The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-02-06
MR.. CHITTY WRITES o
Tells in Interesting Manner OF Visit
to French Capital.

Clermont-Ferrand, France, Dec. 49,
1e18.-After four years of turmoil
and strife, the world war has at last
subsidized, and once more fellows IN
Khaki are free to send forth to their
relatives and the world a partlal
expression of the great education
they. have received while abroad. Al
though 1 have been in France but
three months, 1 came at a time When
the game was in it's finishing stage
and, therefore, as my presence was
not sorely needed, I have had occa-
sion to visit some of the historic
spots of France, which have furnish
ed me with evidence that this coun-
try may rightly be called Sunny
France" Before discoursing further
with regard to my new environment,
1t might be interesting to relate to
you folks, just when I left the Unit
Led States, from which camp l
embarked, and my experiences on the
high cas-
After completing my course of in
struction at the State University, l
was transferred to Camp Joseph F..
Johnston, Jacksonville, Fla. Here
again I was subjected to an overseas
examination, and having passed, was
attached to Motor Truck Co. No. 539,
Motor Supply Train No. 427, which
is a branch of the Quartermaster De-
partment. This regiment was sent
TO Camp Merritt, N. J. On Sept. 20,
we boarded e transport for France.
The trip was interesting, helpful,
and invigorating in every sense OF
the. word. After a voyage of thlr-
teen days, our boat landed at Brest.
This, as you probably know, is where
ethe United States has her great
sport Terminals"
From Brest we made our way to
Neyers, passing through Tours, the
headquarters of the quartermaster
department of the U. S. army. I am
told when the United States landed
her first regiment of the expedition
airy force, the quarterpaster depart
ment consisted of less than m hun
4dred men q~uartered in several small
rooms in a French village. To-day
we have around 100000 serving in
this branch of the service-each with
q definite line work. Tours is u
Grand Headquarters. There you will
ind a record of every man, every
truck, and absolutely every pound
OF food that's shipped to u forces.
1t is simply wonderful to e how we
have perfected such a great organiza-
ton.
It is not my purpose to tire you
with non-essentials, but having been
reared in q country town, and know
ing your desire to have me relate
some of my experiences, l am going
to tell you that I have been to Paris,
whicn>to be sure must be one of the
most beautiful cities in the world.
1t was during my sojourn here with
an old pal of mine that I displayed
my wide knowledge of the French
language We entered a restaurant,
and gave an order for two beef
steaks, or at least we thought so any,
way. To make sure he understood
our language, we said "comprehen-
dez-youz," which means, do you un-
2derstand. He answered ''oui' (yes.)
Well, here sat two American soldiers,
envying one another Of their success
In having made this French waiter
understand what. their taste called
for that morning. After an absence
OF a few minutes, the waiter return
ed with two fried fish. This is the
price Of ignorance. Without any
S1Su OIL OuT StuudII dSSu1SuI VIC dLC W
our own satisfaction.
Ever since my arrival in France,
I have longed to visit Paris, the CAPT
tai of France. We planned our trip
more from a standpoint of sight
seeing. Paris is simply a Won
derful little village. A wall
twenty-one miles long surrounds the
city, which makes it almost i'm
pregnable. The Seine river is the
main throughfare for trade and COM
merce. The river, which is between
800 and 500 feet wide, spanned by
more than 80 magnificent bridges,
one of which 1 was told had been in
use for over 400 years.
Some of the important suburbs of
Paris are: Boulogne, Versailles, and
Saint Dennis. Boulogne is known
the world over for its famous park
and race courses. Versailles for her
palaces and beautiful gardens, and