Evening star., 1918-12-23
CHAUMONT IS HOME
OF ARMY IN FRANCE
U. S. Headquarters Lies in
Center of What Was Ameri-
can Training Area.
LOCATION SECRET OF WAR

CHACMoNT. France. November 20
Correspondence of the Associated
Press).-This little city of the Haute
Marne is the home Of the general
headquarters Of the American expe-
ditionary forces. Until now its mem
ton has been taboo and the where
abouts of &c. H. O." one of the Sc
crets Of the war.
Here lives the commander-tn-chIef
ana in the buildings Of the French
garrison is housed the offices of the
general staff and all the auxiliary or
ganizations that go with 1.-THE nerve
center Of the Army. A city of nor
mally about fifteen thousand inhabit-
ants, Chaumont lies on the Eastern
railway lines. 163 miles east OF Pans
1t was formerly the capital OF Bas-
signy and is now the capital of the
Department of the Haute Marine.
Town Crowns High Plateau.
Like most of the older cities of
France. Chaumont seems to nave been
founded on a site of strategic defen-
sive value. 1t crowns high plateau
between the Marne and the Suize and
from the walls and towers of the old
city is a wonderful view of the valley
of the Marne. here the river being
that flows beside it between its pop
lar-bordered banks. Northward over
the narrow vale of the Suize the view
takes in a wide sweep of rolling for
est-crowned hills.
General headquarters were removed
from Paris here in September of last
year. Chaumont being selected after a
careful search of available locations.
1t lies in the center of what was the
American training area, every camp
as well as the Toul sector in which
the American forces first saw battle
where we were located being within
reach by motor.
Typical French Garrison.
The French post occupied as head
quarters Offices is typical of French
Earisons. Three long four-story,
red tile-roofed barracks form three
wide avenue. A group of lesser
buildings and the CUSTOMARY iron
fence and ornamental gates is the re-
manning boundary. On either gate
post flies the tri-color and the Stars
and Stripes.
sentries pace their posts on every
hand, the quadrangle is filled with
hurrying officers and orderlies and
clerks, hands flash in salute. bugles
give their almost hourly calls for
the various military events and Pc
RODS of the day, staff cars and motor
then the sentry at the gate stifens
even more rigidly and brings his
piece up with more snap when great
olive drab car, shining like a yacht,
shield with four white stars signi-
flying the commander-in-chief
Pershing Home Five Miles Away.
Frequently the generals car ap-
proaches unheralded and SO, swiftly
that the sentry's cry of, Turn out the
guard" is too late and the com
guard can tumble from the guard
hou2e.
Until last spring Gen. Pershing
made his residence in a large villa
near headquarters. He soon found.
however. that so near the workshop
of the Army he could not have the
quiet and lack of intrusion necessary
to his growing responsibilities and he
removed in May last to a beautiful
chateau about i've miles from the
tie situated in the Marine valley
among groves and wide sunlit lawns,
he lived with his personal staff. Con-
nected by telephone with every divi-
sional, corps and army headquarters,
his own offices in Chaumont and with
Paris. he did his work there when
not with the Army.
Town Almost Americanized.
Chaumont itself has become almost
Americanized by the presence of the
headquarters. Its little hotels are al
ways crowded with officers. 1t has,
been. very hospitable to the American
occupation.
Nearly every home with a spare
room is thrown open as a billet for
officers and many of the finest resi-
dences have been taken over entirely
by the hundreds of messes. In many
of them the officers have installed
electricity and bathrooms and in some
cases central heating plants and with
French servants live comfortably, al
most luxuriously as measured in mil
itary terms.
Hundreds less fortunate or lacking
in rank take their chances on what
ever billet may be found in the
crowded town. where a bed rs always
at premium.