Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-04-08
SOLDERING With THE A. F. F.
Notes and Comments on Trip Through
Central France
GOOD HIGHWAYS and POOR RAILROADS

Glimpse of Big Salvage camp-Arrest-
ed in Dragnet-Honest Tribute to
the Red Cross-lndividuaI Estimate
of Service Stripe-Hopes to Get
Home in Six Weeks.
La Pallice, France, March 17.-Al-
though occasionally there is a high
spot that seems worthy Of mention in
a letter, life over here generally is a
continuous hum-drum-not exactly
hum-drum every day; but hum one
day and drum the next.
have just returned from trip to
Romorandin, where have been with
a convoy Of touring cars, mostly Cad
ilacs. There were twenty-five cars in
the convoy, and we went over the
roads at all kinds of gaits from 10 to
Is miles up to 60. or 70 miles an hour.
During the two first nightsb out we
stopped at the best hotel on the way,
and during the second two nights out
we stopped in an old barracks near a
German prison camp, under arrest.
Immediately upon our arrival at Ro-
morandin, the officer in charge of the
camp informed us that we were under
arrest, the whole bunch Of us. Just
what the matter was we did not know.
He lined us up, called the roll, and
after every man had answered his
name, he went into an examination Of
our dog tags. He was not satisfied
and called for passes. orders and let
ters Of Identification, and after all
these were produced, we were sent
around to the prison barracks al
ready mentioned.
AS to what we were wanted for I
had no idea, whether for murder, ar
son, highway robbery, or some minor
offense, it was matter Of guess work,
and as I did not care particularly, I
did not waste any time guessing.
If anybody had told me year ago
that could have been so Indifferent to
such a proceeding I would have
thought they were crazy. But then I
had not been taught that so far as the
ordinary rights Of human being were
concerned, was only a number-that
the number on my dog tag was about
the only remaining connection be-
tween me and anybody else in the
world, except first, the members Of my
family, and next, friends and acquaint-
ances over there. And so far as COM
missfoned officers are concerned, I
have learned to look upon them just
as they do me. know that they have
the authority and must obey, regard
less, whether they know what they are
talking about, and sometimes they
don't know; but that is not my funer-
al. I admit, however, the very oppo-
site of what it ought to be and do not
have the satisfaction of saying II told
you So" when the officer Is forced to
reverse himself. Even military au-
thority cannot make a round peg fit a
square hole.
We were turned out Of the guard
house Monday. The officers did not
tell us; but we learned that a sergeant
who had given his name as George
Crake, had broken a gate for French
woman at Poiters. She complained to
the authorities at Tours; but we had
already passed Tours, and the authori-
ties there telephoned ahead to Romor-
andin, where we were arrested. After
all of us had been looked over in the
manner described, without finding the
man wanted, the French woman was
told to go to Romorandin and identity
Sergeant George Crake"; but when
she baked at the idea Of going ESQ
miles to get the fellow, we were turn
ed loose.
Romorandin is probably the largest
automobile and airplane salvage camp
in France. There are thousands and
thousands of motor vehicles of all
kinds. Included among them are
many that have been taken from the
Germans, and there are motorcycles OF
all kinds. They are parked in great
field that covers hundreds Of acres,
and it looks like great graveyard
for of the thousands Of machines here,
I have an idea that very few Of them
will ever be moved except possibly as
junk.
There is a big French aviation camp
near here, and it is still active. l saw
as many as fifty machines in the air
at one time-machines that are being
tried out, mostly.
might mention also that the Fort
Leavenworth Of the American expedl-
tionary forces is located here. 1t Is to
this place that they send the German
prisoners who are convicted OF various
offenses by courtmartial.
We had quite a pleasant time going
to Romorandin; but it was not nearly
so pleasant coming back. On the way
over each man in touring car or the
very best make that is turned out IN
America, and doing pretty much as ne
pleased. we were able to see quite lo'
| of central France. There were no
| American SarrlSonS III lHe lo"hS :"
which we put up, and therefore no
military police to bother US, and we
did pretty much as we pleased.
"It was fine leafs" that we had al
the hotels, and good long prices tha'
we paid for them; but 1 did not enjoy
the eats so much as I enjoyed the
beds. The beds were surely fine ano
made me think of things back nome
Yes, 1 have got accustomed to rough
ing it in camp, and 1 can sleep on the
ground if I have to; but would no.
have anybody think I like it that way
vet. And as much better as these hne
hotel beds are than the bunks II
camp, they do not come up to the beds
that mother used to make for me- OF
the one that she is keeping for me
now.
Coming back from Romorandin, i
was not so pleasant. We had to take
the freight trains for it. The traffic
| 80 co beavy and the rolling STOCK 81