Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-04
P|T|ABlE SIGHTS
With the Return to
Homes of French
Driven Out by Their
Hun OppressOrs

Evian. France. Nov. 15.-(Corres-
pondence)-The return to France Of
| the women. children and old men who
! were sent out Of that part of France
occupied by Germans for more than
four years, presented pitiful spec
taclcs. Many Of these refugees were
little tots whose fathers and mothers
| had been taken away by the cruel
Eoche to work in Germany or behind
| the fighting lines. Others were or
phans.
, Twice daily the affecting scenes Of
! their return were enacted here when
| the trains bringing them through
! Switzerland brought 600 to 700 re-
! patriates back to the beloved soil of
France. With them We're Belgians
who came from parts of Belgium then
occupied by the Hun. Much was done
to relieve the sufferings of these poor
| people by S. S. Rowland, represent
alive of the Belgian Relief Commits
sion stationed here. and by Mrs.
Rowland. his wife.
Describing the scene of the return
| Of trainload of refugees, Mr.. How
| land writes:
SLOWLY, the long line came towards
| US, the old and the young about
! equally divided-alas. but few Of mid
| die age, for ths Germans had use for
such and would not let them go.
While few showed traces Of actual
restitution, we knew that but a small
number possessed more than the
clothes they wore and what the hand
bags and bundles they carried con-
tanned.
They were not emaciated, but
their faces we're worn, sometimes an
emic. How could they he otherwise
after the years Of constant suffering
and continued horrors they had en-
dured, with no hope Of release before
them. but victory for the Allies. or
perchance the good fortune to be en-
rolled in one of these little bands Df
repatries.
Now and again someone would
rush out from the sidewalk to greet
4 relative or friend recognized after
wears of absence. But though such
instances were rare, they served t.
buoy up the hopes Of the rest that
perhaps farther along they. too. won't
be as fortunate.
1.-TWO short rests were made that
the seemingly countless children
might be able to keep up Brave lit
tie tots they were. holding close 10
their mothers. il they had them. or
IL not to those who had befriendcd
them on the way. for many were or
phans, or had had their parents eak-
en- away by the Germans to work.
Perhaps. hundreds OF miles from
their homes.
Upside thc great rooms Of the Ca
per f,iIed almost the entire space. As
the repartries filed in. women show
ed them to their seats, while others
distributed small! French flags TO
young and old alike--the flag that
once more they might wave freely.
"Bo@ls of soup, slices Of good bread.
hot. well-ccoked meat and glasses of
red wine still further cheered the
hearts OF the stranger, so that when
the orchestra in it's gallery began to
play well-known and cherished
French airs-airs that had not been
hoard before in all theoe long years
tears streamed down the checks of
many. and OF 'lookers-on as wei.
vhile hands and voices proclaimed
their keen delight.
mo man did we see between u
and 60 unless they were palpably Ill
or crippled. and comparatively few
women who had not long since pass
ed their prime. Mothers had been
separated from SONS. and daughters
dragged of by the Boche TO work IN
factories and mines. even on FORTH
fications to be used against their own
Kin.
1.-THE feast was nearing its end
whsf, the SUBJ Prefect mounted the
rostrum and began to speak. Instant
~ there was silence. He dweit upon
Frances love for her people, her sor-
row for their su6ertn8s.
His words had hardly ceased when