The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-05
FAMILY REUNITED
AFTER FOUR YEARS
Dramatic Incident Marks the
Taking of Domain.
Rn the Associafed Press.


nERs. Nov 4.--The open warfare now
being conducted over long STRETCHES Of
Inhabited territory along the northern
battlefront has produced strange sltua-
tons. which are a far reach from the
trench fighting of q few months ago.
Probably none more unusual has been
recorded than that experienced by GER
tain Canadian unit the other day In the
valenciennes area, where the troops
holding the front line actually were liv-
ing IN furnished houses. where they slept
In beds we'll suppned with linen and had
their meals served on excellent china
Fresh vegetables of AL sorts from the
surrounding countryside were on the
menu. Muddy dugouts and timed bully
beef were never like that.
Dramas involving. the individual ele-
n,ent are piling up along Ale front these
days and bring home forcibly what the
world war really means to the hundreds
OF thousands Of civilians directly or In
directly concerned. II was the cor.
respondents privilege TO take small
| part In one OF these dramas IN Lilo
Valenciennes sector.
In search of Loved Ones.
The correspondent was motoring along
the highway leading to the recently freed
city OF Domain when a French officer
| beside the road asked for ride. As
soon as the car started he leaned out
and began to inspect the surroundings
| eagerly. OCCASIONAL, he would wave to
civilians and shout greetings.
| Asked II he lived IN the vicinity the
officer said that his home was in Denain.
where four years ago ne left his wife to
Join the colors. Just after his departure
his first child. a daughter, was born.
Then came the German occupation. cut
ting off his loved ones. Now he was
going back after these long years to his
wife and the baby ne had never seen.
He was visbly wrought up TO the high
est pitch. as we'll he might be. 1t was
quite possible he might find his fam
lily dead or gone and his home in ruins.
Denain had been the centre OF a bat
lie that had cost civilian lives. Neither
the officer nor correspondent mentioned
this TACT, but undoubtedly both were
thinking It as the car sped over the
shell shattered road. Entering the city
the officer directed the correspondent
toward his home, through streets show
inG the cruel marks OF the invaders
hate.
Turning into his street the first house
was in ruins. He gave a nervous start,
but said nothing. A few doors further
on was his home, and the car stopped
across the street from il: Tie officer
climbed out slowly and with an effort
his eyes fixed on the place.
Stranger to His Own.
There were no signs OF life. The win.
dows were shattered and en- the door
was sign showing that German officers
had been living there. Crossing the
street. the officer pulled the bell wifi
shaking hand. No one answered. Tic
backed away like man In a trance and
leaned against the car. trembling.
Suddenly the door was opened and ar
aged woman servant appeared in an,
swer to the bell. She was leading by
the hand a beautiful baby girl with q
wealth OF golden curls. The officer took
one step toward the child and Their
halted. He was a stranger to his owr
flesh and blood. The child bid behind
the ekirts of the nurse. peering out ir
fright. Undoubtedly her mother had told
her many times during the Boche occu
patton that MEN In uniform were bad
and that she must avoid them.
The horizon blue uniform OF Franc.
meant nothing TO this child. The hall
blind eyes of the old nurse had recog
nized her master. and she held out he.
hands TO him. repeating Monsieur. mon
sieur,' in ecstasy. lie crossed the road
and Srasped her hands. but tho baby
drew back still further.
A door opened at the end OF Ions
hall and a comely young matron came
through to see what was going on. WheY
half way down the hall she caught sigh
OF her husband. She stopped. her hanC
few to her breast and she swayed for
= a soboing cry OF joy she hurled hersel
into his arms