Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-02
LONG CANTON TRAINS
BRING BACK WRECkAGE
Most Interesting Sight Is That Of
Troops Returning From
Battle Front.
HOUSES ARE AGAIN LIGHTED
Food Now Obtainable in Every
French Villagc-Gamc OH Sale in
Markets-I'locks Of Crows Take
Place Of Airplancs.

BEHIND THE LINES IN FRANCE.
January l tSpeciaD.-This land Of
recent battles is queer land now.
over the shell-torn villages and blast
ed woods, the oitted fields and the
ruin ot ali that once was Is strange
quiet. The winter sky is lacking In
airplanes. and great flocks of crows
have taken their places.
~ few villagers have crept back to
see what remains of their homes and
holdings but they ace few. and prob
ably the winter will have passed be-
Iore reclamation and reconstruction
are undertaken on large scale.
Aolng the roads. reapired and re-
bridged for the allies advance into
German territory. long cannon trains
move slowly. and always southwark
They travel leisurely, for the need OF
hurry is gone. They bring back the
salvage OF battle fields, all the things
mat go to make war, abandoned or
Truck load after truck load of rifles
and shells, OF water bottles and hav-
ersacks, cartridges, machine guns
bayonets and trench knives and pistols,
catalogue OF paraphernalil are brougn.
IN: The battle zone is still full Of It
all, In heaps and racks, waiting sal
wage.
Now and then, come trains Of air
plane camions. burdened with dis.
nant!ed lying machines Of every type
ana running gear on the truck and
the great wings on its specially de
signed trailer. Some of them are UNI
harmed. but many. show bullet holes
through the frail fabric or the ruins
OF q crash a. fair proportion Of them
pear the Maltese cross that marks
them boche.
CAPTURED GUNS MEET
WITH HEARTY GREETING;
There are trains OF captured enemy
nf
teries. driven and manned by French
men and these are happy outfits. often
ore guns are decorated with ever
green's, ana always tho French SOL
ulers laugh and wave greeting. AS
lhcE creep through the villages the
p ,' nocks out to view the cannon
devastation TO their land, and tho chill
dren Chamber on the carriages and on,
on the grim barrels
b. nu' IL is the troops on the way
oach lhat are most Interesting rc
turning TO rest areas or TO their norts
OIL embarkation for home. Frenr, or
;h,,merican; their behavior is the same.
Always they are laughing or sinr,nr
always they greet every one chno M
or ooisterously, and always tho French
I'M, salute with smile when thev
wave and I, shonI n car. while the mem
or u similar greeting. Even tho chill
drcn cry ''iinis. hnis." to the passIn,-
Stranscst OF all are the lights a.,
night: in the hamlets and vliiaEes ar ar
SHINING friendly from the isoIot ~,
E house, in regions further hacl,
10 or so ions France seemed a dcsertei
rcsGr hEir the Associated Press cor
out a Siimmer TO be seen in The conn
lrEsidc, and now from every hili and
yale The CHEEKY windows shine and a ihn
v vots co, arc ablazc Tho papers de- de-
bnris, but 1t is here in tho rero,
tpart OF France whero war has been
la dnat lights at night seem most won,
iittio e'' me, II they are but candle or
slaii cars doomed lightIcss i'm tho road 9
~ me imminent threat Of collision. ami
i ,aad,, rs accomplishments. tho brilliant
heaTThiishtS stab the night.
mere is no village now but wbero
t rn, travelling stranger can obtain
toou' not IN variety. perhaps hnt
enough and very hospitality. Thc Dc de- .
pirccatory polite and necessary ref,Isa
oily were received in little bamIe,s nr
single farms has given wav 10 "a
cheerlul offering of what there is. for
nc farmers know now that the sDect q
anna, mintcr no, OF short rations has dis
ioodstufs IL stil in effect. Brea !.
tickets are necessary I'm public eating
places. no matter how unprctcntious
outer and milk are seldom to be had
and cheese is scarce, but OF plain vege.
tables and certain meats there is
plenty, and the carefully hoard eG
stores of the light red and White wines
OF me country are forthcoming when
In this season there is game IN tbt
small town markets. hares and rab.
Dlis, Venison, red-leEged partridecs and
me iaISc French Quail and wild boa
~ =, Is hisn. put not so high as it al