The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-01-10

~ OF september y, 1918, tnGfe WAS
81 I'D an unusual amount of hustle and
stir in the little town of Aubiere.
suburb of Clermont-Ferrand, the
capital of the department of Puy-de-
Dome, in one of the most historic re-
gions of France-the ancient province
of Auvergne, says the Christian Sci
ence Monitor. What was the occasion
which produced all this early morning
excitement? Surely no call to battle
or no signal to go over the top. be-
cause the actual horrors Of the world
war never extended into this sleepy
corner of sOuth-central France: and
the American regiment quartered here
abouts was merely passing through
the last stages of its preliminary
training prior to its triumphant mo-
ment of action upon the heights OF
the Mouse, which occurred during the
last days of the war.
1t was the one hundred and sixth
anniversary of the birth of the great
Lafayette. and the regimental band of
Col Arthur S. COnklin's Three Hun
dred and Third heavy field artillery
regiment had been invited to share
with a few American army officers
the honor of representing the Amer
lean expeditionary forces-yes, the
United States of America-at the
birthplace and the early home of the
great hero who aided so much in the
work of winning its independence as
n nation. The last bandsman had re-
turned from the early breakfast served
In the village square of Aubiere, and
with his instrument had Joined the
crowd already climbing into the huge
army motor trucks drawn up before
the bands billet.
AS the first rays of the dawn ap-
peared, and the procession of Aubiere's
peasants commenced from the crooked
alleyways of the town to the surround
ing fields and vineyards, the trucks
moved out of the village and over the
hill toward ClermOnt.
After the brief ride through the
| thoroughfares of the city10f Clermont-
Ferrand. which was, just awakening
to the days activities, the bandsInen
arrived at the commodiOus railway
station where specially reserved cars
on the morning train south awaited
them. After the sun was up the train
ambled out of Clermont and was soOr
making its way leisurely through the
! coIorfuI AuVergne country.
The Setting Supreme.
The day proved to be perfect, warm
and clear; the views from the cal
| windows were enhancing. and the
"mademoiselles" tending the gates a
each crossing waved their greetings
TO the groups of young Yankee sol
diers which filed the windows of eaci
compartment in the train. The land
scape was dotted here and there will
the picturesque retroofed villages
from the center of which rose th'
gray stone church towers; the coun
tryside seemed to be an immense vine
ward filed with endless acres o
grapevines; and the mountain peaks
now extinct volcanoes. stood out II
bold relief against the clear blue SIX!
like sentinels. Occasionally an OH
castle ruin frowned upon the traveller
from some overhanging cliff or neigh
boring hillside.
After a ride of three hours tn
train passed into the department o
Haute Loire and made short stop
Brionde, where many gayly-dresse'
country folk with their lunch basket
boarded the cars. A few moment
later. the train reached the little VII
lage of Paulhaguet, where the orde
sounded to detrain. After much hui
rying and scurrying about at the littl
wav-station. many vehicles OF ever
. sort and description were pressed In.
service for the transportation of IN
, men to their destination. Some rod
In autos. some in carriages. ana
: bass tuba player with his immense II
, str,,ment was obliged to ride on IN