Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-06-30
BY c. S. CLARK.

Paris, France.-Standing amid the
ruins or Fort Douamont Just beyond
Verdun, and surveying the spectacle
OF ruined villages, the tortured earth,
the wasted and Shell-torn regionS-the
awfui destruction and dcSulation
stretching league after league in ev-
cry direction-onc does not feel that
the pence terms handed to the Ger
man delegation at Versailles are too
severe. One cannot look upon this
work of fcnds and feel that any
punishment or any indcmnitics are
too great for the nation responsible
Tor the scenes that are everywhere
apparent throughout the northern
part of France and Belgium.
We followed the road taken by the
second and third American armies GA
their way &c the Argonne and Chateau
Thierry sectors. over hills. through
valleys and quaint villages runs the
road, rs straight as an arrow for over
a hundred kilomcterg, (about two Kill
ometerS To milr} bordcrcd on both
sides by trees, which when their 70
liage Is out, forms n complete arch
way of the road. So straight are the
roads constructed by the government
that frequently you can see The next
town Al distance Of ten miles usli-
ally with the cathedral standing ap-
parcntly at the head of the street.
villages nesting on the hillSidcS or
perclr'd on the crest Of a hill, come
into view and disappear as we speed
along an almost perfect "ruc ma
tionale' which connects the principal
cities Of France.
Scenes of Great Beauty.
These picturesque villages. with
their houses of cement or stucc0, red |
tiled roofs upon Il background Of
green, present scene that would !
enrapture the heart of an artist. The !
colors of the scenery and the sky in I
France are Incompatible.
Passing through Clayc. Meaux and
Montmirail toward Challons, there
are acres Of farm land on both sides .
of the roadway Hundreds of acres
are under cultivation and one won +
ders where the men and women who
till the land come from. for often
there are no houses in sight for many |
miles.
At the inn OF the Gallant of the
Green Castle in Montmirail, we
stopped for the night. The inn had
not been heated for months and, Of !.
course, the bedding was very damp.
otherWise our rooms were most home
IKE ana we spent comfortable night
"'''e me "t" was sun upon tile
use w SPe'u'" 'o"at" 81 M'he-
"ou'' anu ''''u" sum W" came 10
"i''''" '-"' ~ ,'' hi>t Ef"Noli
- '"', ~ 81" q, '"'D, III ,'l' ''',''i
~ "'''' ,'''' nv Ho'u.'t "a''
o.e, "".''u "",l' Nv i''' we pass
W num-" gus W SUI" s'"''N ""i'"S
~,
~" ''a'""l was "t'oi''i'S more
I, W. "'''i' ''' 9''''' ''"'cS i'd" 'o'
-" i'o" W. anu Wv '""''u It i'''S-
80 !" i''", ' '"' 'f''''' i1,''''e WI,
,"ses "t,e ueNe''eo' anu gaping SielI
:" Wv "'"0',>' NV 9',' va i'"'N
'"' '''' ''N'''''' ''''"'' Il" 'NP."'
P',>''' '''""'''''',' "'i-
- o. 10y y ~ No. ''''''''''9 anu guns
we PaSSeo numerous German prs
'i '"'i'i'S' hIE"l huIlaI'd 'l"uNahd
~ '7','ei are ''l'S u'HlHe" Wherever
'o>H'"'e III 'rPd'r'iE '"' putidihGN'
.ou""aNS anu inc part OF me daih-
'se t"eS "aN' "''iie'
Inc DEBRIS OF War. :
Nearing Nerdun we came upon
many storehouseS fillcd with ammn-
lition-ShellS, hand grenadcs, and
'ther war materal-that has never :
been removed from the containers.
What to do with the tons and tons
II this ammunition is one Of the af- %
er-War problems.
Miles and miles Of narrow gauge
ailroad lines We're constructed over
which the ammunition and supplies VI
we're sent 70 the front. These rail |
Dad tracks, for many miles. are stin
-.#
Not single entire house remains Il
landing in Verdun. ut one time fhe /
ONE of 25,O0O civilians. Where once
here were homes is nov only noun :