Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-06-04
VIVID PICTURE
OF WAR SCENES
IN FRENCH LINES
Leonard W. Hartman en-
Route From Hostile Fields
Of Europe 10 California
Tells of Experiences,

(Leonard w. Hartman. former
Los Angeles newspaper man. is IN
Albuquerque for few days en- route
from Paris, France, 10 his California
home When brought 20 bay by a
representative of the Journal Mr.
Hartman briefly described some OF
his experiences IN war-torn Europe,
--Editor0
by Leonard ". Hartman.
over year ago ! went to southern
France TO engage In publicity work
for a large Anglo French hotel syn
dicatc Not shadow of the on
rushing titanic struggle manifested
itself, serenity relgned supreme.
Early IN August Mars burst in on
the scene with cyclonic swiftness.
order changed TO chaos. France as
aumed the aspect Of vast military
camp. Soldiers, horses and arma-
ment sped northward tourists sour
ried homeward like frightened rab-
bits--the gay Riviera was practically
deserted save for old men, women
and children.
Makes Way Toward Paris.
Late in November started for
Paris. Passenger traffic was de-
moralized. SO ! rode freights, stole
bicycles ana begged Ut with a
party Of French officers In an au-
tomObile for sixty miles, reaching
Paris IN eleven days. Here / met
a New York Times reporter and to-
sether we set sail for Rheims, which
we found partially wrecked and al
IAaLrffFH ha4tsta 4uth.I1nI
one OF the finest examples Of Gothic
architecture extant, was a crumbling
ruin-towers shattered. windows
sone, superb statnary centuries old
ruined beyond RESTORATION Strange
y, the Hotel de villa, block away,
VAS practically untouched streets
we're torn up aud lined with trenches
NOV deserted except for battered,
overturned guns, few overlooked
lead--hemets, clothing, demolished
machine guns and broken cham
lagne mingled together In a fantas-
ical pot pourri utterly beyond thel
,owor of human description. Smould-
ring, tottoring buildings, gaunt aud
rim. made a CHASTITY background toI
he blood-dyed scene and afforded
mute evidence OF the terrible havoc
wrought by modern German artillery.
We slept for several weeks In empty
ouses, living on what canned food
nd wines the looters had overlooked
-.making night trips on foot and BIZ
ycle TO a telegraph point fourteen
allies away to send in copy From
rheims we pushed on to scissors,
neeting little parties OF refugees
urrying towards Paris In Scissors
witnessed one of the worlds great /
81 battles from uncomfortable close
uarters with members Of the French
nd English staff
Allies Forced to Retreat.
The allies were forced to retreat
anuary H. Four thousand Germans
oiled three days buryng their own
nd the enemy's scooped them |
ITO the water-soaked trenches like |
cans, planting a rude cross on the /
cres Of rough mounds every few
'et. ] noticed large Packard |
'uok filled with sacks of tags-eaeh !
~ stripped from corpse and num- |
cred. During the conflicts the for
tude Of the combatants was re-
rkablo-gunners, powder burnt |
IA stripped TO the waist. TESTED with !
ne another. seemingly unaware of
loir surroundings.
Following the ever retreatng arm
y we pushed ON towards Challons. /
lie after mile along the shell-pitted
ghway. burned villages, ruined. de-
rted cities, devastated forests pass
us IN an endless panorama along
Challons There Teutonic forces
ere massed along the river not five
undred yards from the allies
enches. watched this battle
ON "A point a mile or so away II
as raining slightly and cold. IL
animation was furnished the scene
Z the burning city and the dazzling
killarney of bursting shrapnel Ger
ans, striving vallantly to cross the
renm, were moved down by thous-
IDS by the whitening fire Of MAJ
line guns, chaotic retreat marked
q termination of the hattle--39 900
'ad on the fleld--the River Marne
orally bridged with bodies and the
ell Scared remnant of Citations in
e background.
Forced to Quit Front.
After GOVERNS" Epernay, Felix
lure, Par lie Duo and other import
i battlefields. ! was compelled by
G authorities to leave the lines. and
nded my passports, entrained for
iris
Paris IS there--a desolate, unsee-
( Paris, whose avenues stretch out
sight like bars OF songs that are .
I being sung nor measured by the
ythm of feet. Parks and lawns I'M
red for since August; empty ho-
4 with shattered windows a few
fes open, OF course, but the familiar :
rcon Is no fighting for his
loved France: his wife, perhaps. is
ting his place.
mansions are fun o F.,
Cross flags fly every !
lere, from theaters, houses stores G
d hotels Women are mostly IN /
five francs or so they !
h buy the cheap black dresses one
DIS on nearly every corner | was i
lazed at their composure L is
igniflcent Not stolidlv indiffer-
hut informed with the very chas-
Y of courage--forbear and pa
mt, gladly sacrificing for their y
intry. To me it seemed a ghastly. 1
canny nightmare Of Europe's gay i
city d
Prisoners Treated We'll. Lt
leaving on the Paris-orleans rail q
y. | stopped at Lyons where I +
ked with a number Of German and d
strian prisoners Most of them Y
med glad to be informed. stating h
" received better treatment at the n
nds OF their captives than from
ir own officers.
France is voiced the
tfY,sut ~ dietary nntiniSDa Il :,