"Second B. E. F."

The visit of the American Legion, male and female, to Paris stirred one Ferdinand Tuohy, British journalist, to suggest the re-creation of the British Expeditionary Force for a similar visit to France. But Mr. Tuohy does not want a motley crew--no wives & children; only 4,000 picked troops to parade through northern France, with a grand finale in Paris and London. He suggested the following itinerary: 1st day. Cross to Boulogne. Rail to Poperinghe via St. Omer. March into Ypres from Poperinghe, saluting Belgian national memorial, Ypres. Billets: Ypres area.

2nd day. March out through Menin Gate, over Messines to Armentieres, Billets: Armentieres and Hazebrouck areas.

3rd day. On across old First Army area, through Neuve Chapelle and Loos. Billets : around Lens and Bethune.

4th day. Over the Vimy Ridge and down into Arras. Billets: Arras, St. Pol, Doullens areas (with organized motor and rail transport the rearward billeting centres could easily be reached each evening, the column falling in again each morning at a given map reference).

5th day. Down from Arras towards the sombre and rolling Somme. Billets : Albert and Amiens.

6th day. Striking due east, out from Albert across the Somme battlefield to Cambrai. Billets: Cambrai, St. Quentin, Peronne areas.

7th day. Rail to Verdun, Back to Paris by train.

8th day. March to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and back to England through the other great War base, Havre.

9th day. March through London and past Buckingham Palace. Disbandment after common banquet.

Mr. Tuohy thinks that such a march would cement the entente cordiale as nothing else could. He suggests, however, that careful preparations would be necessary; that French newspapers be filled with the reason why 600,000 British dead were left upon the Western Front; that there be plenty of oldtime music, especially "Tipperary." He suggests, too, that the "second B.E.F." should be picked from the following:

1) Old Contemptibles, 1914.

2) Overseas Territorials and the First Hundred Thousand, 1915.

3) The Army of the Summe, 1915-16.

4) The New Conscript Army.

5) The Dominions.

The date put forward is next year, the tenth anniversary of the withdrawal of the B.E.F. from France, and Mr. Tuohy mentions May as being the ideal month, "be-cause Paris will be full and the weather will be ideal for marching through Flanders, Artois and Picardy--down the 'Old Line.'"