New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-12

have told in ten articles OF the
peasants of Northern France, and J
have given their life in war in their
own words. l want 70 tell here how
this material was gathered, because the
power Of its appeal rests on the recog-
nition Of its accuracy. A small part OF
the testimony followed in long hand
As 1t was spoken. The rest three-quar-
ters Of the total testimony, was taken
down in shorthand by one or the other
Of two stenographers. l have use1
about one-fifth Of the collected mate
rial.
My companions were well known
American writers, Will Irwin and Her
bert Corey. Other companions have
been Lieutenant Louis Madelin, the dis
tinguished historian, whose work on
the French Revolution was crowned by
the French Academy; Lieutenant Jules
Basdevant, professor Of international
law at the University Of Grenoble;
Lieutenant Monod, once Of Columbia
University. and always friend of our
country; Captain Callet, professor o.
geography at Saint Cyr, now of the
Etat, major of the Sd Army, and the
Baron de la Chaise. I don't wish TO
imply that the French army is exclu-
sively composed of scholarly gentle
men with an established position in the
world of letters. But it happened to be
the good pleasure of the French Minis
ter of War and of the Foreign Office TO
make Of our trips a delightful social
experience. Most important, these men
are worthy witnesses of the things
have seen and the statements | have
recorded.
In the civil world the corroborating
witnesses are equally authoritative.
was accompanied, for much Of the ter
ritory visited, by Leon Mirman, Project
Of the Department Of Meurthe-et-M Mo-
selle.
Among the Witnesses
It is no easy job to penetrate the
war zone, wander through villages at
leisure and establish relations of con-
idence with the peasants. The whole
experience would have been impossible
but for the help Of Emile Hovelaque
This distinguished essayist, Director OF
Public Education, went with US to all
the villages. The success Of the visit
was due to him. He understands Amer
lean public opinion more accurately
than any other man whom have met
abroad. His human sympathy wins the
peasants. A woman brought me her
burned granddaughter, five years old
A mother brought me the cap Of her
fourteenyear-old son and the rope with
which the Germans had hanged him. A
woman told me how her mother, sew
enty-eight years old, was shot before
her eyes. l could not have had their
stories, should not have been admit
ted to these secret places of their sui.
fering, il 1t had not been for NJ. Hove
laque.
The pain it cost them to tell these
things | shall not forget. There was
one decent married woman. within q
Few weeks Of the birth Of her child by
a German father, who had been out
ragged by German soldiers. She had
never before told her story, because OF
the shame Of 1t. She had not told her
parents, nor her sister. l cannot forge,
that she told 1t to me. cannot rest
easy till | see her suffering and the
suffering Of the others with whom
have been living for two years means
something to my people At home.
have kept all personal feeling out OF
my record. It would have been unfor-
givable II. In rendering the ruin OF
Lorraine, I had given way TO anger
But this I have nst done. ! have snly