El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-06

In War Time
LEAVES FROM AN
OVERSEAS NOTEBOOK
81

! month"; Publication OF the Notes be-
I gan october -'. Iooay1 instalment con
Z tinues the general narrative from d
Z diary with account Of conditions in tLl
training area in northeastern France.
Il is suggested that readers clip thes.
articles each day and paste them in scrap
I books; they viii not be reprinted and bnca
numbers cannot be supplied
/ II MY headquarters office there ar,
1 many fine posters left on the wall.
by some previous French occupant
one poster with France embodied. Wav
ing torn colors, behind her spirited
figure taken from the Victory grouI
on the triumphal arch in Paris Z
countless army Of men with tor
standards, marching VIGOROUSLY, the
army Of the dead arisen, and under
the picture the legend which translated
reads: Comes the day when from
Paris 70 the humblest village, bursts
Of shouting VIII welcome back our vic.
I tWious colors, wrung soaking from
blood and tears, shredded by shells
sublime ghostlv pageant Of our heroi,
dead" Over the top Of the picture are
the words: For the flag-for vic.
t0rv!" The legend is quoted @Fron
the ministerial fcabinet) declaration OF
20 November 1917"
and G August l9lS-Cloudv, light
showers, moderate temperature. All
7 spare moments devoted to gas mask
practice, packing, etc. At night, work
! several consecutive hours wearing gas
mask to practice breathing and get
I used TO muzZle and nose clip. Have
I been through gas chambers, and prac-
( ticed walking and running with mask
I on, and adjustment within the required
I SIX seconds. Strongest emphasis being
( laid on necessity Of all our men being
I trained 10 automatic action in this.
Z as gas casualties so lar have been
heavy, especially with men fresh 10 the
line
All baggage reduced 10 a minimum
and surplus Of officers and men Is
sent back 10 Paris, Bourges, etc. TO be
stored till the end of the war. Travel
ing light is the word from now on.
and a large proportion Of all the Junk
brought over on imperative orders from
on high Is strapped for good Required
outfit for officers is still much In ex-
cess Of what IT should be and Is only
a burden.
7 August l9ls-Cloudy, cool, clear
ing Relations between Americans and
French people here most friendly and
not a single report Of improper con
duct. Too free sale and use Of wine
regrettable, but no great harm done.
Use should be prohibited 70 both Off
GERS and men, or limited 70 an hour
OF two a day. Use by officers par
ticuarly reprehensible Many have lit
tie sense Of responsibility as examples;
no experience in handling OF directing
men in civil life.
@ August I9lS-Our organization re-
ceives its very first means Of trans
portation, two motorcycles. 4ll this
time with $50 men in three towns and
headquarters 10 20 u miles apart we
have not has even a bicycle OF a horse.
Courier service very poor and imDos-
sible 70 keep up good service of re-
ports, etc. Repeatedly pleaded for
even the use Of one motorcycle three
hours a day for the entire orgauiza-
tlon, without result
Large quantities Of delayed mail ar
rive. Soldiers really pine for only two
things; letters and chocolate. Tobacco
ard food problem solved.
10 August l9lS-To division head
quarters through marvellous park all
the way. There can be no lovelier
country in the world for verdure and
cultivation; beauty unspoiled BY 1000
years Of mans useful works. In nv
present work I have some freedom of
action, with real field work in pros
pect, out Of doors and in touch with I
the big task
II August l9lS-Sundav. an alb
solutely perfect day equal 10 III Paso's Z
OF CloudcrOft's best, cloudless SKY, still I
atmosphere, bright farm sun, but Z
crisp thrill in the az. Band concert I
IN evening, the old Lish songs most I
beautifully PLAYED and Robin Hood /
and Erminle. Went TO mass IN morn Z
ing. Lovely simple music and fine I
sermon by the old parish priest on the !
rights and duties Of private pro per BY; I
the third antl-soclallstlc sermon / have I
heard from him, IN a strongly sOcia- I
lied republic"
One Of busiest days 7 have had, ]
plenty Of work and much activity. /
Our destination when we move VIII be ]
high honor for our division as We are 4
to relieve one of the best Of the regular /
divisions in the line after less than
third of the period Of intensive train
ing on this side ordinarily regarded by
the military authorities as q minimum
Of preparation. Evidently the hard
training st Camp Travis IS going TO
count for something.
Great stress Is being laid on gas war
fare and gas instruction; so much so
that in spite Of the instruction at
Travis and the information obtainable
there the new phases over here come
rs rather a surprise to most, and the
idea prevails that the training in the
United States on this and other things
IS not in very close accord with that {
in the A. Z. F. and indeed is a long
vays from catching up. I wonder If
hey know by now in the camps across
he water what It all means over here.
Certainly we in Texas had only a
vague notion after ALL Yet let It be
that most Of standard
practice is confirmed as Cound and
workable. Open warfare is the Ameri-
ans big play; "Nusketry" and all it
means in troop leading, etc. Casualties
inc in considerable measure to disre-
sard Of training instructions and well
established fundamental rules, which
MY q comparatively few soak in.
-eally comprehend, or make a matter
# instructive habit which is the main
lbiect-
News Of capture of 9lontdidier ar
Continued tomorrow