Iron County register., 1918-08-08
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01fz0EHW<lIX Les 4ALn:S

@0OWN upon beautiful French city
descended n foreign military force
capturing the place by storm. oc
cupying It for eight days and then
marching away, leaving the inhabl.
@ tants cheering, and waving friendly
AA ndieux For the foreign force was
the first party Of American permis.
sonaires-sodiers on eave-and the
city was Ax.les-Bains the first American leave
center In France Here the French saw the
Americans at play and we're satisfied
'Axies Beans" the American boys pronounce
It, ht the Imminent risk Of the name being short.
encd to "The Beans" Aka Jewel, cear.cut,
with brilliant facets set In n frame Of gorgeous
moonlight and Of wonderful opaine sunsets and
sunrises. This is the beauty spot which are sent
the boys In ollve-drab, wearied by months In
trench mud. under bursting shells. And this Is
the story Of the first permissonaires to arrive In
AiA-the American soldiers Blighty.
On certain bright Saturday cosmopolitan
crowd gathered at the railroad station all In u
high state Of anticipation. One could easily pick
out the persons of prominence, the mayor, the
doctors. lawyers and others Of small but as
eured Incomes. And 1t might be noticed that the
Older women kept watchful eyes on the jeunne
dies who. tense with expectancy, gazed up the
iron road along which the first permissionares
might not be on the way. romance excuslng the
huttering Of eyeds and the extra nicely of
dress7
Al special effort to make the incoming Amer
ieans feel right at home. the crowd featured
negro band and the local baseball nine, composed
OF small boys In scarlet jerseys and linen trous.
ers. with legs bare as only French boy ever
0ares wear them. The lads had small American
dags tied around their arms, and their teeth we're
vrIt fhn AID @In tla
mountain sides and q refrigerated wind blew
down from there.
In the crowds also were American officers and
Visitors. 7. NJ. c. A. secretaries. canteen workers
and uncatalogued spectators. Before the Ameri.
cams arrived dozen British aviators on their
way to Italy changed trains and. seeing the
tAsUng. asked the reason. On being informed
they exclaimed with heartfelt approval:
"Wtsh we were American permissionaires /"
And well they might. for beautiful AK, which
IN the happy days before 1914 had attracted the
discriminating visitors Of all nations. in more
than gala dress this day painting the lily, while
military and civil representatives had assembled
there to give welcome to the boys who had come
from the west shores Of the Atlantic to fight
shpulder to shoulder with the French
These are the early arrivals Of the American
~xpcdItionary force which landed In France last
Sunmner-regulars and volunteers. They had come
part.
They wore their trench helmets. their packs
were on their backs their clothes and boots GOV.
<re1 with mud their faces grimy, their hair dis
ordH1ed. Their train was two hours late but the
crowd has been waiting that time and the cold
vands have not chilled tho enthusiasm which
Srsesed the appearance Of the Yankees.
N certainly did make on Impression" said one
ia regular of this reception. 1--WE didn't know
vnss kind Of a place It was and some OF us
Esgs sore because we couldn't go to Paris while
1aD q US didn't have the money 20 see 1t
through. or the right outfit. But guess Uncle
eam had an idea It would be Just as well to let
~ French people know the American troops
verss't kept In bandboxes and tissue paper, but
Nsss IN the fight"
There was no doubt In the minds Of those who
V1eched the boys getting out Of the cars that
~ had been at the front They were hungry
IND tired. having been ~ hours on the way, with
eaav one stop.over, where the Red Cross unit had
breakfast ready for them. But they were too &C.
eustomed to discipline to resist speech-making
and hospitality. 80 they listeneA patiently to the
beuvust marshals friendly admonitons to shun
wine and women. No ban was placed on song.
1hen-on with the welcomed
The negro band erupted into jazz and raggy
uoises. taking the Americans back home in spirit
u least. following which French orchestra
oWUUg gf0CeIuIIy lntO tue StruIHS VI Suise w
Aassenete" and the pernissionaires were es.
Vsrted to their temporary homes. They were led
]hruugh streets aanked by hag.draped balconies,
hon which pretty girls cried with familiar greet
4us:
svive rAmeriquei vive Ia Francel vive oncle
.1am!"
And that Is how the first American perInis
sesnaries came to the A. q. F.'s Blighty with
Sesre Of tr,lmpets. a waving Of hags. cheers
esmiics sparkling eyes and welcoming speech. BE
tbse them iay eight days Of clean, deiehtfu
iscseation nmid beautiful scenes and-probab'!
- Of all--unmited hnths b
"Wc've fed on mud" said one hnppy perm's
sionaire "The rats come and sit on the edge'
Of our straw and give use morning salute. w
haven't had real wash for no long tnat we've
Aimost forgotten how Il feels to have tnat sens.
q self.rcsrect TINT comes with the morning tuo.'
AK. with it, famous waters. baths ana casinos
sspds no introduction to many mel, 10 INC amer
- expedtionsry force. In the dnys befcre 10.
~ N attracted thousands Of Americans ene'
Soaann, among them the late J. P'erpons moi