The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-27
TOUR 0F FRONT
IS HEARTEM|NC
l.tCipROCAL NEWS SERVICE
o. Queen Anne's Gate. london
Resayed b. n. 4. Ofiic-.

tsy Il. WALTER.
Paris. tvla London. Dec. The IN
pres slDns os tour of the British frOnt
In Trance are quite the most he3rten'
ing that could be had anywhere la these
crlt.-at dsvs. II II out there aTnong
the fr,fen ponfis formed by the shell
hole IN thst arcsrv waste now car
petei with snow. that the real preT,aro.
tions for Christmas are being made
The Nearer We went tO the front line
trenches the more CHEEKY We found the
men Christmas Tor them viii have
NOR meaning than for anyone else In
the world. for they are lighting Ia make
5000 the Christmas message OF peace on
earth and good will among men.
london. Paris aud Washington may
talk about the completely of war aims.
but out there. there l. only one war
sim. that OF which Christmas j. the
great reminder We would not fight
another ,isy Tor anything less" was the
May one artillery officer put II 10 me.
They are supported one and all by
the unuuestiouing conviction that that
ss what they are fighting for suffer ]
ing for. dying for. | looked into the I
faces OF hundreds of German prisoners /
a. see whether IA them l could find I
any sign OF such conviction that they 4
Zoo. had fought and suffered In great
cause. but their expressions alternated
between sulien indifference and mere
animal satisfaction ia being better fed
and housed. and in every way treated
With more consideration. than they had
been b. their brutal superiors. Mixing
with crowd OF them at one place |
was able 10 confirm the impression OF
their bearing. The German armies. |
gathered. had still the morale OF fght- |
lug on conquered terrltorv c,but OF other
morale. OF any feeling tan they were
fighting for a great cause. for the vim
dication OF an that Christmas means. d
t&ey had none. q
And the British. besides the Christ h
mas spirit, are fighting on reooEauered 4
territory On practically ever mile Of /,
the line. which adds the morale of VIC .
Sory to their uncomfortable convictions. :.
Al several points our motor car passed =
ever territory which had visited IN the :
shelter OF trenches year ago and v
tsreugh, us To high ground. such as the !,
Z syuy Ridge. from which we saw vast :
stretches OF this reconanered territory. !.
SO extensive that Il gripped ones heart :.
To think IL had all been won yard by .
yard in deadliest .sghtine and sacrifice =
Where were only trenches and shell =
holes then. are now smooth rpads and "
houses aimsst fit ftr, occupation. thanks -
10 the work Of restoration that Tommy ~
IS doing in between battles in what he u
,a3ts his rest time. IN
Everywhere / found that confident m
spirit which leaves no room for the In
doubtful wraBgiing Of politicians A W
confidence that has come from realizing 10
he difficulties and dangers OF the situa In
ion. and knowing that they can be met te
nd overcome. Several times | asked III
whether IL was thought possible that
With the help of Russia the Hun could til
'resk through. and every time the AMI NJ
wcr was the same: "lf tie can it wcn'ti he
e here" This sentiment was appar- pa
ntly due less to regimental pride than re
o the feeling in each sector that that IA
articsiar. sector had been specially IA. IA
vred in strength of artillery and re- pa
erves by the discriminating kindness hi,
{ Haig. There Is littie wonder that OF
very sector should have this feeling Of fr,
pecial favcrs. for it is almost incred- m;
lie. without extensive observation. that M,
he British could send the force they he
ave sent to the aid of Italy not to
leHtion other more distant campaigns. vi
nd still leave every sector OF their
rench front so well provided. ~,
One question in which there was gen -
raj interest was the number OF Amer -
ans now in France. Everybody had ~ a.,
is own estimate. and as these esti- ~ ~
In
had to one million. probably some -
,dy guessed right. In Paris find ui'
itimates tend to run in dollars rather -,
ian In men. for Paris. in Spite Of its VI, W
reater proximity to the front. has a !"
and Indifference to any pos ne
BILE danger that is not nearly 50 a. !
arked in London. Paris. | find also. VVo
rs an abundance of food for those we
no can payI. which is startling 10 one COZ
to the voluntary restric- "a
1ns OF London. Those who cannot ma
y believe II otherwise, but wherever pai
? go. in hotels and restaurants and bro
there is no stinting in food of
drink Americans everywhere are ans
nspicuous buyers. Naturally the poilu ing
beginning to take notice Of the great fice
ference between his meagre pay and he
al Of Sammy He is also beginning tioi
ask. but without any anxiety. when En-
e Americans are going to take over the
part OF the line The French and vic
'riish, he says. haVe' put thousands q
% the line less well prepared than tim
American troops in trahce today aut
is partly in answer TO this feeling Il
II Pershing made a statement about wat
th0rOughness % American prepara- shig
rs before taking over any OF the ans
nj. which l am glad 10 have had the OF
Dortunity OF observing was very well frar
'eiyed IN PARIS Ai'osether France hisl
I W eseii1e1 oY fAtS ana otiter towns svei
! = pieas.iht suip ne PEA
iutry appears to be- in better con -.
lon than year ago. That was not i.,so,,
case, however. in the small country nj,
ms where there were only too many ~,
a--2ceS OF decay, houses and barns -
wing many signs Of neglect although -
fields themselves have been kept -.
ter strenuous cultivation. France is -.
bled white. she still has plenty OF
4 ~ ,hs 80, s',s,o-,'.- -, * C.
a. ~ irnn.t,encs g. s,,,ass,'s1, - - WUri
- - - - exte
hill