The Tomahawk., 1918-08-08

1OWN upon beautiful French city
descended a foreign military force
capturing the place by Storm &C.
| cupying it for eight days and then
- marching away, leaving the inhab-
1871 tants cheering, and waving friendly
f.J adieux. For the foreign force was
-~th the first party of American permits
sionaires-s0ldiers on leave-and the
civ WAS Aix-les-Bains, the first American leave
center in France. Here the French saw the
Americans at play and we're satisfied
Ankles Beans" the American boys pronounce
It. at the inpsinent risk of the name being short
ened to 1.-The Beans" Aka jewel. clear-cut,
with brilliant facets set in a frame Of gorgeous
moonlight and of wonderful opaline' sunsets and
sunrises. This Is the beauty spot to which sent
the boys in ove-drab. wearied by months in
trench mud, under bursting Shells And this is
the story Of the first permissionaires to arrive In
Aix-the American soldiers Blighty.
On a certain bright Saturday a cosmopolitan
crowd gathered at the railroad station all in a
high state of anticipation. One could easily pick
out the persons of prominence, the mayor, the
doctors, lawyers and others of small but as
sured incomes. And it might be noticed that the
older women kept watchfu eyes ON the jeunne
nlles who tense with expectancy gazed up the
iron road along which the first pernssonaires
were to come. For who could tell what romance
might not be on the way. romance excusing the
nuttering Of eyelids and the extra nicely of
dress? II
leans feel right at home. the crowd featured a
negro band and the local baseball nine composed
OF small boys in scarlet jerseys and linen trous-
eEs, with legs bare as only French boy ever
dares wear them. The lads had small American
flags tied around their arms and their teeth were
rattiing with the cold, for the snow lay on the
mountain sides and refrigerated wind blew
down from there.
In the crowds also were American officers and
visitors, Y. NJ. c. A. secretaries canteen workers
and uncatalogued spectators Before the Ameri-
cans arrived dozen British aviators their
way to Italy changed trains and. seeing the
throng, asked the reason. On being Informed.
they exclaimed with heartfelt approval:
'Wlsh we were American per1nissionaires!"
And we'll they might. for beautiful AK, which
"a the happy days before 1914 had attracted the
discriminating visitors of all nations, in more
than gala dress this day, painting the lily, while
military and civil representatives had assembled
there to give welcome to the boys who had come
from the west shores of the Atlantic to fight
shoulder to shoulder with the French 49,
These the early arrivals of the American
expeditionary force which landed in France last
summer-reguars and volunteers. They had come
from the trenches with scarcely IN hour to pre-
pare.
They wore their trench helmets, their packs
were their backs, their clothes and boots COW
cred with mud, their faces grimy, their hair dis
ordered. Their train was two hours late but the
crowd has been waiting that time and the cold
winds have not chilled the enthusiasm which
greeted the appearance of the Yankees
1T certainly did make impression" said one
old regular Of this reception. I'VE didn't know
what kind of a place 1t and some of US
were sore because couldn't go to Paris, while
half of didn't have the money to see 1t
through, the right outfit. But guess Uncle
Sam had an idea it would be just well to let
the French people know the American troops
weren't kept in bandboxes and tissue paper. but
were in the fight"
There was no doubt in the minds Of those who
WATCHED the boys getting out Of the cars that
they had been ut the front. They were hungry
and tired, having been 80 hours on the way, with
only one stoprover, where the Red Cross unit had
/, Breakfast ready for them. But they were too &C
customed to discipline to resist speech-makfng
and hospitality, 80 they listened patiently to the
provost marshal's friendly admontions to shun
wine and women. No ban was placed on song.
Then-on with the welcome!
The negro band erupted into jazz and raggy
noises taking the Americans back home In spirit
ut least, following which French orchestra
ewunR gracefully into the strains Of a Suite de
Nassenete," and the permissionaires we're es-
Ssrted to their temporary homes. They were led
HArough streets f1anked by fag-draped balconies.
from which pretty girls cried with familiar greet
ing: %s T. .-.....
.vive rAmerique! vive la France! vive Oncle
SAM" "#- .-.-
And that Is how the first American permis-
.sionaries came to the A. e. F.'s Blighty, with a
blare Of trumpets a waving Of flags, cheers,
smiles sparkling eyes and welcoming speech. Be
fore them lay eight days of Clean delighttui
recreation amid beautiful scenes and-probably
hest Of illuminated baths.
=, "We've fed on mud" said enc happy permis-
naouaire "Thc rats come and sit on the edges
Of our straw and give use morning salute. we
haven't had a real wash for so long tnat we've
.ln,ost forgotten how it feels to have that sense
OF seIfrespect that comes with the morning tub"
AK with its famous waters, baths and casinos
needs no introduction to many men In the Amer
ican expeditionary force. In the days before the
war It attracted thousands OF Americans e eaen
Leon among them the late J. Pierpont Nor
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