco. and other luxuries at the current French prices.
 It was the work these men were doing, however, which was of chief