The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1919-03-13


the bow Of the "U' this is what make,
1T so impregnable. The city itself !,
ABOUT the size of Denver-or rather il
used to he before the Germans got
al,er Tit is practically nothing more
chan II heap of ruins today. Wall,
and cellars are all that remain OF
what was four years ago beautiful
city. In the streets are barricades and
debris and ruins clutter up everything
The cathedral is only shell with all
the windows out and riddled through
with sharapnel. 1t is really dangerou,
to ride through the streets as there
are many walls four or five stories
high that just seem ready to fall at
the slightest jar, the rest of the build
ing being shot away and only the sin.
gle walls left standing.
We were very fortunate to get into
the Underground City" as it is very
difficult to secure permission. You
have to have guide or you would
ret lost in the mazes that twist and
turn and connect with each other in
bewilderlng fashion. There are
several entrances to the City, the
one we entered was No. 8. At each
entrance there is stationed French
guards who stand ready to swing the
yates shut at Il moments notice. The
streets of the "City" are paved with,
cement and the walls are tile and
about fifteen feet high curving In
the form Of an arch along the center
of which a string of electric lights il.
illuminate the corridors. We only got
To see very small part Of the "City"
rs it extends for miles and connects
all the different forts of Vcrdun. We
did see the underground chapel, some
barracks where the French soldiers
slept, a wine room and a room where
the big guns poked their noses
through the port holes. Along the
streets of the city q narrow gauge
railway track runs which il used "a
transport the ammunixtion supplies
etc.
After going through the Under.
ground City We emerged to find the
truck off somewhere on a joy ride
with the driver. After q debate hall
Of US decided to try and find the
"Y" to see il We couldn't gst some.
thing to eat IN it WIS one O'clock and
we had breakfasted ut seven. Al
usual We found the Y in a most in
accessible place and jammcd to the
gills. After standing In line for over
an hour and getting right up to the
counter the truck suddenly showed
up and had to "Psrtec".
After leaving Vcrdun we headed
for Dead Mans Hill" which wa,
the scene of many famous battles and
which still has dead Germans lying
around and other such sights. The
hill was about ten kilometers beynot
Verdun but after travelling twenty.
three we finally decided that w
didn't know the way and turned ..
round and came back. Wehad got
ten into the Argonne forest which
you have heard Of.
I nm having hard time sending
my German Officers helmet home ~
they won't accept II At the p. o. Ia
box and won't take the chance
of sending II unwrapped ~ Il Ii tex
tempting souvenir for the mail
clerks to pass up and I doubt II u
would ever arrive. ! am going TO ash
permission to 40 to Barbecue Of
Commcrcy and zee II can't send II
by express.
The weather is nice and clear and
the detail IL going out for = hike
this afternoon.
II looks like we will leave herr
in the next two weeks and probably
sniy for home sometime In February
We feel very proud Of the record
of the 37th division Of hich we are
u part, nm you know, and following
nre the activities Of this Division
which were published In the "Stari
and Stripes. the official A. 4. +
paper In France.