The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-05-04
Many 80. 70 Seek Safety When
Kaiser's h>octc ~vept Southwark
Last July 3d. 'aptives.
ATTEMPTED TO REh
>ARIS
St. Quentin Citizen Who Managed to
Escape Through Lines of Enemy
Pictures Towns Condition TODAY
BY WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD.
UNITED Press STAFF Correspondent)

BY WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD.
UNITED Press STAFF Correspondent)
Paris, April 26.-(By mail to New
York.)-Within sixty or seventy
miles of the capitol are cities filled
with French people who for the past
nine months have lived under Ger
man rule. What is life like in these
towns?
When the Kaiser's hordes swept
southwark last July on their gigantic
attempt against Paris the people of
northeastern France heard them COM
ing and fled in vast numbers, scatter
ing to all parts of the country. Many
of them could not fee; many more
would not; SO the colossal gray flood
swept over them and pinned them
down and there they are to this day,
their daily lives ruled and regulated
by orders emanating from the local
headquarters of the various German
commanders.
Life at St. Quentin.
Here is a picture of life in St.
Quentin. St. Quentin under Ger
man rule, St. Quentin, a charming
French city but a little more than
an hours ride on a railway train
northward from Paris. The picture
was drawn by French citizen of the
place who succeeded in making his
escape through the German lines:
'The city was never so bustling as
now," the speaker told the corres-
pondent. "Across the square in front
of the city hall rapid autos filled with
German officers dash in all directions,
they are coming from La Fere, from
Laon, from Vernand and from Cam
brai. Troops are leaving the train
at the station, flies and drums play
ing; landwehr patrols come and go
escorting small groups of prisoners,
or relieving the guards in various
quarters of the town; a group of
townspeople stand reading a notice
just posted by the German military
authorities purporting to quote a
Paris newspaper begging for peace;
the notice is headed:
Wise Words of a French News
paper
Are in Civil Attire.
Under the gothic arches of the
city hall a detachment of landWehr
stands sheltered. On the first floor,
in the great gala hall a group Of
municipal councilmen sit, night and
day, issuing billets for lodging SOL
diers and acquisitions demanded by
the German invaders; the police COM
missary and his men, in civil attire,
but with arm-bands in St. Quentin
colors, are held at the disposition of
the military.
"The German commanders head
quarters are at the Credit Lyonnais,
the city's largest banking establish
ment, but part of his administration
has quarters at the second largest
bank, the Compton d'Escompt.
St.. Hilaire Barracks are occupied
by landwehr. In the courtyard of
this group of buildings all the cit
liens of St. Quentin who are subject
to mobilization, some 5000 in num-
ber, must present themselves once a
week. These men were surprised by
the German advance before their day
of mobilization had arrived.
German Leader in Charge.
"The side streets are used for park
ing automobiles, trucks and other
wheeled conveyances, but the prin-
cipal thoroughfares are kept free for
movements of troops.
"All shops and stores are open by
order of the German commander.
Practically no business is being DONE
Only the New Galleries, a large de-
partment store, seems to get any
trade at all; the German officers do
their shopping there.
1.-THE railway station is reserved
for troops. 1t is always bustling.
Citizens out of work station them
selves along the grill separating the
street from the railway tracks and
peep through at the passing troop
trains. Others go to the St. Martin
suburbs, near the road to Ham, and
listen to the cannon boom. Some days
when the wind is favorable the can
mons sound louder. Then there is
much subdued joy for the poor pee
pie believe the French are advancing
to deliver them from the German in
vaders. In spite of the long months
of waiting and the many times they
have been deceived in this way, they
are still confident. -.
No Food Shortage.
''The population has not suffered