The Cordova daily times., 1923-01-29
SOLDIER TELLS HOW MADEBEST
 OF CONDITIONS
(By! Charles Scanlon)

Three months after the signing oh the Armistice concluding the World War I was Tn France. On arrival in Paris, I found a cablegram awaiting me asking that I come to, Glasgow Scotland, ip a few days, Tor an im- portant meeting. < A week later, l went, stoppinR in London and once morel visiting Ireland, and the Highlands or Scotland before returning to France.
 Everywhere the devastation of war was to be seen and the inconvenience and limitations of food. fuel, trans nortation and hotel accommodations were naked, throughout ths British Isles though, of course, much more pronounced in France. My journey of some two months carried me over many of the great battle. fields 'h- cluding Belleau Woods, Chateau Thierry, the Argonne, Verdun' RnolmS' yimy Ridge and others. The devas- tation was appalling and almost III credible in extent and completeness Skulls, fragments of legs ana arhlS' train loads of abandoned wal munl- lions and all kinds of debris o1 Ihe conflict were strewn for hunoreus oi miles Many interesting stories ol heroic achievements, almost unpelleV- ah,o sayagery and sacrificlal fortl- ture were common. One of the hloo' obstructive of these stories, told WILL coma variations, was that of to"h in inc northern part of France called Tourciennes, which had fallen Into 'he hands of the Germans who, m reprlsai sor come alleged grievance, oroereo that forty of the leading women oi the place should be taken as hostages +o German prison camp. lhe "o-
 o, taken were, of course, terror stricken and the people of the to"n
 s s,,rrounding country were ap- nailed by that which they were sur +,oont certain death-or worse.
 rba nrison was in a dreary place
 ..,, clutter of old buildings anu r,,hbisb. All forty of the women Were n1aced in a single bare barn-hhe iooll' l,;+h tiers of filthy hunks with uahlp' .,a1, e+raw surrounding three sloes of the room. Filth was cakeu oii | ont s,oors and covered the walls DN i,.o +bov were, helpless prisoners a' 1,orcv of a relentless foe, with ho bone of rescue and no ldea oA "i0
 nu ~ how deliverance would come
 prt they had character cou'"e7o' aonscionce and will power. They "el
 sisters in distress. They Knew a,s ."I on effort would be made 'o '' +be,n down physically, men'allS anu ,,,ora11v Like all strong, good Wohlen' they had resources within themsel'eS which no human power could estimate or destroy so long as they were all'e' They resolved to conserve every ener- ev and do everything possible to pro- feet and strengthen each other.
 First they knew that hatred eats like a canker and decided to waste
 
 their guards and fretting about their condition. Next they resolved toI keep themselves physically fit and oD- serve sanitary rules. They organized, some agreeing to wash, some toI sweep, some to scrub, some to carry water. some to cook, etc, though they were not accustomed to such work. They had been allowed to bring one change of clothing and resolved to| keep their clothes clean. They cur tained off one corner for a bathroom and used it regularly and faithfully by turns. There they had some privacy, bathcd, changed their clothes, combed their hair and came out feeling fresh and self-reSpecting. They got some old bricks which they used for sand and with plenty of water they scrubbed and made the floor white and the walls clean. They were al lowed one hour day for outdoor eX- ercise which they took regularly, rain or shine. Among them was one who had been a teacher of physical cul- ture. She gave them gymnastics in addition to the outdoor exercise.
 But they must have mental exercise too and agreed to share their minds with each other. They had no musi- cal instruments, of course, but some do them understood voice culture and agreed to teach singing; others gave talks on music and musicians. Some discussed the care of children. One was historian and lectured on the history of different countries, A pro- fessor's daughter led discussions on literature and art, and one who had been the head of a hospital, leCtured on the care of the sick. Some played games, others gave pramatic perform