South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-29
FRENCH ARE URGED
TO REBUILD TOWNS
IN STRICKEN AREA
Newspaper Writer Says Peo-
pie Must Do Own Share
of Reconstruction Work.

PARIS. MARCH 2s.-M Binet-
Talmer, a widely known Partisan
newspaper writer. has undertaken
q campaign to demonstrate 20 the
I'rench people that they cannot ez-
pect Americans 10 contribute funds
Tor the relcnstruction OF the devas-
tated areas OF northern France un-
less the French people themselves
take the initiative.
The American people are inspired
by real friendship for us." he writes
in Ia Ilberte. and this friendship
does not rest on any political base
We must make this friendship grow.
We can do so by showing that we
SIRE ready 20 do our share in re-
uuiiding the ruined towns and viz
lagos
81 Rinet-Nalmcr quotes from a.
letter from resident OF the village Of
Lehaucourt. which was situated
night on the Hindenburg line and
was practically wiped out IN the
last month OF the war. ". Binet-
\almer's correspondent says:
Cases Cited.
. "T do hope that the selfish towns
which have not helped up 10 now
hear your call, and that the shame
IF their Indifference may lead them
al TO adopt as 'nleuf a poor de
1astated village ] am now finish
ing studies started before the war
st the Central school and am by
this fact kept away from my towns
men, who have just given me the
post OF municipal councillor. 10
would be a JOY for me 20 find a god
mother for my village. LehacOurt
s. q small town with 800 inhabitants
$3.50 Of which has just come back,
and is situated q few miles from
Iaint-Q Quentin, on tho canal which
was formerly part OF the linden
burg line This village is entirely
destroyed and its inhabitants are
Obliged 10 live ia huts.
NJ. Bent-Nalmer then quotes a
letter from resident of HayTe.
showinl what the people of that city
cid for the villages they adopted.
lie SAYS.
From December. 1915. Havre
residents decided on the formation
OF "a society called Havre's Help 20
the Devastated Regions The sub
sCriptiou gave remarkable results
the city itself gave n sum Of 100000
francs, and 1-c were soon able u
have "a fund OF over 500 600 francs.
The committee DESTROYS OF helping
MS soon as possible, sent three dele
gates 20 the district OF Pds-dc-Calais
and tho Sommc. After an inspection
of the region between Peronne and
ems our delegates, In January
1919. selected three villages stu
ated between ATniens and PcrOnne
which we adopted
Results Enumerated.
vii
81 the work done. I'm Bayonvillers
sc houses have been definitely re-
built by workmen which number
between 90 and 50 men: sixty wag-
ous Of material OF ali kinds have
been sent from Uavrc and other
producing centres. and the village
which mad zoo inhabitants before
the war now has 500 inhabitants.
Normal life is now in fun run. In
I.amottc- en-Santerre and in War
fIsee. seventeen wood houses have
been erected. each with double
walls and two or three rooms with
a cellar. and these have been given
, 60 the farmers. Besides, twelve big
sheds have been attributed TO the
workmen. There is also a school
with a flat for the teacher and a
church with lodging for the Curate.
ON the other hand. with the gcner-
GUS aid Of the society Bon Cite,
Iavre has been able TO distribute
lots OF furniture 90 the families
most in need. Books have been
given 20 the schools. an kinds OF
clothing have been distributed, cloth
has been sold at a low cost, TOYS
and useful presents given at Christ
mas our subscriptions are now up
To 900 GEO francs, which have been
entirely spent and well spent. for
the reconstruction of "a couptry. And
the subscription is still working
What has been done by Havre
could be done by every town OF
France. and each district uf Paris
could adopt a group of two or three
Villages