Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-28

At the Front in France, March C.
Al wars are horrible, and this is the
most terrible Of wars. 1t does not
follow from that that there is not con-
slant relief from the tragic in the
ridiculous.
1t has been the part of most war
correspondents to have thrilling cxpe-
rienCes; it remained for me to have
trip to the front which was funny
from beginning to end
My permit to 90 to the front of the
French army came through the inter-
cession of the great French minister
Of foreign affairs, Delcasse, about
whom l will write more in another
letter
| believe this astute diplomat broke
through the rigid army regulations
forbidding civilians and especially
newspaper men from going to the
front by asking leave for me to see
the devastation wrought by the Ger
mans upon religious editices and MIS-
tClieal monuments
Promptly Arrested; Soon Freed.
However, | did not know this whan
I rose at dayhreak My permit was fof
MIR" so / could not wear my M
ticnal guard uniform. but correspon-
Gent-like, ! dressed myself IN imita-
tor Of a soldier
My train to the front was not mill
iIary train, filled with soldiers, or
even a supply train, but an accom-
recitation. travelling with aggravating
ECnchalance a few miles in the rear
pf tho pObattlpd armies
We detrained at Calais-military
terms are necessary in war corre-
spcndtrce. After dining quietly We
returned to the railway station Zen
rnutes before the train was due 10
start for that unmentionahle point
that Sas to see the beginning OF our
adventure.
There we were promptly arrested
The military pass looked so heIp-
less | produced my passport. Fatat
mistake! on the passport my proies-
sion was given as a newspaper man
and newspaper men are forbidden AT
the front! Fortunately, the stamps
on my insignificant looking military
passport proved talismans strollg
enough TO overcome the Ill omen ol
my unfortunate profession
Officers Rise TO Greet Them.
Back at the commanders office, be-
hold what a.ehange! Even the sentry
saluted! The officers rose at our en-
trance! The telegram which had becl
coming from Paris since dayDreak hau
Just arrived and orders had been gwen
to furnish us with every conVehlehc'
to visit the Headquarters of Gen. -
that man who so distinguished nm
self at the Marne and whose rise ID
one of the features of the war.
Would monsieur like to start AT
once. or if not. by what hour OF tile
morning? Was monsieur alone or WIN
friend? Monsieur was with a frienu.
Very we'll, then, monsieur must nav
two automobiles, one Tor mohsieul
and the officer who would cohuuei,
him and one for monsieur lr'o'4N
and the baggage" ,. an
Monsieur's friend looked quite -
cry Monseur's desire to say ',taI ta,|
monsieur would nave liked TO nave .iae
other automobile an hour ago was
sisted, and polite remarks tllai ott
automobile would surely be SUI liolvi'e 'H,.4a
were cut short with the more poltu
rejoinder that Of course monsieur "
tires large" and the automoplles "eie
not overstrong.
Rise a la Militairc.
Then home. bed, and up tle hoA
morning of course at the crack VI
dawn, q Ia militaire. NO one tise I'm "'r
awake. Finally arrives an olu i''''''
who win provide bread ana coliv I',, IL
Suddenly arrive two ehoil'' nohIa
m0usine automobile, each eap.Io'o
of carrying seven people, each WIN tho.
military driver and tootmah VII ,.t,d
box. and in one an exceedlnBl4 NM
and courteous French officer, dresser
in that new French gray, WhlcH ! 81, n
sure is visible when nothing else ="
earth can be seen. 4,,.ilI
Again arises the desire for the tllll,
of battle. but il is soon dispelled y!
the quiet man in the priilldh' ~
who says that his home Is Oh ~
other side of the fighting hhcs' ~
had been totally destroyed, aiso Wy
home of his bellemere and tne iuc'oi
of his bcaufrere, the nachlheIS
which he believes has peen '"N0''
down and shipped to Germany
Trucks Only War Evidence
An hours rapid running brings US
to the headquarters of the army coi'
mander. We will now see the SIc'e
man. But no, the great man "%9 Ia,
business of the republic to NINA
reasonable time is produced a pass u
proceed to headquarters OF the
eral commanding the DIVISION ~ orl,
ras. Right and left are farmers wa wa
ing in the fields. War IS eNloei5oGu l ~
only by numbers of trucks paINe" ~