The Washington times., 1917-11-30
IS SMITH COLLEGE
G|RLSDO DOWAR ZONE
SETTLEMENT WORK
NJ HENRY WOOD
(United Press stan COrresDOndeht).

"1@AA AL4I AAEt4NS1 @~@~-----~-~a
Nov. so.-Thirteen villages In the
blacklist center OF the German dsvas-
tated district OF France are now be-
ing cared for by eighteen young wom-
en-. composing Smith Colleges nrst
unit OF social settlement workers for
the war zone.
Constantly within sound Of the can
non. with German airplanes Tying
OVERHEAD. living and working under
conditions uniquely difficult in the
worlds history. these eighteen young
women have undertaken q task thar
constitutes one OF the highest tributes
to American womanhood and Amed-
can Rltruism that the war has pro-
duced. The thirteen villages which
the Smith College girls have taken
over harbor population Of about
200. Yet 20 thorough was the Ger
man devastation that it can literally
be said that none Of these people have
q roof over their headS-at least .
house roof. They live for the most
which were not Of enough importance
to attract the German genius for de-
struction. But for the portable
houses they brought with them. and
barracks given them later by the
French military authorities, the eight
cen girls would fare but little better.
InpressIve In Print.
The address Of the unit looks very
impressive in print, as Il is the name
OF one Of the largest and most beau
tiful chateaus in the devastated dis
trict. As a matter OF fact. the cha
teau Is q mere blackened ruin, and 1t
Is the, park which the girls inhabit,
their lodgings consisting OF two port
able huts and three French army
barracks.
OF the extensive buildings that
once graced the park. only part Of the
garage remains intact The Germans
used this for q dressing station, and
the Smith College women have fitted
up their hospital and dispensary there.
A small shack just outside which the
Germans used for their morgue. 'he
girls utilize as a laundry. Most OF
the cellars under the chateau escaped
destruction, and these serve for stor-
ing the supplies and merchandise
which the unit distributes to the
needy.
Under these conditions the girls are
IOANAuB AOI NAlNAn1ClNG1I 1ha ACA NAAN
200 people they have taken over, the
problem OF re-establishing a civilized
life with the minimum number OF
things essential to that life. Aside
from the work which the unit under
takes for others, It has all OF its own
work to do for itself, and that In
cludes everything from cooking, wood
chopping, farm work to automobile
driving nails.
The French military authorities
have extended TO the women every
possible help. An occasional soldier
is spared the women to do manual
work which even they with all their
and willingness, are unable
to do, but France has greater need
Of her soldiers elsewhere.
Chopped own Wood
Until recently the girls chopped
their own wood. German prisoners
would have been given them for this
purpose. but for the fact that they
are within the war zone where. un-
fer international laws, prisoners can
not be employed. The problem has
been solved by having the prisoners
:hop the wood back OF the lines and
the girls haul It up themselves in
heir automobiles.
When the unit first a-rIved, they
we're struck most OF all by the sad
ness and melancholy OF the children.
70 effort was made to ''uplift" or edu-
,ate them. The supreme duty seemed
% be to make them remember how to
mile and how to play.
Already great progress Is being
made. The children are gathered to-
yether several times each week and