South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-02
Y. W. Opens Hotel
Near Cemetery

<AAHA2a aHnEs L. 49,
trsvel-worn women mostly mothers
and wives. are arriving daily in Ro-
magne, a small French village. on a
pilgrimage 20 a cemetery II miles
out from the village whore white
crosses. $1,000 OF them. stretch from
the road far up the hillside TO a
flag pole where the nag for which
these men fell In the Argonne forest
floats silently over them. Turf has
been planted at the DOT OF all OF the
graves and at the entrance 10 the
cemetery grass is planted in such a
way as 20 outline the words. Ar
gonne Cemetery"
Until rec emily these women some
t.nes. n or We al a time often as
many as 10. have arrived in Ro-
magne. speaking little or no French
and have tried to find a way to get
out TO the cemetery. Sometimes
they we're picked up by an army
truck. More often they completed
the last Il miles OF their long trip
from some town in the United states
20 the one cross among the $1,000
which meant their own sacrifice IN
the war. in a jolting French cart.
Exhausted from the trip and their
grief. these women have had me-
place 20 rest. The army a done
the best Il could for them. The
commanding officer at the cemetery
and his wife have welcomed these
women into the old barracks which
they have made hahitable and this
officer and other officers have fire.
quently given up their beds 10 the
women. They have asked them o.
their own mess as their guests. Bu
The best they could do was very lf
tie. with their few facilities.
SO il is that the American YOun
Women's Christian association, o.
request of the army. has taken Owe
Two old barracks at the foot of thi.
forest Of white crosses. is repaint-
ing them and fitting one up into O
small sitting and dining room The
other is being divided into two big
rooms. one a sleeping room for
mothers and wives and sisters, and
she other for fathers and brothers.
who viii come on this pilgrimage i'm
increasing numbers.
Red Cross Supplies.
The American Rcd Cross has sent
out by beds. blankets and
sheets for the equipment, and the
y. w. c. a. has sent out a truck
loaded with foodstuns. pretty Gre
tones. a tea set and a few odds and
ends TO make the place look pretty
and warm and attractive To the pill
Erims. Very simple meals are served
to visitors at "a nominal charge Gov
ering cost. Y. w. c. A. women are
always there 10 receive guests. to
see that they have a cheerful cup
of tea and. above all things. TO give
an atmosphere OF welcome and
thoughtfuIness 10 the Hostess house.
No supplies can be had in Ro-
imagine. Il miles away, so that it Is
necessary for the Y. w. c.. A 20
send all food supplies from Paris 10y
t,uck. a bicycle was sent up 50
that the workers might have some
means of getting back and forth
from the town. but the problem OF
transporting the visitors looms "a Dig
one The army has a few trucks
which they are lending on necessity
FOR the time being. but they are moi
certain how long they a keep
them. I'm the meantime the Y. w
e. \. women are trying 10 get a
truck or automobile to transport the
visitors who are coming i'm increas-
ing numbers to the cemetery and %
the Hostess house
This is the first of a series o. such
houses which the Y. W O.. a will
operate near cemeteries where
There are no living accommodations
for transient guests. Mrs More
We'ch Crump OF Chicago is resident
hostess of this house.