New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-15
Work of French Women
EHaceS Scars of War
Battlefield of the Marine Covered with Waving Grain,
Although Men Are at the Front.

Especial correspondence 70 The Tribune.l
Paris. Aug. pa few miles from
Verdun, just off the battle line, in fact,
for the big guns could be plainly heard,
saw two women and boy hard at
work filing in trench that ran dag
onally across a field and interfered with
the fall ploughing.
That incident illustrates Frances
confidence in the future course of the
war. 1t also tells how France has
taken The war into its life TO be a part
of the daily routine until il is fought
to the end that France intends it to
have. And it furnished the answer to
question | had been asking myself
ever since we left Paris.
Ny question was: "Where are the
scars Of battle along the Marne?"
Three hours out of Paris, after scan
ming the country for hundred miles
on both sides Of the railroad, | asked
the same question on the train. The
answer then was, THE battle here was
fought too quickly for it to leave the
scars YOU are looking Tor.
II was a true answer, but II did not
satisfv me. The conflict on the Marine
was too tremendous. II was turning
noint in history. And no matter how
Guicklv il was over | felt that II must
bavc left some visible sign. Here near
Vcrdun ] found the answer that had
eecaned me before. II was the women
and children working in the heIds-.he
absence of men.
White Haired Men in Uniform.
What 7 saw between Paris and me
front led me on my return 10 faTlS 70
+ro,,el over several hundred miles OF
We.tern France to see if ! would ma
the same conditions there hVeIS
where | found the same tning' ne
able bodied men, young, mlddle AK
and many of them white halreu; weIe
in uniform. while ne women ana cnI'-
dren. the crippled and inhrm were uoi"s
the mems work at home. ,..,.
The scar that lies across the o"t.'.
/ 6oid of the Marine penetrates INTO
- cornor of France. There is not
village that has not gwen up us
strongest and best for the life OF the
not;on not farm that has not PAID its
Toll On the plains of the TouTalne
ond tho Vendee. in the fields OF BTU
go and in the fertile valley OF the
/ Lore il is the women and children VINO
roan the harvest and plough the land'
while the men are at the 'front.' "e"i
/ inc the horizon bleu. uo;-
And these women of France do their
work we'll One wonders at the slght as
,bc train flies along beside the smooth
l., eowing Marine. The edge OF me
hottic swept across MeauX and JUST
bevond the Army of Pans deooucheu
in their taxicabs. But to-day the gran,
stood shoulder high IN the Nero anu
dcspite the historic names one reaus 9i'
tho railroad stations one asks the ON
Ger sitting next TO one IN the trAli'
~Uave we come to the battle grouhu
yet? :. ,oy," he
rorlies and in minute the whole com
rartment is awake and buzzing WAN
teIes Of those days in September l9I7,
Tbon Cbalons- sur Marine is reached ana
- sees some roofess houses and walls
,,'i,b great. gaping she'll holes, ana
af,er that Sermaize, and one draws
long painful breath
Sermaize Wantonly Burned.
sermaize was a village of 900 houses,
.ho centre OF n peaceful agricultural
| community in the valley oil the hhi nc
T Tbe Germans entered it without op-
no "v No French soldiers were
Mere when the Germans came ana
49, had been none there. The Ger
rme STAYED a week and then withdrew
me ,n' no,t Of the general movement Of the
c g. mar army. They had had no night
-, Those German soldiers who were