Arizona republican., 1916-12-22
DESTROYED BY WAR FRENCH VILLAGE |S
 BEING REBUILT
[RepubIican A. p. Leased Wirel

lRepublican A. P. Leased Wirel
 VITRlMONT, France, (Via Paris) Dee. 21-This village. hich, like it's neighbor Gerbeviller, was destroyed early in the war will have the honor of being the first village reconstructed in France. and this is due 10 American enterprise and generosity. The re- building is already under way the cor nerstone of the first group of houses i having been laid Sunday by the Amer ] Ican ambassador William Graves | Sharp, who had been invited to par ticipate in the ceremony by those in terested in this distinctly American undertaking
 Mrs William H. Crocker of San Francisco, who has furnished the funds for reconstruction, was unable to see the practical realization of her work. She was represented by Miss Daisy Polk of San Francisco known in the community as "Mademoiselle de Chez Mouse" or Miss one of us," who IS experimenting the work Old men and youths unfit for military service are being employed on the building oper- ations Miss Folks S task is not without difficulties, such as often confront American building contractors. She has had her first strike in the last week, that of Masons who sought higher wages, but she succeeded in settling | i the matter.
 The cornerstone laying was an event | in Vitrimont Grouped about the rulns and the foundation of the first struc- l ture were the inhabitants and soldiers on leave of absence. The American i flag, besides the tri-color of France was in evidence here and there, and despite the gloominess of the situation of the destroyed village there was lr,oa at,if ,f ;,,,- 41 ration after original plans would be seen soon.
 Leon Pobe mayor of Vitrimont, and M. Mirman of Nancy, prefect of the de- l partment of Meurthe- ct Moselle spoke thanking the American people through the ambassador for their generous ini- tiative toward the rebuilding of the ruined places of France and the aid which the United States had given in so many ways.
 Replying. Ambassador Sharp said it lad not only given him much pleasure to see such highly useful work begun by his own countrymen for those wn0 had been made homeless by the for tunes of war, but he was greatly inter ested in the possibilities to which this work, so auspiciously begun might lead He hoped earnestly that this beneficient aid might be extended to other Villages Tn the province of LOT r2ine upon winch like destruction had been visited.
 The ambassador was gratified es- pecially that in addition to providing substantial homes for the people of the village all the money for the construc- ton of the buildings would remain among the people who so sOrely needed it. In fact, he said, what he saw about him only confirmed him in the beliei that for economic reasons, if for nc other, the reconstruction of at least the smaller towns and villages of the invaded territory must te the work ot the home people, out of home building material like that from the origina buildings had been constructed
 In conclusion he complimented those responsible for the work and referred feelinsly to the fortitude of the af- flicted people under such trying con ditions.
 The little girls of the village, wht excel in the art of embroidery. wer, presented to the ambassador and the, gave him handkerchiefs exam0les o their work as souvenirs.
 On the return trip to Paris Ambas sador Shar~ stopped at Rheims and in speHted the cathedral, the ruins of tn archepisconal palace. and the devas tatad seHtions of the citv Only th