Evening star., 1918-01-11
TO HEARTILY
greet US. OFFICERS
Staff Of Communication
Branch Of Army Soon to Be
Chartered in Pretty Town.
CONDITIONS ARE IDEAL
BY the Associated Press..

BY the Associated Press..
A CITY OF CENTRAL FRANCE.
January 11.--Athough the annux
Of hundreds OF stan onicers be-
longing to the lines OF communication
branch OF the American Army has not
yet begun, and although their transfer
from Paris here is supposed to be =
deep secret, this beautiful little city In
central France is already aware that
It will soon be host to the newest allies.
American dAgs are already waving
from many buildings. and the citizens
are In a state Of suppressed excitement.
preparing what promises to be a most
enthusiastic welcome to the new
comsrs. =.
the Americans, numbering several hum
dred officers and twice as many assist
ants-clerks, civilians and military
workers-are almost completed; 80
a I day or two. each one viii find COM
Portable quarters arranged Tor him
either in some one OF the half dozen
good hotels here or In private houses
that have been rented by the advance
scouts.
TO Have Desirable Quarters.
They will find themselves quartered
"for the duration OF the war" in one
of Frances healthfest and most beautf-
full cities. where cleanliness apparently
has been made q cardinal virtue. where
season and dairy products, are plenti-
full, where the water supply offers none
Of the drawbacks that must be con-
tended with close behind the front. ana
advantageously centrally as from
Paris.
For weeks a staff headed by major
with eight officer assistants and many
enlisted men has been combing the
city for most desirable quarters. All
available hotel rooms have been en-
gagged ana private houses have been
rented until the end of the war. Rooms
homes for additional officers who may
come here. The big clerical force will
be distributed in part among the fami-
lies OF the city-who. almost without
portunity Of playing host to the Amer
icans--And in part will be housed in
city.
VIII Avoid Inflated Prices.
The new headquarters viii from the
outset be operated with q view to the
greatest possible comfort Of the men
and the least possible disturbance Of
local conditions. Thus, one Of the first
IuOV06 Will We W GAotAlt = DAl0o SOIns
missary" at which foodstuffs brought
from America will be sold at less than
| the local market prices. II possible. so
that the presence of the Americans will
not have the effect Of forcing up prices.
to the distress Of the Inhabitants.
Only fresh vegetables. milk, eggs and
such commodities will be purchased,
and for the present, at least. no effort
will be made to establish maximum
prices for these articles for fear the
supply will vanish a. 1t has elsewhere.
ohicers' messss Will not be arranged
for the present, because the food avail
able 10 extraordinarily good and pienti.
full But the men living in barracks will
undoubtedly have their own tables.
A medical ofi1cef who has made an
exhaustive examination finds the water
even better than In Paris. sanitation
excellent and the houses clean-al-
though they have been fumigated twice
a. q precaution-And everything mod
ern to surprising degree.
Towns odacials Cooperate.
Arrangements already have been
completed whereby the American
forces can draw from the French all
n>caoaorv FnA1. fhua fhara vi11 hA m