Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-22
FRENCH CIVILIAN LIFE
HAS BECOME SLAVERY
Oppressed People Back OF German
Lines Arc Hedgcd In by
Many Restrictions.
SOLDIERS OVERSEE THE WORK
Force Peasants to Labor, and When
Produce Is Ready for Harvest it
Is lscquisitiUncd by tho Military
Authorities.
nv Associated rrcxs.l


FRENCH FRONT. April 2i.-Life
among the French civilians behind the
German lines in the occupied depart
ncnts OF France has become almost
slavery. Tho oppressed people have to
submit TO restrictions dcpriving them
Of all the usual amenities OF human
existence. Details of tho tcrrorizinE
process introduced by tho Germans.
which is daily becoming moro severe.
haNc reached tho correspondent of tho
Associated Press from number Of
centcrs whore the German army holds
possession
According to some OF these communi-
cations, cvcrybody-that is to say. men,
women aud Childrcn--is forced to work
FOR the German conquerors. especially
in the country districts and towns
near tho front. One young woman
and she is only one among many-tclls
how she was made to fell trees in the
forest OF Saint Gobain. which was I'M
der constant; Eunfre. while in the
same vicinity all the supply columns
for the troops in the most dangerous
parts OF the line were formed OF French
civilians.
In the neiShborhood OF Cambria all
agricultural work is carried out by
the peasants under the surveillance OF
German soldiers. and when the produce
- Ilb' ~ 10 All Dy the
military authorities. The factories in
the city itself have been robbed of
their machinery, with the result that
large numbers OF workers have been
reduced 10 semistarvation and consc-
Cucrt sickness AZ tho end OF 1917
there were still 1000 inhabitants in the
city. all OF whom were compelled TO
take refuge in the cellars,
In mos. parts OF the country the
spanish Dutch relief which has taken
the place OF the American Relief Com
mission goes on normally. but il is as
serted that the German authorities
manage TO obtain possession of por-
ton OK the provisions. In Lille the
prices o. food arc cNtrcmcl" high. and
ihc population. already Impoverished.
has great trouble TO obtain food. EGGS
cost them 50 cents apiece. meat is
from SEQ TO SO a pound when IL is
available. shoes arc so a pair, cloth
costs SIG "A yard, and there Is no beer.
milk or soap 10 be had. while coal Is
distributed a; the rate OF afty-s.x
':ounds per head OF the popul>tion per
month at tho price OF So cents "A pound,
or $40 per ton of 1000 pounds.
In CharleviDc matters are even
worse. The people have not had any
fresh meat for two and "A half-ycars
and for other provisions they have to
rely on the relief committee, which
names Il distribution twice Il week.
Each person is given in the course OF
every fortnight; the following articles:
half n pound OF bacon. hal: a pound OF
lard. half u pound OF salt meat, half
pound OF haricots, four-Gfths Of
pound OF salt, sometimes "A fifth OF a
pound Of coffee. two ftths OF pound
OF biscuit flour, quarter OF a pound
OF sugar" and small quantities of corn
residue. Besides these things each
person receives once A month a can o.
condensed milk. In the stores coffee
costs abou; 81 pound, sugar nearly
s.. chocolate nearly 81. The sale Of
potatoes is forbidden.
Nearly all the men work for the
Germans. who forbid them TO leave
their houses before in the morning
and they must return b. in the
evening.
Al Domain French prisoners have
Been employed in the destruction OF
the factories. from which all the ma
chinery has been taken and sen; 20
Germany. while at st. Quentin all the
statues have been taken down and
specialists from Germany have removed
everything OF value from the basilica
Even children OF school age most
o! whom have not mad the opportunity
10 20 10 school three years, are made
to work along the roads and in the
forests.