The Washington times., 1918-12-15
(conti1Ued from Last Sunday
CHAP TER, ".

mother Of pearl inaid table in what had been the
music room of my, chateau with military papers
laid out before him and the seetpped heels Of his
pagn boots dug firmly in the delicate parquet floor which
in other days trod upon except by softly shod
feet once explained to just what Germany meant by
those deporatons Of the young and the old from the in
vaded regions of France, the beginning of which de-
scribed on these pages last week
don't think even to-day, France itself fully under
stands Just what the plan behind that tearing away
from their homes and native SOIL from their wives moth
ers sweethearts and husbands of whole populations far
behind the battle front Various explanations Of
fered by Germany there much calculated Defense
justification of the cruelty, but Sergeant Traumann,
orderlycerk to General Boehm of the officers
who had heted himself in my chateau gave the real
reason.
Sergeant Traumann was not of the soldier class. He
had been a of consequence back in Germany.
He had belonged to the Landwehr and had been made
General Won Boehms clerk special consideration.
General Won Boehm the author of the Termonde
murders 1t fitting that heshould be placed in charge
of deporations in the Cambria district If any of the
German generals brought to trial for their Of
fenses General Boehm will be of them. Sergeant
Traumann merely the instrument for the drawing up
of the deportation orders He thoroughly Prussian
hence his steepped heels dug into the priceless parquet
foor-but he friendly.
'We are very sorry Madame for those who must
undergo the prvaOns of deportation the sergeant said
that morning when l asked him why such things
done But must teach your France lesson-in the
future all nations must shudder when they think of Ger
might
This the real reason, the sergeant said, why a
systematic campaign waged by General Boehm
to completely bleed the district My conversation with
the sergeant took place just after had pass along
the road in front Of my home long line of old and
women and children These refugees from the
towns to the north and at every village they joined
by others gathered up by the Germans No boys above
the age of fourteen girls above seventeen sent
Nor adults under fortyve years of age The Ger
figured that those between these ages might be of
physical value to France either soldiers workers.
At different centres, such Cambria, which only
few miles from chateau these refugees put into
cattle trains and shipped to the south, where they
detraned and sent in companies across the lines The
French had to permit them TO pass their lines and
enter France for the Germans simply sent them through
the German line toward the French and if they turned
back they shot
1--WE will not have to feed them any more, and they
will up the food in France which must take of
them" explained Sergeant Traumann. Generals
Boehm and Stenger have estimated that they gather
two hundred thousand persons from Doua to ST. Quentin
and get them into the hands of France Those who
able tS work must be made to their keep. When
victory is they will pass to future generations
their memory of what it means to thwart Germany.
For many weeks after this first column of exied refu
gees passed my house others came and heard of sm
lar along every road in that part Of invaded France
In little cottage house just across the road from me lived