The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-14

American control. did not see a
single lot of German prisoners that l
would consider equal in intelligence to
any squad Of American soldiers !
have seen anywhere. They were Just
about the average type of men YOU
would expect to find in a railroad cor
struction squad in this country-stoii.
thick headed, dull-looking people, II
means that we need not be afraid of
the German intellectual menace any
more"
Mr.. Coker gave the following
graphic description Of the scene of
devastation near the Somme battle
field. as observed by members OF TIE
commission:
"A populous farming country. DOT
ted over with agricultural towns:
roads lined with shade trees and
nearly all farms with orchards There
wore beautiful forests scattered al
along the water courses: all the
towns were built Of brick, ar,1 the
houses were clustered thickly in a
small area Of agricultural towns
this is a pre-war picture. Now, in a
large part of that area not a single
tree is living. In many towns not a
wall three feet high is standing. In
some towns, which have been fought
over several times, and from which
the British recently drove out the
Germans. you cannot see a single
whole brick in the town. IN going
through one considerable sized town
which had recently been destroyed.
observed carefully, and was on the
lookout, hoping to find a whole brick,
but did not see one. In one smaller
town destroyed several months ago,
and where a little grass has come up.
you cannot realize that a town had
ever been there. The British officers
on several occasions pointed out a
spot. saying that the town so-and-so
was there. We looked; they pointed
again, yet we could not see. This
happened on at least two occasions.
In further discussing the devasta-
ton Of large tracts of Europe, MI.
Coker said that the task of restoring
fields is not going to be-T the great
problem, despite the torn earth and
shell disrupted soil. but the major
task is to restore houses, restock, re-
store trees. move back the popula-
ton and support the people until they
can begin life over again.
In speaking Of the city Of Rheims
Mr.. Coker said:
"a little later the French tool, US
to the great city Of Rheims. 1t was
encircled on three sides by German
lines from an early period Of the war
and, constantly bombarded. There
were 100000 people there and you
could go through that city and get
an impression Of the destruction far
better than to see spots where towns
have been absolutely wiped out. You
can form no picture Of towns wiped
out, but when you See q city OF 3po,-
600 people. in which practically every
house has been ruined, though not lald
to the ground: ride through and see
nothing alive. you get feeling O.
horror Of this war and the teTrlp!c
destruction. which is even greater
than YOU can get on the battlefield
The great cathedral appeared to be
almost intact. The front was dam
aged somewhat, but not entirely Inc
other three sides were badly wrecked.
The Germans evidently made it their
mark for artillery fire. 1t stood the
bombardment better than any ether
structure in the city. LonS-ran@e ar
tillery was not able to hit the mark
every shot, as the buildings around
the cathedral were completely de-
strcyed within 100 yards. which is evl-
dence that the cathedral was rrobao-
" the mark for the German guns. We
found shrapnel inside the cathedral.
The ground around was covered with
shell splinters and shrapnel.
In speaking of his visit to the 81.
Mihiel salient Nj. Col<er said:
Later the American authorizes
took us to Chaumont. and from thefe
to the st. N1ihiel salient, little po1nt
near Hattonchate!, the finest observa-
ton point occupied during the trip.
Miles Of valley surrounded US on
three sides and we would have had
plain sight of a good many miles OF
trenches if the weather had been
clear. We observed the American
fire and the German reply, and saw
some smouldering towns in NO Mans
Land, between the two points.