The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-06-19
WHERE AMERICAN
DEAD ARE LYING
FIELDS OF HONOR IN FRANCE
ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL PLACES,
SAYS RALPH HAYES.
sUREsNEs CLOSE TO PARIS
BeIIeau Easily Reached by Motor or
Train From the CapitaI-Accommo-
dations for Visitors Have Been Ar.
ranged at Romagne.
BY JAMES P. HoRNADAY.

cations TOR VlSitors nave been Ar
ranged at Romagne.
BY JAMES P. HoRNADAY.
Washington.-Ralph Hayes, assist
ant to the secretary Of war, who Is
just back from a three months stay
in France where he went to make d
special study of the various questions
that have arisen in regard to the
American military dead overseas, Is
enthusiastic about the permanent
American fields of honor or burial
places that have been chosen In
France. Nesting beneath the mas
sive gray walls of Fort Valerien and
with the winding valley Of the Seine
beneath it, Suresnes cemetery Is pic
turesquely located In the village of the
same name on the outskirts of Paris.
Thanking it on three sides is the beau
tiful Washington boulevard. At either
end of the present reservation, addi-
tional parcels Of land are being Sc
cured so that, in addition to the en-
largement Of the area, there will be
no possibility of commercial encrOach-
ment. More than 1000 bodies are
now at Suresnes and there will be Il
maximum capacity Of nearly 5000.
It's location within few miles of the
capital solves the questions Of trans
pOrtatiOn and hotel accommodations.
Sentimentally, 1t is a splendid loca-
ton for lasting and solemn memorial
Of Franco-American military co-opera-
ton.
Deep in the consciousness Of Amer
leans everywhere are the neighbor-
ing localities Of Chateau Thierry and
Belleau Wood. These spots are SYM
5ols which serve to dramatic the final
crushing of the German offensive on
the banks of the Marine and the devel.
opment of that smashing allied attack
in midsummer of 1918 which, before
the ending of the year. was to beat
imperious armies into bitter submits
sion.
Will Be Pilgrimage Place.
Americans in France will 60 as a
matter Of course to the fields near
est Paris where our troops so distln-
guished themselves. It was at Bel
leau that marine forces, temporarily
detached from the navy and attached
to the Second division. were so heav.
lily and heroically engaged, together
with the other divisional elements, In
June Of 1918. 1t Is particularly At
ting that the war department should
retain this burial place, so firmly root
ed in the affections and so baptized
by the blood of the army's sister
service. The trip from Paris is made
easily in day by automobile or
train and ample hotel accommodations
are available In Chateau Thierry, n
few miles from Belleau. At the ceme-
terry, which now contains about 1000
bodies, a small cottage has been erect
ed by the Red Cross and operated by
two 7. W. c. A. workers. A Red
Cross automobile supplies local trans
portation.
When, in late September, from all
the region about the Mouse and the
forest Of Argonne, a khaki host wenr
forward to the attack which was to
end only on the, eve of the armistice
when every roadside sign was labeled
mach Sedan" the dominating posi-
tion Of the enemy-as Mont Sec had
been atsSt. Mihiel-was the great hulk
Of Montfaucon. Not far away was the
modest village Of Romagne sous Mont
faucon. Now, on a gentle slope be-
side the gaunt ruins of the little town.
$4,000 crosses mark the places of
nearly half our dead In the zone of
the armies. They lie in ground they
themselves wrested from the enemy
In the last month Of fighting.
For Visitors 70 Romagne.
Transportation facilities to Ro-
magne, Mr.. Hayes says, are still in.
adequate and there are no commercial
hotel accommodations In the imme.
date vicinity. But a combination N
army barracks, Red Cross equipment
and Y. W. G. A. personnel has result.
ed In the establishment of a comfort
able hostess house. simple and unpre-
tentious. but adequately able to sun.
ply food and lodging at nominal cost
70 parents visiting the cemetery. Two
he'd Cross automobiles are kept there
and meet the trains each day at Dun.
sur-Meuse, the nearest railroad sta.
tion.
The area actually occupled hy
graves at Romagne is Approximately
259 by 81 meters. The entire tract
inclusive Of the grave plot. originally
desired for American control mea :.
rres 800 by 500 meters. In all prob.
ability the size of the cemetery itspl,
VIII not increase-the number of
bodies removed to America will ho
larger than the number to he movod
lato Romagne. Nevertheless M
hayes recommends, pending more def.
mite developments as to the amonn,
and design of buildings and land,
scaping involved in the Rome ono
project, that the war department.
should not decrease the area intend,
ca to be included within the reserve,
.loh' but fould proceed to acouire
It by lease Or purchase
Houston Asks Higher Taxes.
A further increase In tovo4,o.