Gilpin observer., 1918-07-11
VACATION zones
FOR U. S. SOLDIERS
Men on Leave Go to Interesting
Places in France
ARRANGEMENTS BY Y. m. CA.
Pleasure TrIps Are Arranged for Men
Who Get seven-Day FurIoushs-
Free transportation Provided for
Men Who Spend Leave In centers
Selected by Army-Are Given Lib
erty Of Action.

Between three hundred and five hun
dred American soldiers are arriving
or leaving Aux-Les-Bains each day via
trains. Smaller numbers are entering
and leaving the towns of Chambery,
Challes-les-Eaux and other places in
the department of Savoie. which has
been selected as the first great leave
center of the American army. These
soldiers are Americas first "perlnis-
sionaires" on general leave. All of the
first 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 i'm
pOrtant recreation problems with
which the United States army has had
to deal. After consulting with repre-
sentatives Of the Young Mems Chris
tian association and other welfare Or
ganizatiOns 1t was decided to expert
ment with the scheme of selecting in
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-
tional cases.
Y. M. C. A. Takes Hold.
When the army selected the depart
ment Of Savoie as the first leave area
the Young Mems Christian association
Immediately began to make arrange
ments for the reception of the men.
Arrangements were first made with
hotel proprletOrs whereby they would
open their hotels earlier than usual
and reserve certain percentage of
their rooms for soldiers. All hotels in
the department, which contracted with
the Young Mems Christian association
to provide the necessary accommoda-
tions were divided into three classes.
according to the rates to be charged.
These rates were fixed at IL, IA and II
francs 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 a hot
bath upon their arrival.
At Aix-les-Bains the Young Mems
Christian association leased the big
casino for the exclusive use of the sol.
diers.- 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-
tions. The soldiers have made full use
Of the handsome casino, which is 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
les-Bains also have been thrown open
to the soldiers for a nominal fee, and
they are proving very popular, espe-
cially 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
ball gridirOns and outdoor basketball
and tennis courts are being laid out.
A small steam launch on Lake Bour-
get has been engaged for the season
and Is used to take soldiers on excur.
sions about the lake, including visits
to the noted Hautecombe abbey, where
43 princes Of the Italian reigning house
Of Savoy are buried.
Given Liberty Of Action.
Automobile drives have been start
ed. and each morning hiking parties
start on trips to the siimmlts 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 n splen.
did view 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 mill
itary rules and regulations. French
police authorities are cooperating with
American army officers to protect the
morals Of the men. Stringent orders
have been issued to hotel and cafe
keepers about the sale Of spirltuous
liquors to men on leave. All suspicious
resorts have been closed or declared
''out of bounds" but there have been
very few places Of this nature.
A committee of women Young Mems
Christian association workers has un-
dertaken the task Of having the clothes
Of the soldiers laundered and mended.
This service Is highly appreciated. be-
cause trenches are hard on clothes and
but few Of the soldiers are adept with
the needle and thread.
The cosmopolitan Nature Of Ameri.