South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-30
DR.. GARDINER IS
VISITOR TO MANY
PARTS Of FRANCE
Local Pastor Sees Large
Number of Army Camps
During Travel Overseas.

MEYERS, May Q. CBy MaiD-It
viii be remembered that / said in a
previous letter that for military and
welfare purposes aid convenience
the country or France is divided in
10 eight regions. During the first
two weeks I was in France / was
engaged in speaking in the fifth
region, which includes camps in and
near the city Of Paris. The past
month ] have been in the third re-
gion. which extends from. Tours 10
Nevers
The third region is divided into
i've divisions-the Tours. the St
Aignon. the Gievres. the Bourges.
and the Nevers. In each of these
divisions there are a number OF
United States army camps. all the
larger OF which I have been able 70
reach during the past four weeks.
have already written OF my visit
20 camps I'm three divisions OF the
third region. Let me now write OF
my speaking mission TO camps in the
other two divisions.
LII tlt AopuEEtc DlhlSlphs
The city OF Bourges before the
war was a city Of $4,000. but during
the war the city almost doubled its
population. It is a quaint old place,
whose magnificent cathedral attracts
the attention every year OF thous-
ands OF visitors.
To the United States army Bour-
yes Is an important center because
here is situated the central records
office. where are kept the records
OF the A r. r. Here too. is the
central postoffice OF the United
States army.
In he Bourges division there are
four important camps-One at Nor
maque, one at Focey, one (colored)
at Mehun and one within the limits
OF the city of Bourges. The latter.
which contains about 3. 900 soldiers
is known as the central records
camp. This camp is one Of the
most permanent in France as many
men have been employed because
OF their special ability in the records
Office ever since coming across the
Atlantic. In this camp are many
men from college and university.
Here are to be found expert ac-
countants. auditors and trained men
who day after day. toll 10 keep
fully and accurately all the records
OF the 4. Il. r. In this work they
are efficiently assisted by 500 Eng
lssh young women-members of the
w a. \ G., Woman's Army Auxl-
iary Corps.
Meets Local Man.
I had the pleasure of meeting at
the records camp, Mr.. Mortimer ].
Oden. 73s Cushing St. South Bend
Mr.. Odeil holds a responsible posi-
tion, as he is attached 20 the per-
sonnet department. He has had
some most interesting experiences in
France. and perhaps ere this letter
reaches the press, he wm be relat-
ing them 10 friends In South Bend.
When / saw him last. at the close
OF my Ben Hur lecture, he looked
exceedingly happy for two reasons.
First, because he expeI ted soon 70
go home: and second-well. L shall
iel him give particulars in regard
20 that
NlAS Dig nut.
The huge :. NJ. c. A. hut at the
central records camp is we'll equip
ped. It's "One hundred foot" audi
forum is splendidIy lighted and
heated with eight large stoves, four
on either side of the room. The hut
secretary. Mr.. ]. Z. Hornbeck. from
Lyons, Indiana, is one OF the most
courteous and efficient secretaries i
have met in France.
During the three days I was in
the BOurges division i had the privi-
lege OF preaching twice and lectur-
ing three times I'm this hut And be
II said TO the credit OF the men Of
the A. =. r. and the women Of the
w. A A. c. that they crowded, for
sermon and lecture. that great audi
forum. On two occasions. between
one and two hundred men. who were
unable TO secure seats. stood during
the entire service. while many heard
from outside the building, through
the open doors OF the hut To speak
90 such a throng twice a day Gas I
did Sunday morning and evening
Monday afternoon and night is no
easy task: but be IL said once more
10 the credit OF the men that they
tighten the task Of both singer and
speaker by the eagerness, the courte-
~ and the patience with which
they listen 10 the message.
Three Welfare Societies.
There are three other welfare
societies besides the y. NJ q. A.
that are in operation in the city OF
BOurges.
First. the knights of Columbus
Now il may surprise the readers of
the south Bend News-Times TO be
informed that my friend, Mr. J. Par
nell Egan. tenor. of Chicago. is re-
gionaI secretary OF the third region.
that is. he has charge of all X c.
work from Tours TO Nevers. AR.
Egan called upon me az my hotel in
Rourges and together we spent an
hour talking over the work Of the
Welfare societies in France but ever
and anon my thoughts wandered 10
mutual friends in South Bend.
Mr.. Egan came 20 France last
November and for six weeks sang
al various camps and huts but I'M