Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-05
TELLS THRILLING STORY
 OF WAR ZONE TRAVELS
Miss carita Spencer Speaks at Home
 of Mrs. Oliver L. Johnson.

At the home of Mrs. Oliver John son on Saturday afternoon, large and interested audience listened to the thrilling experiences of woman'S travels through the war zone, as told by Miss Carita Spencer, who has re- gently returned from one of her many visits from the front. Privileged through her authority as chairman of the Food for France Fund, Miss Spencer has been in underground forts, penetrated war citadels. and seen many strange and tragic sights, which she described with vivid word pictur- es. helped materially by stereepticon views Some of these views were pho German lines; others were given her by officers at the front, and all were brought to America, without having been passed upon by the censor.
 pr. Frank s. Bunnel1 introduced Miss Spencer to her hearers, as one of the women who are doing real things in connection witE the war. out of ad- miration ~and love for the stricken people of France among whom she has lived and worked indefatigably
 The first films were of aviation pie lures, showing bombing and observa- ton planes. It is an interesting fact that whether the machines are of French. or English make, the aviaterS are invariably Americans. The big observation plane holds eight observ- CTS. and the little fighting plane one or two men. only. 4 fighting plane has two machine guns; one to De worked with he aviator's feet. the other by his hands so that he needs to keep his wits and courage about him every mi 0f iS sight, according to Miss Spencer. to witness the preparations for an aerial battle, when the sky is thick with the planes, and the air resonant with their buzzins and the sharp reports of the 0mbins.
 An observer takes photographs through a hole in the bottom of the plane, and there is where the sym tenn of well directed camouf1age comes into play. for, having photo graphed the enemy's grounds one day, over night this same area may be so cleverly camouf1aged with canvas or cheese cloth tWif.ed with innumerable twi@s, that a picture taken the next day Of that identical spot. is entirely different, and therefore, absolutely worthless. for war purposes.
 The nature of the country changes perceptibly as one travels toward the Ferdun front; at first start every thing seems prosperous and in good conditior-the forests intact and thick. Going further and further towards the frontier, however. the woods, destroy ed by millions of shells, are abso- lutelY barren and ruined. and finally nothing is left but stumps and miles upon miles of mud. such mud as one cannot imagine. who has not tried to cross over it.
 When entering a communica ton trench the soldiers have to crawl on hands and feet, then, step down and make all the rest Of their progress (two miles or more) under ground from one trench to another, thence to the main line. Pictures were shown of semi destroyed trenches. big enough to shelter one man, also, of dug -outs pro- tGated b5 scanolding and sand bags which would provide scanty shelter for eight soldiers. After all engage ments, a salvage corps Is sent out to clean up every bit of metal left on the field. which may be put to some use.
 l Ferdun itself is veritable religion
 to the French people as the spot sa- cred to their brave soldiers courage where the Germans did not pass There is nothing left there now. which is not destroyed. In a little military citadel. composed of rough houses and underground streets, there are liv- l ing about 1000 soldiers Miss Spencer l was the first American woman te spend the night in these strange
 quarters. and could not say enough oi the cordial welcome and delicacy witt ] which she was treated.
 1 At Souvilie, still stands the orig. 1 inal fort, which never surrendered tc | the Germans: here 400 soldiers live l having a little citadel of their own
 protected by disappearing guns. After showing films of shell-scar. ! red Fleury and of Fort Daumont, the latter photographed in the third for
 underground Miss Spencer spoke a, l length on the subject nearest hel l heart, the work of helping th1 repa. 1 tries. When we realize that in this | last Germa1 drive, tens of thousant of families were thrown out of theil | homes, told to evacuate ever night I with no place else to go. and no con veyances to carry them, we may i'm
 agine the misery N1d starvation tha
 was their portion Particularly pathe 1 tic were the cases of the children ant
 old old people, so broken and fee l ble. that they only wanted to be lef
 to die in peace And .then-to realize
 that the price of one ice cream. soda will feed such a family of refuges fol
 a whole day.
 The thrift of these people Is wonder,
 full; with a little help of food and
 clothing. 9. few pots and pans ant
 sticks of furniture they set # worl
 to rebuilt their homes in a miraculous
 ly short time We in America should help by giving of our plenty. w must make our sacrifices as a nation
 As it is we are. three and a half year. late getting into the war, anyway and whether men or women, we mus
 all be soldiers. Nothing brings ou group sacrifice as war does: men ,wht put on khaki and go to the front
 make the great selfess sacrifice doins 1 it solely for principle and country, cause-they don't realize that at first but they get it over there-it develop, i inside growth for you can't kill cour
 are and endurance. Our boys at thu front are doing their part (hoti l French and Eiglish speak fee;ingly O
 their intense satisfaction over tht