Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1918-07-12
BOMBING WOMEN AND
CHILDREN AT AAGIENs
BY e. @. PIPP
lCopYriRht. 1871


I We left Paris at III o'clock on the
Tuesday evening following the open
Ing Of the great battle on the western
front.
Unable to cut on the railway COM
munication at Amiens with their land
forces the Germans had sent airpIanes
over to blow up the railway station
and tracks. to interrupt the trafTic.
Bombs had been dropped in many
places. One hit the train that left
Paris four hours ahead Of US, and an
other had hit the track just ahead OF
US, so that when dawn came we were
stranded about three miles from
Amiena.
Looking out OF the window we
could see airplanes flying back and
forth, singly, in pairs and three or
fours.
All along the highways people were
fieeing before the onrush OF the Ger
mans. Women and children had gath
cred what few belongings they could
convey and were walking along the
road and pathways. trying TO reach
the station, hoping to so somewhere.
anywhere. that would AFFORD safety.
They used wheelbarrows, baby carts,
top wagons-anything with wheels
that would carry a load, large or
small.
AS the morning wore on, passen-
gers began to leave the train. One
man, with important papers that he
didn't want the Germans to get,
caught . train back to Paris, with =
plan of reaching London by way Of
Havre; we were going by way of
Boulogne.
Hunger came with the noontime,
and we left the train TO hunt food.
which We found after a walk of about
two miles. A house had been aban-
doned and with It some bread and .
dish OF salmon which we appropriat-
ed.
II was while on this road TO Amiena
that we we're brought to realization
OF what the Germans really had done.
had been in the city two weeks be-
fore. II was occupied by women and
children and old men. In 1906 II had
, population Of $4,000. The streets
on the iFst visit we're clean and or.
derly, the people we'll housed, feeling
safe, forty miles from the battle front.
But on this day in March all was diff
ferent. Fifty German airpianes had
dropped 200 bombs on the city. blow
Ing mp homes and store buildings.
killing women. children and old men
Added to the population OF two
weeks before were wounded soldiers
and Red Cross nurses. We could see
many Of the men brought from the
front being carried 10 the station on
stretchers. TO be taken further back "a
French or British hospitals.
BY the roadside We saw about sixty
soldiers resting. They were I'm KHAKI
and carried packs. but they appeared
! weary ana worn. A British officei
told rs that they had been in a hos
pital nearer the front; that an ambui.
ance had taken out the patients who
we're unable TO walk. and that these
% far recovered as to be nearly ready
for their discharges, had walked sew.
eral miles to get away from the Ger.
man forces. ! did not learn what be.
came of the hospital itself
I Beside = house with the roof gons
and part Of wall blown IN. stood /
woman With a babe wrapped IN !
shawl. She looked about, hewiIdereA
dazed. She could not enter the homi
, far y vas in ruins: besides there VA
every likelihood Of more bombs be
ing dropped. She motIoned frantieaI
t. Al q man in a passing horse cart
ut the vehicle was crowded and b.
needed not She crossed the stree
(UOatiaOd 81 Last Paaal