Evening star., 1939-09-24
Watches Calm in Crisis
Mrs. Tourover, Hadassah Officer,
Even Helps Dig Trench in Europe

Digging trenches, witnessing
French mobilization and departure
Of troops for the front and later,
In London, watching evacuation of
thousands Of schoolchildren for the
country were but few of the inter-
esting experiences described by Mrs.
Raphael Tourover of 1912 Thirtieth
street NV, after her return last
week from a six weeks sojourn in
Europe.
Mrs. Tourover. who is president Of
the eastern seaboard region of
Hadassah, went to Geneva in August
to attend the World Zionist Congress,
later going to Paris. where she ar
rived during the critical days of
mobilization prior to declaration of
war. Lack of hysteria or excitement
among the usually emotional French
people was remarkable. said Mrs.
Tourover, who attributed the calm
and order which prevailed to the
fact that for months the nation had
expected war
It had the feeling she said. that
when war came it was more or less
Of a relief to the people who had
lived for months in a state of un-
certainty"
Most Parisians able to do so have
moved into the country, she said.
and 1t was while visiting friends at
their chateau 40 miles from Paris
that Mrs. Tourover assisted In dig
ging trenches.
"The mayor of the little town
nearby sent word to my host that
shelter must be provided in case
of air raids" she said. my friend
offered his grounds and that after
noon about 20 workmen arrived
when every one else is working,
somehow you feel as though you
would like to work. too," she smiled,
80 we all got shovels and helped
the men dig the shelters about the
chateau. Refreshments were served
late in the afternoon and we made
quite a party of it."
Mrs. Tourover visited two camps
for Jewish refugee children in Paris,
which, she stated. were entirely ade-
quate and we'll directed.
Trenches In London, where she
went after visiting Paris. are so we'll
built and so elaborately planned
that 5000 years from now. Mrs.
Tourover believes, people coming
across the trenches will probably
think they were early catacombs.
"The morale of the Londoners was
amazing" she added. Like Paris,
there was no excitement or emotion
and every one has accepted condi-
tions cheerfully and in spirit Of
cooperation"
A gas mask and a card with regu-
lations for cooperation in case OF
an air raid we're given to Mrs. Tour
over upon her arrival at her Lon
don hotel. Every one must accept
the gas mask before he Is permit
ted to register" she said.
Some of her friends were among
the parents of children sent from
London, Mrs. Tourover said. Again,
It was remarkable to see the order
and lack of hysteria," she added.
There were 100000 children sent
into the country within four days
and they went without crying or
complaints, just as though they
were going of to summer camp"
Mrs. Tourover gave an interesting
description of the balloon barrage
over London. Thousands Of large
inflated balloons have been foated
about 600 feet above the entire Lon
don area" she explained. Long
wires are suspended from the ball
looms, which, upon signal Of an air
raid, will be released to height of
5000 to 5000 feet. The mesh Of
dangling wires will form barricade
to ward off enemy planes"
At the Congress in Geneva, Mrs.
Tourover met Zionist delegates from
almost every part of Europe, as well
es other parts of the world, includ-
ing South Africa. ga .-..
The feeling at the congress was
that . common cause existed for all
the Jewish people," she said. "Al-