The Washington times., 1918-12-15

tche had been notary,
and had saved a compe-
tence large enough his family old age with
moderate Injuries There children in the Labtche
cottage but there were aged servants whom the
tage their only home When the old people and chill
dren were gathered up NJ Labitche and Nine Labitche
were notified prepare themselves for journey nto
France" within twelve hours.
NJ. Labtche was surely eighty years DID, and Nine.
Labitche was almost as old. Nine Labche was almost
i-she had never been we'll since the first days of the
The sufferngs of France and much unhappness
around her weighed heavily upon her. NJ Labtche had
kept up because he considered that his position in the
neghborhood required Of him constant efforts keep up
the courage of the people.
When the blow fell and they were given that twelve
hours notice. NJ. Labtche overcome, but Nine. La
bche that crisis hand rallied her strength,
and they from their little cottage hand in hand
to trudge behind the cart which the Germans provided
for every ten deportees to carry their permissible bundles
Of belongings
The old servants were sent along with them-they
not listed for the deportation, but they asked to go.
carried their request to Sergeant Traumann who made out
the lists for General Boehm to sign. The sergeant
said very WELL Madame but do you know you probably
are sending them to their deathi Such old people
hardly live until they the lines
have never heard whether NJ. Labitche and Nine.
Labitche lived through their journey. That the
ptabe thing about the deportations. Relatives and
friends 'never heard of their loved ones afterward.
Each of these exiles permitted to carry only 100
francs in French bank notes for each adult and so
francs bank notes for each child. NO matter now
wealthy they might be they had to leave all their money
behind with the exception of these The Germans
volunteered give receipt for money left behind if the
deporees would turn to them Many took advan
tage of this offer accepting with uncertain hopes the
pledge that latter the war; the German Governments
would make refunds.
When the exiles put aboard the cattle trains at
Cambria they ordered by the German officers to
the French bank they had been allowed to
take with them, that the Germans might put them in
envelopes safe keeping the envelopes to be returned
to each deporee at the point of crossing the lines into
France" There choice about ths-the exies had
to obey
At that time French bank notes worth almost one
third than their face value, while German paper
money worth only one-half. When the exlles were
sent through the lines their envelopes returned to
them but the Germans had taken out the French bank
notes and had substituted German paper in equal
amounts In unoccuped France this German money was
not worth half its face aue-t was worthless alto
gether Thus the exes arrived behind the French lines
pennless-those who were still alive.
These envelopes in which the exes had put their notes
brought my chateau from Cambria. 1t was Ser
gant Traumann and his helpers who sorted them out and
substituted German money for the bank notes. over
heard of the officers say my table that Germany
had protective million francs by these transactions with
the savings Of the old people who sent away And
besides when the Germans gathered up the 1OOfranc
aotments and put them in envelopes for safe keeping
they also demanded that the receipts given for money left