The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-06-16
PICTURES
in FRANCE
Where Able Men Are Un-
known and Women
Do the Work
AMERICA MUST Be QUICK
Nation That Took the Brunt of Ger.
man Assaults Calls to Humanity
for Help.
By ]. w. PEGLER

BY ]. w. PEGLER
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD, May 27-(By Mail)-I1
America could know France to-day
most likely American young mer
would flock to her aid by hundreds or
every transatlantic boat. The pity
OF those scores of villages behind the
lines entirely stripped of able mcI
with many of the women in deep
mourning as they carry on the work
of departed soldiers, would appeal
more strongly to the pure American
than miles of recruiting posters.
Tour in an Auto.
Hop into a military auto and go To-.
a tour behind the fighting lines, over
the ridges from which the wide land
scarpe unrolls itself in its spring
splendor The ride will convince you
that the young men of the United
States have before them duty that
can't be shirked without dishonor
The car draws up at railroad bar
rier where stands an elderly soldier
of France, disabled in the war and now
on light duty. He passes the car and
you roll into the main street. Here
are women driving farm wagons, won-
en- herding sheep, women carrying bur-
dens that would cause a strike of the
nloving-man's union back home. Chill
dren may be seen through the cottage
doors, assuming the burdens of house
work Women and children, no men,
except the disabled. 1t is the war.
Beyond the village your car mounts
a ridge. Miles of field are under cul-
tivation Women are following the
pIow or walking down the ridges with
one arm swinging as they scatter seed
from a bag Women pass bye on the
road, leading farm horses.
That is a sample and typical of what
is to be seen. The French are stole
but they need American help to whale
the Boche. Their disillusionment if
America should fail would be hard to
picture. Their faith is so great in
America, the sister republic which
honors Lafayette.
Behind the Lines
This is the district behind the lines.
Up forward, where the war took to
trenches after the Boche retreat, there
are scarcely any villages left. Civilian
inhabitants are rare.
One scene of peace has been found
before a French city by the Germans.
The British expect to take the place
by the. pressure of indirect movements,
thus sparing the town from lombard
ment. If it is destroyed then Tom !
my will have another score to settle I
with the Boche dynamiting squad
Before the town is flat field of :
more than a mile. Overhead an aero /
plane drones like a. lazy bee. Under |
foot are patches of dandelions. 1t is |
quiet and peaceful as a May day in .
Iowa. Suddenly battery wakes up !
at vague spot and the shells make
dark spots against the haze on the /
German horizon. The Boche bestirs
evidently trying to find a
British gun. His gun thumps far
away, there is an interval and then
the shuttle is heard gradually growing
louder.
"Here comes one" says Tommy
The shell drops quarter of mile
away. "Dud,' says Tommy. "Boche
throws lots of. duds."
Where the Oil is Churned
Notre Dame de Lorette has come out
green again after the terrific fighting
here Beyond is Vimy ridge which
he French fought SO hard to take be-
ore the Canadians succeeded. Vimy
ooks down O the Boche lines and far
nto the German occupied land. The
lay soil of the ridge is churned un-
The British are be-
-ond the ridge nowadays and engi-
Ieers are perfecting organizations be-
lind the relentless advance In huge |
rater on the crest there remained a {
ew dead who had been overlooked
hey lay in their death postures amid 9
heir rusting equipment and nearby S
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