The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-11-10
new REGIME PROPOSES ARM|STICE
Lyon Enters Hole in the Ground Where
Germans. Hope Is Buried--- Nerdun

Daily Bismarck Tribune Cor
respondent puts his Hand on the
Heart of France and Feels it
Beating Strong Read About
the Message and Toast Which
Made American Newspaper
Man Forget the Drizzle Along
The Meuse
EDITORS NOTE.-c. C. Lyon,
Staff correspondent Of the Daily
Tribune is now spending some
time with the French army,
through the courtesy Of the
French military authorities. After
observing operations In and about
verdun, he has been promised the
chance to 90 into the first line
French trenches. ~ come out
with a whole skin ought to have
something very interesting to
write about" says Lyon, in let
ter to the editor Of the Daily Trib-
une.,
c. c. LYON.
With the French troops at Verdun
i have just come from spending
wonderful evening in the impregaable
citadel of Verdun, a guest of Colonel
(------, it's commander.
All day long a violent artillery duel
had been on between the French and
Germans, and every time our email
party of American observers had tried
to get near enough to the German
lines beyond Forts Vaux and Douau-
mont to watch infantry operations a
German shell would playfully fall in
our vicinity and scare us all stiff
Even the safety of Fort Souville
hardly reassured us. There we had
all taken turns sitting in chair that
had been occupied q few days before
by the king of Italy and singing our
names in the guest book"
Incidently, Victor Emanuel gave his
occupation as "king of Italy" Iwro.e
newspaper reporter" after my name.
They're both on the same page.
Shortly after dinner hour we reach
ed the Verdun citadel.
Outside, the night was inky black
and adding to a dismal exterior pic
ture, cold drizzling rain was falling,
chilling to the marrow the gray-over.
coated sentinels who silently trudged
their posts along the river Meuse
But inside the fortress everything |
was warm and bright and cheerful.
The long narrow, concrete-built
corridors that stretched for hundreds
Of yards were studded with a thou
sand electric bulbs; and every room
and compartment opening off them
held a group of laughing. chatting
poilus, enjoying their evening meal
and talking over events of the day
In little dining room in the heart
of the fortress, a hundred feet below
The earth's surface, Colonel -
arose and, with unified glass, faced
MS American guests.
. For long time, around table
hat had contained many good things
10 eat, he had been discussing the
war situation and Americas part.
AS he stood there leaning upon the
cane Zone of his legs had been frozen
IS he personally led his troops in
nidwinter assault on German posi-
ions outside Verdun) ready to pro.
pose a toast to the great and power.
'ul ally he was noble figure.
A large powerfully-built man OF
about 60; snow white hair; ruddy
joval, kindly face with
blue eyes that twinkled with mer.
riment: a something about him"
that would inspire all men to deeds
Of valor
On the wall behind him was hung
q large bronze tablet--the imperish-
able motto of Verdun:
"On Ne Passe Pas!"
"They Shall Not Pass!"
There was a hushed silence:
my dear friends from beyond the
seas" he said, II lift my glass to
toast the nation that has always been
the unfailing friend and ally of our
beloved France.
"The bonds of love and sympathy
that have always existed between our
TWO countries will become still strong
er now that we are brothers in arms
in the cause of world democracy.
"France has given unsparingly of its
blood in making good the motto of
Verdun. But the brave men who have
lied will not have died in vain, be-
cause, with rich, powerful resource
ful and determined America on our
side it is now impossible to conceive
If anything but complete victory for
he allied cause.
81 drink to America and all Ameri-
,ans. France loves them ALL" |
The toast was drunk with deep
emotion on both sides and appropriate
.esponses from the Americans fol-
owed
Through it all, however, my re7or-
orial instincts had not deserted me.
At Fort Souville, during the after
loon, the fort commander had given
ne, for souvenir, one of his en-
Continued on Page Three, J.
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