The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-23
CROPS IN FRANCE
 NORMAL THIS YEAR
Despite Ravages of War Soil
 Has Been Titled
HEROISM OF PEASANTS
As Soon as Ground Is Gained It Is Put Under Plough-Plenty of Ruined Houses, But No
 Neglected Fields
By GEORGE DuFREsNE

Paris. June .)-The official report on agriculture in France just pub- lished reveals that the peasants of France who have contributed by far the greatest number of soldiers now fighting against fEe Germans from the north to the Swiss frontier have still been able to till their fields as if we were in the midst of peace.
 The official statistics show that on May 1, 1915, as many acres of French soil unoccupied by the enemy were in a state of cultivation as on the same date last year, fact which means that the crop of grain and other agricultural pro- ducts in France probably will be normal in size.
 M. Guyon, one of the inspectors of agri- culture, with whom I had talk a few days ago, and who had visited every vil- lege ard hamlet in the department of the Marne, said that he was quite unable to find words to express his admiration e the peasants of these districts, which less than 10 months ago were devastated by the Germans, but which today give every promise of abundant crops There gre thousands of ruined homesteads, but not one single neglected field.
 Entitled to Praise
 If our brave soldiers have won the admiration of the world" he said, the rural population of the old men, women and children, who have remained at home are entitled to no less praise.
 Everybody who has had an opportunity to pass through the war zone, has been impressed by the splendid qualities of the French peasant.
 have seen them myself calmly work ing in their fields ploughing and sowing within a hundred metres of the rear trenches. and wherever ground has been gained by our soldiers 1t has immediately been put under the plough
 Tt is especially near the bombarded and destroyed villages, of which there are only too many in the districts where the battle of the Marne was fought, from Meaux to Esternay, Fere- Champenoise. Revigny and Vitry-le- Francis is that you are impressed by the tenaclty endur- ance and splendid qualities of the tillers of the soil. In many places there is not single house left that is fit to live in and the peasant during the time of the first invasion lost everything but what they carried on their persons. The horses and cattle were killed or driven off. their implements were destroyed. their houses plllaged and set on fire and even their fields were ruiend by the passage of heavy artillery and the digging of maze of trenches.
 One had reason to fear that these peas ants, who had been robbed Of everything might have abandoned their fields and sought refuge with their brethren in more fortunate districts until the war was over but such thing happened nowhere. As soon as the enemy had been driven back. eld men. women and children returned to work and began cultivating their fields to which they are so strong attached. and in few weeks no track of the war was visible. The fields were their usual aspect but Tor the thousands of crosses that mark the last resting place of our fall ing heroes"
 Daring Rescue of Gun
 sergeant Iron, 19 years of age, has twice been mentioned in the orders of the day once in the orders of the army. and has received the military medal.
 During fight near D., in the Nord, French force found it necessary to re-