Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-08-08

II
d - marching away, leaving the inhabi
tants cheering, and waving friendly
adfeux- For the foreign force was
the first party of American permis-
sionaires-soldiers leave-and the
city was AixIes-Bains. the first American leave
center in France. Here the French saw the
Americans at play and satisfied.
"Aix-les-Beans" the American boys pronounce
IL, at the imminent risk of the name being short
ened to "The Beans" Aka jewel, clear-cut
with brilliant facets set in a frame of gorgeous
moonlight and of wonderful opa1ine sunsets and
sunrises. This is the beauty spot which are sent
the boys in oiive-drab wearied by months in
trench mud under bursting shells. And this is
the story of the first permissionares to arrive in
MK-the American soldiers Blighty.
On certain bright Saturday cosmopolitan
crowd gathered at the railroad station all in
nigh state OF anticipation. One could easily pick
out the persons of prominence, the mayor, the
doctors. lawyers and others of small but as
sured incomes And it might be noticed that the
oldersNvomenf kept Iwatchful eyes on the jeunne
lilies who tense with expectancy gazed I'D the
iron road along which the first Inconsistencies
were to come. For who could tell what romance
might not be on the way. romance excusing the
tiuttering OF eyelids and the extra nicely of
dress?
As special effort to make the incoming Amer
tcans feel right at home the crowd featured a
negro band and the local baseball nine composed
Oh small boys In scarlet jerseys and linen trous
ers with legs bare only a French how ever
dares wear them The lads had small American
nags tied around their arms, and their teeth were
rafting with the cold for the snow Law on a.
mountain sides and refrigerated wind blew
down from there. ~
In the crowds also were American officers and
visitors. T. NJ c. A secretaries, canteen workers
sad uncataiogued spectators. Before the Ameri
cans arrived a dozen British aviators on their
"sy to Italy changed trains and, seeing tbe
terong. asked the On being Informed
they exclaimed with heartfelt approval:
wish we were American permissionaires ,"
AND well they might. for beautiful AK which
Ia the happy days before 1914 had attracted the
discriminating visitors n
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
expeditonary force which landed in France last
summer-regulars and volunteers They had come
from the trenches with scarcely hour to pre-
pare.
were on their backs, their clothes and boots COW
cred with mud. their faces grmy, their hair dis
ordered Their traiR was 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.
t certainly did make an impression" said
"td regular of this reception. 1--WE didn't know
~hat KIND OF a place it was and of
were sore because couldn't go to Paris while
half of US didn't have the money to see IT
through or the right outfit. But 1 guess Uncle
SeiH had an idea Ii would be just as well to let
the French people know the American troops
weren't kept in bandboxes and tissue paper but
were In the night"
There was no 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 on the way with
only one stop-over. where the Red Cross unit had
breakfast ready for them. But they were too ac
customed to discipline to resist speech-makinc
add hospitality. they listened patiently to the
provost marshai's friendly admonitons to shun
wine and women. No ban placed on song
Ehen-on with the welcome!
The negro band erupted into jazz and raggy
noises. taking the Americans back home in spirit
at least. following which French orchestra
swung gracefully into the strains 'Suite de
Aassenete." and the pernissfonaires were es-
ccrted to their temporary homes They were led
through streets thanked by fagdraped balconies
from which pretty girls cried with familiar greet
tag:
..vive rAmerique, yive Ia France vive Oncle
Samr'
And that is how the first American permits
sioaRries came to the A. E. F.'s Blighty, with a
biare Of trumpets. waving of flags cheers
smiles. sparkling eyes and welcoming speech Be
recreation amid beautiful and-probably
best of illuminated baths.
We've fed mud" said happy permis-
saonaire. The rats come and sit on the edges
of straw and give morning salute. We
haven't had real wash for long that we've
almost forgotten how it feels to have that sense
OF self-respect that comes with the morning tub"
Ak. with It's famous waters baths and casinos.
needs Introduction to many men in the Amer
lean expedtienary force In the days before the
war 1t attracted thousands of Americans each
season. among them the late J. Pierpont Nor