Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-04

tertalning visitors.
Take that rocking chair over in III
corner" he said MS We entered, ana on
of the party went over rs directed IN
sat on the wooden box that had hrl
!, his typewriter. wooden table, tw
! chairs and Il rack for books made u
the furnishings Of his Office.
On his table was a stack Of CORE
spondence foot high, which If il coul
be read by the German high cOnman
would probably give them heart fail
ure. There was something Signitican
In that stack of letters. Ii was prob
ably the first nucleus Of correspond
ence between the directing officials %
the American army and the British
upon whom they are depending for al
vice and information. Some day tina
little pile will have grown into an en-
tire library of documents that will nj
long ranks Of filing eases. II is Pic
neer correspondence under the new
order of things between Britain and
the United States.
The following afternoon brought us
by lucky chance to Canadian head
quarters, where we had the privilege
of spending several hours with other
men who are conducting operations.
1t was more than lucky chance that
brought us to Canadian headquarters
almost Mt the same hour that the Ger
mans began an attacF-it was an act
of providence.
Lighted by Lamps and Candles.
II can be set down here without
further parley that two newspaper
men were never treated more royalty
than we were by these men who al
the moment We entered their quarters
were directing harrage against
strong German attack.
In the midst of tea the door opened
and for few minutes we were under
the impression that every general on
the western front had been deluged in
to our presence. 1t was u party Of
officers who had dropped in for ten
and a chat with the army command
ers. Instead they had a rather anus
ing talk with two American CORE
spondents. who were found interest
ing because they had been with the
American army on the Mexican border
and in France and had some idea of
what the United States troops could
do. Their intense interest in prepara-
tons Of the United States for war was
manifested in every question: and their
friendliness toward everything Ameri-
can was more than evident.
In two minutes the fornality of In
PRODUCTION was over with and for fully
half an hour the Canadian general
stan dropped their heavy responsible
ties and enjoyed the unique expert
ence of entertaining two Americans. F.
1t was the first time that such a gath
ering had ever assembled in this par
ticular building and all made the most .
Of ii. IN
The staff captain who had intro.
tluced us suggested that we get a little .
exercise, explaining that the staff Off /
GERS usually spent an hour in the eve /
ming playing badminton or some other
game just 10 keep in condition. We
vent out TO Il well constructed court
inilar to tennis court aud tapped
III In the same manner. For an hour
We watched four officers bat the feath-
red shuttlecock across the net with
display of skill and strategy that was
worthy of men who used strategy in
greater and more deadly manner. We
ook a hand in the game for a time
md then watched four others play off
he staff championship
Meet Famous Strategist.
When the game broke up and we re-
the headquarters building we
were presented to man whose name
Is famous the length and breadth Of .
the British front. His keen stratngems
and forcefuI work have won for him
the praise and admiration of every
fighting in France and his
record as a fighter would fill several
books. We We're fortunate in having
an opportunity Of talking with him,
Tor he, like the late General Funston.
Is keenly interested in newspaper work .
ana 1t gave US good start on the
right plane. We explained to him our
reasons for coming to headquarters
ana how the ear that was to meet US
had broken down
wei, I'm glad you're here, boys" |
he said. "I'll just arrange to have n
couple of places set for you at dinner.
How are things over in the L. S. Ar" /
We had been talking with him only /
a few minutes when IN officer brought
TO him word that an 5. o. S. signal had
been received from Il certain point ia.
dlcntng that the Germans were pre- /
pairing to attack. There was no blns.
TER. The information was given in n
low, steady voice and the orders for
certain counser-measures were given in
an equally unruliled manner. An hour
later Il was learned that The Germans .
had given up their attempt after being
numerically lloycd by the gruellng
nre which our host had turned loose. .
From time to time an officer would .
appear at the door and report the prog