The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-05-20

Long before you arrive at Arcachon you are sure to wonder why you ever started. Of all the trips in France either by train CT automobile, the one from Bordeaux to Archachon easily takes the prize for being the worst Four years of war had raised such havoc with the rolling stock of the French railroads that the cars in the service on the Bordeaux Archachon line looked as if they were of the vintage Of 1900. The railroad winds in and out through almost endless forests of pine trees planted row on row by the french' until even these rows get on your nerves. and you long to see Just one tree that is out of line. There are no picturesque scenes tn this trip just miles of flat, sandy, uninterest- ing country.
 Then there are the salt marshes that must be crossed. If. by chance, you cross them when the tide Is out and it seems always to be out, you will no longer wonder why 1t IS that 10th the men and women of France are such inVeterate users Of perfume -without a scented handkerchlei the Archdeacon marshals in some event
 Surely. you think. q city located Tn such an inaccessible pl&ce can not pc much of a city. And when the tram whistles 1Ot tue StdtiOh Sou ''' ready consulting the time table to learn when the next train leaves. Then. in the twinkling of an eye, all is changed The train rumbles across the bridge and through the trees you see vision of beautiful "hlte villas They resemble nothing so much az doll houses, each one apart in it's own little park, and surround ed by luxuriant semi-trt pical trees and towering plants. The streets are lined with these attractive villas, ana unlike other cities of trance, .he nasser-hy. instead of being compeiled to lool. at an ugly stone wall anu guess what is on the other side can ne.r through an ornamental iron fepca and share with the owner the artistic beauties of the place-such is Arcachon.
 The city is located on the lnslde of tha h, ok that forms Arcachon Bay and has one of the finest bathihS beaches on the entire Bremen coast Here one is not disturbed by the Lile Guards whistle when endeaVorlhs to get into water deep enough to spiash around in without touching bottom. If you have ever visited the water inc places of France, you knew well that officious parsonage, the Lire Guard with his whistle. Just as won are out deep enough to enjoy a real swim-"whet- t-ee-ee! goes the whistle and with frantic arm wavings you are called pack to minrle with the women and children in about six inches of water. Is 1t onv wonder, then, that the fast French set flock to the one bathing beach where there is nc such plague
 The city fathers had wonderful visions of making Arcacnon the Monte Carlo of France. Millions or francs were spent upon the race track and the gambling casino, said py those who should know to be ono of the finest examples of Motrish acnl- lecture in the country. Now, all thls was changed. Where. before the war; YOU heard the clink of silver, the cry of the croupier, or the sign or the ruined gambler, you now heard the moans of the wounded or the ,,,n1,, snf,uHn of the dying. France had ruthlessiy reuuisitioned the casino and had turned it into hospital.
 War itself could not keep the French smart set away from the GUY and even during the darkest days or 1918, if one did not know, here at Archachon it would not seem possl- hle that N@rancT was at death grips with her old time foe. Beautifully powntd women, escorted either by French or American officers or by cl- williams in white flannels, paraded up and down the beach or out On the promenade pier. During the bathing hour the beach was covered with small tents sheltering those who came to swim and those who came to snow off. It was an ideal spot for war weary veteran to pass ms leave and many of our officers aValled Themselves Of the opportunity of spending a week or two here.
 About five miles directly south rom this spot, in the midst of sand dunes and pine stumps, lay Camp Hunt, the most desolate of all our training camps. Inasmuch as at this camp were trained our heavy artillery units if must of necessity be off by itself. Here our soldiers were trained In the handling of the big guns. And 1T they were to shoot straight when they went into action they must have plenty of practice first, ana eight, ten or even twelve-inch shells flying around a closely inhabited country are not conducive to health. so an open spot in the wilderness, Tar removed from all habitatiCn was se- lected for the site.
 Still another reason why this camp must be isolated was that here the new guns were tested out and here nlans were made and drills held which later on, when put into actual practice on the front. would mean a painful surprise for the Germans. With all these activities in this camp if was obviously necessary that the camp be closely guarded. We were well aware that Germany suspected what was going on and that we were preparing a surprise for her. Much eo r,,r cha grin even with all our pre-.