The New York herald., 1922-10-08

was extremely exnauStlng, nevertheless IL
could only increase our pride in the First
American Army and the remarkable vic
tory ii gained here on September IL, 1918.
ST. Mihiel is a name which now means
so much to any American that when we
turned in the direction of this city it was
With an eagerness we had not heretofore
experienced. We knew that there were
no memories or incidents Of fighting here
by other forces which could compare to
the deeds of our own troops.
st. MihJel is a wreck from one end to
the other. The work of reconstruction
and rebuilding is proceeding slowly because
it is so enormous an undertaking. Even
now scarcely so per cent. of the houses
appear to be occupied
It was no easy matter to find a place to
lodge. What had once been the main hotel
OF the town was still without roof. and
most of the others were in similar plight
One which we did finally discover. how
ever. proved to be comfortable-so COM
Portable, in fact, that we were not at all
surprised to learn that it had been used
for four years to house German officers.
Many of the doors to the bedrooms have
thinner painted on them. and some Of
them even the names of the Kaiser's Off
GERS marked on the panels.
The first morning of our visit found us
on our way to the northeast through the
center of the salient. 1t was necessary
here to climb the long hill up to the level
of the Heights of the Meuse. and when
on a bicycle hills such as these become of
prodigious moment. The first village of
consequences was Chaillon, eleven kilo-
meters or so from st. Mihiel.
We were Immediately impressed with the
vast respect that the inhabitants feel
toward the Americans. who had released
them from their captivity. The village is
now in the process of rebuilding. and we
stopped for lunch in little cafe. where an
old lady dfd the cooking over an open
blaze in a great blackened fireplace. There
was only one room. and the food was
served direct from the fire to our table.
Every doughboy has seen Just such a
place, and it was in this kind of a primi-
tive but hospitable atmosphere that many
Americans found lasting friendships with
the French. The old hostess, quite over
come with the idea of entertaining Amer
leans for a meal. showered us with her
very best.
The country we had traversed since leav-
ing St Mihiel had been rough and wooded.
In places it was Of impossible density:
this was another reason why it was
miraculous for the Americans to pinch off
this salient so quickly and with such
apparent ease. All along the road we now
found evidences of German occupation.
dugouts and shelters of every description.
At one place there had been German
cemetery and although the last of the
bodies had been removed there were still
many large and elaborate monuments.
There are many German cemeteries on
the promontory here and there. but near
the station was a large one which was
unusual because practically all OF the
black crosses carried French inscriptions.
showing with what consideration the
French had buried the enemy and how
they have since taken care OF the graves
even as they do those OF their own soldiers.
Yet one thing which We have noticed on
al. German graves distinguishes them from
those of any other nationality. Each
Teuton grave is marked with a cross. as
are the French. the English or American;
however with the German it is the Iron
Cross of war.
Leaving Vigneulles. we continued on our
progress across the battlefield through st.
Benoit and Beney to Thiaucourt. On the
crest of a commanding hill outside of