The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-23
Chateau Thierry viii Always
Welcome Americans.
Two Hundred Inhabitants
Stayed When Germans Came.
LIVED IN CAVES AND CELLARS
Old Man Had Seen Germans
Take City Three Times.
First in 1870, Then in 1914 and
Finally This Year.
BY FRANK ]. TAYLOR.

Chateau Thierry. July % (night).-
"Ah, les Americans, they are fine
boys, brave. When we rebuild city It
will always be q home to Americans.
We will be proud to make them well
come" Thus spoke aged Leon Toi-
son, 4 councilman of Chateau Thierry.
who refused to leave the town when
the Germans captured it. Altho Toi-
son is 50 years old. he took charge Of
city affairs and assisted e-ery way
possible the two hundred" as the
survivors OF six weeks Of boche domi-
nation are known
interviewed Toison this afternoon.
He is a small man, slightly bent, but
vigorous and bright-eyed- We stood
among the battered ruins along the
main street. Not a building left stand
ing was inhabitable here. We were
behind a barricade erected by the
Germans who had used boxes. earth.
torn from the street.
Couldn't Bear to Leave
When the Germans were coming
we were advised to flee at once. hut
I couldn't bring myself to do it, said
Toison. I've seen Chateau Thierry
captured by the Germans three times
The first was in 1870. was wounded
during the fighting then. The next
was in 1914. the first invasion of this
war. The last was six weeks ago
Most of the others evacuated but
the two hundred decided to stay.
Many of the old folks would have been
unable to Ieays anyway. There were
about dozen children and few mid
die aged people. but most of US were
pretty old.
Lived In Caves.
During the 5ombardment, we lived
in caves and cellars without having
enough to eat and without knowing
where to get anything. We were
buoyed up by tn hope that Chateau
Thierry again would be French.
Meantime. our houses were crurs-
bling over US The Germans ordered
US to stay in our cellars except when
we were permitted to leave. Not hav-
ing sufficient food themselves. they
bring in vegetables from the fields be-
hind the German lines. Then the SOL
diers would come and take away prac-
tically all we brought IN"
Had No Bread
We had no bread. no fats, no
wines and were struggling to live on
the few vegetables the Germans left
US The Germans did not abuse US
except-by- taking everything they
" oAllC0 NALAlb0% pay AA4S q S4I-te SUI
and by carrying off everything they
farcied-
Il was unable to estimate the num-
Der Of Germans in Chateau Thierry.
owing to the restrictions, which did
not permit US to move about much
Everything was 'verboten,
Many of the older people were
feeble and sick The rest sought to as
sist them. but could not do much. thru
having no food. Finally we obtained
little of the Germans black bread. 1t
was as hard as wood.
1T was a miracle that all of Us
lived thru the six weeks of German
control, with shells bursting every
where. buildings tumbling down and
Germans, officers and men alike, TAX
ing our food.
Herded in Cathedral.
Finally. on Saturday evening, the
Germans ordered all the inhabitants
into the cathedral. We croUched there,
fearing a big shell might end US all.
We eveh anticipated being shot. since
the Germans continually are suspicious
out trembled for the children.
Early sunday morning our soldiers
arrived. We then got the first news
of Americans-their fighting, how
thew forced the Germans backward
When the Yanks Came.
When the first American soldiers
arrived everybody could not help going
wild and shaking hands with the fine
bows. We kissed them, too, for are
thew not our grandchildren also ?"