The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-10-18
Grateful to u. S. Soldiers,
French Dislike to Accept
Pay for Camp Conueniences

during their leisure. So the French en-
gincerS here have built 80 extra
showers for the soldiers from a people
used 10 doing what they want when they
want tn.
Didn't Want Recompense.
OF course, the French government /,
reimbursed for what extra expenditure,
are made IN behalf of the American eN-
pcdltlonary forces. ! am informed. from
\ civilian official and not an officer
that the suggestion for rccompcn>'
came from us and did not or,glnantc
with the French and that the idea oi
any payment was contrary to the wiNhc'
Of the French. That We are running
affairs like men, and white men,
makes an American very proud W.
can afford to pay and we should pay a
representative American always does
pay for what he gets.
Nothing is more important ~ The
health ct a soldier than the water he
drinks. always ask first about the
water at camp. The water We are
using is ot origin in natural springs, has
mo microbes IN il, is further purified
by a chlorine process and comes to the
camp from the supply reservoirs OF two
n%eishboring towns. Special pipes were
lad To convey It 10 us, as we have about
| 500 horses IN camp and need plenty
of water. Present adjustments insure a
flow in our direction OF 10000 gallons
a day.
Wanted to Buy II
The writer happened to be IN an II
flee Of a military authority when 4
conversation between representatives OF
two republics developed upon the local
water question as follows:
J American Officcr-"Thc water supply
We are using from that second town
Is IT privately or municipality owncd2'
French Officcr-"Thc town, OF rather
the parish, Owls the supply"
American Otiiccr-"But the American
army IN France docs not wish to deprive
any parish OF its necessary supply Al
least there must he compensation paid
for the water we do take"
French Ofticer-"Oh, these arc
French barracks and the water comes
here. 1t is gratis to the French gov.
crnmcnt from the parish You pay
nothing"
American Officer Still. the people
IN that town know We Americans arc
tapping their water supply What We
should pay for the water we use might
cnable the parish to pay Tor a new
reservoir and thus enlarge their sup
ply"
French ONiccr-"It will not be nee
cssary, hut We can go and sec the PEG
pie OF the parish. Indeed, | thank you
for your most s%crupulouS thought
American Offlccr-"Not my personal
sctupulouSncsS. but that OF our com.
manding officers. who arc earnestly
seeking to express the spirit OF the
American government on ali matter oI
contact with the FRENCH people"
Pays for Everything.
Unfortunately, the writer cannot pu'
upon paper the pleased look that passed
across the face OF that French officer
II was not surprise rather, II was th'
look OF a per,on who had hoped sc.
crctly for something and then has tina,
hope realized. Bluntly put, our army i
paving for everything it consumes and
utilities in France; the straightforward
American way.
was privileged to accompany three
colonies acting as a board OF officers IN
va case where an old wonan 81 wears
OF age had been injured through the
carrlessncSs or worse of four unknown
soldiers, believed to he americans. The
old lady, Jos,lcd. had fallen and Sus
tanned a fractured ankle. The incidcn,
! am telling to indicate the personal at.
%tcntion with which every complaint is
being investigated by our Officers
abroad.
The venerable victim was lying upon
a curtaHcd bed IN one OF two rooms
which made up the interior OF an old
stone house when we entered Her
daughter was with her. They were cvi.
IDENTIFY very poor. for the furniture, dec
orations and household utensils were
exceedingly primitive. Yet the inquiry
wa conducted with the same poli,cnes'.
dignity and thotoughness as il they
were grand ladies ~ a chateau.
Aftcrward the O testimony of the
doctor who dressed the foot vas takci
through the medium OF an Interpreter
both being given tho oath In the event
conclusive eyidcrCc develops that the
malefactors were american soldiers and
these men do not come forward and ac.
knOwIcdpc their gull, the cost of settle