The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-05-06

50 80 seg ''~
trains. Smaller numbers are entering
aud leaving the towns OF Chambery,
Chslles-les-Eaux and other places In
the department OF Savoie, which has
been selected as the first great Ieave
center Of the American army. These
soldiers are Americas first 'pernls-
sionaires" On general leave. All of the
nrst arrivals have been members Of
the first expedition to reach France,
and likewise the first to see active
service In the trenches.
The question OF taking care Of men
ON leave has been one Of the most inn
portant recreation problems with
which the United States army has had
to deal. After consulting with repre-
Of the Young Mems Chris
tian association and other welfare or
g~anizations II was decided to expert
turn various interesting places In
France to which the men could be sent.
General orders were then issued grant
Ing each officer and man In France "a
leave Of seven days. exclusive Of travel
time, once every four months. Free
transportation Is provided to men
who spend their leave In centers Sc
lected by the army. Leave to Paris
and other cities In France outside the
leave area Is only provided In excep-
tonal cases.
Y. M. c. A. Takes Hold.
When the army selected the depart
nsnt Of Sayoie as the first leave area
the Young Mems Christian association
Immediately began to make arrange
ments for the reception Of the men.
Arrangements were frst made with
hotel propristors whereby they would
open their hotels earlier than usual
and reserve q certain percentage of
Their rooms for soldiers. All hotels In
the Department, which. contracted with
the Young Mems Christian association
10 provide the necessary accommoda-
lions yer divided into three classes,
according to the rates to be charged.
These rates were fixed at IL. IA and IL
francs q day for room and board, with
the understanding that no tips were to
be given by the men. Each hotel also
agreed to furnish the men with q hot
bath upon their arrival.
At Aix-les- Bains the Young Mems
Christian association leased the big
casiAO for the exclusive use Of the SOL
disrs. This includes a large theater.
assembly hall and reading, writing,
billiard and game rooms. Afternoon
and evening concerts and theatricals
are given In the theater with both pro
fessional and amateur talent as attrac-
tons. The soldiers have made full use
Of the handsome casino. which Ia In
operation from nine o'clock In the
morning until late at night. The
Young Mems Christian association has
also leased the casino at Challes-les-
Faux and ,theaters In other towns.
The famous thermal baths at AK
ies-Hains also have been thrown open
TO the soldiefs for q nominal fee, and
they are proving very popular. espe-
0ally among those men who arrive In
Ak fresh from the trenches Of north
eastern France. A number of play
grounds and fields have also been
leased where baseball diamonds. foot
bali gridirons and outdoor basketball
anc tennis courts are being laid out.
A small steam launch on Lake Bour-
get has been engaged for the season
and ID used to take soldiers on excur-
sions about the lake. including visits
to the noted H~autecombe abbey, where
- princes OF the Italian reigning house
Of Savoy are buried.
oivsn Liberty Of Action.
Automobile drives have been start
ed. and each morning hiking parties
start on trips to the SUBMITS of neigh
boring mountains. Good use Is also
being made Of the mountain railway
which climbs to the summit Of Mont
Reward. from which one gets a splen-
aid New Of the famous Mont Blanc.
No attempt has been made to die
tate what the men should do on leave.
They have been given liberty Of action
within the necessary limitation of mil
itaxy rules and regulations. French
poles authorities are cooperating with
AmoElcan army officers to protect the
mopals Of the men. Stringent orders
haxn been issued to hotel and cafe
ks4pors about the sale of spirituous
lienars to men on leave. All suspicious
rsannfs have been closed or declared
''oltsof bounds" but there have been
veaR few places Of this nature.
4 committee Of women Young Mems
Chr1utian association workers has un-
dsx1oksn the task Of having the clothes
Of - soldiers laundered and mended.
Tht6sservice II highly appreciated. be-
cAuno trenches are hard on clothes and
but NV Of the soldiers r adept with
tANsneedls and thread.
- cosmopolitan nature Of Ameri-
cg,auarmy II indicated by the fact that
ooA1fates and IL nationalities are rep
reeoDGsd In the nrst two c0ntingents Of
~ m to arrive on leave.
! W o. the boys on lease are In good
m11D and confident that the allies
60sneeaAt 0agmanJ.