The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-06-23
BY JAMES NJ. TUOHY.


War takes no account of the Sabbath
They toll and fight seven days week
at the front. Not only laws but dog
mas are Silenced by the guns.
1t happened that we visited Arras
on Sunday. The whole countryside
from the base up to the front was
alive with movement. Motoring fol-
hours along the broad, straight
Switchback French roads you found
them groaning under the heavy traf-
fic of war supplies.
POnderOus motor lOrrieS dominated
the scene-lOrries in hundreds, lOr-
ries in thousands. One stream was
going up. another stream coming
down. The automobile picked its
way as well as 1t could in between,
and at cross roads one found Brit
ish traffic Orderlies keeping the
streams moving in regulated process
sion, just as the London policeman
does at the Bank Of England or Re
gent Circus.
Otherwise the confusion and delays
would be interminable; and de-
lay In sending up supplies to a fight
ing army might be fatal business.
In the course of some days motor
ing up to various points on the Bril-
fish fighting line. over roads literally
packed with all sorts Of vehicles-lOr-
ries, buses full Of soldiers. ammuni-
ton wagons drawn by teams Of mules,
guns with their gun carriages. from
the handy field piece to the mammoth
howitzer. traction engines-and never
once did We see a tie-up. Everything
was going forward or coming back
with absolute smoothness, the whole
complicated organization working
with clOckwork precision.
Vast Camps Behind Line.
At frequent intervals along these
roads you came upon camps of all
sorts-soldiers' camps, veterinary
camps. vast motor garages. mule cor
rails. supply Camps, repair camps,
draft horse Enclosures, munitiOn
depots, parks of artillery. hospital
camps and occasionally cages for
German prisoners. Everything re-
quired by the modern army is to be
seen in the utmost profusiOn, with
order and system the presiding de-
tiles.
This does not apply merely to the
road to Arras. but to all the other
highways throughout the whole Of the
army zone. Khaki is the prevailing
hue. The British soldier permeates the
whole region, and save in the towns
and villages the French inhabitants
only the old and the very young-are
rarely to be seen.
Not only the roads but the railway
ines are working at top pressure in |
he business Of the war. 1t is curious |
% see trains of English cars drawn
~ English engines running on the |
French tracks. The amalgamation be-
ween the two races in their Joint eff |
ort to conquer the BOche seems to be !
complete.
Shopkeepers Coin Money.
Needless to say. the shopkeepers
ire coming money out of this friendly
rmy of occupation. On this Sunday
when the men from the re-
erve camps had finished their days
york, they were flocking into nearest
owns for few hours relaxation at
cafe or cinema. They are perfect
at home among their continental
and in nothing has
heir adaptiveness displayed itself so
uickly as in their assimilation of the
atmosphere of the
'rench.
Next to the vastness and variety
f this military concentration, with
ii its endless qualifications, you are
impressed by the confident spirit of
he army. Whether the Tommy is
trolling about in his hours of ease
ar from the fighting line, marching
18th his heavy pack along the dusty
Dad, or under shell fire in his reserve
amps up close to the front, where
ny minute a BOche projectile may
md in his midst, he is doing his task
18th bright cOuntenance, lifting the
lst favorite song from the music halls,
DING on his perilous way with light
cart. .
Among the officers the sporting spir-
in which they take their part, is
eyOnd admiration. When you hear.
erhaps, a young fellow of twenty-five
liking about the 'strafeS' he was in
months ago-when ammunition. un-
ke these times, was dangerously
.arce-and you see two or three
Ound stripes on his arm, and the
insult of the war seems to be the one |
object of his life, you are
st in wonder
But nothing is more inspiring at the
ont than the hourly heroism of the
oval Flying corps. The Sunday we
sited the Arras battlefield it was
light sunshine, with some white
Ouds far aloft, and, as the COM
uniques say, there was considerable l.
tivity' above and below.
Odds Against Them.
AS far as the aviatOrs were con- h
rned this meant that every few min Il
es two or three planes were seen K
airing away over the German lines. | c,
me on bombing expeditions. others ir
: observation and Photographic pur- m
ses. Every one of these fiiers went W
a. a.