The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-06

Paris. March 20.--(By mail.) -
Seventeen ear-old Charlotte Mitis-if
you would believe ten English Tom
mics lis the Joan Of Arc of the pre-
sent war.
She saved the ten ''Tommies" from
capture, or worse at the hands of the
Germans. For a whole month she go
GREETED them in a center of a German
hospital. which was in the center of a
German occupied town.
During that month there was MOI
single moment when one OF the Tom
mies' suffered for food. or even lacked
toba eco, and when the Germans evac-
uated the town the ten English troop
ers were turned over in spick and span
to their own regimental COM
manders for further service at the
front.
VIII Tell Story 10 King
That King George himself Will hear
the story from Charlottes own lips at
the end OF the war is the promise at
the "Tommies," And the chances are
they will make good for one OF the ten
was Lord Smith. a relative Of the King
himself
Early last september ten English sol
diers staggered up to the door of the
Young ladies' sem.narv of La i<ouven-
Court" at Roye. before the advance Of
the Germans Every person had fed
except -year-old Charlotte
Mitis and an aged stewsrdess. They
begged place OF refuge and Cha rlotte
led them TO a cave at the end of the
garden
Scarcely and hour later the off GERS
of a German command dashed up to
the seminary. They announced that
IL must serve as "a military hospital.
T. "A
in the seminary chapel and Charlotte
cared for them 40 well that before
night she was installed as an otf'olal
nurse.
Take "Tommie~" To Carrot.
That night she guided the ten Tom
mics from their cramped quarters IN
the cave 10 the garnet of the deserted
seminary building. Then for DAYS she
struggled enough food TO the garrett
TO feed the ten troopers, who sat peer
ing out through the shutters a the
enemy's soldiers below.
Then the German system Clamped
down upon the food supply. Food was
apportloned exa city In accordance with
the number OF wounded a the hospital
and there was danger that the Tom
mics would starve-
Charlotte solved this problem. too.
She solicited food contributions from
her friends and relatives In Rove. To
German officers who questioned her
she said she was taking the food To the
wounded IN the chapel They saiuted
her and called her Ia Bonne Dame"
Gets Tobacco for Them
The Tommas had money and they
wanted tobacco. Charlotte got II, She
sent twenty different boys Of the vii
lage to buy toba eco in sma j quantities.
in order not TO arouse the Germans
suspicious The Tommies smoked so
hard that Charlotte feared the German
officers suspicious would he aroused.
the seminary he would catch an odor
that didn't belong TO fsshiona BILE
Young ladies' seminary.
The next day she bought bucket Of
creosote She sprinkied the door Of the
seminary building with 1t and the odor
Of stale tobacco vanished in the odor
OF tar.
Men Keioin Regiments.
What are you doing shouted a
German officer through the door.
It's hygiene" said Charlottee In
France We do this for sanitation
In October when the allies drove the
Germans out OF Rove. the ten TomB1ias
came down out OF their place OF hiding.
SN ore NRANtIU NpM- titht itiNN MtA u
never forget their Joan OF Arc" and
mrched off with their regiments. Re
fore the German again entered Roye.
Charlottee fed 10 Paris. She learned
he other DAY that a French weaver
named Chalendre. in Roye had been
shot by the German for Concealing
eleven English soldiers in his shop.
But thew wouldn't have shot me-"
she laughed You see l was La Bonnie
Dame