Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-23
VETERAN SENDS CHEER
TO GIRLS At FRONT.
Tells Story Of German Occu-
patton And Praises Ann
eriCan Soldiers

United Press staff correspondent)

Omitted Press staff correspondent
Chateau-Thierry, July 22.-(Night)
-" All, les Americaines! They are fine
boys, brave When we rebuild our city
lit will always be a home to Americans
We will be proud to make them wei
come.n
Thus spoke aged Leon Toison, a coun
Gilman of Chateau -Thierry who refused
to leave the town when the Germans
captured it. Although Toison is 50
years old, he took charge of the city
affairs and assisted in every way pos
sible the two hundred as the surviv-
iors of six weeks eff boche domination
are known.
| interviewed Toison this afternoon.
He is small man, slightly bent but
vigorous and bright eyed. We stood
among the battered ruins along the
main Street. Not a building left stand
ing was inhabitablo here. We were be-
side barricade erected by the Ger
mans WHO had used boxes, earth, refuse
.of all kinds and ccbble stones torn
from the street.
"When the Germans were coming
we are advised to flee at once, but |
couldn t bring myself ito do it, said
Toison. "I'vc seen Chateau-Thierry
captured by the Germans three times.
The first was in 1870. | was wounded
during the fighting then. The next
was in 1914, the first invasion of this
war. The last was six weeks ago.
IL 4 tn1
the 'twc hundred decided to stay.
Many of the old folks would have been
unable to leave anyway. There were
about a dozen children and few mid
die aged people, but most were pref
ty old.
During the bombardment we lived
in caves and cellars without having
enough to eat and without knowing
whore to get any. We were bctT"d up
by the hope that Chateau merry again
would be French.
Meantime our houses were crumb-
ling over us. The Germans ordered us
to stay in our cellars except when we
were permitted to leave. Not having
supfi,ient food themselves, they order
ed the old men out every day to bring
in vegetables from the fields behind
the German lines. Then the soldiers
would come and take away practically
all we brought in.
"We had no bread, no fats, no wines
and were struggling to live on the few
vegetables the Germans left us. The
Germans did not abuse us, except by
taking everything they wanted without
paying single sou and by carrying
off everything they fancied.
81 was unable to estimate the num-
lber of Germans in Chateau-Thierry,
owing to the restrictions which did
not permit us to move about much.
Everything was verboten.
"Many of the older people were fee
BILE and sick The rest sought to assist
them, but could not do much, through
having no food. Finally we obtained a
little of the Germans black bread. 1t
was as hard as wood
"It was a miracle that all of US liv-
ed through the six weeks of German
control, with shells bursting every
where buildings tumbhng down and
Germans, officers and men alike, TAX
ing Our food,
'Finally, on Saturday evening, the !
Germans ordered all the inhabitants in
to the cathedral. We erouched there,
fearing a big shell might end us all.
We even anticipated being shot, since
the Germans continually are suspicious |
of us old folks. We did not rear death.
but trembled for the children.
Early Sunday morning our sol
aiers arrived We then got the first
news of Americains-their fighting. |
how they forced the Germans backward |
"When the first American soldiers !
arrived everybody could not help go,
ing wild and shaking hands with the
fine boys. We kissed them, too, for
are they not our grand children alsoR''
Two old women, tottering down the
main street enjoying the first fresh air
they had breathed in six weeks, paused
and wept over the scrambled ruins Of
and trees. Even the cathe-
iral is full of holes and probably can
not be repaired.
Teison, seeing the old women crying,