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

: On request of the editor, Mrs. Hvnsoi
5 wrote the following sketch of her return
voyage:
On Monday afternoon, at 5o'c clock. til,
French steamer Rochambeau reached he
, Pier, 81 North River, bringing home on,
thousand happy, grateful Americans
The American Embassy in Paris had
chartered lie Rochambeau" in order "a
give the Americans in France an oppor-
tunity TO get home. The Embassy sent
to each applicant personal letter euclos-
ing a permit, with instructions to ex-
change it for transportation at the Office
of the French Steamship Company ION
and rot before Monday morning. Aug
ust "A, 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
them occupied the regular steerage quart
erS, 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. II I
took ten hours to make the trip. which /
usually takes but three. Those travelling /
at night were obliged to sit in crowded /
There was no disturbance
lf any kind, but French soldiers guarded
every bridge and railroad station and all i
ross ways. The soldiers were eager for
Jews, asking for our newspapers as we
'assed. 1t was interesting to see at one
tation how eagerly the men on the train
esponded to the request of the Red Cross
urses for cigarettes for the soldiers. The
ases were all empty when we left, and
'e that had no cigarettes to give, cheer =
d the men in passing, and they must
ave ielt sure of our sympathy.
AT itavre 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 10 -
nj August 29th, but it was three o clock "
lnday morning, August 30th, before we g.,
It Havre. We were afraid thar the ex- -
.uence OF La France some days before p.
ight be our. Here passengers were
'pt on board nor five days, her crew 81.
ahged three times, each time the men r
ing called back for service, her sailing -
ing hnally postponed indefinitely. A g.
q man spy was taken of our boat Sat
1ay afternoon, disguised in the long t.
wing skirts and large hat of a French d
.est. The crossing was not unpleasqu
spite OF tie crowded conditions.
we had no news of the war for one A.
ek' and our course was not posted
hough It was understood that we were
ing a route much father north than a.
ial. English war ships kept close to
the hrst two days out The report
S current on board that our toat would
the last steamer to leave France. al ~
ugh La Flandre and La France were ~ ~
II schedule 10 sail last week. The ~ ~,
chambeau is to take back Canadian 'le
Dps and her crew enters for service |,l |
nediately upon her return. lall
n the past weeks of uncertainty aud Pr
lety there were many Inconvenience ioi
voidable on account of the war. b ~
not the personal element that one an
embers and dwells upon alter leaving ~, vD!i
nee. 1t IS rather the wonderful spirit ~
courage of the French people, di. y
rcd III those days during the mobiliza- 'HS
f, when the soldiers were being trans
cd to the frontier. One thinks of 1iIs
poor peasants leading in their horses dnI. .,
transported for purposes of war a.
le calm intensity of the crowds watch ,-l,, tnT
the soldiers leave the groups of little ilelu
lies walking towards the station, their van s',L
farwells; the mute sympathy of otni i
.ands, standing uncovered as the Slu,' ,
1ded were being brought home the anu
Cross service everywhere the re- t pseI
iiIon and high purpose in the faces oe 7
Ie French women. These are the ta teiii' y
IS that one can never forget. 'e Il
Ja'