New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-15
Correspondent Finds 1t a
Task to Get Meal
East of Paris.
PEASANTS MINGLE
PITY WITH PROFIT
They Supply Wounded Soldiers
That Have Money and Some
Who Have None.
lRr Cahle TO The Tribune. ]

London, Sept. 14.--"The Daily Chron-
icle'g" correspondent in the field tele-
graphs the following from Chateau
/ TERRY:
ave first realized yesterday in the
little town of Brie, which lies east OF
Paris, between the Seine and the Marine,
how difficult it is to get food in the
rear Of two successive invasions. As
in every other town in the region, all
ghops were shut and nearly all the
houses. II was only after long
search that we found an inn that could
rive us lunch. There in large room
with low beamed roof and tiled floor
cur stout lsndlady in blue cotton pro-
duced an excellent meal OF melon, NUT
ton. macaroni and good. ripe pears.
Dogs and cats sprawled around US
and big bowl of roses spoke Of Sc
renities that are now in general eclipse:
At a neighboring table a group Of
peasants too old for active service was
discussing their grievances.
"At a railway crossing just out OF
the town we were blocked by train Of
about dozen big horse trucks and
two passenger carriages carrying
wounded and prisoners to Paris from
{ fighting lines IN the north. 1t had
been a gloomy morning an! the rain
now fell in torrents. Nevertheless, the
townspeople crowded up, and for half
an hour managed to conduct salts
factory combination of profit and pity
by their supply of big fiat losves, bot
ties of wine, fruit, cigarettes and Jugs
of water to those in the train V no had
money and some who had none.
Zone very old lady in white, with 9
little red cross on her forehead, turned
uu o take advantage of the only oppor-
tunity ever likely to fall in her way.
There were about 800 German pris-
oners in the train. We got glimpses Of
then. living on straw upon the floor in
! t.. dark interior of the big trucks. l
| got on the footbOard and looked into
an open ioor Of one wagon. Fltteen
men were stretched upon straw and two
+ soldiers stood guard over them, rlies
I in hand. They all seemed in an extreme
/ state of exhaustion. Some were asleep; !.
others were eating large chunks Of
bread.
"In the middle wagon a young sol;
Gier who spoke French fairly well told
me the German losses during the last
three days had been enormous, and
then, stopping suddenly, he said, Would
/ it be possible, sir, to get little water
for my fellows and myself"
"Certainly,' l replied, and man be-
longing to the station who was pass
ing with q jug said at once that he
would run and get some. The prisoner
thanked me and added with a sigh,
They're very good fellows here
an Gourchamp a number Of houses
had been burned down and the nei gh-
boring fields showed that there had
been lighting there, but it was Courta-
con which presented the most grievous
spectacle, for eighteen Of two dozen
houses had been completely destroyed
by fire. The walls we're partly stand
ing, but the floors and contents of the
rooms were completely burned under
the debris Of roofs that had fallen.
"In the little postofice the tele-
graphic and telephone instruments
had been smashed. Just opposite is
small building, including the May
or's office and village school The
building and outhouses were Uttered
with straw upon which the Uhlans had
slept In the Mayors Office itself the
drawers and cupboards had been brok-
en- open and their contents scattered,
with remnants of meals, upon the
anorN