Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-16
COLLEGE GIRLS DO BIT.
Band Of American Students Motherins
! Distressed French Population.


I Distressed French Population.
Correspondence Of Associated Press.l
French Front, Oct. LA small band
of Smith College girls is mothering
the distressed populations of those dis
tricts Of France devastated by the
Germans before they were forced to
retreat last spring by the victorious
French and British troops who had
hammered them on the Somme. The
correspondent Of The Associated Press
passed day with the young women in
the war zone where they have arrived
to install themselves in the midst OF
the stricken people. They have made
their headquarters in the grounds OF
the Chateau of Robercourt. There
they live in shacks and portable
houses in sight Of the blackened ruins
Of the castle. burned by the Germans.
From this center they go to twelve VII
lagos which have been taken over for
relief by the American college girls.
Before the war they had altogether
population Of approximately 4600. Now
this has been reduced to about 1900.
/ The American "angels Of mercy" as
the Smith College girls are known,
brought with them from America or
purchased in Paris large stores Of
articles of first necessity for the peo-
pie. Many Of the peasants had money
which they had been able to conceal
from the Germans, and these people
were quite willing to pay for articles
provided by the American girls. Others
among the peasants were destitute OF
both goods and money and for these
the American girls made charitable
provision.
The girls brought motor trucks, and
several Of them are motor drivers. Once
or twice a week each Of the villages In
their district receives a visit from a
party Of the girls in their trucks which
are loaded with necessities, and these
are sold to the peasants at cost price
or less, and thus many Of the needs
Of the people are met. Food, linen.
clothing, furniture, kitchen utensils
and live chickens and rabbits are most
desired
Other branches of assistance to the
people take the form Of a travelling dis
pensary, the giving of medical advice
by the two women doctors from Smith
College who are members Of the squad,
the foundation Of nurseries for the
care Of the smaller infants while their
mothers are working, and the estab-
lishment of, play-rooms for the other
children.
The care of the children is one OF the
most important parts of the girls work.
In the first place, the little ones have
to be retaught to play, for during the
German occupation they wer not al
lowed to do so and in most cases had
forgotten how to amuse themselves in
simple games. It Is wonderful how
soon they learn under the American
girls announcement and leadership.
Then he neg1ectsd little ones are taken
IN hand and aughtuthe value Of cleanT
illness and neatness. For the women
much help Is provided in the way of
sewing classes and instruction in mod
ern hygiene.
1t is hoped here that the WORK. Of the
Smith College girls. forming the first
unit, in cheering up and helping these
stricken peasants may be an incentive
to others to undertake labors in the
hundreds of villages which have suf-
fered, from the German occupation.
Everywhere in the Somme and Disc
and other French departments now
partially freed from the German troops
there are similar opportunities.