The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-08-16
FRANCE Is AN EK-
AMPLE OF PURE
DEMOCRACY
COMMON PEOPLE CONTROL
THE COUNTRY IN A MAN.
AER NEVER DREAMED OF.

Austin. Texas, Aug. 14.-"If the
American tourist is to see any Of the
wanton destruction visited by the
Hun vandals on France and Bel
gium they will have to hurry over
for both countries are showing mar
velous recuperative powers in repair
ing the vast damage DONE"
This information is contained In
a letter from Capt. Horace H. Shelton
of San Antonio to his brother. John
e. Shelton of Austin. Captain Shell
ton is in Andernach. Germany, with
the American Army on the Rhine.
Captain Shelton further writes:
II have just completed a trip
through Belgium and the devastated
areas of France. Outside the larger
cities every damage done by war is
being rapidly repaired. The fields
which few month ago were lined
with trenches and filled with shell
holes, are now covered with waving
grain and green truck gardens and
in many places there will be a rec
ord-breaking harvest.
"The ruined homes have been torn
down and out of the material re-
naming, mud-daubed huts have been
erected, in which the families have
started life over again and are busy
In their fields. Orchards are being
replanted and cattle, horses and hogs
are again appearing on the hills and
in the valleyes.
ut is really wonderful what can be
accomplished in such a short time
by the incessant industry Of these
people.
Even in those cities which were
damaged the worst by shellfire and
air raids, the weacked buildings are
disappearing and new ones taking
their places. 1t will take several
years in these cities to restore them
to their pre-war basis. but practically
all the ruined buildings will have dis
appeared, for the material left in
these are being utilized to rebuild
others and only vacant lots will mark
the ruin wrought.
"In the fields where hundreds of
soldiers were buried, the wooden
crosses marking the graves are now
hidden from sight by the fields of
grain which surrounds them on every
side.
while industrially 1t will take
France and Belgium years TO recover,
the outward signs OF the ravages will
not be IA evidence and there is a
great disappointment waiting the
tourists from a tightening point when
they do get an opportunity to visit
these regions.
ut was my good fortune to witness
the great celebration in Paris, July
IA, in honor Of the worlds greatest
victory. It was during this visit that
really learned what democracy
means and the power OF the people
in the French Republic. They con-
troll the country in a manner even
iE democratic United States we never
dreamed of.
"Along that magnificent avenue.
Champs Elysees, grandstands had
been erected by the city at cost
of hundreds of thousands OF dollars
that some of the select, the high
Government officials and army Off
GERS might view the military parade
in comfort.
''These stands cut off the view of
the common people. Such clamor
was raised that the day before the pa
rade everyone of them was torn down
and the avenue left clear. Only one,
at the Arch de Triomphe, was LEFT,
and Of the many thousands Of army
officers in France only twenty-seven
saw the parade from seats in the
stand. The rest had to stand ION tthe
sidewalks and scramble for a place
with the common people.
when 1t was learned by these
same peoDle that II had not been
provided Marshal Joffre should lead
the parade with Marshal Foch. the
people again expressed their indig-
nation in such terms that he was
given the place Of honor due him
on account Of his senioritv, and Foch,
commander Of the interallied armies,
took second place.
"The Avenue Champs Elysees.
which Is the greatest thoroughfare
of the French capital, was also closed
tn all wheel traffic during Sunday
and Monday in order that the people
who walk could have an nninter-
rupted vicw Of the decorations for
a period OF iorty-eight hours. II an
automobile or tavicab had tried to
push Its way into this street the
rougb-Eandliug It would have receiv-
q would have been such that no
other would have atternrted Il,
'whHl traffic OF MI kinds was
practically suspended during Sun
DAY and Monday on all the main