The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-13
Sale Creek Boy Graphically
Describes Visit to Paris and Versailles
Noah B. Newman Writes of Many Wonders of Unique
City of France Stood on Outside of Building
Where Peace Conference is Being Held

forces, now in France, has written
a most interesting Letter to his
friend. James H. Gass, of the Chat
tanooga postofflce. giving a graphic
description Of things seen and OBJ
served during a visit to Paris and
Versailles. The letter is as follows:
a three-day Leave In Paris "ssns
Beaueoup de Francs"
81. Aignan. France, May 3.--On the
DAY OF April 25.y 1919, q pass for three
ters to visit the unique city" OF France
probably better known as Gay Paris"
Arrangements were made this date for
the trip by myself and Private Kenneth
G. Miller, of Baltimore, Md. First. but
lar The the most important thing to do
was to secure the necessary funds TO
defray our expenses, as this was near
the last of the month andsthere are only
9. few good soldiers-either that or good
crap shooters" who have any niAney
at this time of the month. However,
through the courtesy of our many &C.
quaintances, friend Miller was able to
borrow the sum of 100 francs, and |
like amount. We deemed this amount
sufficient to carry us through trials and
temptations OF the great city for the
three days. While I was eating supper
on this date I was informed by one Of
my brothers-in- arms, who had made
this trip, that we could get in Paris at
1880 the same day we started provided
we could catch truck to the town of
Blois and catch the Paris express from
there, whereas If we waited for a train
here 1t would take us until $3.50 p. m.
to arrive in Paris. In order to avoid the
long ride on the SLOW dog we decided
that we would use little energy and
take tho truck. Arrangements were
made with the truck dispatcher for
transportation to Blois via truck at 800
a. m. April rs, the day we were to start.
Miller and stayed together in my
Chamber de Luxe" for the night and
would not miss this said truck. At the
hour of $3.50 a. m. the clock started its
unpleasant chimes for the lazy guy"
] was mad. SO I choked it. We went to
the kitchen fromvhere for our breakfast,
but it was too early for regular break
syrup and coffee--the complete break
fast would have been bacon attached.
We arrived at the truck dispatcher's
Office in due time. in fact few minutes
rived and was loaded with no more than
FIVE bicycles. Besides Miller and / there
were another sergeant and couple OF
''Looeys" which were to make this same
trip and for the same purpose--in fact
there We're others there for the e. same
geant and driver occupied the front
seat, and Miller, the other ''Looey" and
gained standing room in the main body
there was no more room left. All in vain
for the other boys. for we had made ar
rangements for the truck and therefore
had the preference over them. We did
not have room to sit down on account
of the bicycles. and it was Impossible
for us to stand up on account OF the
top of the ''iiver." We had to take the
medicine, that's all. After an hour and
one-half of this we We're satisfied to
take the cushions for while. Arrived
in Blois about ten minutes before the
train was due. We bought our tickets to
Paris--a cost of fir. 420, and checked out
at the A. P. Ms office. The train ar
rived on time, but was so crowded that
we were unable to secure seats at first:
but at noon time some soldiers desired
to get dinner on the train-when OF
course we Immediately took charge OF
the SEATS left vacated by them.
First Glass Train.
The train was of a first class type
and the accommodations were as mucn
as one could ask for provided ne had
the luck to get a seat. This was rather
unusual for us, for we had been accus-
toned to the box cars" or the "quarent
hommes or hut cheveaux." The prlncl-
pal towns between here and Paris are
Orleons and Blois. The train made ex.
cellent time and we arrived in Paris al
1890 noon on the 26th. You may not be-
lieve it. but we are always well taken
care of and looked out for just the same
as if we were one large family over
here We are always met at the station
by the gallant N; Ps ana all Ameri cans
the train and then ordered to line up
with your passes in your hand. We are
then marched by the wiNdoW OF tne
A. P. NJ. and our passes are stamped;
we are given a blue pass Tor the Guy
of Paris, and some l noticed received
bread tickets-however, on this occasion
I did not receive any The tickets do
not get the bread free for YOU put
make it possible for you TO BUY IT, IN
most places it is Impossible 70 puy
French bread without these bread tick-
cts After we check in with the A. T. NJ
we were told to report to the A r. N;
at the ST. Ann hotel, where we Woulo
get permission to remain IN Farls IoF
the three days. within the next twenty.
four hours. During the stamping OF the
passes, etc, there is Y. M; =. "A,
who comes along the
line of soldiers and instructs tnem
where to go to get something 10 eat,
and also when they get through eatlns
thew -" NAV secure beds for the night. |
We are now at liberty to go where we
please. but we are aware OF the iacI
that we must follow some instructioIis
In order to see the most interesting anu
historic scenes OF PARIS.
Followed Instructions.
We followed all instructions anu
went to the Red Cross canteen for din.
ner, Here we lined up, OF course, pus
here were only about dozen aledt
~ us. SO this did not consume much OF
81 oi,r - t,noe. Here we bought our tickets
for the lunch, costing the sum 0i
* ems. which is less than 10 Genus ~
Anerican money. The meals are selNe""
Something similar to the dairy inncI.
You pass along vt the c0 that You Si see.
First we came to the desert. then crop
,our ticket in a receptacle, gea a knliS,
FORK and spoon, then piaIe. N.Y. pross
, good looking X. p. "a Reo SioaS
girl), which dishes out some tben
! ootber hours your coffee for you. You
ne then seated at a table. someone's
with flowers on them, ana tnelG go
save access to all the french preatt
that you can eat, ana 10 say ~ ~ con.
he bread is fine. don't know the con-
t ttsn hut it is not a pure wheat bread, !
You are confronted with sign, pieass
orine hack the dishes, so oHlcels as
we'll as men do little OF klIcnsen 3,r po
ice *. Pl duty here at the heq aces does
~ ever the actual cost by one-tourth,
~ sso,,Id saw. and those who do not nave
he money get their meals Just as
orornnt as those who pay LOT rLso
oo,uch for the Red Cross-here ana else
where. -.,,k
...ar Wa had finished the luncn mere
ma loaded into the big truck whlcn waS
wa wsit t for US outside the ca NJ en-
"ha nit ffteen or twenty Of us got IN me
fr,,ot and were on our way TO a some
oo int unknown. After about hit tbis
minutes of ,'ruober. ne Raa Cross bar
. [aCSK wv Where their specially is taxing sds
,acas, the soldiers at night-oeas, |
, seek IN ' Parcels, and light LUNCHES we
ined up and. secured TICKET Ike t f9r ticket Sse
which cost us, one franc 30 On ,o I5i' ND for
a egf I In the tent You will find
nHmper are Numbered. There. is clean
linen to be found in the tent e daPly y0 if
also change your nS own baa dIn Changed g the
N me on information desk and secured dng
90 the - -. ~, in formation TO 60 on cer-