American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-05-09

face had softened into a perpetual smile. Most
of his teeth were gone. Nine. Blanchard, also
very old, was more s%prightly. The old couple had
one joy in life besides being back home again after
four years as refugees. That joy was a big, sleek
white cat. They had a son in the army, and
while waiting for his return were patching up the
house and refurnishing it. OF the several hundred
people that had lived in Cutry, the Blanchards
were two of twenty-four that had returned.
They picked up pieces of timbers from she'll
struck houses for fuel. They worked by day patch
ing up their house and slept in the cave Mt night.
The American women of scissors kept an eye
on the old folks; brought some cigarettes for the
old man every now and then and saw to it that
they had food enough to keep them going.
1t was always n red letter day in Cutry when
the committees auto truck appeared loaded with
supplies. Driven by a typical American girl. the
little truck would swing briskly up the village
street, would take the hairpln turns leading up
the big hill toward the church and would draw up
with a flourish in front of the cave dwellings in
the old quarry. A big shrlll-toncd bell had been
mounted on n pole near the spot where the mer-
chandiSe with which the truck was loaded was to
be sold. The moment the young woman truck
driver rang. the bell "a refugees dropped their
tasks and came hurrledly up the street, anxious to
secure some badly needed goods. If they lacked
money and really needct' stuff no difficulty was
placed in the peasants Nay to secure the ma
terials. While the b%artering and exchanges went
on the young American woma', chartered French
with the peasants, eNCOilnHcu JtkeS ana generally
helped promote the gospel of .0od cheer.
Red Tape capsss Suffering.
So there were many bright spots such as this
through the G,OO0 square miles Of devastated
Franco. In all the ,avagcd terrItory-which will
hear the scars of war for generations-the job of
reconstruction was starting with all the atnoS-
pherc of a holiday, Notwithstanding the sinister
background Of disrupted roofs, %crumhling walls,
sheil-marked streets and ruined public buildings.
What did it matter that France had half Il mil
lion houses struck by shells, with q quarter of a
million reduced to rubbish heaps? The war was
over and the big task Of rebuilding was starting
with I'M impetus thar demonstrated the farmers
implicit faith in the future.
Two and n quarter billion dollars worth of
household goods in all France had been destroyed,
according to official estimates made soon after the
armtStice signing, when he first calculations in
dictated that Frances y damage for actual de-
struction of propcrty would amount to something
like thirteen billion dollars for everything. As
the stutlsticians check over their figures there will
probably be some alterations made on the grand
total of thirteen billions. At present that item
stands ms the probable loss in France, to property
In lands ovcrrun by the Germans.
Bleruncourt not far from scissors about 50
per cent destroyed, is just an item on the long
French indemnity bin against Germany. Here the
Germans had full sway until they were driven out
In the last few weeks Of the war. Now the French
families are beginning to get back into Bleun-
court and begin life over again.
One of the first to arrive was n French soldier
honorably discharged. lie was faced by terrible
difficulties. lie had nothing but his uniform, and
that had 20 be returned to the government. But
the government is startling Behind this soldier in
his problem of repairing Il war-damaged home and
fields. Tho French government is going to give
adequate aid for the whole period of reconstruc
tion: About 500 an acre for deserted fields. and a
mrge part OF necessary expenses for the time ant
work required for getting house and home TO
gether. But this money, ample as 1t will be wher
finally received. is not readily available. Forms
must be filed out. checked and approved, and 50
forth. before the money is actually paid. Tn,