The sun., 1918-12-23
'PERSHING QUARTERS
NEAR GERMAN LINES
American Expeditionary Force
Is Directed From Quaint
Old ChaumOnt.
CENSORSHIP IS LIFTED
General Lived in Handsome
Residence in Valley of
the Marine.
co,yespond<,e. o, the Associated pre.s


GENERAL HEADQUARTERS AMERICAN
ExPEDITIoNARY FORCE. CHAUMoNT,
IIAuTE MARINE, FRANCE Nov. 70.
The date line reveals one of the in
teresting secrets OF the army In
France. the location OF the home of
the Commander IN Chief and the Cen
eral Staff. Until a few days ago when
the censorship rules were modihed
to meet the new conditions created by
the armistlce, Chaumont has never
been permitted to be mentioned In
connection with the American forces.
The exact whereabouts OF the gen.
eral headquarters OF any force, allied
or enemy, is never. revealed during
hostilities. The military reasons for
this secrecy are obvious, and in this
war the airplane made 1t ever more
necessary, for Chaumont lies but a
little flight from what were long the
German lines.
1t is an old and picturesque city,
quiet and conservative beyond even
French provincialism. 1t has water
and gas and electric lights, but no
street railways and few places OF
amusement even in normal times 1t
lies in the centre Of an agricultural
and grazing district, is quite seat
OF education and historically very
interesting, as indeed is every city Of
It's age in France.
Streets Only Few Feet Wide.
There are really two Chaumonts,
the ancient town with its narrow,
tortuous streets, its typical build
ings with curious towers and but
tresses and arches giving glimpses
through half opened gates or iron
grills of quaint gardens and quatnter
courts. Many OF the streets are too
narrow to permit the passage of
wheeled vehicles, and the big staff
motor cars find difficulty in navigating
the best Of the old town streets.
Extending outward on the high
plateau upon which the city Is To-
Gated is a newer and more modern
Ckaumont, a region Of fine homes
with extensive grounds and comfort
able residences OF the well to do and
middle classes. Here the wide boule-
wards are tree lined and parked.
II is in this eastern part of the pla-
teau that general headquarters are
situated, occupying the French mill
tary post turned over TO the Ameri-
cans by the French. Its three great
concrete barracks and numerous lesser
buildings were renovated by the Amer
lean staf. electric lights installed
paint and whitewash called into play
and now in rooms where once the
poilus barracked the great headquar-
ters staff works. Every office is con-
nected by telephone, the central sta
ton being operated by American girls
Pefshing's own Offices.
The three large barrack buildings
form three sides of a great parade
ground. In the centre building on the
second floor are the offices OF Gen
Pershing, and no soldiers workplace
could be more severe. His own Office
and its reception room are precisely
like every other office in the three
| buildings. The walls are whitewashed
and practically barren of ornament, ex-
cept for some Liberty Loan posters. A
plain fiat topped oak desk stands be-
tween the two windows and round
| about a few plain yellow chairs. A
stove and a table against the wall
complete the furnishings.
Headquarters are situated on wide
tree lined boulevard in the centre OF
which, between two more rows OF fine
old shade trees, is a spacious
walkway. Until last Fourth of
July this was known as the Ave
nue. de Fort Lambert, but on Inde-
pendence Day 1t was rechristened Ave
nue. dcs Etats Unis, Gen. Pershing
being the guest Of honor and making
a speech in acknowledgment of the
courtesy done his country.
At the beginning Of the Avenue des
Etats Unis. which starts from a beau
tiful little park. is a handsome resi-
dence in which the Commander in
Chief made his home until last spring
He then moved to a large and attraC
tive chateau, about five miles from the
city The fine old castle lies in the
beautiful valley Of the Marine, its spa E
cious grounds. parks and walks max
ing an ideal home, where he can have
| the seClusiOn his responsibilities re-
auire, yet but few minutes by motor
! TO his officers at headquarters.