Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-19
j. S. CAMP IN FRANCE
IS LIKE BIT or AMERICA
Praise for Friendly Co-Opera-
ton Of People.
NOW THOROUGHLY AT HOME
Countryside Is Dotted With Newly
Erected Barracks That Make Beau
tiful Neighborhood Even More Pic
turesquc.
Thy Associated Press.l


troops have been here for less than a
week-thcy are not all here by any
mcans--and they have already mado
themselves thoroughly at home. SO
much SO that this section OF France
looks like a little bit of America.
The correspondent made an extended
visit to tho cncampments this morn
ing. and found the men ut and in good
spirits. and full OF praise for tho friend
~ cooperation Of the French people,
who have willingly and gladly given
up many Of their own comforts to ac-
commodate the army. The available
houses, however. arc not sufficient to
accommodate all the Americans who
have arrived, and so the countryside Is
dotted with newly-crccted barracks
that have sprung up over night and
make even more picturesque this beau
tiful ncighborhood
Water Is abundant here. but uncer-
tain as to purity, SO the troops are
adopting altering methods by means of
bags suspended from tri-poles, which
astonish the local inhabitants almost
as much as the America inexplicable
thirst for water. which is unknown to
wine drinkers. many OF whom seldom
touch water. 1t is task which the
army had taken upon itself is the
clearing up OF the entire countryside,
and at the present pace the whole dis
trict will soon look like a well-ordered
garden Such prisoners as are under
arrest for minor infractions of the regu-
lations are employed each morning in
making headquarters spotless and are
bringing such a degree of orderliness
into the place that the original resi-
dents arc amazed. Likewise they find
II difficult TO understand why the SOL
diers take SO many baths. for the men
make for the nearest stream and dive
In as soon as they are at liberty.
DAILY EVENING CONCERT
ATTRACTS GREAT CROWDS
The presence OF the soldiers here
has naturally introduced many novel
ties. but probably none is more well
come than the daily evening concert,
which attracts people from far around,
people chiefly who have never heard
lively American music and who have
been without music since the outbreak
OF the war.
An attractive feature Of the camp Is
lion cub, which occupies a corner in
the camp of certain regiment The
cub was presented as a mascot By
American residents in Paris. He was
young and playful and harmless
short time ago. but is growing aston
ishingly and is a vcritable terror to the
townspeople and now source of
doubtful amusement to the soldiers.
many of whom bear scratches to testify
10 the nature OF his playfulness
An even more strenuous course of
training is in force here than at the
original camp near the landing point of
the troops. The men work minimum
of eight hours daily: the officers from
twelve to sixteen. In addition. they
take tremendous hikes to sc, into con-
dition. Here and there one falls by the
wayside by the eNertion. but the ma
jority are standing the gan in a way
that speaks volumes for the efficiency
of the system.
The latest development Of the camp
is a post-oftice which will enable men
to mail letters either home or to any
other point in the world. to keep in
constant communication with friends
without revealing their exact where
abouts by the tell-tale cancellation
mark on envelopes. and to receive mail
either through families or friends who
do not know what the destination Of
their letters may be. The system will
be enlarged to fit needs.
ALL MAIL ADDRESSED FROM
AMERICAN TRAINING CAMP
At present it consists in requiring OF
each soldier or officer that he address
his communications of every nature
from the American Training Camp. and
deposit them in a special post office
from where they will be taken by pouch
to Paris and mailed in the ordinary
manner. Similarly return mail should
be addressed to the training camp Of
the American expeditionary forces.
Paris. whence 1t will be forwarded to
the proper address.
When the troops left their base they
took with them surplus supplies which
are being turned back to the quarter
masters department headquarters for
redistribution SO that there will soon
be more than enough OF such things as
tobacco and similar little luxuries which
have been somewhat scarce among
some troops and sections.
Each succeeding day brings a better
degree OF order and system out of the
inevitable confusion attendant upon
moving large body of troops. Officers
who are billeted among the inhabitants
are still billeting at the moderate
prices that prevail for the majority.
They may be requested to pay one
franc daily for quarters and provided
they eat at hotel" expend francs
daily for excellent food.
Prices are thus kept low to prevent
repetition of events early in the war
when allied troops in French territory.
accustomed to the city prices. all but
sDoileo the French population by pay
ing what seemed to them moderate.
hut really enormous rates for every.
thing.