El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-08

In War Time
LEAVES FROM AN
OVERSEAS NOTEBOOK
ByHD. SLATER.


iiiiiii'liI
The Oversees Notebook contains a
variety or material gathered by the editor
OF The Herald in Europe during the war
and after Excerpts viii be published fu
this column daily during the next several
months Publication OF the '.cCotes's be-
gan October rs. Ioday's fnstalment con-
lnuea t1e general narrative from the
sector on the battlefront.
y rs suggested that readers CLIP these
books they VIII not be reprinted ana back
numbers cannot be supplied.
IN THE 10Th Of August l9Is we
~ start for our new area, understand
ing that the division is to take its
place at once "in the line which Is
70 say, holding a sector OF the front
lines Of defence and assuming full re-
sponslbilty as a divisional unit in that
sector.
Our organization moves BY motor
convoy numbering l03 trucks and ann
balances each loaded TO capacity wifi
men and baggage. a bright fine dsv.
interesting ride through beautiful re-
glon. right intimate view Of village and
rural life as we 20.
Near ChaumOlt advance general
headquarters of the A. Z. Pa we
bTcuac for the night at beautiful camp
sire. Always on the trip as wen as I'm
bivouac ] am reminded of Cloudcroft
and Of New Mexico up around the
head Of the Pecos; high rolling country
with dense woods interpreted with
open Fields. Far vistas, lovely valleys
and brilliant c0ioring, mists in dis
tance.
The moon is nearly full, rising over
the tops Of dark pines and frs across
a fertile valley. Clear. cold, brilliant
night, heavy dew. sweet essences i'm
the air from luXuriant vegetation. We
hear the church bells Of Chaumont.
miles away.
Delicious sleep on the ground. upon
q hillside amid the trees and flowers.
In morning wash mp with dew shaken
from the oak leaves into my little
rubber basin, and even get a drink from
the leaves.
p August l9lS-Eutering Chaumont
view wonderful arch bridge of three
tiers OF masonry, built at three or
more different periods; ancient Ro-
man aqueduct reconstructed long AGO
Tor highway bridge and later the entire
structure Wldeued and strengthened
and the top tiers Of arches added for
railroad Arches all high and narrow.
and effect Of the three tiers Is Of a
most admirable aud perfect architec-
tural, artistic and structural achieve
ment.
Pass quickly through Chaumont. IN
terestmg very ancient town. People
are used TO seeing American troops
around here and pay no attention ex-
cept that the children ask for money
happiest Of all when handed a ciraret:
The tiniest boys smoke and some are
very childish while others Ike 70 an
pear tough.
Through wonderful country, fasei-
mating, beautiful Nari-eolored fields
flowers ike meadows Of Sierra N7dre
and Cloudcroft at their best. beecb
woods, hard woods. nut trees. many
conifers of 20 different speeies. Dense
woods beautifully kept, Ike parks. r1
carpeted with ivy, with grassy wood
roads and lanes.
We bivouac for the night on sIone
overlooking a valley which drains into
the upper Meuse. not many miles from
Domremy, Jeanne d'Arc's birthpIaee.
Sunset view remarkable. great ancient
chateau on distant skyline on bold
crag- Sound sleep, a chill damp night
but clear; up before dawn. breakfast
by camp fire while stiu dark.
p August l9l6-Nearinr Toul. one
OF Frances fortified towns. we berin
to see almost the first signs that We
are anywhere near a war. Remarkable
now all the way uD here. drawing
nearer and nearer TO the battle lines.
we have seen no indications Of military
activity beyond the American detach-
ments bileted here and there in the
villages. don't know lust what I
expected TO see, but anyhow I haven't
seen It. tt is almost impossible TO
imagine, from any outward sign. that
things are any different in France
from what they have been for a cen
fury past.
All the surroundings Of all the towns
passed through, especially the larger
ones, show permanence, comfort. ar
tistle design In all public works. Superb
road system, the road metal in neat
square piles al along the road, trees
planted at regular intervals, cabins for
road workers, road signs, grade cross
lngs protected, curbs, grades, cutters.
wldthi rock surface with minimum Of
Gust, holding up remarkably well IN
der tremendously heavy traffic.
Arriving in the outskirts Of Toul
IN the afternoon, We have long wait
on the main road. A pretty prospect
across valley and city from high level
where we are. The canal to the Rhine
close by and many men and officers
90 swimming in the clear water.
Around us are some Of the forts Of
Ioul, works on top Of high hills which
encircle the city, some Of them several
hundred feet high and rocky and diff
ncult Of access, others with grassy
Slopes.
Nariegated traffic on the great high
road e. S. troops returning from the
front. long lines Of men sobered but
full Of ginger, field artillery with ac-
couterments barely soiled. fresh paint
hardly knocked off the gun carriages
and caissOns; Italians and French of
all arms with many service stripes;
Russians. Chinese; women all in
black, farmers with their produce. emil
grant families from the war stricken
area with their little carts, children
and odd mixture Of belongings. a dog
and sometimes q COW at the tail of the
cart. old women tramping alongside,
young mothers nursing babies perched
on the topping baggage. People not
n-gay in spite Of war. Officers of
an the armies are well groomed, with
clothes pressed and busted. especially
the French officers. Staff officers rush