The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-05-17
WHERE SAMMIES GET
REST AND RECREATION
Between 800 and 500 Arrive or
Leave AiX-Les-Bains Each
Day-Well Cared For.


es-Bains.-Between 500 and
500 American soldiers are arriving
or leaving here each day on special
trains. Smaller numbers Of entering
and leaving the towns of Chambery,
Challes-les-Eaux and other places in
the department Of Savoie, which has
been selected as the first great leave
center of the American army. These
soldiers are Americas first "permis-
sionaires" on general leave. All of
the first arrivals have been members
of the first expedition to reach Franc.
and likewise the first to see active
service in the trenches.
The question of taking care Of
men on leave has been one of the
most important recreation problems
with which the United States army
has had to deal. After consulting
with representatives of the Young
Mems Christian association and 9th
er welfare organizations 1t was de-
oided to experiment with the plan of
selecting in turn various interesting
places in France to which the men
could be sent. General orders were
then issued granting each officer and
man in France a leave of seven days,
exclusive of travel time, once every
four months. Free transportation
is provided to men who spend their
leave in centers selected by the army.
Leave to Paris and other cities in
France, outside the leave area. is on
ly provided in exceptional cases.
Hotel Rates FIXED.
When the army selected the de-
partment of Savoie as the first leave
area, the Young Mems Christian as
sociation Immediately began to make
plans for the reception of the men.
Arrangements were first made with
hotel proprietors whereby they
would open their hotels earlier than
usual and reserve certain percent
age of their rooms for soldiers. All
hotels in the department, which con-
tracted with the Young Mems Chris
tian association to provide the neces-
sary accommodation, were divided
into three classes according to the
rates to be charged. These rates
were fixed at IL, IA and II francs
a day for room and board with the
understanding that no tips were to be
given by the men. Each hotel also
agreed to furnish the men with a hot
bath upon their arrival
At AiX-lesBains the Young Mems
Christian association leased the big
casino for the exclusive use OF the
soldiers. This includes a large thea
ter, assembly hall, and reading, writ
ing, billiard and game rooms. Az
ternoon and evening concerts and
theatricals are given in the theater
with both professional and amateur
talent as attractions. The soldiers
have made full use OF the handsome
casino which is in operation from Q
O'Clock in the morning until late at
night.
The famous thermal baths at Ak
les-Bains have been thrown open to
the soldiers for a nominal fee and
they are proving very popular, espe-
cially among those men who arrive
in AK fresh from the trenches OF
northeastern France. A number or
and fields have also
been leased where baseball diamonds,
football gridirons and outdoor bas-
ketball and tennis courts are being
laid out.
small steam launch on Lake
Bourget has been engaged for the
season and used to take soldiers on
excursions about the lake. including
visits TO the noted Hautecombe Alb
hey, where 43 princes Of the Italian
reigning house of Savoy are buried.
Hiking Parties.
Automobile drives have begun and
each morning hiking parties start on
trips to the SUBMITS of neighboring