The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-04
A QUIET SUNDAY
IN FRANCE GOES
ABOUT LIKE THIS

With the American Army near
Luneville, March II (by maiD 1t
was a quiet day in certain little
town, nestled at the base of a hill
near Luneville. Americans were there,
just as they are in your town. But
the streets of this town have to be
cleaned periodically of bricks, stones
and mortar blown out of the walls of
the houses by German shells. A khaki
clad boy from Columbus sat at a
switchboard in a crumbled and crum-
bling building putting thru calls for
Dayton" Cincinnati" GAINESVILLE"
"Chillicothe," youngstown" and a
dozen other places you know about.
The calls for various points such as
battalion headquarters, artillery posi-
lions and what not are made in code
Each post has therefore taken the
name of some town at home.
The crooked streets were full of
men. There were no women and chill
dren. 1t was about 3 O'Clock. The
United Press automobile bumped its
way over what was once smooth
street to near what was once the pub
lie square"
Hello" greeted a Marion boy,
you're Just about in time for the af-
ternoon entertainment. They have
been popping them around close for
the last half hour and are beginning
to get nearer the town..
'Zing! Blooey!'
Frequently shell bursts could be
heard not far away. Each one seemed
to come a little nearer. A French band
kicked its way thru the dust up to the
square. Instruments were numbered
and a concert was soon under way.
French and American soldiers crowd
ed about.
"Zoo-oo-oo- Whang," a shell could
be heard coming and then let loose
just on the edge of town.
The band didn't miss a note.
sZee-e-e-c, wham bang" another
shell. This time just couple OF
blocks away Dust and bricks flew
into the air above the tops of the
shattered houses. Then they began
arriving a little more regularly. Part
Of a wei, would cave in here and the
tired ruins of another building would
he stirred up there. The streets be-
gan to clear. Everybody stood up
close to the house walls rather than
ir the middle of the street. The band
was still playing.
A Boche Plane.
A little Freedman hustled down to
the corner of the square. Above the
music of the band sounded the shrlll
notes of c buglc raised to his lips.
.Avion," was the word passed from
one end of the village to the other.
A German airplane had crossed
the lines and was over the town.
Shells were still dropping around and
the boche aviator might add collec-
ton of bombs
Better get your machine under
cover, or you might have to wafk
home" advised a sergeant from Cleve-
land The driver was signalled to
follow The sergeant's advice and
headed for whas was left of stable.
The band. finished the selection it was
playing, but by this time the audi
ence was out of sight. Then came
long moments of waiting. Heads were
poked from doorways and windows
any everybody stole a look into the sky
peared and the enemy scurried away.
Another blast from the bugle.
"All clear"
Again the Band.
The band struck up again. Shells
continued to fall, but after listen
at the sound of the explosions to To-
cate them the audience began to
gather again. The shelling continued
for an hour. The u. p. automobile
was backed from the stable. A boy
from Toledo asked that he be brought
some plug cut the next day Then
out of the town over q twisting road
past heavily camouflaged gun en-
placements, and back to the main
highway heavy with the traffic of
war soon the sound of the guns be-
came nufflcd and then could no
longer be heard. French farmers
were blowing their fields. In the viii
lagos children were playing in the
streets. Mothers sat in the doorways
watching over them. 1t was Sunday
and a quiet day.