Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-18
NO WORD OF MuNMIJ or
COMPLAINT FROM J'IGiITfRS

No WORD OF MtVMllV or
COMPLAINT FROM JiGlITTUS
Mrs. Smith began 10y saying tina, it
was her sad privilege to 20 over tho
battle fields. not for the purpose o.
Seeing the lighting. but 10 see what
lighting left in its train She had seen.
thousands OF French and English rc,i-
ments go into battle ana come o.,
with depleted ranks. buL never a !nu-.
muir OF complaint had she heard. and
the only thought these soldiers had
was to hold out until tho reserve
forces came up Tho Irish. too, we--
doing their part az the rEhting. con-
tEary TO popular belief in THIS eoun-
try.
Tho French soldiers had 10 hard
luck tales and tho women we're equally
as cheerful. on" Of tho French char
acteristics. she said. WAS q s,ronr Low"
for tho home. 50 attached were they
10 their homes tina, they would no.
leave them, bat would remain and look
after crops and think nothing az i'm :
mincnt danger. l. was necessary for
military officers TO persuade them 70
leave. and that, chs sa!d. was a din! :
cul; thing 10 do..au ttl, us
The poverty brought upon all classps
alike because OF the great drains made
On tho resources wns all shared in
g. nue spIvIt and no di.cortcut or
Erumbiinc was over heard Cathcdrals
and churches were shattered L.: Ger
man shells. but the beauty - France
still remained.
One thousand prisoners returned by
tho Germans arrive in France every
day. through switzerland. one half in
the morning, and the other 800 at
night. Their .maciated bodies pre-
sented pitiful spectacle. she said.
In their outsiretch.d hands was q
small French haG, and with al their
suffering there Was not a single muir
muir OF sadness. but a grea: shout OF
'N!vc Ia France" as the trains entered
the railway station MANY of the re-
turned prisoners were ignorant OK
Americas entrance .nto the war as
their ally, she said. and II was up 20
America TO make our lHr mean VIVA;
what was expected OF II.
NO FRENCH WOMAN WISHES
SAME GALA MITES on GERMANY
Although IL would seem incrcGible
that after all their cruelty and barhar-
ism, the Germans could thrust upon
France the support ct theS. prisoners
who have served the German TO their
last economical advanricc. Yet when
one comes face 10 face with the Ger
man methods. anything that the Cor
mans did would not be SURPRISING she
said. Not a single French woman had
been heard to wish tn. same cal:,rni-
ties upon Germany. Ther- Was diff
ference in the psychology OF the
French and German, which accounted
for our alliance with France, sn.
pointed out.
Following her vivid word picture.
lantern slides were shown Of the desc
lation caused hy the enemy guns. The
great transformation Of the young
orphan children OF Franco. who We're
found wandering aimlessly around
half starved and scantily clad. to
laughing. bright-eyed. happy young
sters. was admirably brought out and
illustrated as the work accomplished
by the home; supported by American
men and women.
Mrs. Smith spoke in forceful and
winning manner. and had her audience
hanging on every word. She came Ia
thank Richmond for the part i, had
played in supporting the Red Cross.
and the homes FOR refugee children
and other war movements. She was
ent' asia stically applauded during the
relation OF her wildly told story. The
proceeds realized last night could not
be ascertained. but Judging from the
packed auditorium il Is believed that
large sum was raised. They viii he
devoted to the work engaged IN by
Mrs. Smith.