The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-08-02
at VEE OLD ROfL4JY ARCH q
SON,0fIYWHX LES 8.ALnS

PO/IC1VW4X LES SAIrkS
ROWN upon u beautiful French city
descended foreign military force,
| capturing the place by storm,
cupying il for eight days and then
/ ~ marching away leaving the nhabi-
@ tants cheering, and waving friendly
adeux. For the foreign. force
the first party of American permis-
- sionaires-soldiers lcave-and the
CITY was Ax-les- Bans, the first American leave
center in France. Here the French saw the
Americans at play and we're satisfied.
Ankles Beans the American boys pronounce
t. at the imminent risk of the name being short
ened TO "The Beans" Aka jewel. cear-cut
with brilliant facets set in frame of gorgeous
moonlight and of wonderful opaline sunsets and
sunrises. This is the beauty spot to which sent
the boys in ove-drab wearied by months in
trench mud, under bursting shells. And this is
the story Of the first permissionares arrive in
AX-the American soldiers Bghty.
On a certain bright Saturday a cosmopolitan
crowd gathered at the railroad station all In
high state of anticipation. One could easily pick
out the persons of prominence, the mayor, the
doctors, lawyers and others of small but
sured incomes. And it might be noticed that the
Older women kept watchful eyes the jeunne
nlles who, tense with expectancy, gaZed up the
iron road along which the first permissionares
were to come For who could tell what romance
huttering of eyeIids and the extra nicely of
dress?
AS special effort TO make the incoming Amer
leans 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
dares wear them. The lads had small American
flags tied around their arms and their teeth were
rattling with the cold, for the snow lay on the
mountain sides and a refrigerated wind blew
down from there
In the crowds also American officers and
visitors, Y. NJ. c. A. secretaries, canteen workers
and uncatalogued spectators. Before the Ameri-
cans arrived a dozen British aviators on their
wuy to Italy changed trains and seeing the
throng, asked the reason. On being informed
they exclaimed with heartfelt approval
wish 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 was 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
shoulder to shoulder with the French.
These are the early arrivals Of the American
expeditionary force which landed In France last
summer-regulars and volunteers. They had come
from the trenches with scarcely IN hour TO pre-
pare.
They wore their trench helmets, their packs
were on their backs, their clothes and boots COW
cred with mud. their faces grimy, their hair dis
ordered Their train two hours late, but the
crowd has been waiting that time and the cold
winds have not chilled the enthusiasm which
greeted the appearance of the Yankees.
ut certainly did make an impression" said
old regular OF this reception. 1--WE didn't know
what kind Of place Il was and some of us
were because We couldn't go TO Paris, while
half of US didn't have the money to see 1t
through, or the right outfit. But I guess Uncle
Sam had an idea It would be just MS we'll to let
the French people know the American troops
weren't kept in handboxes and tissue paper, but
were In the fight"
There doubt In the minds Of those who
watched the boys getting out OF the cars that
they had been at the front. They were hungry
and tired having been 80 hours the way, with
only stop-over where the Red Cross unit had
breakfast ready for them. But they too ac-
customed TO discipline TO resist speech making
and hospitality, so they listened patiently to the
provost marshal's friendly admonitions to shun
wine and women. No ban was placed on song.
! Then--on with the welcomed
The negro band erupted into jazz and raggy
noises, taking the Americans back home In spirit
Rt least, following which French orchestra
swung gracefully into the strains OF Suite de
Massenete," and the permisslonaires es-
corted to their temporary homes. They were led
through streets fanked by fng-draped balconies,
! from which pretty girls cried with familiar greet
ting:
"vive rAneriquel vive la France! vive Oncle
! SAM"
And that Is how the first American perns.
sionaries cnme to the A. 4. F.'s Blighty, with a
blare Of trumpets n waving OF flags, cheers,
uniles. sparkling cves and welcoming speech. Be
fore them lay eight days OF clean, delightful
recreation amid beautiful scenes and-probably
best Of all~,nlinited baths
"Weve fed mud" said one happy perinis-
efonaire. "Thc rats come and sit on the edges
OF our straw and give use morning salute. We
haven't had real wash for so long that we've
almost forgotten how II feels TO have that sei;se
OF self-respect that comes with the morning tub "
AK with It's famous waters baths and casinos
! moods no Introduction to many men In the Amer
lean expeditIonary force. In the days before the
war II attracted thousands OF Americans each
vrason. among them the late J. Pierpont Nor