Tensas gazette., 1916-11-03

trenches one had view of the many
ceaseless activities in carrying on this
great battle. At one point soldiers In
shirt sleeves were digging graves In an
improvised cemetery along the forest
path. The cemetery was very large
and had been given a name. "Maison
Forrestere," or Forest Home. Every
grave had a wooden cross above 1t with
the name and regiment of the dead SOL
der.
The shells kept whizzing and burst
ing as the party moved along, and 1t
got to be a pleasant pastime to note
the long s-z-z-z as the shells flew over
head. One of them struck few hun
dred feet away, throwing up trees.
earth and clouds of smoke.
To those who wanted souvenirs there
were big fragments Of shrapnel lying
at every turn. 1t was pleasant at first
to pick them up. but after three or four
of these heavy chunks of steel were
carried half mile the task was aban-
doned.
The ingenuity of some of the trench
quarters along the way is shown In
the use of empty glass bottles for win
dOws. One officer pointed with pride
to the very artistic effect he had Sc
cured with these empty wine bottles.
A triple row extended all across the
front of his log shack, giving light
within and having rather cathedral
window effect without. The bottles
are of white glass. used for bottling
the white wine of Bordeaux.
Lives Outside City,.
The headquarters of General Nj
velle, in command of the operations at
Verdun, are quite a way outside the
city. at a little crossroad hamlet,
which cannot be named for military
reasons. The generals offices are in
the town courthouse, a twO-story stone
structure. 1t was in this same build
ing that General Petain, who preceded
Nivelle, and General de Castelnau
quickly made the plans at the first on
rush of the Germans, which held them
until re-enforcements could be brought
up.
General Nivelle goes to Verdun and
most of his time is at headquarters,
in telegraph and telephone cOmmuni-
cation with the whole circle of de-
fenses, and in touA. too, with the
other army corps and masses of sup
plies ready to be moved forward to ill
any gap the Germans may make.
AS We were at General Nivelle's
headquarters party Of German pris-
Oners came by. They marched two
and two, their gray uniforms and round
caps contrasting with the French blue
and casQue. Already they were be-
ing set to work. and instead of a gun
each German carried spade over his
shoulder At Verdun there Is no e.
eral Nivelle's headquarters there were
peasant women and girls mingling with
the pOilus, indicating civilian life still
existed thus near to the bombarded
town.
The roads back of Verdun present
the most varied scenes Of activity. On
one side is vast aerOplane camp, with
some twenty enormous hangers Of bas
ket steel construction covered with
canvas. Across the road Is a riding
course running for miles, where officers
can exercise their mounts and cavalry
can push forward In emergency with
out blocking the highrOad. Every now
and then one sees a big vehicle shoot
by bearing the sign american Am
bulance Corps"
Mules In Good Shape.
| The thousands of horses and mule.
along the road are in good condition
Many Of the horses came from Amer
ica and were run down by sea voyage
but after months feeding the!
proved very serviceable. On seeing
the mules one Of the officers said:
1.-THE rehabilitation Of the GreeI
army had one very important result fOl
the allies-it released 10000 mule,
which the Greeks had been using, ant
now these mules are proving invalua
BILE to the allies"
While the fields back Of Verdun ar'
rich with yellow grain, yet there Il
one melancholy evidence Of the war II
the burning Of manure, usually tn,
very life blood of the soil. The grail
can be gathered by the soldiers and tn
women who remain, but there Is n
time to distribute the manure over tn
land, and SO 1t Is burned.
The last glimpse Of Verdun came a
the party passed detachment o
French soldiers just out Of the trenche
and going to the rear for rest. The
were tired and heavily laden. but haI
py and cheerful as they swung alon
in irregular ranks. laughing and smol
ing as though they came from som
agreeable occupation. They were a
fine looking young fellows. and the
typified that calm and invincible spiri
which the young French soldiers ar
putting into their service.
The dog was pursuing q fox acros