The Detroit times., 1916-09-11

which eight persons were murdered.
and In which several houses were
burned. A personal narrative).
TUESDAY. Sept. S.-The neigh
borhood OF the church is incredibly
filthy. The Allemand Is so dirty.
Everywhere is the debris OF rabbits,
OF fowls. OF vegetables. OF soilod
linen. The Boches change their linen
and stockings at the cost OF the pill
LACED inhabitants. The smell was
abominable. and toward the end OF
the week II became worse. The
place is covered with the ambu-
lances. In the corners the cooking
Is going on. At 9 o'clock the off,
GERS notified me that they would put
their wounded in our church. They
thought at first that the choir, rath-
er large, and the three naves would
suffice. But the wounded flowed in.
In order TO shelter them not only
tho whole church hut the whole VII.
lage was required. There were more
than 1000.
left them at the work OF tearing
out the benches OF the church 10 go
10 a spectacle even sadder. The
bodies OF Jules Gand and the young
Lecourtier. killed yesterday and
burned In the fire. are to be buried.
We placed them on little wagon
and hauled them by hand TO the
cemetery. The affrighted inhabitants
turned their heads from this sad
spectacle. Even the Boches seemed
struck by such a vision. They were
buried without even a Sheet.
The wounded are everywhere. In
the girls school they lie side by
side, covering the floors OF every
room. In the kitchen the Boches OF
the post have placed n phonograph
which grinds on. while In the next
chamber they play the piano. Be-
tween times they eat ard drink. II
Is heart shaking. such callous disre-
gard OF their own people. Straw is
spread on the ground fIoor OF the
presbytery, on which 40 wounded
Germans lie. They arc covered by
sheets taken from arnnries, and
which are never returned These 40
form a safeguard for the house. Not
a Teuton mounts above the ground
| floor from now. II is fair TO say
that in the remainder Of the house
are many refugees. Day and night
three hospital orderlics remain in
the vestibule, cooking in my kitchen,
making free with all the utensils.
They took nothing away when they
left. 10 do them justice In order
to avoid trouble the doors have
been taken of tho hinges. Ny court.
yard Is filled with cripples who
smoke. read the history books
thrown ont of the winGCws C IN ,
boys school. aud above all cat my
pears and grapes. OF Which the
greenness must tear their throats.
These men hay" not oil the tobac.
co they wish one seems TO have
trouble with his Pipe.
Your pipe is stopped up?" ! ask
him in a compassionate fashion.
"Neln ksfec." said he.
The unfortunate failing tobacco,
was irving to smoke coffee grains.
which refused 10 burn
Wagons filled with straw anil
| sheaveS OF wheat and oats are drawn
alongside the church. A thick bed
Is made Of IT, and soon, in six long
ranks. hundreds uf wounded friends
and enemies are lying there. There Is
no room left under II roof in which
To shelter them. They burn in the
sun and are chilled al night by icy
rains. All around the Place de la
Mnirie, around the we'll and the Tree
OF Liberty, these unfortunates lie
stretched day and night What
agony. What misery II their
German as well as the French
mothers could see. IL they knewl
The wounded come from Pretz ana
Vaubecourt The Germans in the
| automobiles. the French wounded,
OF which there are 400, In the farm
wagons, the jolting of which tears
groans from their poor lips. Many
lie motionless, their lips barely pun
ing In and out as they breathe. I ad.
minister the last sacrament 10 many.
The thirst tornents them. We bring
them fresh water, and in their eyes
we read their thanks visited the
wounded. ask authorization from