South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-27

to reach Paris. Here at Chateau
Thierry, American troops were
placed to Illustrate that German
drive aud all the world knows how
bravely the Americans performed
their part. They stopped the Hun
offensive, which marked the turn
ing point Of the war. l have said
that elsewhere in France we wit
messed scenes of greater destruction
but il will take many years for time
and the courage of men to heal the
scars made by the terrible fighting,
which took place at Chateau Thier-
~ in the summer of 1918.
Belleau Woods of Interest.
From Chateau Thierry we drove
to Helleau woods. a distance OF six
or seven miles. 1t will be remem-
bered that for this wooded height
our marine brigade fought savagely
through the greater part of June,
1918, but when the struggle was
over every loot of Belleau woods
was in possession of the Americans.
On French military maps this wood
is now and always will be described
as the Wood Of the American Ma
rlne Brigade"
At the foot of this wooded height
is a burial plot, containing over O.
600 white crosses. marking as many
American graves. AS we looked at
those white crosses, we noted
young American soldier by our side
quietly weeping, Il beg your par
DON" said he. my brother was
killed in the fight at Belleau wood
and lies buried here"
Secs Old Rheims Battlefield.
We visited the great battle line
near the city of Rheims running
" estward toward scissors and east
ward toward Verdun. AS you ap-
proach this internal zone the ground
becomes bare and arid-the grass
become more and more sparse and
finally disappears. There is no veg
etation and we noted not a single
bird in the air. The soil is hacked
by thousands Of shells and displays
the baroness Of the Chalklike sub
soil on which so much blood was
shea II was here that a sad acct
dent occurred 10 two members OF
our party. 4 young soldier picked
up a hand grenade and foolishly
struck il against a rock. The gre
made exploded tearing off his right
hand and injuring so seriously a
comrade soldier who stood by that
he died from the effect. next day.
II am not bringing any souvenirs
from the battlefelds for this sad ac-
cident taught me not 70 pick up any
thing lying In trench. dugout or
battlefront.
The city OF Rheims forms a sad
picture II looks as If il had been
torn to pieces by some gigantic
earthquake. There is not a single
house that has not been struck by
lat least one she'll Above the mass
OF ruined walls, as if by miracle.
rises the cathedral
TO me the Rheims cathedral is n
most tragic and pathetic sight. TIE
RAGGED walls though shattered By
many "a shell still stand uplifted
toward heaven. as if crying out for
pity No one, no matter what may
be- his creed or religion can look
upon this once beautiful cathedral,
with its now mutilated walls and
shattered stained glass windows
without quietly weeping Rheims
ca JhedraI. the work OF centuries OF
art and devotion will forever stand
"a silent monument TO Hun barbarity.
scissors of Timely Interest.
We felt we could not leave France
without visiting scissors and its en-
virons for il was here that Marshal
Foch launched his counter offensive
against the Germans. Il was here
that once and for all the initiative
passed from the hand Of the Hun 20
the hands OF the allies. IT was here
On July IS. when the enemy was
making every effort 20 evacuate
Rheims. that he was suddenly struck
a stunning blow. IL was here too
as at Chateau Thierry that Ameri-
can troops once more played a con-
spicuous part When we visited
scissors. we knew that we were