The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-13
FRANCE RECLAIMS
CHILDREN DRIVEN
AWAY HUN
Thousands of PitifuI Repatri-
ateS Are Aided by Repre-
SentatiVeS of Belgian Relief
Commission.

EVAN, France, Dec. 10. Correspond
ence Of the Associated Press.)-The re-
turn to France of the women, children
and old men who were sent out OF ma
partof France occupied by Germans for
more thar four years presented piutul
spectacles. Many OF these refugees
were little tots whose fathers and
mothers had been taken away by the
cruel boche to work in or pc
hind the fighting lines. other we're
twice daily the affecting scenes of
their return were enacted here when
the trains bringing them through
Switzerland brought 500 to ZOO repatri-
ates back to the beloved soil of France.
With them were Belgtans 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, representative Of the
Belgian relief commission stationed
here, and by Mrs. Rowland, his wife.
Describing the scene Of the return
of a trainload of refugees, Mr.. How
land writes:
Slowly the long line came toward
us, the old and the young about equally
divided-alas, but few Of middle age,
would not let them go. While few
showed traces of actual restitution, we
knew that but a small number pos
sessed more than the clothes they wore
and what the handbags and bundles
they carried contained,
Faces Are Worn.
They were not emaciated, but their
faces were worm, sometimes anemic,
How could they be otherwise after the
years of constant suffering and con-
tinued horrors they had endured, with
no hope of release before them but vic
tory for the allies, or perchance the
good fortune to be enrolled in one of
these little bands Of repatriates,
Now and again someone would rush
out from the sidewalk to greet a rela-
tive or friend recognized after years
of absence. But though such instances
were rare. they served to buoy up the
hopes of the rest that perhaps farther
along they, too, would be as fortunate.
1.-TWO short rests were made that the
seemingly countless children might be
able to keep up, Brave little tots they
were, holding close to their mothers,
If they had them, or if not to those
who had befriended them on the way.
for many were orphans, or had had
their parents taken away by the Ger
mans to work, perhaps hundreds Of
miles from their homes.
Inside the great rooms of the casino
long lines of tables set for supper filled
almost the entire space. "As the re-
patriates filed in, women showed them
to their seats, while others distributed
| AiiASi ~ iA"6o u JSeAS anu oAh
alike-the flag that once more they
might wave freely.
Strangers Are Fed.
Bowls Of soup, slices of good bread,
hot well-cooked meat and glasses Of
red wine still further cheered tSe hearts
Of the strangers, so that when the or
chestra in its gallery began to play
~well-known and cherished French airs
airs that had not been heard before
in all these long years-tears streamed
down the cheeks of many and of look
ers-on as well, while hands and voices
proclaimed their keen delight.
mo men did we see between IA and
so unless they were palpably i'll or
crippled, and comparatively few women
who had not long since passed their
prime. Mothers had been separated
from sons and daughters dragged off
by the boche to work in factories and
mines, even on Notifications to be used
against their own kin.
The feast was nearing its end when
the subprefect mounted the rostrum
was silence. He dwelt upon Frances
love for her people, her sorrow for
their sufferings.
His words had hardly ceased when
the band struck up the Marseillaise
The old, the young, the halt, the blind
sprang to their feet, trying their best
to join in the refrain, but frequently
prevented by sheer nervous exhaustion.
Sobs could be heard and the faces OF
most Of the women and Of many of
the men were hidden in the handker-
chiefs with which they wiped away
their tears Of Joy"