Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-02-22
The War Babies Of France.

The following was called forth by
an article In the Register and Laao
or OF November 4th bearing the title
How France Is Meeting the Terri
BILE Problem of 'Boche' Babies"
The world-war Is accenting every
problem with which civilization ha 5
to deal Old problems are new in
their magnitude. Many methods TO
dealing with these problems are con-
stantly suggested and countless are
the men and women who are consci-
entiously attempting to help in solv-
ing them for the common good and
in practical way.
Princess Mura, French woman
who has lost her youngest son in the
cause of France and democracy, a
woman Of wealth, position and high
character, Is president of the organ
ization in France known as "Oeuvre
de Protection de Entrance dams les
Regions Liberees' She has given
her chateau for the housing and
feeding of orphans, among them the
"Boche" babies. The newspaper ar
ticle above mentioned purports to
quote her statements as to the work
and relying upon its authenticity,
ones who cannot speak for them
selves.
There are little babies who can
not pillow their heads on a mothers
breast, and there are mothers with
empty arms. / feel that this crime
can be prevented through moulding
OF public sentiment.
Princess Murat says the French
1n1 w will To fp1r
back their wives, whose honor has
been defiled, but will not even con-
slider accepting the baby born of a
German father. At first thought,
one thinks. generous husbands, in
deed; what man could endure a
child whose presence would be a
constant reminder of such desecra-
ton of his home?" On second thot
one concludes, male selfishness," A
husband comes home crippled, mu-
tilated and diseased. possibly repul-
sive in form and feature he finds
his wife waiting with open arms
anxious to comfort and care for him
But supposing this wife, true and
tender, has suffered the violence of
brute force and carries a "Boche"
baby beneath her heart or in her
arms, this same husband refuses to
accept this mark of the war upon
his wife and compels her to choose
between him and her mother love
What American mother, IL really
frank, will not admit that she al
ways thinks of her children as "all'
hers, not half hers and half her hus-
bands? Cali 1t female selfishness il
you will, she has paid the price and
to her they are all her own. Prin-
cess Murat says they arrange that
the mothers can keep track of their
children and even come to see them.
This statement shows that some of
the mothers have been parted from
their babies against their wills and
want them.
She says, too, that they place
them in private families and pay for
their support. Why cannot the
French husband accept his wife with
the result of her martyrdom just as
she accepts him whose body may be
constant reminder of all he has
sufferer and endured? None could
remunerate this foster father as
willingly as it does other foster
homes. In this country the pension
ing of widowed mothers has proven
that the state can better care for it's
charges in the real home than in
asylums.
Princess Murat says they want to
save these babies for France because
France has great need of babies and
that they are to grow up French AMI
feel that France belongs to them
She tells Americans that in giving
money for this undertaking. they
will be helping to save France her
most precious possession-the next
generation. II France sincerely
wishes to save these "Boche" babies
as French and calls them part of
her most precious possession, she
must not permit them to be packed
in boxes like little chickens" and
sent to Princess Murat's Chateau as
tiny babies. The mortality will be
terrific Each should be led from it's
own mothers breast and accepted
with the mother by the French
father just as she accepts him with
all his scars.
Princess Murat says the children
seem in some strange way to know
their tragedy and some baby souls
look forth from eyes that shoulder
as with some remembered horror
Will God forgive France If she takes
advantage of their helpless condi-
ton? In times of peace there are
laws governing legitimacy. The
child itself should be no more a
problem now than then. These ba-
bies are better than the usual lille
ultimate since one parent only in
stead of both, sinned. They have
already suffered the most distorting
prenatal influences. Shall they now
suffer loss of mother as we'll as faith
err? France must demand real homes
for these little waits. mothers
heart and arms. The Princess says
their origin is to be obscured There
can be no better method than to | 1t
them win their way to a place in
the home they have invaded. Babies
make people love them and these
French fathers and mothers will
soon be won by the babies them
serves.
Will the committee which ans
wered the cry of the soldier-hus-
band" hear also the equally blame
less child? A sentiment can be Gre
ated that will cause these French
peasants to feel 1t a duty to rear