The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-17

he knew whether he was asleep or awake, the sergeant had this question Ilreo at him; What do you think of starting a newspapers" Jorgensen is newspaper man. Need I tell you his answer? That afternoon they set to work. Brest boasts a fine newspaper office, one of the finest in the province Of France. The two Americans used all their tact, and rather more than all their French to persuade the editorial staff to let them use the office. It says much for their diplomacy that they succeeded
 The first number came out without name. Instead of title it had big question mark and a wood cut showing a stork bringing a baby to a soldier under the heading-"Name the Baby" That wood cut had been done with a penknife. A prize was offered for the best title. Hence its present name. Nothing could have been hap pier. When the camp was in the mak ing, it's most striking feature was the constant stream = of men carrying duckboards on their backs passing up the road from Brest. Its present com fort is largely due to it's blackboard paths
 The first issue had to be printed on flat-bed press. It took all day to print the 1000 copies The paper had also to pass the Fernch censor Until it had the censorship stamp on it, the French would not allow them to print it. It looked like being long job. Happily the censor was kind. He passed the proofs at once
 There was one member of the French printing staff whom they nicknamed Hindenburg. He was like bear with a sore ear. Nothing was right for him at first. Then one day he handed the editor a note written in. French. Here 1 is the translation Give me some chocolate, and everything will be all right" And it was. After the French got used to the American compositors and editorial staff, they did everything they could to help them. That office is now just like one happy family. Lieutenant Allen and Lieut.. Karl H. SchIling who is also Eighth infan- try. put up the money for the first is sue. Lieutenant Schilling is circula- ton manager When the paper was ready. they went out into the streets and sold it. They sold out. They l1haye sold out ever since. But that is not their greatest triumph. They went round to French tradesmen and got them to advertise. Anyone who knows how little the French advertise will understand what that means. The only trouble was they succeeded too well. More advertisements came in than they wanted. So they put up the price. Still they came in. Finally they were forced to refuse them. Had they been out ! to make money, they could have made a lot. But their main object was to give the best they could at cost.
 Some amusing problems arose. The French type cases, for example, do not contain 'w's." The American type settlers had to carry "ws" in their pock- cts
 Now for the service side of the jour nal. Every welfare organization has free space, either in the form of stories or advertisements. This offer is made so that the men of this district may have as much chance as possible to make the hours pleasant while they are awaiting to board ship That is the way they put it. And they act up to this spirit all through. Again, take their policy on the reclamation ques- ton. Full details have been given in the news columns. But beyond this the editor prints in every number coupon to be filled in by soldiers who want to go on the land when they get back. Many of these coupons have all ready been sent to the department con cerned. They form a useful indica- tion of how the army views the scheme.
 Truth and service. The watchwords of the Blackboard" might with ad- vantage be applied to much more inn portant papers nearer home than Brest
 Copyright, 1919).