Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-12-22

yards. working the farms. running the
steam threshing machines. binding
hay i'm bundles for French artillery
and cavalry horses. and helping sup
ply France with it's s%ustenance 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
same work they did in the coal mines
of Poland. digging the coal from the
rich deposits of central France. Off
setting the loss of the French coal
fields of Pas-de-Calais in the north
east which have passed into the hands
of the invaders.
The Associated Press was given the
opportunity to see a large number OF
these German encampmentS, n typt-
cal scenes Of the soldiers doing agri-
cultural and mining work., the party
being arranged by the ministry Of for
eign affairs and under the escort of
French army officers. Lieutenant
Brunei and Lieutenant Garcin.
Men Of All Degrees.
In the court yard of the Roanne bar
racks the Germans had been drawn up
to give the visitors a typical instance
OF their appearance. They looked
rather slouchy until the word of COM
mand was given: their uniforms were
stained and dirty. showing the results
Of life in the trenches: they were ir-
regular in height. big bearded Ba-
varians 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. M then rang
electrical on these soiled and slouchy
ranks. They sprang into even lines.
every head straight and shoulders
back. transformed from an irregular
mass into perfectly aligned %platoons
which would have done credit to a pa
rade ground. Then. as the command
of three steps was given in German.
the long ines of heavy wooden sabots
came up into the German goose step,
and fairly crashed pack and forth over
the stone pavement. In an instant the
stopped and the lines were rigid. 1t
was little short of sensational. this
galvanizing Of a whole regiment of
mud stained men into a body fairly
vibrating with energy and force. and
automatic military precision.
Six hundred of these men had re-
Gently been captured in the French adj
vance in Champagne, but they were
mingled indiscriminately with the 9th
ers. One large dormitory, however
prisoners. This, like the rest of the
rooms, were ~scrupulously clean ard in
good condition, with mattresses and
blankets for each man, rooms for show
er baths, and the equipment of a vel
ordered barracks. The same place had
been used before for French soldiers
and the Germans We're getting prac-
tically the same accommodations. Ir
the dining hall, besides theregular menu
printed in German, was a list of lex.
could be bought-butter, tea, cheese
soap, cigars, tobacco and other luxur
les at the current french prices.
Prepare Hay for Army.
1t was the work these men were do.
ing, however. which was of chief in,
terest. Nearby was a large establish
ment where the Germans were seer q
alive with these workmen, their uni
form put aside for a rough working
blouse. Big wheels were turning an,
hydraulic presses were turning GU
shipping. Eight big Germans were O
top Of a flat car ranging the bales Il
place., and scores of others were work
ing the machinery and passing tn
product through the various processe
up to the shipment.
At the little town of Aubier a doze
Germans in blouses were running
e thrashing machine. The graf
was falling in a steady stream as tn
Germans passed the sheaves from TIL
STORE mouse anu ran II through In
machine. Others were running tn
steam engine steadying the movemer
Of the long shafts leading to tn
thrasher. This was typical of tn
thrashing of the wheat yield now goin
on all over France. Germans bein
scattered through all the little farm
ing centers doing the heavy work {
the machines.
At Montefacon LOO Germans wei
in the courtyard of a substantial build
ing formerly used as a convent
was their hour of leisure, and the
stood about in groups like athletes Q
a big sporting field. The French ma
wagon had just arrived bringing tt
letters and packages coming within tt
regulations. The soldiers can ser
two letters a month and a postal cal
weekly. the letters being of four page
16 lines to the page, dealing only wit
health conditions and personal affair
hut not Of the war. There is the san
facility for incoming mail, and Il
men were eagerly awaiting the pal
cells and letters.
Poles Dislike Germans.
German Poles were seer in lar,
numbers at one Of the village encaml
ments. They were not as sturdy Q .
a. the men from western and s0uthel
Germany: irregular Of build and mar
small men. Some were well along
recovery from wounds, but sull hi