[Illustration: Typical French Soldier in Uniform.]
A Journey Through France
in War Time
By JOSEPH G. BUTLER, JR.
Member of The American Industrial Commission to France.
THE PENTON PRESS CLEVELAND
1917
[Illustration: inscription by author.]
Copyright, 1917, by Joseph G. Butler, Jr., Youngstown, O. One hundred copies of this edition have been printed of which this is number 39
Second Edition
TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF FRANCE
WHO AMID INEXPRESSIBLE SORROWS
AND INFINITE CARES EXTENDED A
GRACIOUS WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION AND
TO THE AUTHOR THIS BOOK IS
GRATEFULLY DEDICATED
CONTENTS
| [CHAPTER I] |
| Origin of the Purpose of the Trip. |
| [CHAPTER II] |
| Crossing the Atlantic. |
| [CHAPTER III] |
| Bordeaux and Paris. |
| [CHAPTER IV] |
| Meeting England's Premier. |
| [CHAPTER V] |
| The Birthplace of Lafayette. |
| [CHAPTER VI] |
| A Great Munitions Plant. |
| [CHAPTER VII] |
| Art and Architecture of Aries. |
| [CHAPTER VIII] |
| Along the Mediterranean. |
| [CHAPTER IX] |
| Towns in Southern France. |
| [CHAPTER X] |
| The Creusot Gun Works. |
| [CHAPTER XI] |
| Approaching the Front. |
| [CHAPTER XII] |
| Within Sound of the Guns. |
| [CHAPTER XIII] |
| The Story of Gerbeviller. |
| [CHAPTER XIV] |
| On the Main Front. |
| [CHAPTER XV] |
| Reims and the Trenches. |
| [CHAPTER XVI] |
| Back to Paris. |
| [CHAPTER XVII] |
| On the Way Home—England. |
| [CHAPTER XVIII] |
| On the Broad Atlantic. |
| [CHAPTER XIX] |
| The French Steel Industry in War Time. |
| [CHAPTER XX] |
| Where War Has Raged. |
| [CHAPTER XXI] |
| General Joffre. |
| [CHAPTER XXII] |
| The Work of Reconstruction. |
| [CHAPTER XXIII] |
| French Business Organizations. |
| [CHAPTER XXIV] |
| The Carrel Method of Treating Wounds. |
| [CHAPTER XXV] |
| A City in an Army's Path. |
| [CHAPTER XXVI] |
| Some impressions of France and the French. |
ILLUSTRATIONS
| Most of the illustrations listed, which may be seen in the scanned book
at the Bibliotéque nationale de France site (http://gallica.bnf.fr/), are
not of adequate quality and have not been included in this transcription. (note of transcriber.) |
| Typical French Soldier in Uniform |
| Photograph of Commissioners, Taken on Train Leaving Paris for Limoges |
| The Author's Passport |
| [Autograph Signatures of the Commission] |
| Grand Theatre, Bordeaux. Closed Until the War Ends |
| [Miniature French Flag Carried by the Author Through France. The Waving of This Flag by an American Aroused Much Enthusiasm] |
| Lloyd George, Who Says "England is Fighting a Battle for Civilization" |
| Miss Winifred Holt, "Keeper of the Light House of France" |
| Ancient Bridge at Limoges—Built by the Romans Two Thousand Years Ago and Still in Use |
| Tapestry Workers at Aubusson |
| Lafayette's Deathbed, With Commission's Flag and Flowers |
| Monastery of St. Michael, at le Puy |
| Silk Tapestry Menu Used at Dinner to the Commission at St. Etienne Col. Rimailho With 155-mm. Gun (upper) and Famous 75-mm. Gun (lower) Perfected by Him |
| Women Employed in Munitions Factories |
| Arlesiennes—Types of Southern France |
| Old Roman Arena at Aries—Still Used for Bull Fights and Other Amusements |
| Shore of the Mediterranean Near Marseilles. In the distance Chateau D'If, Made Famous by Dumas |
| Types From the French Provinces |
| Monastery of Chartreuse |
| New 520-mm. Gun, Carrying Projectile Seven Feet in Length and Weighing 3,100 lbs., Seen at Creusot Works |
| German Prisoners Passing Through the Village of St. Etienne |
| The Lion of Belfort |
| Battlefield of La Chipotte, Showing Monument and Markers on Graves |
| Ruins of Gerbeviller |
| Sister Julie |
| Cathedral at Nancy |
| German Trenches Captured by the French |
| The Reims Cathedral Before its Destruction |
| Ruins at Reims. Upper and Lower Plates—The Cathedral. Middle Plate—The Archbishop's Palace |
| Key of Archbishop's Palace at Reims and Bone From Twelfth Century Tombs Opened by German Shells |
| Trenches Visited by the Commission |
| [King Albert's Address to the Belgians] |
| Photograph of King Albert of Belgium, with the Royal Autograph |
| French Marines Operating 75-mm. Gun on Shipboard |
| Nancy—Place Stanislas |
| Ruins of Village—St. Die |
| The Prefecture at Reims After Bombardment |
| Portrait in Tapestry—General Joffre |
| Ruins at Nancy |
| Trenches Occupied by French Soldiers |
| Proclamation Posted in Reims Just Before the French Fell Back to the Marne |
| Arrival of Wounded Soldiers at Chalons, on the Marne |
| Proclamation by the Mayor of Reims, Issued on the day the Germans Entered that City, September 4, 1914 |
| First Order From the Invaders |
| Second German Proclamation |
| Citizens Warned of Danger |
| Citizens Warned that Hostages May be Hanged |
| Postal-card Painted by Artist Soldier in French Trenches |
FOREWORD
Of all that has been written, or is to be written, by Americans concerning the tragedy overwhelming the Old World, much must naturally be descriptive of conditions in France, since that country is, among those affected by military occupation, most accessible and most closely in sympathy with American ideals and American history.
While the ground covered by these pages may be, therefore, not unfamiliar, the motives prompting their preparation are probably unique. It has been undertaken at the request of friends, but not entirely for their pleasure; since the author hopes that those who read it may see in the patriotic devotion and courage of the French people something of the spirit that should animate our country, whose aspirations toward liberty the French aided even before they were themselves free.
Written in hours snatched for the task amid the press of other duties, these pages endeavor to present a simple, intimate and personal story of experiences enjoyed and impressions gained under most unusual circumstances and herein shared with my friends as one of the most interesting incidents of a long and busy life.