The Detroit times., 1917-11-20

dun. guest OF Col. ---. it's
commander.
All day long violent artillery
duel had been on between the
French and Germans, and every
time our small party OF American
observers had tried 20 get near
enough 20 the German lines beyond
Forts Naux and Douaumont 20 watch
infantry operations a German she'll
would playtully fail IN our vicinity
and scare Us al stiff
Even the safety OF Fort Souville
hardly treasured as. There we had
all taken turns sitting In chair
that had been occupied "A few days
before by the king OF Italy and
signing our names in Tho guest
book "
Incidentally. Victor Emanuel gave
his occupation as king % Italy" /
wrote newspaper reporter" after
my name. They're both or the
same page
shorty before The dinner hour
we ronched The Nerdun citadel.
Outside tho might was inky black
and, adding 10 a dismal exterior pic
ture. a cold drizzling rain was TALL
ing. chilling 20 the marrow the gray
overcoated sentinels who silently
trudged their posts along the river
Meuse
But inside the fortress everything
was warm and bright and cheertul
The long. narrow. concrete-built
corridors that stretched for hun
dreds ~ yards were studded with a
thousand electric bulbs and every
room and compartment opening on
! them held a group OF laughing chat
ting polus. enjoying their evening
meal and talking over events 81 the
day
In a little dining room in ne
heart Of the fortress. hundred feet
below the earths surface. Colonel
(-----l arose and with uplift-
ed glass. faced his American guests.
FOR a long time. around a table
that had contained msny good things
10 eat. he had been discussing the
war situation and Americas part
As be stood there leaning upon
the cane Tone Of his legs had been
frozen as no personally led his
troops IN midwinter assault ON
German positions outside Ncrdun)
ready 70 propose toast 20 the great
and powerful ally no wss noble
figure
A large powerfnlly-hunt man OF
abou, so. snow white hair: ruddy
complexion: a joyial kindly face
with blue eyes that twinkled with
merriment: something about
him" that would inspire all men 10
deeds ~ valor
ON tho wall behind him was hung
"A large bronze tablet-the imper
ishahl0 motto OF Nerdun.
ION NE PASsE PAST"
THEY SHALL NOT PAST"
There was a hushed silence
MY dear friends from Beyond the
seas" he said, 81 lift my glass 20
toast tho nation that has always
been the unfailing friend and ally
i Of our beloved France
"The bonds Of love and sympa'
ihy that have always existed ne
tween our two countries will be-
come still stronger. now that We are
brothers In arms In tho cause OF
world democracy
France has given unspanngly or
its blood IN making good tho motto
OF Verdun. But the brave men who
have died will not have died IN
vain. because with rich, powerful.
resourceful and determined Amerl
ca on our side 4, Is now impossible
10 conceive or anything but a com
plefe victory for the allied cause.
u drink 70 America and al
Americans. France loves them all
The toast was drunk with deep
emotion on both sides and appro
pirate responses from tho Americans
followed
Through n all. however. my rep
ertorial instincts had not deserted
me.
Al Fort souville. during the after
noon The fort commander had gwen
mo. for a souvenir. one or his enVel
opes with the official stamp OF Fort
Souville In the upper lefthhnd cor
ner.
When the commander OF Verdun
Eat down, after his toast, ! handed
him this envelope and my fountain
pen.
II am sure. Colonel. the American
people would appreciate written
greeting from you"
1T viii be a great pleasure" And
on tho envelope he wrote under his
name. Colonel (-------). com
mandant OF the army OF Vordun'
They shall Not Pass" II send my
kindest regards 10 America and the
American people ITO Mr.. {.
Lyon"
I'd better put the official stamp
% Verdun on this or somebody
might say n was not genuine" he
laughed
We woro about 90 take leave when
the Colonel bad o happy thought.
I'D love 10 hear YOU sing the
Star Spangled Banner" he said.
I'm another room was little ola
piano that had wcathered all The
bloody storm.
But not one OF us Americans
could play n noieI
We got thru the first verse IN
fine style. but there was a good deal
~ humming and ia. las" toward
the end ~ the second
The way tho Frcnchmen then
sang their own national hymn made
Us Americans ashamed ~ ourselves.
when we went out into the night
we hardly noticed that - was still
DRILLING
Community Chorus Holds Practice.
-