The Cordova daily times., 1918-06-24
REFUCEESFEEL RON HEEL OF
 HUN INVADERS


 HEADQUARTERS ITALIAN ARMY, May (by aiD.-Arrival of relief agents behind the Italian front along the Piave river, which section is filled with refugees from the regions in- vaded by Teutonic troops, is greeted with evidences of fervent gratitude and jubilation. This is true not only because of the actual gifts in money and food but because it signifies to the Italians the fact that America is standing behind them in their long conflict with the Austrian invaders.
 The aged priest at Castello-di-God- ega was so overcome by the unex- pected donations from America that he threw up his arms, knelt in prayer and exclaimed, "It is a gift from | heaven
 Wherever She Red Cross workers have distributed their relief, the mayor and local committee directed the sue. cored families of that commune to write to the soldiers at the front and tell them what America had done. The work of the Americans was extolled and the people were told that the United States was thus cooperating in close and practical accord with 1 Italy.
 | In some cases huge posters have Il appeared on the town walls with proc- lamations by the mayor announcing what America was doing
 The misery which prevails among the refugees in the provinces of Ire viso, Venetia and Padua is most dis dressing. Stopping at the little town of Riesi, in tour of this section, there was chance to see some of the com munities of refugees in all their mis- cry. It is a strange community, which l has migrated as a whole from it's former home at Vidor, now held by the enemy, to it's present habitation l or Rles1. Vidor is the village on the east bank of the Piave which was oc- cupied by General von BueIow and his German troops, and when they came these toWnspeople, with only the clothes on their backs and a few household belongings, fled across the Pfave and settled down here. Most of the refugees have scattered all over i Italy, but this is one of the few towns that has held together in it's flight
 The parish priest led the way as the Red Cross workers went on a round of inspection to see how these people were living. The mayor and the parish priests are usually con- suited on this work, the latter be. cause he is in touch with all the troubles. Most of the people are re- llgious, when they are in trouble, and 'oio 10 III liouDle nefe. They all knew him, and he made his way through crowds of ragged children and the choked alleys of what would have been concentration camp if it had been organized, but being unorganized was only vast hive of refugees in their misery.
 In one room about fifteen feet square, 25 people were sleeping on straw streWn over the earthen floor. The place was stuffed with soiled gar ments, the pitiful remnants of what these occupants possessed. and reeked With Vlleness. Across the court there was smaller room where thirteen were sleeping, and in another eight all huddled together on the straw. wo. men, children, babies, and their rags. All the outhouses, barns, grain lofts. were utilized for sleeping quarters. There were few young men, for all the men have gone to war, except the very old and very young
 Many of the women were very old With wizened, hungry faces like witches. A number of the women carried babies, and all of them were tralled by large broods of children. All these people had lost everything. Their clothes were in rags Under clothes and stockings had long ago disappeared. Even the consolation of work was denied to these people, for