Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-05
Major General Clement
Returns From France
Commander of 28th Division Arrived Camp Yesterday
Afternoon After Several Weeks Given Warm We'll
Headquarters Had Interesting Experiences the
Western Front.

The general saw many German prison
ers. At one internment camp ne ana MS
aide, Theodore D. Boal, of Boalsburg
were sighted by one of the Germans Who
cried "Americans." The Germans IN
their eagerneSs to see 1.-THE Americans
pressed forward in such great numbers
that their guards had to threaten to use
their bayonets to hold the men in check.
Prisoners captured i'll actual fighting are
often brought back over the lines with
their clothing torn into rags, due TO their
coming into contact with the barbed wire
entanglements.
Stories to the effect that German sol
diers are poorly fed and alf-clothed are
discredited by the general. The Germans
in the front-line trenches are fine speci-
mems of manhood One group of prison.
ers included about thirty boys OF the
1919 class. These from their appearance
We're pale and underfed. This was eX-
planned by the fact that those at home
sacrifice to the limit 50 that the soldiers
may be fed. The 1919 class had not been
in the trenches long enough to profit by
the food provided for the men at arms.
Saw Several Battles.
At one of the fighting fronts he saw
several ENGAGEMENTS. At one time he
sat with French commander during Il
gaatt ls 1890 ais sat
sssts It's surrender Us the ang6ut
49, aYsts;3 and rs they reached for
We So 1sasg sergeant used grenade
After the battle General Clement accom-
panied the French officer as he made a
detour of the trenches. Soon man COW
cred with mud saluted.
''HoW many men did you account for"
asked the French eommand.
Seventeen, sir, was the answer.
The conversation appeared as informal
as customer asking the price Of eggs of
a country merchant. The men are taught
to kill and they work with the same I'M
concern as the mechanic at his his trade,
Soldiers never pass German body with
out using their bayonet to make sure that
Al. Ar,I,., rvFTIj 11+ot
shoot them in the back, Speaking of the
vaor of the allies, the general said that of
all things spent and squandered there hui
man life is held least dear The officers
and men calmly accepted all hazards I'M
mindful of the death to follow
On account of the general dampness of
the atmosphere, rain falling nearly every
day; the water in the trenches and no
heat firm the men relieved from duty,
respiratory diseases run rife, The things
in the knitted products most needed, in
his opinion, are warm stockings and abb
domirlal bands. General Clement and his
aids suffered slightly from the cold. but
were not delayed in carrying on the pur-
poses of their visit.
American Troops Eager.
During his stay on the other side Cen
eral Clement also spent considerable time
with the American forces. He says the
American boys are in good spirits and
health In the short time they have been
there they have made great progress in
solving the problems of modern warfare
and all are eager and anxious to- go to
the immediate front without delay.
The trips over and back were unevent-
full On the way over one of the pas
Isengers insisted that he had seen a sub
marine, but this report was not given
credence. The ship was shrouded in dark
ness after p. M, and for four nights
the passengers slept in their clothes to
be ready for airy emergency On the re-
turn trip the portfolios We're closed early
in the evening. At all times a captive
balloon was kept suspended over the boat,
where lookout kept watch for a Huns
submarine.
on the return trip on a French steamer
General Clement spoke several times to
a little American nurse who had been in
jured in the bombing of a French base
hospital The French government had
decorated her with the cross of the Lee
gion Of Honor In spite of all efforts she
refused to talk of her injuries, which We're
understood to have been serious.