Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-07-03
Billy Montigny, France,
Nh % 1910

Billy Montigny, France,
May 20, 1919.
| This is my first day in this place,
which has become my home after leav-
ing Rouen. II is in the very heart of
the devastated area in France. All
around you see wanton destruction
and deSolate wreckage of the beautiful
homes in the cities and country Of this
section so rich in France, that appealed
to the greed of the Germans. This town
Of Billy Montigny before the war was a
place of 1000. Now a few scores Of
persons live in the place. Just three
miles west of us is the famous mining
town of Lens, so rich in coal deposits.
Before the war il claimed a popula-
ton of more than 10000. Yesterday
passed through this large city twice,
and have not yet been able to notice
a single house standing untouched OF
all the large and beautiful buildings.
Nine-tenths of the houses are razed TO
the ground. In America our houses
are mostly built of wood, so that after
a fire or explosion the remnants can
easily be removed. However, the diff
fculty becomes infinitely greater in
the case of stone and brick, of which
almost all the dwellings in France are
constructed. In France like the city
of Lens the fallen walls and rough ma
terials of the houses are ineXtricably
scattered over the ground, occupying
space just as completely as so much
snow. However this rubbish material
cannot be removed either by melting
or burning, but remains probably for
years as immovable obstruction, making
the land useless either for cultiva-
ton or for the construction OF new
buildings.
One OF my first thoughts in seeing
this invaded land was that | could not
have believed the loss and damage TO
the land and property was one-tenth
what it actually was without seeing il
without my own eyes. The Germans
mere so painstaking and extravagant
in ammunition in shelling 10 the
ground isolated farm houses that were
Of no military advantage to the Allies.
In some places like the city Of Arras.
which have visited, the German
gunners from twenty and thirty miles
away dropped huge amount Of shells
into the city and in many cases scored
direct hits. The people are very slow
in returning to their homes in cities
and country. There is not feed from
the land or income for them, even IL
they are willing to occupy one OF the
little huts abandoned by the soldiers.
For this reason in some spots some
rich land is not being planted in grain,
because there is nobody living here to
attend to the work We wonder how
many years il will take the French peo-
pie to return to healthy agricultural
and industrial life in these regions. A
very long time, il they do not bestir
themselves more rapidly than they now
do II is very sad to see them going
around with their bedding on their
arms and very little TO eat. Out in
the country this afternoon, at little
house where stopped in riding my
bicycle for a bit to eat, said TO lady
that she was greatly favored during the
war, since her house was not damaged,
but at once she took me back to the
! rear rooms, where the shells had fallen
through the ceiling. believe that the
money demanded by the Allies from
the Germans was most modest in
amount, since they inflicted such huge
financial losses upon northern France
and Belgium.
During the last two days have rid
den probably rs miles through this
area to Chinese camps. They sent me
here from Paris, as far as possible, to
establish canteens and start daily pro-
grams in seven camps for $500
Chinese laborers. hope that in few
weeks they may give me an automobile
for otherwise il will be impossible to
carry daily programs in the camps
separated so many miles. You can't
transport gramaphones and moving
picture machines on your bicycle. The
strenuous life in the open-air is splen-
did for my health, and seems to present
a great opportunity for helping the
Chinese.
hope TO get back TO China some
time after Christmas, il possible be-
fore the opening Of the winter term
in February Of the Taichew school. /
am very anxious TO get back to this
work. DR.. Price writes me that they
have been bitterly prosecuted BY the
literati and officials, who have attempt
ed to drive them of and rob them Of
some OF their land. We are handling
the matter through the American
consul in Nanking and hope to make
the Chinese hold themselves within
their rights.
Billy Montigny, France,