Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1919-08-15
BY WILBUR FORREST.
On the New York Tribune

Un the New York Tribune.)
Neuwled. Germany.-In many ways
the American soldier, forced to main
tain a "Wacht am Rhein" here in Ger
many is to be envled by those who
have hurried back through the French
winter months to home and fireside
The homegoers are possibly well
pleased with their lot, but the "stay-
abroads" are beginning to come into
their own.
The American army and the Y. NJ. G.
A. have combined into harmonious
partnership here at Neuwied- on-the-
Rhine, which gives full compensation
for enforced foreign service. 1t is
called the Third Corps Recreation Cen
ter and is today operating full blast
for the benefit of morale of some So
900 of Uncle Sans boys composing the
Third American army corps. command
ed by Major General Hines.
Eleven hundred from the First Sec
ond and Thirty-second divisions come
from their prescribed villages and
towns Of the occupied area into Neu-
WED every three days to rest. recre-
ate and see the sights of the Rhine.
"The Third Corps Recreation Center,
made possible by the folks at home
through the Y. NJ. c. A." is the slogan
you may read in Neuwied today. And
the doughboys are beginning to appre-
ciate 1t and talk about It,
American army engineers have built
the largest Y. M. G. A. club and recre-
alton hall in Europe-the home of the
recreating doughboy, in which he
neither worries about reveille nor sa-
luting 1t Is here that he first goes
when he arrives from the area, and
he is told to make himself comfortable
by one or all of six comely American
girls who have come from home to
cater to John Doughboy and he alone,
natty young officers Notwithstanding.
The boys are invited to make them
selves fright at home" and they lose
no time in doing so.
How the Idea Works.
Follow Mr.. John Doughboy through
a three.day leave in the Neuwied Rec
reation Center He packs up his blan-
kets. towels. toothbrush and safety
razor and departs from the scene OF
duty. He arrives In Neuwied by vari-
Gus routes 100 of him-and Is greet
ed by n brass band at the railway sta
ton. A guide conducts him to the big
recreation hall and turns him loose
among potted palms. and deep uphol-
stored easy chairs, divans and "lazy-
backs" set hastily in great room
fianked on two sides by big red brick
fire-pnces, in which CHEEKY log fires
are burning. He Is assigned place
in n double deck bunk and he throws
his blankets aboard and returns to the
big room to loaf.
Perhaps he sits down at table and
writes line or two to the folks back
home. Then he meets a friend and
plays Il game Of billiards or pool on
the overhnnging balcony at one end of
the room. Or he just Tolls around on
those easy chairs and sofas until lunch
time.
Then some one suggests that he
stroll down to Uncle Sans Hotel
the place that used to be the "Hohen-
zollern house." Here the Uncle Sam
l.. Vi. ~.
for him and his 1909 companions that
he has never seen equaled In the
A. +. F.
crockery Suffers Sadly.
This "crockery," as the doughboys
call 1t, Is in reality an excellent grade
or German china, and as Sergeant ].
w. Seidenfelt, Commander In chief
Of Uncle Sans hotel, explained,
breakages at the hands of some scores
Of German mattresses run up to !
per cent meal, or nearly 100 per
cent a month. But 1t is Uncle Sans
party, and the boys enjoy It,
Sergeant Seidenfelt was head wait
err at hotel in Cleveland when Uncle
Sam drafted him. His home, however,
Is Hartford, Conn, and he never
dreamed the armistice would bring
lage of RHEIMS with well-preserved
him here to run 1.-THE biggest army no
tel in Germany" where nearly SoO