New Britain herald., 1917-05-18
FRENCH REFUGEES
 IN NEED OF CLOTHES
Thousands Destitute When Re. . leased From Grip of Germans

New York. May 1s.-Condttions in the devastated regions behind the present Anglo-French advance, as we'll aS incidents of the heroism of Amer ican women in charge Of Red Cross relief work in towns near the front, are described in letters from France that have just been received by the New York County Chapter of the American Rcd Cross.
 The letters ask for the shipment at once of unlimited quantities of cloth- ih8 for distribution among the refu- gees who arc pouring into Paris, Amiens, and other cities in thousands. Underclothing of all kinds, socks. shirts. pajamas. handkerchiefs. slip peTs, sheets etc., are badly needed.
 Thousands of the French civil popu- lation from the regions formerly oc- cupied by the Germans are. accord ing to these letters. in almost abject starvation. Many collapse from weak ness after relief workers have reached 4hem. Some have not the strength Even to chew their food. Men, wom- on and children are nothing but skin and bones, with eyes either feyerishly 1rtght. or nearly lifeless.
 s 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 { large orphan asylum near Noyon children and people from the city have slept in the same clothes, without mattresses, pillows, or cover angs, since last December. Tho Ger mans did not alloy them to go out or to wash. When they were found by the American relief workers they were in an indescribable condition of filth. Even those who died, sometimes had .q.bc kept for Ave days in the rooms with the living before the Germans would permit their removal.
 In Noyon,s which is the. center for American relief in the devastated dis trict, Red Cross workers did not ind a 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 nqrmally 1000 or 5000 people, more t(1an 15;0O0 refugees from the SUIT rounding country were crowded.
 Everywhere the American women were received with joy, by soldiers and civilians alike. In Chambery the sol- diers insisted on giving fete for the Danes Americaines. and on a stage erected out of tables they sang songs, recited and cheered the United States. The city officials presented wreaths Hpd the mayor made a speech.
 sy The bravery of Mme. Carrel, wife of Dr. Alexis Carrel. head of the American hospital at Compeigne. Is Glso told in one of these letters. When word of the German retreat from the Eomme first reached Mme. Carrel, she started at once for Ribecourt, but the hrtdges were blown up and she had t8turn back. The following day Mime. Carrel asked the Medicin-Chef of the hospital for an ambulance, but sus- pecting her purpose, he refused. say Ing It. was not at all necessary for her t0 get killed. M
 Next, Mime. Carrel went direct to the ambulances. and ordered 8 chauf- feur to take one .of the cars, i'll 1t with all the supplies available and go with her. Against the chaufeeur's protest that he had. no orders; they drove through lines of advancing Fxench artillery until they reached the htidge at Ribecourt. Here Mime. Car rel waited for twenty minutes while the last nails were being driven into the temporary structure. Her car was tAe first to cross.
 ~Mme. Carrel's ambulance was driv- eh forward with the artillery conveys. The building of second bridge held II em up again before they reached Noyon. Within twanty-four hours after the Germans had moved out Mne. Carrel was in the city. She was the first woman to enter. bringing suc- cor and words of love to the stricken inhabitants.