Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-10-17
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has examined nearly $4,000. I $50 little chill
dren examined. They ranged in age from three to
twelve years. and of them all there were barely
more than so per cent whom he could pass as be-
ing even fairly well nourished.
'They have been fed mostly on turnips and
black bread for MONTHS he explained, 'and with
each convoy there are more undernOurished ones
and like this little fellow" He indicated
thin wisp of a boy-he was ten years of age-it
was tuberculosis.
This explains, furthermore, why the American
Red Cross hospital, part of its war burden,
has been obliged to extend its work into the foun-
dalton and maintenance of homes here there and
everywhere throughout France, for these unfor-
Inmates whom Germany is sending back by the
hundreds of thousands. For they unable to
work, unable to make their own homes, and the
civilian population Of France. bent double with
the pack of its own problems. has been increas-
ingly powerless to cope with this. Germany's in
sidious effort to break the morale of France.
1t was all new to me when went up to Evian
from Paris to see the repatrtates come IN. had
heard Of how Germany had begun sending them
back in 1916. and how. the numbers of them In
creased. the American Red Cross stepped in and
undertook to look out for the sick children finally
extending its work caring for the hundreds
of tuberculous women whom Germany returned to
France. But had heard, Also of how the repa-
tr1ateS, sent through Switzerland by the Germans
arrived at Evian, singing, kneeling down and kiss
ing the soil of France and gladly taking up their
share of their countrys work In factories and on
farms. I had looked for of joy at the
station there in Evian for cheers and hearthrills
at the casino. Here people being returned
to the country that 1t belonged to; here were BAN
nerS OF welcome, here were hands and hearts open
to it. But had something entirely different
and when inquired it explained to me. ut
is plainly was told. part of the German plan
Of breaking down French morale, of destroying the
efficiency of the American Red Cross which it has
learned is doing such large part in the work of
handling repatriates.
"At the same time that Germany is hurting her
big shells into Paris by day and air raiing 1t by
night; at the time that she is driving refu-
gees by the thousands from their homes in towns
along the line of her proposed advance; at the
time she is filling the hospitals with wounded
French and American soldiers taxing the equip
ment of the American Red Cross to the limit as
she believes. she has tried trick during this
offensive.
IF this is not so, how it be accounted for
that each succeeding trainload of repatriates is
larger. contains more sick and completely used up
individuals than the previous one? How can you
account for the large number of young women
with babies born in Germany since they were
taken there-babies whose fathers may be Ger
man. but whose Identity will remain a mys-
tery-which unloaded on us every day?'
Even ut that it seemed rather difficult task
These people who were coming fn-I saw several
trainloads of them-seemed such hopeless things
What could be done with them? What burden
they would be the Frenchi How little result
there would be from anything done for them or
with them
THAT is far from being the case" was told.
They respond In Incredibly short time to all
do for them. Their health improves, their
minds clear. From being liabilities they soon be-
come assets. Germany sends these people in,
wrecks cowed. SO starved that they cQn
ly tell where they have been, what has happened
to them In the years of their slavery in the Mines
the mills the fields of their captor country. Tuber
culosis seems to have firm grip many of them,
and the children flied with the germs con-
taRious diseases. But either by happy ability Of
the French to rise under difficulties, the 10Y of
6nding themselves back In their land, the
rapidity with which they rally. the quickness with
which their minds clear. Is remarkable"
A French woman. in charge of the casino YES
~fro ar Wis vhe 8 for hes
unfortunates, said: '-The more they send. the
better we like We for all. with the
help OF our friends, the Americans And the faster
they send them back, though their coming fast
unquestionably taxes resources to the utmost.
the more QuieAly win France get hack her own
people,