Newark post., 1917-11-21
OXFORD BOY WRITES
OF EXPERIENCES IN FRANCE
Wonders at Those Who Seek Exemption from Seruce

not get done thanking me. The
words Je fatigue, | am tired (still
ring in my ears. Poor old woman,
| felt so sorry for her, for to be far
from home and separated from
your family when that age, seems
to me terrible way to end ones
life.
This is only one experience
among the many. One little girl,
younger than sister but resembling
her, came to me to help her find
her mother; under her arm she car
ried a little white dog, the only
thing that she owned. Her big
brown eyes were so pitiful that
lump came into my throat for [
could not help thinking suppose
these people were the ones / love.
A similar thought came to most of
our fellows, and as one fellow said
afterwards: "It is easy to see now
why the French are such fighters,
for my part, | am willing to stay
here five years, if necessary, to save
my folks from such a fate" " That
is the sentiment of all the men now,
for as long as the German power
endures. such fate threatens our
homes. How there can be any
slackers or so many wanting eX-
emptions is mystery to us. Just
one more illustration Of German
heartlessness: The next day a
mother who had sick child. about
six years old, came into our bar
racks in order to get warm, as the
weather is growing very chilly. We
got some hot milk for the child and
some bread and jam for the woman.
There was a red scar across the
child's hand. We asked what
caused it and she told us how the
Germans had taken her two older
daughters away from her and as
they were being dragged out this
little child had run after its sisters
and had grabbed hold of the door
The German officers pulled the
door to on it's hand and had gone
away leaving the child in agony
until the mother could reach it.
That is the kind of men the Ger.
mans are. They are depraved
beasts, not men. Yesterday our
commander received this letter
from the the French general com.
manding this district:
'The Commanding General in
structs me to inform you, and the
troops under your command. tha'
he highly appreciates the voluntar!
and generous assistance given b,
the American soldiers quartered il
the Barracks. to the refugee fam
lies, repatriated from the invaded
districts. He also wishes me to tel
YOU how the sympathy shown t,
these unfortunate French people b.
, the American Allies has deepl.
touched all Of us, who havin
, witnessed it desire to have it ap
, preciated. y You can see from thl
letter that our efforts were ar
!, preciated. | worked hard for fou
, solid hours that night and | wOul
have been willing to work fou
!, more for our reward came in seein
! the look Of thankfulness that cam
, into the faces Of those poor people
My hand was grasped many time
! that night and the "Merci' ths
always accompanied was spoke
. from the bottom Of their heart
God forbid that such a calamit
!, ever comes to our homes for til
. misery and suffering in Belgiul
! and Northern France has nevt
! been half told, for there are I
= words in the English language
7 express it.
t. This is just little description {
y why America is in the war an
:, why she must stay until her ain
:, are accomplished. 1t is only an G
d ample of daily experiences Of mar