Evening star., 1918-11-09
|THREEU.S. PRNATES
| BRING Joy TO TOWN
French Civilians Of German
Occupied Place Get Great
:. est Thrill Of Lives.
HELD IN VILLAGE 4 YEARS

WITH THE AMEf61NxACN 3 SAsSAs>S 49,
FRANCE. October s (correspondsnce
Of the Associated Press).-N was
three American privates who gave
the French civilians Of the German
occupied village Of Thiaucourt the
greatest thrill Of their lives. Fer four
years they had been waiting-and
then the Americans came.
When the three privates-an ao-
vance guard Of swarms OF other
Americans in their wake-swung into
the war-torn village Of Thiaucourt
not q soul was in the streets. But
within a few minutes news spread
among the seven hundred civilians
that the Americans were there. ana
men and women and children came in
droves from cellars. where they had
been hiding in terror for two days
and nights, And from other cellars
and dugouts there came six hundred
German soldiers who were delighted
with the idea of giving up.
Many Wept With Joy.
The offensive of the 1st American
Army which wiped out the st. Mihiel
salient began on a Thursday morn
ing, and it was Saturday afternoon
when the weary Americans reached
Thiaucourt. hungry and fatigued from
keep pace with the fleeing Germans.
AS the Americans poured into the
village and the French realized more
and more that again Thiaucourt had
come into her own. men stood in the
streets and cried openly and women
sat about on doorsteps and bits of
wreckage caused by shells and wept
until near exhaustion. And In the con-
fusion the children cheefed, but even
some Of them-the older ones-realix-
kissed the hands Of the officers and
men.
Gave What Food They Had.
What food they had on hand the
French turned over to the Americans,
the villagers insisting upon the Amer
leans taking all they wanted Of what
they had. So in the streets and in the
houses, some of them occupied only a
few hours previously by German Of
flcers and men, the Americans made
themselves at home. for a short
breathing spell, and tho French popu-
lation of the village endeavofed to
satisfy the appetites OF their deliv-
erers.
FTOiu the Time the GermanS feaCneQ
Thiaucourt in September. 1914, until a
few days after the village had been
retaken by American troops. the civ
ilians were entirely without fresh
meat of any kind. excepting now and
then a chicken or q rabbit, which were
raised in cellars without the knowl-
edge Of the Germans. All the cattle
in the region OF Thiaucourt were TAX
en- by the Germans. but two cows be-
ing left to furnish milk for babies.
Never Allowed to Leave Town.
Until the United States entered the
war food was sent to Thiaucourt by
way Of the Netherlands by the Ameri-
can relief Committee and later by a
Spanish relief Committee. This con-
sisted principally of bacon. flour. su-
gar, rice. beans. peas and some cocoa.
Two boxes of condensed milk were
received in Thiaucourt each month,
and now and then a shipment of salt
meat. Twice several boxes of Amer
fcan shoes arrived for the Inhabitants
and at long intervals there were small
shipments of clothing.
During the four years occupation by
the Germans none of the civilians was
allowed to leave the town. However,
on one or two occasions individuals
were permitted to visit a nearby viii
lage to attend the funeral of relatives,
accompanied by soldier guard.