Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-13

IN the western outskirts of tho town.
especially. fair proportion of the pop
ulation has remained.
One of the conspicuous impressions.
indeed, which all the British army will
carry with II is of the pathetic BRAY
cry and tenacity with which the French
people, especially OF the poorer classes,
have chung TO their homes in all parts
of the country close behind the lines.
in spite OF enemy Smelling and enemy
bombs.
OF the town. though leas; in the west
crn portion The Hotel de Vile has
been Scared and splattered with bits
OF sheiis; put ! think II Is strueturally
hand. had a bomb plumb in the center.
and is a dreadful wreck Just opposite
SCUM is badly damaged, but the main
face is not hurt.
The wrecRage about the railway sta
less than might be expected consider
ing the anxiety of the enemy TO de-
molish that particular section.
The most striking area OF ruin is in
the very heart Of the business town.
along the Rue Trois Cailloux, close to
the, Place Gambetta, where an area,
perhaps fifty yards wide by 100 deep.
where formerly large business buildings
stood. has been completely wiped our.
fire having. evidently aided the work
yawning holes in the ground and piles
Of twisted ironwork and shattered ma
sorry.
Some OF the finest residences in
Amiens have been badly hit. Some of
the old churches and other ancient
buildings have been more or less seri-
ously damaged. and many in the poorer
quarters suffered heavily.
SCENES IN THE FLIGHT
NOT LIKE THAT OF ANTWERP
AS for the evacuation of Amiens itself
by the civilian population, its gradual
and orderly character prevented it's
having anything like the horror of the
tragic flight from Antwerp. There was
nothing like tho same number of refu-
gees, nor did they attempt to leave the
city all at once. The roads were never
crowded. as were the Flanders roads in
described at the time were pathetic
enough.
The, help, of the British army both
Torres and so forth for the removal
Of goods, and still more in the infinite
helpful tenderness OF individual sol
Of the poor people on the roads, and
the kindness OF the population OF
other parts of France did all that could
be done TO make up to the refugees for
their loss and sufferinEs.
Not seldom one saw among the
stream of weary passengers on the
children. of whom one was carried by
the tired mother, while TWO others
chung to her skirts on either side. and
goods they had in 4 pcramDulator.
Sometimes the rate of the movement
of a family would be limited by the
painful hobbling OF some sick member,
helped by others on either hand. OF
| limping on crutchcs. l saw one young
| girl wheeling an aged man, who lay
| on shutter for a strctcher. which was
| placed cross-ways OH ii wheeiDarrow.
| Another old man limped laboriously
along, with all his properties tied up
| in a bundle on one arm. and under the
! other a large plaStcr statue, three feet
| high, Of the Blessed Virgin. With many
parties went a COW or two. donkey
| or a goat. Children carried birdca ges
containing canaries, or Rugged dolls.
and one little girl l saw with a live
young rabbit In her arms.
The pathos of the spectacle was in
creased unreasonably by the fact that
az general rule the refugces-espec-
tally the women and girls-were
dressed in their best clothes. Being
only able to save such garments as
they could carry on them, they. natur-
ally and rightly put on the clothes and
hats and shoes which were best worth
saving. Thus many were finely dressed
with -heeled shoes, which were
poor footgear for days TO be spent on
open roads, and hats loaded with arti-
| fetal flowers and feathers, which grew
grey in the highway dust.
Never did l hear a complaint. ! saw
one cry. The gentle resignation and
their fate was beyond words aduiira y q
and deepened. immensely the ad!nira-
ton that one has already acquired for
no los of no