Evening star., 1940-06-12
Bedragg|ed Groups
On Way South Pack
Railway Station
Thousands Of Americans
Remain in Spite Of
Embassy Warnings
By the Associated Pres.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS, June 12.-"Gay Paree"
was a half-empty shell today, quiet
itself as the sound of battle reached
its streets.
Instead Of the fashionable tour
lists and other customers usually ar
irving at this time of year to patron
lie world-famed dressmakers and
milliners, refugees were arriving in
droves from battle-torn Northern
France.
The dressmakers themselves had
packed up and left. The Govern
ment was gone and the newspapers
were gone Subway trains were run
ming, but in restricted numbers.
Taxis were rare. Some food shops
were open, but most closed
Automobiles were streaming out
of the capital packed with civilians.
Others wishing to leave hoped for
restoration of train service. Poorer
people walked. Most people who
had transportation of any sort had
gone.
Refugees Crowd Station.
Electricity, water and gas were
still available, but not a light
burned in the streets at night.
Platforms of the Care ST. Lazare,
where boat trains from de luxe
liners usually are unloading aris-
tocratic passengers at this time of
year. were crowded today with
bedraggled groups of refugees in
flight from German-invaded Nor
mandy.
Many came part way on foot from
Beauvais, Compeigne and Creil,
towns in region about so miles to
the north where the Germans are
now operating. Many of these were
mothers carrying babies and small
children in their arms. The family
groups carried all the clothing and
household furnishings they could
manage.
Hot, hungry and thirsty in the
June heat, they waited for trans
portation to points still farther
from the battle which followed
them. They we're huddled in little
groups, usually augmented by some
kind of dog.
They sat on suitcaSeS in the midst
of potato sacks stuffed with cloth
ing and baby carriages piled high
with bedding and baskets filled with
kitchenWare and foodstuEs. There
were sick, wounded and palayzed on
stretchers.
Woman Walks SO miles.
Among the travellers forced afoot
was a woman with a 1-year-old
child who had walked from Beau
vais to Meulan 80 miles before she
could get on train for Paris.
Another woman with her six chill
dren walked 20 miles from Com
piegne to take train at a station
which she found blown up when
she got there. No trains we're run
ming, but she succeeded in getting
q lift by automobile to Paris.
Other refugees from the north
came in two-Wheeled peasant carts
drawn by horses in tandem, the lit
tie families sitting atop their house
hold furnishings. Many came by
bicycle. Others walked. pushing
ahead Of them baby carriages and
wheelbarroWs loaded with their
household goods.
Most of these refugees were SIM
ply making their way through Paris
to go farther southwark.
Thousands of Americans Remain.
1t was estimated several thou
sand Americans still remained in
Paris despite repeated warnings by
their Embassy to get out. Among
those remaining was United States
Ambassador William C. Bullitt,
although part of his staff went with
the government to Tours.
Many of the fashionable refugees
from Paris went to BiarritZ, and
with them were many of the famed
dressmaker and millinery establish
ments, practically all of which closed
their Paris salons.
Schiaparelli. Molyneux, Lanvin,
Paquin and Helm are closing here
and opening at Biarritz. Patou has
had a Biarritz branch for several
months and is transferring her Paris
staff there. Worth and Balenciaga
are among the dressmakers closed
here and not reopening elsewhere