Jackson County journal., 1919-06-13
With THE army
OF OCCUPATION
Germany, May 10th. 1919.

Nhy, HlCy GUlil, 1910.
Although the American Army Of
Occupation has many games and
amusements for pastime within its
Ona area, still life here would be-
come monotonous if longer and
more general leaves" were not ex-
tended. In consideration of this
fact, many leave areas have been
opened up all over France, where
the American soldier can 90 and
spend several days of rest and rec
Ieation, away from the regular army
routine.
Perhaps readers of the Journal
would be interested in a word re-
sarding these Fairgrounds of tie
A. {. F. soldiers.
The writer has just returned from
the Savoie Leave Area, AK les
BainS, France, and will now endeav
or to give short description of the
points of interest in this region.
Although the town. itself, is so small
that you will possibly not be able
to find its location on the map, still
its fame is so wide that its reputa.
ton extends all over the world.
U'til the beginning of the war more
than 100000 tourists from all parts
Of the globe visited this place an
nually. 1t is the favorite summer
resort of all the kings and queens
of Europe The town was built up
on the reputation of its mineral
springs, which are still very famous
1t was the first place opened as
leave area for the A. E. F., and by
the earnest work of the Y. M. C. A
X. of c., etc. it has been made q rea
home for the American soldier o..
pass. More than one hundred largt
hotels are open, which accommo-
date five thousand soldiers at a time
To provide for the entertainment
of the men, the Y. M. c. A. has been
able to secure the use of the Casino,
or Grand Cercle which, up to the
beginning of the war, was the larg-
est gambling place in France. Stories
are told of many prominent Ameyi-
cans who made and lost fortunes
here. Today the Casino is one OF
the finest buildings in the world.
Let us take a look inside this beauti
full building. Passing through the
entrance and vestibule we find our
selves in the Gallery of Mirrors,
from which branch off the other
rooms of the first floor. There is {.
library and reading room. amply
supplied with writing tables, a the
atre seating a thousand persons
two large halls, with the finest We
netian ceilings, and used by the
soldiers for games, concerts or rest
ing; a grand salon, where movies
are given every afternoon and even
ing, an auditorium where the relig-
ious services are held; a large and
beautiful ball room and cafe. AS
many as three kinds of entertain.
ment are kept going at the same
time in order that each soldier may
ind something to his taste. Some
OF the indoor games are checkers
chess and billiards, while there are
out door sports such as baseball
tennis, hikes up the mountains. t.
the Gorges, and to the beautiful
homes near the town. One of tht
interesting houses is the sulnme
home of Queen Victoria standing al
it was when she visited AK. Anoth
er home | visited was that of al
American sculptor, an old man. VIII
lives with his French wife on Ire
serve Hill. From Treserve Hill
splendid view can be obtained o
Lake Bourget-the largest and pret
tlest lake in France. 1t was abou
this lake that the poem L
Lac" was written and the inspira
ton came to the poet while gain
at the lake from Treserve Hill.
| had the pleasure of taking