South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-23
BELGIANS AID
j. s. RED CROSS
Reconstruction Work in Wake
of Huns Helpful by Labor
of Refugees.
BY ROBERT J. PREV.

is being utilized by the american
Red Cross in reconstruction work
IN the devastated region OF France
from which the Germans withdrew
last March 70 the Hindenburg line.
The employment Of Belgian laborers
and artisans by the American au-
thoriries solves two grave problems,
the FIRST being that OF obtaining men
in a country where everyone is
either IN the trenches or employed
in munitions making, and the sec
ord being that Of providing employ
ment for Belgian refugees in
France
Part OF the huge fund subscribed
In the United States 10 aid France is
being use1 in rebuilding French
cities and towns destroyed by the in
vaders. The American Red Cross
executive committee. headed by
Mai. Grayson p. Murphy, who is at
tached 10 Cen Dershing's STAFF, Is
directing the work.
Small Response.
When the committee went 10 the
French government and announced
it had millions OF dollars 10 spend
in reconstructing the devastated re-
gions. il asked for a certain amount
Of labor-about 900 French artisans
10 begin with
Louis Malvy. minister Of the in
terror. threw mp his hands. There
we're not 800 able bodied French
men available for that work
Frances manhood was in the
trenches or just behind the line.
and every man that could be spar
ed from fighting was engaged in
making guns, shells and ships or in
tlhng the soil that France might
not be starved by the submarine
campaign.
But what are we TO do? We must
have men 10 perform the work. We
have the money. but it is useless
without labor" said Maj. Murphy.
Perhaps you could use Anna
mites suggested NJ Malvy.
Annamites are the natives of the
French colony in Indo-China. They
are Mongols Of slight stature like
Japanese, and they have been ex-
te1sively used as skilled labor in
French factories since the war. They
have proYvd particularly adept in
manufacturirS aeroplane motors,
where their Uainstakingness and
thoroughness in detail has enabled
them TO conn etc With the highest
class skilled French labor in making
delicate parts
Useless i'm Winter.
Mr.. Murphy investigated the
proposition of employing Annamites,
Lut soon learned from French army
officers who had handled the Asiat-
les that they are useless during out
door work in winter. AS long as they
can be kept indoors in warm fac
tory buildings they stand the cold
climate fairly well. but are unable
20 stand the rigors of outdoors. As
the reconstruction work would not
Ice going fun swing before Septem-
her or october. and was 20 continue
M high pressure all winter. Maj.
Murphy was forced 20 discard the
proposition Of utilizing Annamites.
The only alternative the French
authorities could suggest was that
American labor be transported from
the United states. Very little inves-
tg1tion proved that this was not
feasible. because of the lack OF bot
toms and the need for every eVail-
anle snip lot car ms '0'f''
visions and munitions.
shit" -, .
FlnaIly LOUIS ..--,.s,fe
tafy OF the he'7''' -,
sion ln Farls, s'iNeo 'ile -,
He offered th'GuE' S 80, - Pr,,s-
ilt'Il"''i'S ~ -, ~
saiS before '.'e t,,.,.5i,,,.
lied before tine -.
legions 10 Supply 'Vo -,
ers and sNl'Ieo "o' N onth
weeks ana go ,,1atIa be-
IheSe heisl7"S "' -. 49,,
cause many eNe''i -.,s.o-,.
granted 20 N'"HI men -
age VINO nave l'S' r.,
brothers in the ''e'Ela" 49, - NJ
lenlehey eN'>'S
powers redI'1e now ,-. ',''-' -
hood mas nee" '''" -
10 IS necessary 20 '"''Se''S
the men OF 'I'e ...-,-,l,r..
60 repopuIate IL "'e" ''e III
Withdraw 49,, ~,
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