The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-11-21
RETURNING OVER
PATHS OF MISERY
Repatriated War Prisoners,
Hungry and Tattered Ar
rive in Paris Day and
Night.
OLD MEN OF II YEARS
Red Cross Workers Take Charge OF
Exhausted Men Who are
Picked Up on the
Road.
[By Fred S. Ferguson. United Press
Staff Correspondent

Staff Correspondent
PARIS, Nov 21.-The Care De
LEST is temple of mingled Joy and
sorrow.
Repatriated war prisoners, hungry
and tattered, are arriving there day
and night.
An American mother lowered on
the edge of the crowd today, hoping
to find some libeated American who
could tell of her aviator son who was
taken prisoner. None of the few
Americans arriving knew of him. The
mother continued waiting and watch
ing.
|. Two Of the, Americans who ar
rived today formerly were caddies
for a Buffalo golf club. They are
mere boys, but they have the appear
ance now OF middle aged men.
| French and American Red Cross
units are working day and night to
aid the prisoners. They also are
caring for great numbers OF civilian
refugees.
/ Among the latter were two boys
of II, who had been prisoners for
| four years. One had a Boche helmet
1 he had carried about with him FOR
two years. The returning prisoners
mostly are French. They are attired
in nondescript garb, garnered, it
would seem, from all the armies OF
the world Some had German over
coats, American hats and French and
British tunics and trousers, or any
other kind obtainable. Upon their
arrival in Paris they are all given a
hot meal. American Red Cross work
ers distribute wooden socks and un'
derwear among them, and furnish ali
with cigarettes.
Only the strongest are able to
reach the city. After walking scores
of miles and sleeping in the open
many collapsed before they were me,
by the advancing allies and sent
back by motor trucks or train.
i The American committee for de
vastated France sends out rolling
kitchens along the front to meet the
prisoners on the roads and aid then
in reaching the armies OF occupa
ton.
some of the prisoners are coming
by way of Belgium, others by wa!
of Verdun or through Lorraine ano
/ Alsace. All these roads are paths
of misery.
Want Names Of Prisoners.
TBy Carl D. Groat, United Press stan
i Correspondent
i WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-The wal
DEPARTMENT has cabled General Persh
ing, ordering him to send quickly
names Of incoming prisoners with
statement of their condition.
The message should have reachec
Pershing yesterday or Tuesday, bu
I'D to this forenoon he made no re
sponse. While awaiting this infor
nation the state department Will dt
nothing by way Of following ENG
lands course-notifying Germany she
can expect no food relief while pris
oners are badly treated.
War department authorities were
somewhat apprehensive today owe
the possible condition of returning
, American prisoners in view of revel
ations about British prisoners.
. Press reports indicate that man,
british have been freed without foo'
, and in impaired physical shape.
, The war department. has made al
rangements for systematic handlln
of prisoners reports here and expect
soon to inform the nation Of Its pla1
for keeping relatives in this countr
posted as to prisoners. The syster
, will be comprehensive, it was state
to give the fullest publicity in tn
o,,i ol-oct time