The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-06
LIKE POLITE HOSTS

Wnen ne appeared the manner of the general assisted that impression. His courtesy was so undisturbed, his mind so tranquil, his conversation so en- tirely that of the polite host, you felt ne was masquerading in the uniform of a general only because he knew it was becoming.
 He glowed with health and vigor. He had the appearance of having just come indoors after satisfactory round on his private golf links. Instead he had been receiving reports from "A dif- ferent staff officers. His manner sug- gested he had no more serious respon- sibility than feeding bread crumbs to the seven stately swans.
 Instead he was responsible for the lives of 170,000 men three times a day With food, and all day and night with am munition, to guard them against at tacsl1 from gases, burning oil, bullets, shells; and in counter attacks to send them forward with the bayonet across death. These were only few of his responsibilities.
 MAPS RICH IN DETAILS
 I knew somewhere in the chateau there must be the coming tower from which the general directed his armies and after luncheon asked to be al- lowed to visit it. It was filled with maps, in size enormous but rich in tiny details, nailed on frames, pinned to the walls, spread over vast draw ing boards.
 But to the visitor more marvellous than the maps showing the French lines, were those in which were set forth the German positions, marked with the place occupied by each unit giving the exact situation of the Ger man trenches, the German batteries, giving the numerals of each regiment
 With these spread before him the general has only to lift the hand. tele- phone, and direct that from a spot on map on one wall several tons of ex- plosive shells shall drop on a spot Oh another distance from a map. Each morning he visits some part of the 50 miles of trenches. What later he sees on his map only jogs his memory. It is sort of shorthand note. Where to you are waving lines, dots and crosses. he beholds valleys, forests, miles or yellow trenches.
 A week ago, during a bombardment, a brother general advanced into the first trench His chief of staff tugged at his cloak.
 My men like to see me here.' said the general.
 shell killed him. But who can protest it was life wasted? He made it possible for every poilu in trench of 500 miles to say, tour generals do not send us where they will not go themselves
 A TOY RAILROAD We left the white swans smooth ing their feathers. and through rain drove to a hill covered closely with small trees. The trees were small be- cause the soil from which they drew sustenance was only one to three feet deep Beneath that was chalk. Through these woods was cut a run way for a toy railroad. It possessed the narrowest of narrow gauges, and its rolling stock consisted of flat cars three feet wide, drawn by splendid per 1 cherons. The live stock, the rolling stock, the tracks and the trees on either side of the tracks were entirely cov- cred with white clay. Even the brake men and the locomotive engineer who walked in advance of the horses were completely painted with it. And be- fore we got out of the woods, so were 1 the passengers. This railroad feeds the trenches, carrying to them water and | ammunition, and to the kitchens in the rear, uncooked food.
 The French marquis who guided Mon Capitaine" and myself to the trenches either had built this railroad or owned a controlling interest in it. for he always spoke of it proudly as (Continued on Page Sixl