The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-12-31
10 ROOM ABRpAO
| FOR SIGHT SEERS
ldmonition to Americans VINO
Contemplate Touring the
BattIefieIds.
LONDON EVEN NOW CROWDED
Those Who Think of Going Are Ad-
vised to Be Sure of Quarters Be-
fore Starting-2, 900 Are
Planning to Make Trip.

New York.-Americans who cOntem
plate visiting the battlefields in Eu
rope next spring or summer will be
well advised to secure their hotel ac-
commodation well in. advance or to
postpone their journey until conditions
Iare more favorable. Percy S. Bullen,
treasurer of the Association Of For
Ieign Press Representatives in the Uni
ted States, who has just returned to
New York, says that London even now
cannot find room for visitors and that
the state of affairs when the fioodgates
of tourist invasion are again open will
be appalling unless the intending
American visitors are forewarned and
therefore forearmed. sa.as s44f a
1t is estimated that some 1000, 900
persons-one for each man sent to
Europe by the United States during
the WARFARE making plans for a
transatlantic trip in the next two
years. Their chief object is to see
the historic spots where the American
soldiers fought-the Argonne forest,
Chateau-Thierry, st. Mihiel-and to
devote such a period to visit to Eng
land as time and funds will permit.
Mr. Bullen has been all over the
western trent during the last few
weeks and. he predicts nothing but
anger irritation and despair as the
lot of any visitors who trust to luck
to secure hotel accommodations.
No Steps Yet Taken.
i, The difficulty of the situation will
be realized when 1t is remembered
that. the usual flow of tourists to
Europe has been completely suspend
ed during the war and that only those
among the wealthiest will have the
first chance of securing hotel accom-
mediation when the bars against tour
ist travel shall have been removed.
So far no steps whatsoever have
been taken abroad to meet an unusual
influx of visitors. MIR. Bullen was so
ened In London that he prepared
memorandum on the subject. which he
submitted at a recent meeting Of the
Royal Colonial institute in London. In
the discussion which ensued 1t was
proposed that steps be taken for the
formation in London. of national
committee OF reception. AZ nucleus
of the organization It was proposed
that Representatives Of the various
Anglo American societies should meet,
with power to add to their number
various representatives whose expert
ence would be useful In solving the
problem now presented. Such persons
would include members of the AInerir
cun Chamber Of Commerce In LoHdon 4
and other Americans. besides leading
Plan Suggested.
The FIRST essential step is to mo-
Billie and list all available accOmmO-
dation provided by hotels and board
ng houses, and then enlist the assist
ance of every householder willing to
place room at the disposal of the
committee Of reception. If this plan
natures London will keep In touch
with New York on the question of ac-
and people in the Uni
ted States will be advised as to the
best time TO travel and the chances of
securing accommodation at reasonable
'ates. At the time Mr. Bullen left Liv-
srpool nothing actually had been done
except to call attention to the prob
EN- and the dissa tisfaction which will
,nsue if American visitors to England |
md France next year find themselves
absolutely stranded. as Is threatened.
Belgium IS apparently well able to
axe care of visitors to the Belgian
mainly because Ypres.
)ixmude and the much battered coast
owns are all within easy range OF
)stend, Bruges and Client. OF all the
attIefields visited. Mr., Bullen de-
lares Ypres is the most devastated
ut, with its memories of heroic fight
NJ extending from Ypres down the
fennen and Poelcappelle roads. rs
eautifuI in It's ruins" Ostend Is
robably the best center for automo-
tIe parties, and the burgomaster OF
,stend is one of the few men prepar-
IL to deal with an unexampled de-
and for hotel accommodations.