The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-12-28

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. Lo.-NeCoH-
struction work in France has been
started by American Quakers in the
two sectors where American armies
put the finishing touches to the fnvad-
ing Germans, and started the break
that ended In the signing of an armis-
tice dictated by the allies. In an.
nouncing that an actual start has been
made on permanent reconstruction,
social. material and agricultural. the
American Friends service committee
with headquarters in this city, also
has let It be known that the opportuni-
ty has now arrived for all conscien
tiOus directors to prove, wherever pos
sible, that they were not mere draft
dodgers and that they are willing to
accept their share or more than their
share OF a constructive program.
A pamphlet outlining the work to be
mittee and under supervision OF
French governmental authorities has
been drawn up by leaders of Quaker
reconstruction work who have been in
France since shortly after the wal
started, working at first in conjunc
ton with English Friends and later
under the auspices Of the American
Red Cross. Although admittedly in
complete, it has been officially ap
proved by the French government and
hence provides one Of the best out
lines so far produced of just how
many sided and varied is the prob
lem known as reconstruction which Is
facing the world.
Areas Assigned to American Friends
The areas assigned to American
Friends are at Chateau Thierry, in
GLIDING about thirty villages, and
from little beyond Clermont-en-Ar
gonne, on the west to the left bank Of
the Mouse on the right. up to the edge
of the town of Verdun. This sector in
cludes more than forty villages. In
GLIDING territory where some of the
bitterest fighting Of the war tool
place, the restoration of it's shell
marked farms means. according t
men who know something about the
probe, and who have been over the
ground, a work of at least two years
Yet the tasks at Verdun and Chateau
Thierry represent but a small part O.
the plans now being made for recon
struction by Quakers in the countries
that have been invaded by the Ger
mans or their allies.
Wilbur X. Thomas, executive secre
tary of the service committee, has an
nounced that work units will be sem
to Serbia, Roumania, Armenia anC
other regions devastated and depopu
lated by the Turks. and when possible
to Russia. About 800 men and womer
are now at work in France. Some o.
them went over before America got
into the war. Others have been sem
from time to time as passports coulG
be obtained for them Some months
ago an agreement was reached with the
war departent under which conscien
tious DIRECTORS in the military training
environments were to be parceled tt
the committee either for reconstruc
ton work in France or agriculture
work at home
OF these men some 800 are nov
awaiting the call of the committee an(
at farm near this city. Since Ions
before peace was in sight the Friend:
have been planning to increase the
scope of their reconstruction work
On the day America celebrated the
signing of the arnistice with German,
DR.. Isaac Sharpless. former presiden
of Haverford college, who has beer
publicity secretary of the service com
mittee. started a three months tou
Of Friends communities in this coun
try to get additional financial and per
sonal strength that will be needed t.
carry out the committees plans.
Now Comes the Real Test.
Friends believe that the principle.
TO which most of them have held dur
ing the war are now about to be put
to the real test. They hold that il
conscientious DIRECTORS leave it tC
others to alleviate the misery caused
by war they will by that inaction ad
nit the insincerity of their professions
In unselfish reconstruction work they
see a spiritual opportunity greater
than any that the followers of Penn
have ever had. The report now made
public by the service committee out
lining what is to be done at Verdur
shows that thorough study has beer
made Of the problem.
Inquiries have been sent out to more