The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-06-25
Kenyon Head Describes Ex-
periences In France As A
Red Cross Worker
RELATES AWFUL ACTS
COMMITTED BY HUNS
Tells, Also, Of Work AS Can
teener Near Front Line
Trenches

Selected rs the official representa-.
tive OF the Lake division of the Red
Cross to make survey of the Red
Cross work In France along the bat
tie line, DR.. William f. Peirce, presi-
dent Of Kenyon college, Gambler told
of his many experiences in that spec
ial branch OF work and the condi-
tions existing In France as he ac.
tually saw them, at the court house
Friday evening under the auspices OF
the allied war activities of Knox
county.
DR. Peirce was in France from the
middle OF March until the first of
June. spending six weeks as the over
seer of Red Cross canteen close TO
the front line at Verdun. One can no
tice the clOseness of war upon arriv-
Ing in France, he said, and that Is
something the American people have
not come to feel yet. Penetrating the
veil that seems to exist between here
and over there. there Is no doubt as
to the answer to why the United
States sends troops to France. The
American people have taken only the
primary lessons in sacrifice compared
with what the whole population of
France has undergone during the
war.
FOOD CARDS
Tickets must be had for all kinds
of supplies. Gasoline Is under con
troll OF the government, which has
also taken over all private cars. The
food In the hotels in limited, sugar Is
issued to those who are lucky enough
TO hold cards in quantities for about
one pound per month; of dairy prod
ucts there is only limited supply; a
small piece of bread cannot be pur-
chased without a ticket.
The absence of men ON the streets
is very noticeable. only an occasional
soldier being seen, but the streets are
full OF women in black, for the war
has touched nearly every family.
One does see. however thousands
OF wounded and crippled soldiers, not
only In Paris, but all over France.
These men are treated with the ut
most courtesy and respect.
RE.EDUCATE CRiPPLES
Since the saddest thought Of Il
MANNED soldier Is that he will be q
dependent. schools for the re.educa-
ton OF these men have sprung into
existence all over the country where
they are taught different means Of
securing II livelihood In spite of their
condition.
One OF the saddest sights is the
thousands of refugees who crowd into
Paris from the towns which have
been taken by the Germans. These
people present one OF the greatest
problems the country has To dea
with and II Is the Red Cross organi
cation that liz mostly responsible foi
the care Of these homeless wander
( ers.
MOST BRUTAL OF WARS
Several Incidents pointed out b.
DIR. Peirce which he actually cam'
IN contact with himself. only serv,
10 show that this war IL the mos
brutal war In history lie told of ;
soldier who had returned from th'
front to find that his wife, who hat
been carried into Germany by the In
vaders Tor the purpose Of building NJ
the manpower OF the country witt
boys OF part German blood, had beel
returned 10 France again through
Switzerland when her child happcno,
10 be girl instead Of boy
Dr. PeIrce also told of rich lieu
tenant whose chateau was capture
and destroyed and his wife and so
shot, while his daughter was carrie
back TO Germany. II II little wOnde
that this man Is proud to show th
pistol aud knife with which he ha
many times avenged their treatment
Another officer had his wife aud thre
children carried oil and has neye
heard from them
MEN NEARLY INSANE
Such Instances as these are drivin
some Of the men to the point OF II
sanity and an army official remarked
he hoped that the victorious Frenc
forces should not be allowed to Il
vaAe enemy territory. for after sue
acts have been committed again'
their own families. some OF the me
could not be trusted, and couid not !
held responsible for their actions.