The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-11-03

kfCak u2hGt. nv uaN kAaMt ANsuAtts ~
shirt sleeves were digging graves In IN
.s,3royised cemetery along the forest
path. The cemetery was very large
and had heen given name. s'Maison
Forrestiere." or Forest Home. Every
grave had . wooden cross above Il with
the name and regiment IL the dead sol
der.
The shells kept whlEning and burst
Ing as the party moved along. aud u
got TO be a pleasant pastime 10 note
the long s-n-E-E as the shells dew over
head One ef them struck few hun
dred feet away, throwing up trees
earth and clouds OF smoke.
To those who wanted souvenirs there
were big fragments Ut shrapnei lysas
at every turn. II was pleasant nj FIRST
20 pick them up but after three OF four
of these heavy chunks IL steel were
carried half q mile the task was aban'
doned.
The Ingenuity Of some Of the trench
quarters along the way IN shown In
the use OF empty glass bottles fcs win,
dows. One otkcer pointed with pride
to the very artistic effect he had So
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 AZ white glass. used for botiling
the white wine Of Bordeaux.
Lives Outside City.
The headquarters Of General NJ.
velie, In command Of the operations at
verdun. are quite n way outside the
city. ut little crossroad hamlet,
which cannot be named for military
reasons. The generals Offices are 10
the town courthouse, a tw0-story stone
structure, II was In this same build.
inR that General Petain, who preceded
Si,elle, and General de CsxtelDaG
quickly made the plans ut the arst on
rush OF the Germans, which held them
until re-cnforcements could be brought
up.
General Nlyelie goes to versian aud
along the trench front frequently, Hut
most of his time Is nj headquarters,
In telegraph aud telephone communl.
cation with the whole circle Of de.
lenses. aud Ia touch, too, with the
other srmy corps and masses Of sup
plies ready TO be moved forward TO al
any Cup the Germans may make.
AS we were at General Niyelle's
headquarters n party of German pris-
oners came by They marched two
and two. their gray uniforms and round
caps contrasting with the French blue
and casaue, Already they were be.
Ing set to work, and instead Of u gun
each German carried a spade over his
shoulder. AT verdun there Is no ci-
william life whatever, but around Gen
eral NiveIle's headquarters there were
peasant women and girls mingling with
the poIlus, indicating civilian life stlli
existed thus near to the bonibardea
town.
The roads back Of ysrdun prcscn,
the most varied scenes Of activity. Ga
one side IL vast sercpiane camp, with
some twenty enormous hangers IL has
ket steel construction covered with
canvas Across the road IL . riding
course running Tor miles, where officers
can exercise their mounts and cayairy
can push forward In emergency with
out blocking the highroad. Every now
aud then one sees N hig vehicle shoot
by bearing the sign American Am.
hulancc Corps"
Mules In Good Shape.
The thousands OF horses and mules
along the road are Ia good cundition.
Many os the horses came from Amer
lea and were run down by sea voyage
hut after months feeding they
proved very servtceabL. On seeing
the mules one Of the officers said;
"The disqualification Of the Greek
army had Que very important result for
The ailles--it released 10000 mules
which the Greeks had beet using. and
now these mules are proving inyaIua.
bic 10 the allies"
While the fields hack II verdun arr
rich with yellow grain. Jet there Ia
one melancholy evidence Of the war 10
the burning OF manure. usually the
very life blood Of the soil. The grain
can be gathered By the soldiers and the
women who remain, but there Ia nc
tune TO distribute the manure over The
land, and 10 IL In burned
The last glimpse Of yerdun came n
the party passed q detachment oi
French soldiers just out OF the trenches
aud going ~ the rear for rest. They
were tired and heavily laden. but hap
Yy aud cheerful ~ they swung aIons
In irregular ranks. laughing and sssok
ing rs though they came from spms
agreeable occupation. They were al
fine looking young fellows and theJ
typlfed that calm and iaviDciblc spiriI
which the -oung rrenctl soldiers art
putting into their service