he ordinary was apparent, in striking contrast to the exposed
position of the forts at the recently visited fortress of Liege, which
advertised their presence from the sky line of the encompassing hills
and fairly invited bombardment.

The country as far as the frontier town of Gorze seemed bathed in
absolute peace. No troops were seen, rarely were automobiles of the
General Staff encountered, and men and women were working in the field
and vineyards as if war were a thousand miles away instead of only next
door.

Beyond Gorze, however, the road leading southwest through Chambley and
St. Benoit Vigneuilles to St. Mihiel was crowded with long columns of
wagons and automobile trucks bearing reserve ammunition, provisions, and
supplies to the front, or returning empty for new loads to the unnamed
railroad base in the rear. Strikingly good march discipline was
observed, part of the road being always left free from the passage of
staff automobiles or marching troops. Life seemed most comfortable for
the drivers and escorts, as the army in advance had been so long in
position, and its railroad base was so near, that supplying it involved
none of the sleepless nights and days and almost superhuman exertions
falling to the lot of the train in the flying march of the German armies
toward Paris.

A few miles beyond Gorze the French frontier was passed, and from this
point on the countryside, with its deserted farms, rotting shocks of
wheat, and uncut fields of grain, trampled down by infantry and scarred
with trenches, excavations for batteries, and pits caused by exploding
shells, showed war's devastating heel prints.

Main army headquarters, the residence and working quarters of a
commanding General whose name may not yet be mentioned, were in Chateau
Chambley, a fine French country house. In the chateau the commanding
General made all as comfortable as in his own home. Telegraph wires led
to it from various directions, a small headquarters guard lounged on the
grass under the trees, a dozen automobiles and motor cycles were at
hand, and grooms were leading about the chargers of the General and his
staff. At St. Benoit, five miles further on, a subordinate headquarters
was encountered, again in a chateau belonging to a rich French resident.
The Continental soldier leaves tents to the American Army and quarters
himself, whenever it is possible, comfortably in houses, wasting no
energy in transporting and setting up tented ci