Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-25
STREETS OF CHAUMONT
NARROW AND CROOKED
American General Headquarters Lo
!. Gated in Newer Part OF Old
= French City.
pERsHINc USES PLAIN DESK
Boulevard Renamed Avenue DcS
Flats Cnis Last Fourth OF July.
Commander in Chief Lives in
Chateau Five Miles Out.

GENERAL HEADQUARTERS AMER
ICAN NPEDlTI AIRY FORCE.
AUMONT. HAUTE NJ y II \ l..
FRANCE. December. c4.-(Special.l-
,eresting secrets OF the army. in France,
the location Of the home of the COM
, nander-in-chief and the general staff.
Until few days ago when the cen.
the new conditions created by the ar
inistice, Chaumuut has never been per-
mitted 20 be mentioned in connection
with the American forces.
The exact whcrca bouts of the gen.
cral Headquarters of any force, allied
pr enemy' is 5 never revealed duri IN;
this secrecy are obvious. and in this
war the airplaue made il ever more
necessary. for Chaumont lies but a
little flight from what were long the
II is an old and picturesque city.
quiet and conservative beyond even
and gas and elecuic lights, but no
street railways and few places of
amusement even III normal times. 1t
lies in the center OF an agricultural, and
grazing district. is quite seat OF
education and historically very inter
esting, ms indeed is every city OF its
age in France.
There are really two Chaurnonts the
ancient town with its narrow, toriuous
streets, its typical buildings with Curl
Gus tokers and but;resscs and arches
giving Slimpses through half opened
gates or iron griilS OF uuain; gardens
and Quainter courts ManH OF the
passage OF wheeled vehicles, and the
big staff motor cars find difficulty in
navigating the best OF the old town
Extending outward on the high
plateau upon which the city is located
is newer and more modern Chau-
@G rfHS Hf an nG Me
residences OF the well-to-do and middle
classes. Here the wide boulevards are
tree lined and parked.
1t is in this eastern part OF the
plateau that general headquarters are
located. occupying the French military
post turned oyer TO the Americans By
barracks and numerous lesser build
ings were renovated by the American
staff. electric lights installed: paint and
in rooms where once the poilus bar
rscked the great headquarters s,af
works. Every office is connected by
operated by American girls.
LIBERTY LOAN POSTERS ONLY
WALL DECORATIONS
The three large harrack buildings
form three sides OF n great parade
second floor are the Offices OF Gem
cral PershinG and no soldiers wort:
place could be more severe. His own
office and its reception room are pre-
ciseiy' like every other Office in the
thrce buildings. The walls are white
washed and practically barren OF ornar
ment except for some Liberty loan
rosters. plain fiat topped oak desk
stands between the two windows and
round about a few plain yellow chairs.
y stove and table against the wall
complete The furnishings.
Headquarters are situated on a wide
Tree lined boulevard in the center o:
which, between two more rows of fine
old shade trees, is a spacious walk
way Until last Fourth OF July this
was known as the Avenue de For,
LIZ bert, but or independence Dav IL
was rechristened Avenue des Flats
Un!s. General Pershing being the guest
OF honor and making a speech in
OF the courtesy done
his country.
AZ the beginning OF the Avenue des
Eiats lnis, which starts from beau
tiful little park. is a handsome resi-
dencc in. which the communicable
fhie: made his home unti! last spring.
lie then removed 10 a largc and at
tractive chateau about FIVE miles from
The city. The fine old castle lies in
the beautiful valley OF the Marine. its
Spacious ground, parks and walks MAX
ING an ideal home where n. cen have
mo sttiusion his responsibilities re-
cure yet but & few minutes by motor
20 MS Offices a