The Washington times., 1917-05-09

County Chapter of the American Red
Cross. The letters ask for the ship
ment at once of unlimited quantities
OF clothing for distribution among
the refugees who are pouring into
Paris, Amiens, and other cities in
thousands. Underclothing Of all kinds,
socks, shirts, pajamas, handkerchiefs,
slippers, sheets. etc, are badly needed.
In Affect Starvation.
Thousands of the French civil pop
ulation from the regions formerly
occupied by the Germans are, &C,
cording to these letters, in almost
abject starvation. Many collapse
from weakness after relief workers
have reached them. Some have not
the strength even to chew their food.
Men, women, and children are no
thing but skin and bones, with eyes
either feverishly bright, or nearly
lifeless.
For seventeen months these people
were forced to live only on black
bread and rice, without meat OF any
kind. They had no clothing except
what they wore. In a large orphan
asylum near Noyon children and
people OF the city have slept in the
same clothes, without mattresses, pill
lows, or coverings. since last De-
cember. The Germans did not allow
them to go out or to wash. When they
were found by the American relief
workers, they were in an indescrib-
able condition of filth. Even those
who died sometimes had to be kept
for five days in the rooms with the
living before the Germans would per-
nit their removal
In Noyon, which Is the center for
American relief in the devasted dis
trict, Red Cross workers did not
find single unbroken pane OF glass.
There was not a stick of furniture,
or a shred of clothing. Most OF the
houses were destroyed. In a city
of normally 1000 or 5000 people.
more than $4,000 refugees from the
surrounding country were crowded.
Everywhere the American women
were received with Joy, by soldiers
and civilians alike. In Chambery the
soldiers insisted on giving a fete for
the Danes Americaines, and on q
stage erected out OF tables they sang
songs, recited, and cheered the
United States. The city officials pre-
scented wreaths and the mayor made
a speech.
---~a N1EANAa oNaNGEys
The bravery OF Nine. Carrel, wife
OF DIR. Alexis Carrel, head OF the
American hospital at compeigne, Is
also told in one Of these letters. When
word Of the German retreat from the
Somme first reached Nine Carrel, she
started at once for Ribecourt, but the
bridges were blown up and she had
to turn back. The following day
Nine. Carrel asked the medecin-chef
Of the hospital for an ambulance, but
suspecting her purpose, he refused,
saying 1t was not at all necessary for
her to get killed. Next Nine. Carrel
went direct to the ambuIances and or
dered a chauffeur to take one of the
cars, NIL IT with all the supplies avail
able, and go with her. Against the
chauheyr's protest that he had no
orders, they drove through lines of
advancing French artillery until they
reached the brioge at Ribecourt
Here Nine. Carrel waited for twenty
minutes while the last nails were
being driven into the temporary
structure. Her car was the FIRST to
cross.
Mime. CarrePs ambulance was
driven forward with the artillery
conveys. The building of a second
bridge held them up again before
they reached Noyon. Within twenty
four hours after the Germans had
moved out Nine. Carrel was in the
city. She was the first woman to
enter. bringing succor and words of
love to the stricken inhabitants"
The home of Mrs. Whitelaw Reid,
widow OF the former ambassador to
the Court of St James, at Fiftieth
street and Madison avenue, will to-
morrow become the Red Cross teach
ing center OF the New York chapter.
Mrs. Reid has donated the use of her
home to the chapter for the period of
the war.