Evening star., 1940-06-21
Hordes Of Wanderer!
Find Food , but
Little Shelter
Good Weather Aids
Migration; Absence
OF Panic Noticeable
BY M. w. FODOR,

BY M. w. FODOR,
Chicago Daily News Foreisn Correspondent
LISBON, June 17-Delayed) u
have just cleared out of Southwest
ern France, in that area around
Bordeaux where, in an ailnleSs
search for havens of safety, 5000 0OC
war refugees, both French and Bel.
gian, have converged in a frenzied
hegira from the battle zones.
1t was one of the most pathetic
dramas Of modern history, drama
of terror-driven migration before
Nazi fury.
In the days before my departure
an unbroken, constant flow of evac.
uees came toward Bordeaux BY
automobile and train, cycle and cart
Automobiles generally were packed
with luggage, fore and aft ano
above; children were seated atop
valises while mum" drove the car
On the car roofs were usually two
mattresses and some kind of cover
a good precautionary measure in
view of the great difficulty of OBJ
tanning shelters in any manner OF
form.
Weather Is Kind.
Warm weather in recent days, for
tunately, made it easier for these
hordes of refugees to spend their
nights in the open or under make
shift roofs o. IN sheds.
Those arriving by rail were packed
In compartments like sardines. Adults
carried suitcases while children
dragged smaller luggage or canary
cages. Despite the hot weather
many Parisiennes wore elegant fur
coats which they salvaged. 1t was
also strange to see lines of svelte
fur-coated women carrying heavy
grips in each hand. Cyclists as a
rule carried only one small brief
case and had a red blanket slung
over their shoulders.
AS this human flux poured into
the cities of Southern France the
problems Of the French authorities
increased. 1t had become impossible
to provide shelter for this unexpected
horde of 100000 stricken refugees.
Fortunately food at least was still
plentiful in Southern France, al
though there was some shortage in
beef and sugar. Weather refugees
could eat four and five course meals,
while their less fortunate opposites
received bread, sausage and fruit
by the Red Cross and other charity
organizations.
One Night of Horror.
Yet the hardships of these un-
fortunate people were heartrending
Sometimes it took them three or
four days of travelling in trains
overf1owing with humanity to reach
Southern France.
Mingling among the refugees,
personally underwent one night of
the horror which the refugees had
to face somewhere in Southern
France. We were waiting for an
express train from the north already
IA hours overdue. Crowded in the
station, the sleepy, hungry crowd of
refugees waited patiently. The
platform was thick with humans
sprawled over their household
effects.
Suddenly, at l am, an afraid
siren pierced the stiffness of the
night. The station lights were eX-
tinguished. Children in terror drew
closer to their mothers. A tense,
deadly silence shrouded the station.
Three sharp whistles of a passing
locomotive brought a shudder of
fright into the huddled shadows.
Children started to cry. Dogs be-
gan to bark. Overhead planes
droned and we expected shower of
bombs. But none fell, and the roar
Ing planes passed overhead.
Crowd Suffers No Panic.
The alarm lasted for a full hour.
Then the lights were switched on
again, easing the terror. Yet, while
the lights were out, there was no
movement of panic among the refu-
gees. admired the discipline and
quiet behavior of the crowds await
Ing disaster. Many took the Incl
dent in their stride, casting it off
with Gallo shrug of the shoulders.
Later, young mannequin In
my crowded compartment laughed
grimly. Il was told by the author
tiles to proceed Immediately to
Biarritz famous French resort on
the Bay of Biscay)," she told me,
''but I never could afford it before. "
At one dreary station our train
stopped to unload a grim looking
group of armament workers from
the now occupied NUM-
tions plants in Northern France.
Their failure to understand the i'm
portance of speeding up arms pro-
duction was probably partially re-
sponslble for the disaster facing
their country. Now they are here
themselves as refugees, carrying only
a small handbag, gas mask and a
tin helmet.
(Copyrirht 1910 Chicago naily Nsvs Inr \