Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-03-26
HAM LEFT DEVOID
OF ALL FURNITURE
Towns Were Systematically
Wrecked by the Germans
for Three Weeks Before
the Actual Retreat to the
New Line of Defense Was
Begun.
BY HENRY WOOD.
United Press staff Correspondent.

United Press Staff Correspondent.
With the French Armies
in the Pathway of the Ger
man Retreat, March o.
More than 300 women, chill
dren and aged men are
known to have succumbed to
the hardships, the exposure,
the brutality, the starvation
which the Germans imposed
upon the French civil popu-
lation Immediately preced-
ing and during the retreat.
In Chauny alone I learned officially
today the victims numbered $50. They
were ried-coffnless-in a corner Of
the village. Deaths are still occurring
daily among the refugees now under
French care.
Along the roads leading from Ham,
Guiscard, Chauny, Tergnier and Lafere
to Noyon, where on Tuesday I person
ally met only refugees fleeing afoot
from the German bombardment, l en-
countered today long automobile con-
voys. After taking munitions and sup
plies to front points. where fighting is
going on. these automobiles were re-
turning laden with refugees too sick or
too exhausted to proceed afoot.
HAPPY EVEN IN DYING.
These were mostly the aged. Many
ere dying from hardships, exposure
and starvation-but, as they declared,
dying happily, knowing their villages
were redeemed and surviving loved
ones freed from German domination.
Every one of the refugees with whom
talked declared the greatest mortal
ity resulted from a barbarious system
of inspection which the Germans en-
ployed Immediately preceding the re-
treat The civil population of the en-
tire district to be evacuated was con-
ce trated in great camps. All were
ordered to present themselves at fxed
date for a final census Of Identification.
EXPOSED TO THE COLD.
I.lthough the temperature ranged
from zero to nine degrees below in the
various concentration centers, every
one was forced to gather in an open
square. They were forced to wait in
spection in this cold, without shelter.
without food, for Ave or six hours be-
fore the German officers arrived.
At Chauny, where 5000 women. chill
dren and aged men underwent such an
ordeal, three died in the open street
before the inspection was concluded.
Thirty died the following night from
risy.
On succeeding days the resulting
deaths reached $50. Others were still
dying today from similar affections.
This was true not only of Chauny
but of other concentration centers as
well-the number of deaths depending
on the degree of cold and the length of
exposure.
SYSTEMATIC DESTRUCTION.
In the larger towns in the path of
the German retreat, like Ham and
Chauny, refugees said today the de-
struction of houses and property con-
tinued for three weeks before the re-
treat was q ually begun.
The city Of Ham was left so devoid
of all furniture, / was told by one res
when General Won Fleck wished to
write a final order. he was obliged TO
send officers and men hunting for
chair.
The mining of Roye and Ham and
other towns was continued three weeks
before the fuses were finally touched
Off. German miners worked at night
only, in order to avoid observation II
allied aviators
The vandalism OF the troops reached /
such disgusting degrees that an occa-
sionaI German soldier-even an occa-
sional officer-confessed. l am told, In
guarded pleas to the French inhabi-
tants. that they were sickened by them
but obliged to carry out Won linden
burg's orders.
KEPT THE BABIES ALIVE.
AT Roye the Germans spared the
America relief commission headquar- |
ters. which was able to keep babies
alive with condensed milk until the
French came.
Before the retreat the French had
been limited to 800 gramms of bread
daily.
In the vicinity of Ham the Germans
destroyed all growing crops. running
harrows over the sprouting fields.
ALL ANIMALS KILLED.
During 20-mile walk. did not see
a COW, a horse. pig, a chicken or
rabbit. Every living animal had been
killed. eaten, or carried off by the Ger