The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-16
RECONSTRUCTION ON
BIG BATTlEF|ElDS

New York. May 1s.--Twefve villages
| on the battleflelds of ateau-Thierry.
where United States soldiers ana
marines won undying fame by stopp-
ing the German drive on Paris at its
spearhead early last summer. have
been adopted for reconstruction
work by the American Methodist
Episcopal church. it was announced
today by the Methodist Centenary
committee. Supplies will sail from
New York in the now-famous Metho-
dist mission ship, which leaves short
ly.
For the tire being. Methodist
churches in the CnateauThierry reg
ION will devote none OF their efforts
10 evangel!sfic propaganda but viii
concentrate on physical and moral re-
construction, II is said
Bouresches Naux and lie Thoilet,
names which will always live in Amer
lean history, are three OF the towns
entrusted to the American churches
by special arrange ment with the per-
feet of the department of the Aisne,
and NJ Lehrun. minister of the liber-
ated territory in the French cabinet.
The others are Fonneil, Mont dc Bon
neil Mont de Bonueil Azy. Norentel.
Finceiles. Monneaux. Montcourt. Crozy
and, Aulnois. ..---
The towns are in a district bordered
on the north nv Realleau Wood,
changed by the valor of the sca-fght-
ers of the United States Second divs
ion 10 Bots de Ia Brigade dc Marines
fMarines brigade Woodl. Tho dis
trict is Just northwest and west OF
Chateau -Th.erry.
The city Of rhatcau- THEORY itself
Is not in the Methodist reconstruction
territory, Dat VII serve as headauar-
ters for the Methodist workers.
An elaborate community center will
he built in ChateauThi by the
NethodlSts This is an independent
project. however. the physical reha hi
litation Of the city being entrusted
10 other forces.
The announce mont OF tho Methodist
plans was made by Or. Ernest w
BFsshe for ton years superintendent
Of Methodist n isaions in France. on
his arrival here from Paris.
For the presen: we arc co-aperat-
ing with the American Red Cross and
the French government" said Or
Bysshe "Our work crs are already on
tho field and are in touch with the
villa gers, Supplies are being distri
huted by our force, ,....,. ,.......-...
I'm order 70 gst the work started
quickly. we arc for the moment using
French government motor trucks and
drawing our supplies from BED Cross
ware houses.
We are sending our own supplies
however from ihe-lrnited States in
the Methodist mission ship which
VIII sail soon. 1t will bear essential
articles for certain districts in France
ITALY and tho Balkans, as announced
sometime ago
For the Chateau Thierry district
the relief ship will carry clothing
kitchen utensils. nloughs, harrows.
horse rakes and ether farm machin-
cry. seeds and small tractors. Prob
ably no food VIII he taken in the
cargo as this is now supplied satisfac-
torily. We NAV take a few choice
cattle to help restock the region which
is destitute Of livestock.
While the Methodist churches have
this work in hand they will for the
time being devote none of their efforts
| here Ia evangeiistic nropa ganda but
VIII concentrate on physical and moral
reconstruction We wish 10 sec these
people again in clean and comfortable
homes We wish to sec their family
and community life normal again We
VIII try 10 supply them with sane and
wholesome amuse vents"