The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-07-18
FRENCH CAPITAL
DOES NOT WORRY
THOUGH PARIS is BOMBARDED
NIGHT AND DAY PEOPLE
REMAIN CALM
REOCROSS AMOy.M.C.A.H ElPREFUCEES
Noncombatants Of Five Nations Rem
dered Homeless And Driven Like
Cattle by Ruthless Germans
BY H. c. EVANS
Copyright 1879

Paris-Gay Paree! Her streets are
thronged with mere fragments of men
and black-veiled m Thousands of
refugees stream into the city from
the battlefelds. Just yOnder to the
north, from a point about as distant
as Newton is from Des Moines, we
hear the sullen roar Of mighty guns
as they burl their death messengers
in quest of young lives.
All the day long comes the thud,
thud of shells from long distance
guns as they strike cement pavement
or stone wall. Every night the air
is vocal with the uncanny screech of
sirene whistles announcing the ap-
proach of flying boche, followed by the
terrific barrage of French guns that
border the city. Soon the rattle
snake b-r-r-r of the machines over
head, and from the streets is seen the
spectacular battle of aerial navies.
At 6 o'clock last evening a Y. NJ. c.
A. secretary stopped his car in front
of our hotel. He had driven the
eighty kilometers from the front in
an hour. He brought the news that
the Germans had reached the Marine!
While he was telling his thrilling
story a shell from a big gun struck
a church three blocks away, exploded
and shook the ground beneath us as
a dog shakes a rat.
Walking to the scene of the explo-
sion | passed a cafe where a huLdred
men and women were dining, gaily
chatting as if nothing unusual had
happened. AS we stood looking at
the demolished masonry, a smiling
courtesan solicited a group of y. NJ.
c.. A. men.
Later in the evening when the whis-
ties sounded the alarm, | went to the
streets. When the Hun airplanes
cross the allied lines at night in the
direction of Paris, notice is telephon-
ed to the city. All the way back
there are listening posts and as the
flyers approach the city their course
is reported and the whistles are
blown.
Thus notice is given in time for the
people to get off the streets and UNI
der cover. Comparatively few, how
ever, seek other refuge than their
own homes, a store or doorway. The
safest places are the subways and
thousands crowd therein. In every
block there are Embellishments
designated as safe places.
Into these places go people from the
streets and others who live in the
immediate vicinities. l visited sever
al such places. Always room is made
for the American. Two ladies, seat
ed in the window of a basement, in
vited the Monsieur Americana" to
share their seat. There were about
one hundred in this cellar. There was
no apparent fear. They talked and
laughed and later SANG the "Marseil-
laise." 1t reminded one of the stories
of Girondist meetings in secret, dark
places of this same city during the
French revolution. Many people re-
main on the streets watching the
bursting of shells in the air and the
long beams of searchlight sweeping
across the sky. The barrage IS
thrown into the air and over the city
from all sides and from guns stationed
in the heart of the city.
The noise is terrific. One car read
lily distinguish between the noise of
the guns and the explosion Of a bomb
when it strikes the earth. Never be-
fore have / heard such an Internal
noise as these explosions make. Had
General Sherman W. heard it be
would have apologized to hell. 1t
rocks the very ground on which the
city stands. 1t is not just one explo.
sion that ends as suddenly as it &C.
ours. There is a continuous explo-
sion lasting several seconds. tearing
the air with shrieks of hate against
all that is fair and beautiful. 1t Is
the voice of the Hun arousing women
and children of Paris from their mid
night slumbers, protesting against the
peace and quiet of the home. empha-
sizing the brutal philosophy of fright
fulness.
It is the midnight marauder who
strikes in the dark, the incendiary
coward who applies the torch and
run away.
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