Evening journal., 1918-04-15
REST CAMPS FOR
French Soldiers
Country is Restoring Eff.
cheney Of the Exhausted
Fighters
SIX WEEKS ALLOWED
FOR THE PROCESS

FRENCH FRONT, Apcil i5.---Six weeks
are allowed In some instances for s
regiment to lie IN a rest camp for rent
ting and restoration Of its efficiency.
offer a period Of hard service In The
lrst-llne trenches Take the case Of the
999th infantry a fictitious number Of a
real regiment, Tor example:
When the men came down 10 the can
ionment six weeks ago from the sector
they had been holding, the 999th looked
somewhat the worse for wear The
men were dirty and fatlgued, and their
uniforms were far from being OF the
original bright horizon blue OF the time
Of their issue. There were a few gaps
IN the ranks. although not OF serious
nature, for there had been no big en-
gagement.
Arrived IN the small country town,
the various quads were told of to
their billets, where packs were thrown
or. arms ranged and everybody except
the guards settled down to rest. The
following morning the entire regiment
was Inspected, and note was taken Of
the mems requirements in the way OF
new uniforms. Then there was gem
eral wash-up OF dirty articles of cloth
ing, and the men went In groups to the
hot and cold shower baths now installed
in every cantonment, while many Wis
tied the company barber. BY tho end OF
the day a complete change had come
over the appearance Of the men. On the
ensuing day the roll was called Of those
men entitled to the regular ten days
furlong due TO them every months
and large groups Of them speedily made
their way to the nearest railroad sta
ton. from which a leave train" was
scheduled 10 start.
All Is not rest In tho rest camps. The
work there is sometimes very hard, fGr
the men are kept constantly at exercise
with The bayonet and ordinary manual
exercise. They must perfect themselves
IN the new formations brought about
by notifications In the tactics necessary
for tho most efficient employment Of the
automatic rifle, the rifle grenade and
the hand-grenade, as we'll as In the best
methods Of maneuvering all Of which
undergo constant change. 10 Is not all
hard work, however, for the men find
plenty Of opportunity to indulge in
sports, which abe greatly encouraged by
the officers. BY the time the period OF
rest Is over and all the men have re-
turned from furloueh the regiment Is in
a condition OF the highest efficiency,
while the strain from which the men
had suffered while under constant bonn
bardment In tho trenches has complete
ly worn or.
It was In this state Of efficiency and
general cheeriness that the 999lh found
itself when the bugles rang out the
! reveille on morning Of its return to the
trenches. After breakfast Of hot coffee
and bread the regiment started OF o.
! IT'S 25-mile march to tho sector to which
1 II had been assigned.
( With the men carrying their heavy
packs and arms the pace was not rapid
/ The very sensible arrangements Of tho
French regulations call for a i0-mlnute
! halt every hour which is highly sp-
precialed by The men. twenty-five miles
is a long way with over 30 pounds
weight on ones back. and when dusk
ftll and they reached the immediate rear
Of the front position there were many
weary ones among them Every now
aud again a shell would scream over
head and sometimes one Of them would
strike the ground nearby. In the dark
ness this was rather disoOncerting to
the new hands, but veteran comrades
would rcassure them.