Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-12-15
NEWSPAPER MAN DESCRIBES
VISIT TO HEADQUARTERS

long ranks of filing cases. 1t Is pio-
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 at the same hour that the Ger
mans began an attack-it was an act
of providence.
Lighted by Lamps and Candles.
1t 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 barrage against a
strong German attack.
In the midst of tea the door opened
and for a few minutes we were under
the impression that every general on
the western front had been deluged In
to our presence. 1t was party of
officers who had dropped In for ten
and a chat with the army command
ers. Instead they had 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 Ia every question, and their
friendliness toward everything Ameri-
can was more than evident.
In two minutes the formality of In
PRODUCTION was over with and for fully
half an hour the Canadian general
staff dropped their heavy responsible
ties and enjoyed the unique expert.
ence of entertaining two Americans.
1t was the first time that such gath
ering had ever assembled In this par
ticular building and all made the most
of it.
The staff captain who had intro
duced us suggested that we get little
exercise, explaining that the staff off,
GERS usually spent an hour in the eve
ming playing badminton or some other
game just to keep In condition. We
went out to well constructed court
similar to tennis court and tapped
off In the same manner. For an hour
we watched four officers bat the feath-
cred 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
took hand In the game for time
and then watched four others play off
the staff championship.
Meet Famous StrategIst.
When the game broke up and we re.
entered the headquarters building we
were presented to man whose name
Is famous the length and breadth of
the British front. His keen stratagems
and forceful work have won for him
the praise and admiration of every
Canadian fighting In France and his
record as a fighter would fill several
books. We were fortunate In having
an opportunity Of talking with him,
for he, like the late General Funston,
Is keenly interested In newspaper work
and 1t gave us good start on the
right plane. We explained to him our
reasons for coming to headquarters
and how the car that was to meet us
had broken down.
"Well, I'm glad you're here, boys"
he said. am just arrange to have a
couple of places set for you at dinner.
How are things over in the U. S. Az"
We had been talking with him only
a few minutes when an officer brought
to him word that an s. o. s. signal had
been received from a certain point in
dicating that the Germans were pre-
pairing to attack. There was no blus.
ter. The information was given In
low, steady voice and the orders for
certain counter-measures were given In