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With The Doughboys at
By JAMES J. DAVIS
Pontoon Bridge Over The Rhine at Coblenz
Coblenz
fleers from the eastern section of that state. They were having target practice. Brother Garland and I were given an opportunity to try our marksmanship with a machine gun. The boys pointed out to us in the Ar-gonne forests where machine gun nests were built up in the trees. When the German army retreated some would remain perched in these trees to pour forth machine gun fire on our boys when they entered the wood.
Later we stopped at the citadel at Verdun. The citadel is a city within itself, built under a hill. It is one of the great fortifications of France to oppose the great German fortifications at Metz.
Along this road we journeyed to Metz, passing the great camp where thousands and thousands of Russian prisoners, shipped by Germany to Metz when Germany saw a retreat from Metz imminent, are being fed by the allies. These Russians were captured on the eastern front of Germany and Austria months ago. They had evidently received miserable treatment prior to the retreat. On we went to Metz, thé capital of Alsace, where we stopped at the leading-hotel for lunch.
Metz has suffered no destruction or damage from shell fire. It is a pretty little town, more modern than the French towns we had seen. We were surprised, tho, to see no damage done, because every French city that we had passed thru from Veaux to Metz had been practically destroyed.
In Metz, the people are divided in their language, religion, nationality and allegiance. Some are French and some are German. The Germans had control of all schools, factories, public places, etc. There are a large number of German people in this province who will never be satisfied under the French government, just as the French were dissatisfied with German rule fort}» years ago. As we journeyed thru the city, a f'ormer German soldier offered to sell us an iron cross for a dollar, together with the certificate showing that it was really awarded to him by the German Government. Later we found that they had some sort of a factory there in which they made helmets, iron crosses and all sorts of war souvenirs. I presume as the years go by, they will be making them as they do antique furniture.
After our journey and visit around the city we saw the strong fortifications that, while they would have been hard to overcome, would no doubt have yielded to the intrepid valor of the_ American dough-boy and the ir-resistable hammering of the American cannon.
We left Metz for Luxemborg over a splendid, well kept road, as this was the road on which the German army sent their supplies from their base in Northern France and from Germany. To see the great store houses for ammunition is wonderful.
On our way to Luxemburg in going over the mountains, it was raining and we knew that the Americans were camping there because with all the rain we saw a young American buck-private coming down the road with his overcoat stretched out. He had a young Luxemburg lady under the cape of it, taking her for a walk. This_ was truly American—he was making progress.
We arrived at Luxemburg at seven o’clock on the evening of the 23rd of December and remained there » over night. It is_ a splendid city with its streets, its hills and its valleys and its wonderful Adolphus Bridge which spans a very deep valley in the heart of the city. The Luxemburgers remind me of a delegate who attends a political convention, He has the badges of all the candidates on and who ever wins, he’s for. You’ve seen
true in all of the towns along the Marne.
We visited the site of the long range gun that sent its shell seventy-five miles into Paris. The emplacement was wonderfully constructed. Our guide told us that the foundations were of cement and fifty feet in depth. It is built like a turn table; you have seen them in the railroad yards. We secured several souvenirs.
Later we traveled thru the battle fields and finally came to the grave of Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt. With bowed heads, we raised our hats and offered our tribute to his memory. All al°ng>,the battle field was dotted with small cemeteries. Our hearts were
filled with gratitude and admiration as we stood with bowed heads looking at these little crosses marking the graves of these departed heroes. After viewing it all we agreed with the sentiment of our Brother Theodore Roosevelt when he said, “Where the tree falls, there let it lie.” I am reminded of the story told of the young American who was wounded on the field of battle, and about to die, when he said, “Living or dead, let me lie here, with my face toward the enemy.”
Later we went thru the St. Mihiel nad Argonne districts. We met large numbers of our members eh route. We passed over some of the battle fields where conditions were nearly as they were the hour the armistice was signed. This division was composed largely of Pennsylvania boys with of-
am g-Iad to welcome you back to Our home again.”
Generalissimo Foch, Premier Clem-enceau and General Pershing were present. Oh, how good it was to clasp the hand of General Pershing! He is strong for the American soldier, and he will do everything in his power to see that the American soldier is given proper credit for the part he played in the world war. Every American should read General Pershing’s report No. 19125, under date of Nov. 19, 1918, to the Adjutant-General of the army at Washington and_ to the Secretary of War. It is a glorious report from a wonderful man. I quote from it as follows:
“I pay the supreme tribute to our officers and soldiers of the lipe. When I think of their heroism, their patience under hardship, their unflinching spirit of offensive action, I am filled with emotion which I am unable to express. Their deeds are immortal and they have earned the eternal gratitude of our country.”
Write to the War Department for a copy of this report. They will be glad to send it to you.
The next morning we started on our journey for the battle fields, visiting Balleau Woods, Chateau Thierry, and all along the Marne River. The fight at Chateau Thierry was against great odds, but was won by the Americans. On every hand the French people of Chateau Thierry give great praise to the American soldiers and say that they saved their homes, and that is
ON December 7th, Congressman M. M. Garland, Pa’st Supreme Dictator, and myself sailed on the Mauritania. Our destination was Southampton, he to investigate, both on his own account and as a Congressman, labor conditions, and I to visit the Moose.
It was a wonderful journey, much different from the one taken a year ago, when the submarine warfare was at its height. The boat was lighted and all wari-time rules had been dispensed with, except the assignment to a life boat on the first day out. After six days upon the sea, and a stormy passage at that, we landed in Southampton, and went direct to London where we had the French Counsel vise our passports, and then to Paris arriving there on the date of the President’s reception.
All Paris was decorated. The people had come from all parts of the world to give the President a royal welcome and a royal welcome it was indeed. Upon our arrival in Paris, we went direct to the Moose Home. We had cabled Brother Jenkins, our representative there, that we would arrive at a certain time, but he had not yet received our cable. The hotels being crowded, Brother Jenkins and Brother McSwiggen gave us their beds at the Moose Home, and we remained there for two days, as it was impossible to get a room in any of the uptown hotels.
The Moose Home is a splendid place, and we are all proud of it. Billiard hall, reception rooms, reading rooms, small dining rooms, the office and several work rooms make up our space in a building at 7 Boulevard Malsher-bes. During the Paris reception to President Wilson, along the line of parade, a large number of Moose in uniform gathered at the Moose Home and gave the President a fine reception as he passed. The words “Welcome to France” were emblazoned in letters and each soldier held a letter, and as the President went by, he was greeted with a fine, “Howdy, Pap!” *As he was nearing the Moose Home the President was looking toward the other side of the street, and President Poincare, who rode in the carriage with him, nudged him and called his attention to the welcome sign on our side. He smiled and raised his hat to the boys and the large crowd that was gathered on the balcony of the Home.
On Monday morning, we went immediately to Aihbassador Sharp to register, and, by the way, let me say that he is one of God’s noblemen. The veneer that usually attaches itself to European representatives and diplomats has not in any way found any place in the Sharp home or with any of the attaches of the embassy. He was a plain everyday American, with right hand extended and glad to see us. He gave us cards to the President’s reception at the Hotel De Ville, (City Hall), and we had front seats.
It was a wonderful sight to see that great pathway of roses at the Hotel De Ville. How our hearts quickened when the French people sang “The Star Spangled Banner,” and then the band played and the people joined in singing the French national anthem. “The Marseillaise.”
The next evening we attended the reception given by Ambassador Sharp at his home for the President.' All the important crowned heads of Europe, ambassadors, etc., who were in Paris, were there. I was never more proud of Brother Sharp, the representative of the American government, than I was that night. He seemed to tower above them all. He presented us to President and Mrs. Poincare, President and Mrs. Wilson and to Mrs. Sharp, who then in her whole hearted and typically American way, said: “I
Wilhelm der Grosse’s Statue, Junction Rhine and Moselle