Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-29
AMERICANS RUN
FRENCH TRAINS;
Use GAS MASKS
Seven Philadelphians Among
Those Henri Bazin En-
counters in Tour
John v. NEwLIN's GRAVE
Bv HENRI BAZIN

star CofLespondent Of the Erentn1 Ledger 'o'h
the American Arnu tn FrdHce
AMERICAN FIELD HEADQUARTERS,
sept. 90.
The engineers are the only operating 'aii-
road men in France wearing American
khaki They run their French trains
with helmets upon head and gas mask
hanging from hip. Their equipment and
methods are American, but their .fe Is
that Of the French soldier, even to their
grub, since, en- bloc, they are temporarily
loaned to the French army. They use the
French front system Of a man walking
ahead on bombed portions of the rallied line
VIII .h OF course. limits the speed of trains
but has obviously greater advantages. Their
regiment was one of the several recently
reviewed in London by the King of Eng
land
found seven among those to whom ]
talked who hail from Philadelphia, WISH
the rules applying to correspondents work
would hermit me to mention their names,
that the EVENING LEDGER might thus give
their greeting to their people At least
can say they are well and hearty and very
much on the Job.
AT PHILADELPHIAN'S GRAVE
Upon a Journey from. point to point to-
day / passed a hospital Our car stopped
for water and 1 wandered on snort
distance, where 1 saw the hospital ceme-
terry / always look in every military ceme-
terry can, with the vague idea Of some time
finding my brothers grave. Perhaps some
day l shall ere this war is over In this
one could find no trace.
But upon one cross. decorated with the
cockade of France, I found the last resting
place of a Philadelphia boy, John V. New
H. .ffRuVN a
bulance lost his life under fire on August
s, 1917. The grave was covered with a
great bronze palm. surrounded by growing
pansies. Upon the palm were the carNen
words, American Field Service-Mort
Pour la France" l had tiny American
flag in my pocket, one | had bought In April
when we entered the war, and took 1t out
and entwined It about bronze prong of the
wreath. / also took a photograph of the
grave with the intent of requesting the
EVENING LEDGER to send it to Mr.. New
lirrs people. But under new ruling l am
denied. sending it. l hope this ruling may
be amended a little later tha may forward
both the print and the film
The grave is one of a long row, all alike
all with the cross. the tricolor Cockade, the
aluminium Identification plaque upon which
are stamped name service and date of death
1t Is, as all the others, beautifully cared fol
in tenderness of gratitude by the people
Of France.
LENIENCY TO PRISONERS
The difference between French and Boche
methods as to treatment Of prisoners wa>
forcibly brought to my attention To-Day. We
had stopped in village where presently
another American division will have ~
headquarters At present it is entirely
French, and our uniforms were the wonder
of the Inhabitants VOLTA des Americans =
they had said as we entered, and in a
twinkling our car was surrounded by French
kiddles.
Nearby was a French caserne or bar
racks. In its courtyard 1 saw young
Boche prisoner walking around an magi-
nary square with a knapsack upon his
back He had, it seemed attempted to es-
cape, and being far from Boche lines had
taken a last chance. When recaptured, in
stead Of being brutally punished after the
Boche method with French prisoners, he
had been merely given the simple task of a
four-hour walk daily, two in the forenoon
and two in the afternoon, with thirty-fve
pounds of sand upon his back
1t is not too much to say that the Sam
NEE, or the Poilu or the Tommy on leave
on furlough. en- permission las the three are
the same). form and will; form an important
element in the victory to come, for absences
from the fighting lipe aid much in maintain
ing morale in lie armies to which the fight
r ing man returns and much in maintaining
the morale, too, of those behind the lines