Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-01-17


of September 6. 1918, there was
I'm unusual amount of hustle and
stir in the little town of Aubiere,
a 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
LoOuts was merely passing through
the last stages of its preliminary
! training prior to it's triumphant mo-
ment of action upon the heights of
the Meuse, which occurred during the
last days of the war.
It 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 Hum
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
a 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 APP
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 city of Clermont-
Ferrand, which was just awakening
to the days activities, the bandsmen
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 soon
making its way leisurely through the
colorful Auvergne country.
The Setting Supreme.
The day proved to be perfect, warm,
and clear; the views from the car
windows were enhancing, and the
'nademoiselles" tending the gates at
each crossing waved their greetings
to the groups of young Yankee sol
iiers which filled the windows of each
compartment in the train. The land
scape was dotted here and there with
the picturesque red-roofed villages,
from the center of which rose the
gray stone church towers; the coun-
tryside seemed to be an immense vine
yard filled with endless acres Of
grapevines; and the mountain peaks,
now extinct volcanoes, stood out in
bold relief against the clear blue sky
like sentinels. Occasionally an old
castle ruin frowned upon the travellers
from some overhanging cliff or neigh
boring hillside.
After a ride of three hours, the
train passed into the department Of
Haute Loire and made a short stop at
Brionde, where many gayly-dressed
country folk with their lunch baskets
boarded the cars. A few moments
later, the train reached the little vii
lage Of PauIhaguet, where the order
sounded to detrain. After much hur-
rying and scurrylng about at the little
way-station, many vehicles OF every
sort and description were pressed into
service for the transportation OF the
men to their destination. Some rode
In autos. some 10 carriages. and a
bass tuba player with his immense in
strument was obliged to ride on the
front seat of an outlandish coupe, by
the side of the driver. The horse was
not fieet-footed; and the tuba player
reached the Chateau de Lafayette
nearly an hour later than the other
bandsmen, who had watched the great
bell of his brass horn dazzling In the
SUMS rays. slowly making it's way up
the mountain road several miles be-
low.
Fine Ride to Old Castle.
And what ride IT wasi what SUI
perb scenery and glorious country,
picturesque, mountainous 1t seemed
difficult to believe that a land OF such
overwhelming beauty in summer could