Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-02
CAMP DES ETATS-
UN|S, over IN FRANCE

ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence
French Front. July 16.-"Camp des
Flats Unis'' is the name of one of the
best organized encampments i'm
mediately behind the lighting front Of
the French army somewhere between
La Fere and Saint Quentin. but the
rame does not imply the presence of
American soldiers. 1t was thus hap
tised in honor of the visit of Abram |.
Elkus, formerly American Ambassador
to Turkey, traces of whose ge
through these devastated regions may
be found in the names given to roads,
bridges and groups of nuts.
One of the bridges over the Saint
Quentin canal wears the appellation
"Brooklyn Suspension Bridge" and evil
IDENTIFY some of the engineers who
helped to construct 1T had seen the
original bridge over the East River, for
wires have been hung in imitation of
that structure. The length naturally
bears no comparison with that of its
ramesake.
The correspondent of The Associat-
ed Press, while passing through on the
way to inspect the Camp des Etats-
Cnis," had witnessed many scenes of
desolation, but nothing more complete
than that of the little town of Jussv it.
self. BEFORE the war the place had
been very fiourishing center in an
agricultural district. 1t possessed 1866
inhabitants. whose dwellings, were all
substantial constructions of stone and
brick Now not civilian is to be
found there, nor a soldier either, for
before evacuating the town under the
strong pressure of the French and
British troops the Germans had taken
care not to leave a single building
standing.
1t is not like other villages which
have suffered at the hands of the Ger
mans, since in most of them at least
one or two shells of habitations are
still to be seen. Here every house was
systematically demolished, great
high-explosive bomb having been
placed among the foundations of each
one and all connected by wire to an
electric center. from which the current
was turned on a quarter of an hour
AFTER the last detachment of German
troops had passed through the streets
ID their hurried retreat. In a moment
'ussy was gone. cloud of dust and
small blocks of brick and stone settled
down on what had been its location
and now from a short distance nothing
can be discerned to indicate the for
mer position of the village.
Even today. although the Germans
know there is no possible Judgment for
troops among the ruins, they fire into
the rubbish heaps very frequently from
their positions on the opposite sides of
the marshes bordering the Disc. the
only result Of this waste of ammuni
ton being to cover the surface of the
canal waters with brick dust.
The French general commanding the
division holding the line along the Disc
in this vicinity is very proud of his
troops. all of them veterans of MANY
battles further north on the Somme
and also around Nerdun. He looks af-
ter their personal comfort with the
greatest care, whether they are in the
trenches or in their rest camps behind
the lines. He is a great believer in en-
couragtng the spirit of sport. and when
the men go into cantonments for their
period of repose from the hard life Of
the front line they spend most of the
time while they are not practicing the
latest tactics in playing field games.
Football is one of their favor;te
pastimes. and some Of the battalions
have several teams which play inter
company and inter battalion games.
The general has his headquarters in
what was a stable. His tables are
plain white wood and the seating ac-
commodation is composed of rough
benches. All around the walls are
hung flags of the various allied nations
presented by visitors. and the largest
of them is a silken American flag given
him by the former American ambassa-
dor to Turkey.