The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-12-15

i
my Villages which happen TO be In
their line OF march. 1t Is recognized
here that the extent and ruthlessness
Of the destruction of French towns
by the Germans never has been fully
understood In some parts Of America.
When the boys have began to write
home and tell what they have seen.
Washington believes the letters will
have an arousing effect.
Fate Of sermaIze an Example.
Two years ago the writer traversed
that section of France through which
| the American troops have just marched
to reach their place on the battle
front. The Americans, II their route
has been traced accurately, passed
through the town of Sermaize, or what
once was the town of Sermaize. They
saw a little city of 5000 Inhabitants
level with the earth, not one building
left standing. There was no military
reason for the destruction or THIS
town. Hundreds of the villagers
homes which had stood for centuries
were destroyed by the hands OF incen-
diary Germans, who thus completed
the destruction which the shell fire had
begun.
In Sermaize there was fine old
church. The sanctuary was entirely
destroyed, but the shell-riddled tower
still stands. AS a matter Of fact the
church tower Is the only thing which
does stand in Scrmuize. On the front
appears the date OF its erectien-1Oo3.
Scores Of Villages Razed.
Sermaizc IL only one of the ruined
villages through which the Americans
must have passed. There are nearly
a hundred of these destroyed commu-
mites lying along the track Of the
American march from Chalons to
Nancy. This work of the German IL
deadly to look on. Here is the little
place called Huron, or rather II Is n
little place where Huron once was.
The walls of the houses of Huron
still are standing, for no shell fire was
directed upon the place, but the In
teriors of the houses are scorched and
smoke-blackened ruins. Here Is the
proof positive, Of course, that the In
vaders simply tossed incendiary bombs
into the houses for the purpose OF de-
stroying their interiors and all the
little household effects of the village
families.
Take the little village OF Farcmont
by which the American boys must have
marched. One day in the spring OF
1915 1 visited FaremOnt. In small part
it was destroyed by artillery, but
many of the houses are still intact. A
fine highway runs through the heart
of the village. II was along this high
way that in retreat the crown princes
army passed. The houses on either
side of the road and immediate to 1t
were all destroyed, while the houses
back of them to the eXtremities Of the
village on either side are standing un.
injured.
German Prisoners in America.
II Americans could be sure that
many would be treated with the same
kindness that is shown to German pris-
oners in this country. there would be
no need 10 worry over the fate of such
of the American lads rs ego over the
top" and there, wounded or unwound-
ed, fall into the hands Of the enemy.
There are two kinds of German pris-
oners in this country, the interned and
those who are really imprisoned. The
interned ones are those who, while ac-
tive In the German cause, are not con-
nected with the kaiser's army and
navy; the imprisoned ones are those
taken from the battleships Of the
kaiser which sought refuge in Ameri-
can harbors prior to the time that this
country entered the war.
- At Atlanta, Ga. the real prisoners
of war are confined. They are fenced
In with double rows OF barbed wire.
with armed guards between. Notwith-
standing these precautions, however,
number Of prisoners recently es-
capped from Atlanta by tunneling. an
operation which recalls the means by
which some Northern soldiers escaped
from Libby prison, In Richmond. Va,
where they were under the guard OF
Confederate soldiers.
These man-of-war prisoners In At
lanta are given the best kind Of plain
food and are allowed every comfort
that 1t is possible to give them within
the confines OF prison walls. Wash
Ington officials who have supervising
authority over the prison ut Atlanta
saS they wish the German people,
after looking on the treatment of Brit
ish and French prisoners in Germany.
and now upon the treatment of few
American prisoners in the same land,
could look into the Atlanta prison. ana
there learn how well their own coun-
trymen are being cared for by the
enemy republic.
Luxury for Interned Men.
At Hot Springs, N. c.. there is an In
ternmcnt camp where the officers and
sailors of the German merchantmen
have been living under nominal guard
since the United States government
seized their vessels. Here In part Is
description Of this camp, rs taken
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