The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-09-23
SAYS FRENCH SPIRIT
is WONDERFUL
Charleston Man Returns-Visited
, Place Where He Was Shot
During the War

"Wonderfup' was the term with
which the restoration of the war-torr
areas of France was described by Ern-
est L. Visanska, attorney, with Off
ces at 7 Broad street, who returned
to Charleston yesterday, after having
toured France for several weeks, WIS.,
ting the scene of the engagement IN
which he was wounded while serving
during the war as lieutenant OF the
First division of the American eNpe-
Ciition 2ry forces.
The scars of war are plainly in evil
dence in the village and cities OF all
the area of France for which AlllHd
and Teutonic forces struggled 1or
more than four years, according to
Mr.. Visanska. But, surrounding shat
tered villages are well-cultlvated
fields, which witness the fact that
France has returned to work with a
will, he declared The people are llv-
ing in make-shift homes, which afford
Y them scanty shelter from the ele-
ments, but they laugh while they
work, with signs of cheerfulness that
are incredible, he said.
Where First Division Fought.
q Mr.. Visanska visited France, Eng
and, Belgium and Switzerland, spend
g major portion Of his time IN the
st-named country. Of particular
crest to him were the battlefields
ere the First division met the en-
: while the war was still young, so
as the United States was con-
ed. The famous Ypres region in
zium was the only part of the old
Ie front he visited other than
lie the First division had seen
restoration in the vicinity Of
IONS has been accomplished so
oughly that the Charleston ex-of-
was unable to find the trenches
ich were occupied by the fighting
rst. Wheat fields were growing
suriantly all about the city. In Sois-
ems, itself, the awful effects Of the
struggle were still in impressive evi-
de.c Rebuilding of some Of the
principal buildings has been gotten
under way, but the great majority
of the inhabitants of the scissors of
today live in huts constructed from
the debris that filled the streets OF
sfhe place when the armistice was
signed.
In the neighborhood Of scissors,
Mr.. Visanska visited a cemetery where
many of his former comrades are
(1uried. To relatives and friends in
america of any soldier who lies in
ftiis cemetery, he brought the assur-
Ance that the graves are being cared
for in the most particular manner pos
! sible.
Durable Cross for Each
"Each grave is marked with dur
De cross, bearing the name and Other
information of the soldier buried IN
it." he said. "Grass is growing in
the cemetery, and it is kept in con
dition that many Of our cemeteries IL
the States can not equal. Well-kept
walks are maintained through all por-
tions of this burying ground, which
was the only one that had opportu-
nifty to visit. An American, who saw
service in the British army, is paid
by the government to supervise the
care of it, and Frenchman assists
him."
Hundreds of Americans have visit
ed France to see the places where
their loved ones were buried, Mr.. Wis
anska was told. Many other Ameri-
cans, in France on business or merely
Ii Tourists, are attracted to these
leteries, he said.
l,res, familiar ground to Charles