Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-15


August on the steamer George Wash
ington and landed at Cherbourg in 10
days. There they were met by an
official special train. said to be the
finest train made up in France since
the beginning of the war. This train
remained with the party during the
entire trip. never leaving them till
four weeks afterward at La Have,
where they emba rked for home
BY way of showing these Amer
leans how beautiful France can be.
they were first taken through the
southern part of the country, to the
beautiful summer resorts and the
finest agricultural districts Then
they went to'the devastated districts
ruined beyond all comprehension.
Col. Marston said, They passed the
site OF a village which Col Marston
remem bers when he first went to
France, but there was not a single
thing to indicate that there ever was
village there. The ground was
turned over for such q depth that
it is the opinion that centuries will
elapse before Nerdure will again
spring up on this soil. 1t is utterly
des olatc; not bit of green to be
seen; just waste of ~ up land.
After arriving in France ~le par
" first went to Blois where there
was unveiled a beautiful monument
to Joan dare. Then it went to Pau,
"a great watering place visited by
thousands and next to Tardt S, the
birthplace of General Foch. Here
they placed a tablet with simple
ceremonies on the one time hcme of
the great General. took many pic
lures both inside and out and here
also they were given great dinner
by the municipality, They made a
short stop at Toulouse and then
went or: to Lyon where they re-
manned two days. Here the PEOPLE
gave them great celebration. in
Tact they were received with the
greatest acclaim and were anquet-
ted everywhere they went
Another interesting place visited
was Strassburg, the seat of Alsace.
so long held by the Germans Here
they reviewed $4,000 French troops
the finest of the French Army and a
great celebration WAS made in their
honor. Then on to Metz. the old
capital of Lorraine They were met
there by Marshal Foch who contin-
ued with them till they reached
Rheims.
AT Rheims there was another big
review of troops and an interesting
ceremony was held at the celebrated
dun where hearts were strangely
stirred by memories of former OK
periences. Here 4 big luncheon was
served and practically all the big
fightlng generals of the French Ar
my were there to explain the abttles
and entertain the guests. All mem
ners of the party had a chance to
fire one OF the big guns, of which
there were 1nany
The next stop was at st. Mihfel
where the first great victory of the
! American forces took place. Two
DAYS were passed here, the party be-
ing panied all the time by
French officers who explained the
different battles and campaigns.
! Then on to the Forest of Argonne
and passed two days there This
, was interesting to all, especially the
| members of the 18th Division. Dur
ing the time pasesd at these battle
heids many Of the men of the party
had time TO go out to the very spot
where they fought on perhaps had
been wounded. Col. Marston said
that he found small corner where
; he was slightly wounded during an
engagement
But most important of all" said
Col. Marston, was the visiting the
cemeteries. | found the graves of
all the members of Company h, from
Skowhegan, took photographs of
them and Mrs. Marston and ! placed
wreaths upon them. We were en-
tranced with the way these cemeter-
/ les, where lie the American dead are
kept up. Al Thiacourt where the
103rd Infantry and other units of the
10Th DIVISION we're conspicuous for
| their gailantry we found MANY
graves of the men of the 103rd. Here
the cemetery is on high hill, over
| looking the battlefields and the land
!
! beauty of the spot. At Romagne is
the largest and probably the finest
American cemetery where - 600
Americans are buried. Much time
/ and attention is bestowed on this
cemetery. The Belleau Woods Gene
! terry is much smaller than the others
J but very beautiful.
! Another impressive thing is that
here and there we came upon a cross
! with the inscription, Unknown
American Soldier They are finding
bodies every day, picking them up
on the battlefield, but SO dismem-
bered that there can possibly be no
i identification. was told that the
cost of burying the American SOL
/ diers TO this government was about
81, 90 0each, In the devastated re-
gions it is faryellous that with so
! few of the farms that have come
! back, there should be so many flow
! erS brought to the graves of these
boys. In one cemetery l found en-
! old lady with a watering pot, water
I ing plant and it happened to be on
/ the grave of one of the boys from
| Company f."
ION our visit to Rheims where the
trip ended we visited the famous
| Cathedral and there met the cardi-
nal who staid by the church all
! through the German bonn ba rdm ent,
watching it's gradual destruction
! With his hand on his heart and