The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1918-05-02

s's~AAA oAnSCAS OOAOuSlu6 " l1lc lilies VI
communication branch Of the American
army has not yet begun and although
their transfer from Paris to q city In
central France is supposed to be deer
secret, this beautiful little city is al.
ready aware that it will soon be host
to the newest allies. American flags
are already waving from many build.
ings and the citizens are in a state Of
suppressed excitement preparing what
promises to be a most enthusiastic vel.
come.
Preparations for the advent Of the
Americans, numbering several hundred
officers and twice as many assistants
clerks, civilians and military workers
are almost completed, SO that when the
men begin to arrive, in day or two,
each one will find comfortable quarters
arranged for him either in some one of
the half dozen good hotels here or in
private houses that have been rented
by the advance scouts.
City Little Paradise.
They will find themselves quartered
''for the duration of the war" in one of
Frances healthiest and most beautiful
cities, where cleanliness apparently has
been made cardinal virtue, where
food, especially fresh vegetables in
season, and dairy products are plenu.
full, where the water supply offers none
Of the drawbacks that must be con-
tended with close behind the front, and
from which they can operate fully as
advantageously centrally as from
Paris.
For weeks staff headed by major,
with eight officers, assistants and many
enlisted men, has been combing the
city for the most desirable quarters.
All available hotel rooms have been en-
gagged and private houses have been
rented until the end Of the war. Rooms
also have 6esn engaged III private
homes for additional officers who may
come here. The big clerical force will
b distributed In part among the fami.
Hes Of the cfty-who, almost, without
exception, are enthusiastic over the op-
postunty Of playing host to the Ameri.
eans-and In part win b housed in
huge barracks In the outskirts Of the
81. Il ~-~
The new headquarters will from the
outset be operated with view to the
greatest possible comfort Of the men
and the least possible disturbance Of
local conditions. Thus, one Of the first
moves viii be to install Q 'sales com.
missary," at which foodstuhfs brought
from America will be sold at less than
the local market prices, If 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, as it has elsewhere
Officers messes will not be arranged
for the present, because the food avail
able: here is extraordinarily good',anl
plentiful. But the men. living in bar
racks undoubtedly will have their OWL
tables. So:
4 medical Officer: Who has made ar
exhaustive examination finds the waite,
even. better than in Paris, sanitation
excellent and the houses clean-:,l
though they have been fumigated twice
as a precaution-and everything mod
ern to a surprising degree.
| French to Furnish Fuel.
Arrangements already have beer
completed whereby the American
forces can draw from the Frenc.: al
necessary fuel; thus there will be NJ
suffering from what at this time is I'm
usually cold weather. The American
officers have found the mayor ant
other city officials ready for co-opera
ton In the fullest degree. The quar-
tiers, In the main. have been secured b!
the mayor, who asked the citizens t.
show their patriotism by. giving up {
portion Of their houses to their Ameri
can allies. The payment will be lib
eral. and not on the 1-franc-per-du!
basis. as in war-zone towns. wher,
billeting is the system, with this Off
cfal maximum.
i The Red Cross and Young Men,
n Christian association already have es
tablished branches here.
"But how could you, after all you've
been through-how could you enlist
Why did you 60 In the navy?"
He looked at me for second, with
the slightly puzzled eyes of chile
who is disappointed in grown.up
and shamed me by the simplicity ii
his manner:
"Why. lady, we'se at war New
York Herald.