The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-11-28
France Transformed Into Battle
field and Hospital. Nation
Will Find Itself Again,
Says Writer.
War Will Crush Growth of Men-
ace of Socialism i'll France.
Will Leave Free Poland
and Free Ireland is
Prophecy.

16S COANCuI5 anu IIiOIldStcFl6S-Lu0
last remnant of religious communities
in France-were closed by an unbe-
lieving government, and now what a
change! The hand of the Lord has
touched this people indeed, so writes
L. J. Starace in the Sacred Heart Re-
view, writing from Lourdes.
France, as 1 can see it, is trans
formed into one immense hospital,
and what is not hospital is battlefield.
The icy touch of death leaves it's mark
in nearly every family, and the nation
which had groped in darkness seems
to be finding its God again. Here in
Lourdes there are over 1900 wounded,
more or less seriously. All those that
are able to do so drag themselves
about on crutches or canes; others
are carried about by boy scouts in
invalid chairs. Nearly all of them di-
rect their steps towards the mirac-
ulous grotto, where the Immaculate
Conception, with open arms, is ready
to receive them. The crippled and the
manned, the more seriously and the
less seriously wounded, all remain
there for hours, in dense and silent
groups. Now and then tear comes
down from their eyes. Rough and in
experienced hands can be seen finger
ing the beads. The priests-these
wonderful French priests!-go and
come amongst them, encouraging,
cheering, advising. What may all this
mean? Will the French nation find
itself again? l believe so, because
what is taking place in Lourdes is not
an exception. but the French papers
inform me that the same things hap
pen everywhere in France.
Some touching incidents must re-
fer to. The hospice for pilgrims has
been transformed into hospital. Out
side, short and solidly built sister
has entire charge of the proceedings:
Officers, graduates and privates all
take orders from her.. She receives
the wounded, gives orders as to where
they should be placed, confers with
doctors, and does all this with such a
radiant face that the happiness which
fills her soul in being useful to her
country communicates itself to all
present. Then l catch sight of an
other group coming down from the
basilica. 1t consists of about fifteen
or twenty wounded, marshaled by an
other sister. This one is rather old,
little and frail. Nevertheless, no
mother could have watched more care.
fully over her little children. She
seems to follow all of them at the
same time with her eyes. trying to
place the weaker near those that are
stronger so that assistance may be
given the former. A big artillery man,
wounded in the leg, brings up the rear,
and it is positively moving to see the
little woman trying to force the big
soldier-to lean on her shoulder!
when this terrible war will be over
it will be found to have definitely
checked the growth of the menace Of
Socialism in all the states now involy-
ed. can feel it, and it will come
true. This is just the opposite of
what the average American paper
prophesies. And If this war will leave
at its end crippled Socialism in Eu-
rope, free Poland, free ireland, an
intense or more intense religious
spirit In the people, who can say that
these dead have died in vain, or that
even the scourge of war cannot be pro-
ductive of much good?"