The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-07
Return of Exiles
Women, Children and Old Mer
Deported By Germany Com
ing Home.

Spondence Of The Associated Press
The return to France of the women,
children and old men who We're sent
out Of that part Of Frantce occupied
by Germans for more than four Years
presented pitiful spectacles. Many OF
these refugees We're little lots whose
fathers and mothers had been taken
away By the cruel Bocile to work in
Germany or behind the fighting lines.
Others were orphans.
Twice daily the affecting scenes Of
their return We're enacted here when
the trains bringing them through
Switzerland bringing 500 to 100 re-
patriates back to the belcvcG soil Of
Fance. With them were Eelgians
who came from parts of Belgium then
occupied by the Hun. Much was
done to relieve the suffecings OF these
poor people by S. S. Howland, repre-
sentative Of the Belgian Relief Conf
mission stationed here, and by Ms.
his wife.
Describing the scene Of the return
of trainload of refugees, Nj. How
land writes:
Slowly, the long line came towards
US, the old and the young about equal
ly divided-alas, but few Of middle
age, for the Germans had use for
such and would not let them go. While
ton, we knew that but a small numb
er possessed more than the clothes
they wore and what the hand bags and
bundles they carried contained.
They were not enaaciated- but their
faces were worn, sometimes anenaic.
How could they be otherwise after
the years of constant suffering and
continued horrors they had endured,
with no hope of release before them
for the allies, or perchance
the good fortune TO, be enrolled il one
of these little bands of repatries.
Now and again someone would
rush out from the Sidewalk to greet
q relative or friend recognized after
years of absence. But though such
instances were rare, they served to
buoy up the hopes Of the rest that
perhaps farther along they too would
be as fortunate.
1.-TWO short rests were made that
the seemingly countless children
might be able to- keep UP. Brave
little tots they were holding close
to their mothers, if they had them,
or if not to those who had befriendce
them on the way for many were or
phans. or had had their parents TAX
en- away by the Germans to work.
Perhaps, hundreds Of miles from
their homes.
Inside the great rooms Of the Ca
sino long lines Of tables set for sup
per filled almost the entire space. AS
the repatries fled in. women Showed
them to their seats, while others dis
tributed small French flags to young
and old alike-the flag that once more
they might wave freely.
Bowls of soup, slices of good
bread, hot we'll cooked meat and
glasses Of red wine still further cheer
ed the hearts OF the stranger. so
that wnen the orchestra in its gallerS-
began to play we'll known ard cher
ished French airs-airs that had not
been heard before in all these lons
years-tears streamed down the
cheeks OF many, and of looke:s-on 2s
well, while hands and voices pro
claimed their keen delight.
mo man did we see between four
teen and sixty unless they were pal
pably iii or crippled, and compare
lively few women who had not long
since passed their prime. Mothers had
been separated from sons and daugh-
ters dragged off by the Boche to WORK
in factories and mines, even on for
tificaticns to be used against their
own kin.
THE feast was nearing its end when
the Sub-Prefect mounted the rostrun,
and began to speak. Instantly there
was silence. He dwelt upon Frances
love for her people, her sorrow Tor
their sufferinss.
His words lad hardly ceased when
the band struck up the Marseiilaise.
The old, the young, the halt, the
blind sprang to their feet, trying their
best to join in the refrain but ire
quently prevented by sheer nervous
AsSn1
FAIR Pr Pr: