The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-25

short distance of F1eville. So we rolled
on into Flcville.
One street of the town displayed
quite a number of French flags. At the
approach Of our car a lot OF women
and children came running out of the
houses with shrieks OF delight. It
dawned on us then that we were a
sort OF Involuntary advance guard of
the army. for which they were waiting.
They had not yet seen an American.
They climbed on the running board of
our car with outstretched hands. bah
bling In French.
Richardson our driver, specially I'm
ported by Uncle Sam from Worcester,
Mass. worried for the safety Of the
running board. Then NJ nes Champs
began dtscharginE volleys of bon
jours" right and left Some of the
women almost wept as they grasped his
hand. His own eyes were filled with
tears
We knew just two words of French.
and hon Jour" is neither OF them. SO
the talking was left TO Monsieur Des
Champs and to Burr Price of the New
York Herald who unveiled himself
from many wrappings and Joined in
the conversation
Cameron Mackenzie eyed the town
speculatively. Wonder II we could get
anything to eat here?" he pondered.
The women said the Germans had
just left the town tho day before, Fur
thermore, they said. Briey, which is one
OF the biggest towns on the line of
the American march and one OF the
most important, was only a few miles
away. SO we went on to Briey
Like American Mining Town.
| That town is the center OF the great
iron ore region of France. from which
q 49,
j ore, for which she fought against the
Americans 30 desperately in the Ar
gonne- Mouse battle. 1t is little town
OF $500 souls, set in the hills much
like any American mining town. French
flags were flying from every house. but
Richardsons horn awoke echoes in al
most deserted streets.
/ - Presently however people came rnp-
ming forth All Asere' dressed II, 4tffe ir
Sunday best They had on white linen
shirts and collars which. il seems, they
had jeaiousiy guarded for many days
for the time when they would celebrate
their liberation from German donina-
ton.
Briey itself was never shot up. II
was merely IN the path of war and
through II passed the German war
machine without pausing About $500
civilians are left there. Most OF them
got around our car. They, too. were
getting their first sight of Americans,
or at least of Americans who might
re said to be ex-ofricto advance agents
of the coming army.
!, Here II was that Monsieur Des
Champs cast aside ali repression
ljournaii site and otherwise He broke
into barrage Of hon jours' and the
people almost shook his arm off. There
were more tears here.
Looks like there ought to be a
hotel at this place" ggeste d
Mackenzie. Whats that chap saying
now" he asked Price. who was par
leyvooirg with a citizen OF Rriey
Tie says they had their first meat
yesterday In two years." said Price.
The people said the ore mines were
up the road half a mile further in the
town called Moutiers. They said they
were never permitted to go there
without a pass all the time the Ger
mans were in the region. Richard
son footed his horn for while and
finally got clearance room for the car.
On we went up the narrow road be-
tween high hills. NJ Des Champs leav-
ing worlds of bon iours' behind him.
He shouted them at every passerby
and there were many of them, includ-
ing men. women and children. They
responded fervently.
In Mouters, which is a tiny place
with tiny streets stuck along the hill
Sides we found more French flags,
with ono American flag among them.
1t is very hard TO get American flags
in this part of France.
People Are Demonxtrattve.
Here again the car met with Wild
reception. Here again NJ. Des Champs
had wide field for his bon jours
When the people found we were hunt
ing for information about the mines
x1x,fn fu1 fAA
tleman with white moustache and a
little goatee, whose name Is Monsieur
Rebel. He received us with many
bows. His face was aglow with pleas
ure Yes he knew all about the
mines, he said The Germans had
destroyed much machinery when they
left: only two motors were working.
Would we like to see them? He
was sorry we did not have the time.
He said in normal times the mines
produced millions OF tons of ore every
wear Not until 1915 did the Germans
start working them systematically.
Then they used their own men and
Russian prisoners, but none of the
French people.
tons In 1918 up to the time they
evacuated the region.
Before that they had not produced
SO much. The whole population of
the town was now collected about the
car, listening to the colloauy. To the
right and left. NJ. pes Champs extend
ed his hands and his bon jours.
The hungry Mackenzie ran his orbs
ruminatiyiy oyr tn situation. but
made no comment. 1t seemed incred-
>-aE@x--ta--aisss- t-there-cnuId--
a graf dial to at at that plac. Finally
ID was time to go. Monsieur Rebel,
who had been most dignifled and even
as depressed as Monsieur Des Champs
In the, beginning, stepped back into
the road. lifted his hat and roared:
syiyc In FrancAy