Semi-weekly herald., 1915-05-20

eral has certainly paid the price of
his patriotism. A deserted foundry |
building furnishes General Castelnau
with rooms for headquarters. He has
the proper number of staff officers
and the ample grounds surrounding
the buildings afford place for auto
and mounted aides.
Maps seem to be the principal ar
ticle of furniture in the generals Of
fees. While General Castelnau is
something like twenty-five miles from
the firing lines of his command, he
has capable subordinates who are
looking after every detail. The gen
eral impresses one with the idea that
he is man of business. His life has
been devoted to military work and
his duties are not new to him. The
general was conspicuous in all the
early fighting and helped to win the
battle of the Marne.
Wounded At Amiens.
Large railway buildings in Amiens
are devoted to hospital work. Every
opening has been closed and the
buildings are clean and well lighted.
Railway tracks and stone pavements
make up the flooring. This is called
a distribution hospital. Wounded men
are not expected to remain longer
than to be able to be removed some
where else. A hospital train destined
for points in the south of France was
being made up when our party visit
ed the buildings which | have describ-
ed. An inspection of the train DEM
onstrated that everything that could
be done was being done for the
wounded men. Nothing had been neg
lected. There was plenty of fresh
aid. The hunks were fitted with at
tachments to minimize the jolting of
the train. On each car there was a
big Red Cross sign and the moving
Of the train out Of the station, with
its precious load, was impressive to
the thinking mind.
One does not have to travel much
on the public roads leading from
Amiens to the firing lines of the
French army to realize the conspicu-
GUS part that is being played in the
war by the automobile. The govern
ment has thousands of cars, many of
them are large and are built for ton
mage, using the solid tire. Food prod
rule by automobiles. Not many men
are seen riding in cars. Officers are
not coming and going; they are re-
naming at the front. | am told that
the commissary and quartermaster
departments of the immense Frenchh
army are in good hands. 1t must be
borne in mind that France has an
army of two and half million men,
and also remeifiber that these men
have been clothed and fed by the gov.
ernment, and that not word of COM
plant is heard. Our captain assures
us that the distribution of supplies is
prompt and unfailing, though the men
who do it receive no public credit.
The railway lines of France are nu-
merous and military trains and mill
tary freight are never neglected.
The old faithful horse has not been
neglected entirely. He hauls hay to
the armies and sometimes other food
products for horses and mules. Oc-
casionally mule is seen doing his
duty. He is warrior by trade and
has worked in South Africa, Cuba,
the Philippines, and wherever the hui
man race has been at war.
Amiens Has Suffered.
The city of Amiens is more than
1,6OO years old. The people are used
to trouble. Numerous wars have af-
fected the people. The German army
occupied Amiens until the battle of
the Marne. Therefore Amins is a
community of sorrow and acquaintd
with grief. But when bombs were
dropping in the little city, business
was not suspended; everything went
on as usual. The shopkeepers may
have ventured to inquire where the
bombs fell, but they soon FASTENED
back to their positions behind the
counter. 1t is related that the Ger
mans exacted money in consideration
of not destroying the city and that
the leading men of Amiens paid it.
There is no proof of this further than
the fact that the city was not de-
stroyed. Amiens is on the railway line
which connects Paris with Boulogne,
on the English channel. 1t seems to
be defenseless so far as aeroplanes are
concerned, but let US hope that the
German aeroplanes will mark poor
Amiens off their visiting list for the
futnra