Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-23
cAAuMoNT, FRANCE
Home of Gen. Pershing
and General Staff

Haute Marine. France, Nov 90
| Correspondence of The Associated
Press).-The date line reveals one Of
the interesting secrets of the Army in
France. the location Of the home of
the commander-in in chief and the Gen
eral staff. Until few days ago
when the censorship rules were mod
flied to meet the new conditions Gre
ated by the armistice, Chaumont has
never been permitted to be mentioned
in connection with the American
forces.
The exact whereabouts Of the gem
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. it ever more
necessary. for Chaumont lies but
little fight from what were long Ger
man 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
lies in the center of an agricultural
and grazing district, is quite a seat
Of education and historically very in
teresting. as indeed is every city of
its age in France.
There are really two Chaumonts,
the ancient town with its narrow
tortuous streets, its typical buildings
with curious towers and buttresses
and arches giving slimpseS through
half opened gates or iron grilis Of
quaint gardens and quainter courts
Many Of the streets arc too narrow to
! permit the passage Of wheeled vehi-
cies 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 located
is a newer and more modern Chau-
| mont a region of fine homes with eX-
tensive grounds and comfortable
residences of the well to- do and mid
die classes. Here the wide boule-
wards are treelIned and parked.
! 1t is in this eastern part Of the
! plateau that general headquarters are
, located. occupying the French mill
! tary post turned over to the Ameri-
cans by the French. It's three great
concrete barracks and numerous les
ser buildings We're renovated by the
! American staff. electric lights in :
stalled paint and whiteWash called
into play and now in rooms whore
once the poilus barracked the great
l. = e
fec is connected by telephone, the
/ central station being operated by
, American girls.
The three large barrack buildings
! form three sides of a great parade
ground In the center building on
F! the second floor are the offices of
General pershing and no soldiers
work place could be moro severe. His
I own office and its reception room are
precisely like every other office in the
| three buildings. The walls are
whtewashed and practically barren
of ornament except for some Liberty
! Loan posters A plain fiat topped
oak desk stands between the two
windows and round about a few plain
! yellow chairs. 4 stove and a ia BILE
against the wall complete the fur
niShings.
| Headquarters are situated on a
wide, tree lined boulevard in the CEN
| ter of which between two more rows
! of fine old shade trees, is a specious
walkway. Until last Fourth Of July
| this was known as The Avenue de
Fort Lambert but on independence
Day, it was rechristened Avenue des
Etats Cnis. General Pershing being
j.. 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
beautiful little park is a handsome
residence in which the commander
! in chief made his home until last
| spring. He then removed to large
and attractive chateau about five
miles from the city. The fine old
| castle lies in the beautiful valley Of
| the Marine. it's spacious grounds.
! parks and walks making an ideal
/ home where he can have the seclu-
| sion his responsibilities require yet
d.! but few minutes by motor to his
offices at headquarters.