Milford chronicle., 1914-09-11
MRS. HYNSON RETURNS

: On request of the editor, Mrs. Hynsor
! wrote the following sketch of her return
voyage
On Monday afternoon, at clock. the
French steamer Rochambeau reached her
: Pier, 81 North River, bringing home one
thousand happy, grateful Americans.
The American Embassy in Paris had
chartered lie Rochambeau" in order to
give the Americans in France an oppor-
tunity to get home. The Embassy sent
to each applicant a personal letter enclos-
ing a permit with instructions to exc
change It for transportation at the office
of the French Steamship Company ION
and rot before Monday morning, Aug
ust p, at 9 O'Clock. The long line of
! Americans standing before that doorway
waiting not very patiently-is some
thing to remember. Many were turned
away after standing in line for six hours.
because the booking was complete. This
boat, which usually accommodates five
hundred passengers. brought on this trip |
twice as many, and over five hundred of 1
them occupied the regular Steerage quart /
eis, with the privileges of the boat. The /
Company ran three special trains from
Paris to Havre, and each passenger was
allowed hand baggage and one trunk. It h
TOOK ten hours to make the trip, which
usually takes but three Those travelling
at night were obliged to sit in crowded n
There was no disturbance
d any kind, but French soldiers guarded
very bridge and railroad station and all
ross ways. The soldiers were eager for
lews, asking for our newspapers as we
'assed. It was interesting to see at one
tation how eagerly the men on the train \
esponded to the request Of the Red Cross 4
urses for cigarettes for the soldiers. The I
ases were all empty when we left, and
'e that had no cigarettes to give, cheer =
the men IN passing, and they must
ave felt sure of our sympathy.
At Havre we saw many English soldiers
de by side with the French. We saw
20 La Touraine" leaving port with
'lors flying, and band playing, carving -,
X thousand Belgian soldiers, bound for -
ntwerp. Our boat was scheduled TO y,
NJ August 18th, but it was three O'Clock >.
lnday morning, August 50th, before we s.;
It Havre. We were afraid that the ex- ~,
,nence OF La France some days before W.
lght be our. Here passengers were
pt on board flor five days, her crew o..
anged three times, each time the men ~
ing called back for service, her sailing 99
ing finally postponed indefinitely. 4 &c.
,rnan spy was taken off our boat Sat '''
day afternoon, disguised in the long 49,
wing skirts and large hat of a French il,''
lest. The crossing was not unpleasant
spite OF tie crowded conditions. H.
We had no news of the war for one ~,
ek' ana our course was not posted
hough It was understood that we were 4
lng route much father north than ,
lal English war ships kept close to
the hrst two days out The report
current on board that our boat would 90.
the last steamer to leave France. al ~.
ugh La Flandre and La France were ~, ~
Il schedule to sail last week The NJ. ~,
,ham0eau IS to take back Canadian ~.
ops and her crew enters for service f.,,,
nediately upon her return. la'li
. the past weeks of uncertainty and PIo
lety there were many inconvenience. ~, =,
FOiuaDle on account of the war, but a.,
NOT the personal element that one -,
ehoers and dwells upon after leaving y;ii S1,;ii
nee II IS rather the wonderful spirit \,
courage of the French people. dis "i
'ed in those days during the mobiIiza- ing
ed to tha fro,t;er a. Sins IaHs, the
poor peasants leading in their horses 9iy ~,
ie calm intensit,, ~, ~, Poses ol war the
the soldiers iesye tn ~ elom,,s Wa,c- 1! held
lies waIline, ~ iou,s oi litlie van
farweIls the ,,,,,t ,.-e S's,sioil 'lelI Sth
sands stardin,, ,,,,N,,.e- y ~ PalnY OF cludi
1ded were beira -, = t'e So as .he and
Cross service =. iioiiis the been
alton and higL n,,rJ,os, go =, ene re- be pl
e French ySo,ie,, IT.. - ''ie iaTes temb
Is that one cs,, -. 80, are lhe be h,
IS CO..
jar