Deming graphic., 1919-08-19

II was fortunate that there was one
woman In the village that spoke Eng
lish. She was. we learned, the Ameri-
can wife Of French planter, and that
she lived with her husband In Paris
until the big Bertha" began the long
distance shelling Of the city. She had
the official telegram fr0El the French
authorities announcing our expected
arrival and ordering the mayor 10 pro-
vide billets. But our American friend
said she knew that II was all mistake
and that the area had never been used
or even designated billeting area ev-
en by the French. as there were only
about five hundred inhabitants and
the village was remote from the main
lines Of travel, being on a narrow
gauged line from Joigny. But she
said the people would find billets for
MS until such time as the authorities
could find time to unwind the red
tape that had entangled us In the DIFF
ficulty. We felt lucy 10 know that we
had not been sent TO a desert island,
with its possibilities of waiting on
the staff to get us off. She also said
that there was not an American COM
missary anywhere In the vicinity so far
as she knew, hut that the village folk
would divide their wartime rations
with us. She did mention that there
was an American aviation camp In
the next township, but we found later
that this camp drew its rations from
Paris and would give us nothing. But,
at least, we were among friends.
After threshing out these pressing
problems we formed into column of
squads and began the march TO the vii
lage along the rock paved road shaded
by its two rows Of great poplars on
either hand, the villagers trailing along
with the column. the children clinging
to our hands and exchanging such
ideas as our meager fund OF French
words would permit. One thing was
fairly certain. that, though we might
be unexpected and unlimited guests,
we would not lack for honor on that
account. The line halted In front Of
the Marie and we reformed according
to rank, for the "ranker'' your are the
better billet your are to get Field Of
ficers draw chateaus, II there are any,
otherwise common house or COW shed.
The captains come next and draw any
remaining chateaus and the better class
of houses or barns. The lieutenants
get what is left In the way Of human
habitations and the better class Of
hen roosts But the poor old non-coms
draw the poorer class of hay lofts or
take pot luck In Gods great outdoors.
The major took his seat In the Ma
rie-that combination building that Is
the seat OF them unicipality, the town.
ship and the public schools. The town
crier rolled his drum couple times
and In q stage voice announced that the
assembled citizens would step forward
as the names were called and would
offer hospitality according to the ca
pacity OF their several establishments.
| was paired with Capt. Dean and
when our names were called we were
approached by merry little man with
grey hair and twinkling eyes, who in
troduced himself as ~. Antoine Petit,
the tax collector. and invited us to
share his home. He spoke broken, al
though correct English, his invitation
was seconded In voluble French by
Nine. Petit and the daughter Mile.
Marcelle Petit. We accepted as grace
fully and as gratefully as we could and
accompanied our hosts to their home
through the narrow darE streets OF the
sleeping village, for IL was now we'll
past 10 o'clock and We were hungry as
bears and "dog" tired. We had been
living on the "iron" travel rations for
three days and the sleping accommo-
dati0ns are about like the billeting
scheme. There are no sleeper, except,
perhaps, for the staff. A line officer
travelling with troops, Is lucky to get
anything from box car up to first
class compartment In day coach.
The enlisted men seldom get above the
accommodation OF cattle car. On this
particular occasion we had enjoyed a
special train and had gotten day coach
es for officers and men. But at that
1t is argued that the box car Is the
true de lux style, because, IL not too
crowded, one can lay out bed roll
and stralghten out. With six or eight
In compartment Of day coach. nc
such luxury as this is possible, and two
or three nights makes one feel tied w
into sort OF deformed figure of eight
knot. Which explains our fatigue on
this occasion. We arrived at typical
old French stone house on the street
with tiny garden In front guarded by
an iron fence to which we gained ei
trance through heavy iron gate. NJ