Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-05-15
WILL DESCRIBE.
F|CHT|AG ALONG.
WESTERN FRONT

Last week in Raleigh, N. G., s. P. Ali
lison, the Redpath advance man in
Americus, had talk with Robert Bow
man. who will appear here on the
Chautauqua platform Friday night
May 18th. For eighteen months Mr..
bowman has been serving in France in
the American ambulance corps, and is |
pow home on furlough. He holds an
honorary commission as lieutenant in
the French army Before leaving Chi
cago to begin this Chautauqua tour,
he fled an application for release, 50
that he could join the forces of his
cwn country.
For several months he served in the
valley Of the Somme and was later
transferred to the verdun sector. He
was there during the first attack OIL
the Germans.
He relates a bit OF inside history,
touching the first plans of General
Joffre at Verdun and how the rejection
Of these plans by which he hoped to
end the great war at one stroke, caused
the French commander to tender his
resignation on February Is, 1917.
According to MIR. Bowman, General
Joffre had positive information that the
German crown prince was to inaugu-
rate his great offensive against verdun
on February Is. The old French hero,
the military genius of the war, know
ing the psychology of the crown prince,
carefully formulated a plan by which
tie impulsive young man was TO be al
lowed to capture verdun, and think
ing that he. had broken the back OIL
tie French line, was TO be drawn
cn with the cream OF the assaulting
army until 10000 chasseuvs cut off his
retreat, when ten French arn1y corps
massed behind verdun were to crush !
the crown princes army and deal a
blow which General Joffre was conf
dent would end the war.
When General Joffre outlined this
Llan at a secret session OF the cham
Der of deputies, NJ. Delcasse objected |
IF we lose Verdun.' he exclaimed, 1--WE
lose the warI" Bulgaria and Rumania
Fad not yet entered the war, would |
never espouse the cause if Verdun
were lost, he argued, while Greece
would take hostile stand. This argu-
nent appealed with such force to the
deputies that General Joffres plan was
rejected and although he rendered his
resignation, he nevertheless was given
the task Of going on with the gigantic
plan of re-arranging his campaign
while the Germans were attacking Tho
time consumed in doing this cost theI
French 100000 men. says Mr.. Bow
man.
MIR. Bowman brought home with him
many relics. ana if possible some will
be exhibited in Americus during Chau-
taucua week. Among them are the gas
masks he used when working lin the
gas" carrying off the wounded. Among
the relics are the shattered tail-light
Of his ambulance, one. Of the small
American flags with which he decorat-
Ell ii. some OF his war maps and mill
fary passes, and some articles taken
from dead German and Austrian off,
GERS, as for instance, an automatic piss
tol, and brandy flask, with dent in
it made as the officer fell.
Mr.. Bowman viii show many lantern
slides made from pictures he took,
same of which are most noteworthy.
qhe French call the Americans fools
because Of the risks they take to get
fictures and to see things. But not all
their risks are of that nature. For
tbirty-two hours without let-up one
time. Mr.. Bowman worked on field,
in the gas and under the German ar
tilIery FIRE. carrying off the wounded.
Il. recognition Of his bravery, the
French government awarded him the
cross Of War, with the gold star, the
highest decoration awarded to for
csgn non-comhatant.
This message from an American who
has already been under FIRE in this war
hss won much attention, and the boys i
IN khaki always crowd to hear it. Mr..
Bowman is Yale graduate and It is
renorted that he has one Of the finest
natural speaking voices Of any man on
the program.
Buy Tickets Early.
But three and half days remain be
FIRE the Americus Chautauqua opens.
A. that time the priceof season ticket
20 u -. 90 nn Cham /.