Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-27
Wilson Deeply Impressed
by Scenes of Devastation
Visits High Water Mark of Great Struggle at
Ehdtedu-Thierry and Sees Ruins
of Rheims Cathedral
Bv The Associated Press

Paris. Jan. e1.-rresidcnt Wilson yes
torday made his first trip to the battle
front and devastated regions, visiting
Chateau-Thierry and Rheims AZ the
close of n tour that took him Though a
dozen raaed villages, ending in the ruins
of the historic cathedral at Rheims. lie
made this comment:
"No one can put into words the inn
pressions I have received among Fnch
scenes Of desolation and ruin
That was MIR. Wilson'S only expression
of his feelings after trip that every
Frenchman has been hoping he would
make before he takes part in deciding
what is to he cXactcd from Germany for
the. devastation of northern France
visits thaieau-Thierry
Accompanicd by Mrs. WILSON. Admiral
Grayson and a very small party. Mr..
Wilson left the Murat residence carly
yesterday morning. foregoing attendance
at church and the rest, which he felt he
needed very much, To- perform what nc
said he considered to bc = duty The
marty motorcd first 10 thatcau-ThiCrry.
where lunch was taken on board wait
ing train. Tho party then proceeded
by motor 70 Rheims, passing through
many ruined villages aud along the
old fighting lines. where evidences oI
combat are stil to hc plainly socn.
After visiting Bheims, tho President
aud his party abandoned their motor
cars aud boarding a snoc al tram, re
turned to Paris The last part ol 'h'
motor trip was made ina swirlinE snow
storm. the first snow Mr.. wilson "d'
seen since last winter,
The first fighting ground Nss rcacued
as tho party uoarcd Belcau Wood. I'M
mortalzcd i tnhe history of tho war Ivy
tho gallant lighting of American marines
The motor ears turned off the main r"auS
aud crawled perilously through PACK
lanes to bring tho President close 10 the
place where the fighting took place.
work Of Reclamation
The country folk in That ueighhorhood
are striving to reclaim tIc-r country
from wars desolation Tho farmers
were plowing the sholl-Cratered fields as
= the President stood beside the graves of
90 or more American boys who gave
their lives at that point and looked
across tho StrateGi" valley to Boleau
Wood, n manClcd mass Of tree truuks
and undcrbush. btu now uatiOua'
monument to the marines, after whom
the French Government nave named tho
place
Colonel Edward NJ Watson, of Mar
, tinSville. Va. who commanded an ar
tillcry battalion in the fight and wa
later chief of staff of tho Scventy-ScVentl
Division in tho Argonue fighting, stOoc
beside President Wilson and Brigadiel
General William W. HartS and told the
story Of the battle in detail
Then Mr. Wilson drove IN tho hill
over which the American troops smashed
the crack Prussian divisions mustered
there 10 crush tho 'Greeuhorns" auc
where tho advance on Paris was checked
This was near Chateau-Thicrry and tho
spot promises to hc a mecca for Amer
leans for many years to come. Mr.. VII
son saw the ruins of bridges over which
the Americans thrust back the enemy
/ line at this nearest point to- farS anC
the shell-marked houses which survived
the battles of those memorable days.
On entering Chatcau-Thcrry tho
! Mayor greeted Mr.. Wilson, who re.