Salt Lake Tribune | 1918-10-20 | Page 35 | Peasants of France Returning to Homes

PEASANTS OF FRANCE RETURNING TO HOMES Those in the Chateau Thierry, Who Were Driven Out by Germans, Are Flocking Back. By FRED J. BOLLMEYER, Universal Service Staff Correspondent. PARIS, Oct. 1:). French peasants are returning to their homes in the Chateau Th ierry sector from which they fled so precipitately when the Germans pushed over the Chemin-des-Dameii, swarmed across the valley of the Aisne and down to the Mame. They are going back to reclaim their homes which the Yankees helped save for them. When they received warning that the German drive was on in full force the peasants tarried only long enough to hide such of their valuables as they could not carry with them. Thfngs were hidden in all sorts of odd places; In chimneys, under old furniture, secret vaults, between the rafters in the attics, and much stuff was buried, the hiding places being marked in such a manner that only the members of the family could dig up the treasures with certainty. But, as far as the Americana were concerned, con-cerned, alj these precautions were unnecessary. unnec-essary. Everything that was loft In the open is being tour.d In its right place by tho returning peasants, who are confident confi-dent now that the Germans cannot drive them out again. In one little farmhouse where some Americana were quartered, an old woman, wom-an, upon returning to her home, first went to tbe kitchen. A soldier was cooking cook-ing the noon mess for a detachment and the room was filled with smoke. "Mon dieu! Hon dieu," she cried, as she rushed to the old-fashioned open fireplace. fire-place. "Look at the smoke. My treasure treas-ure is ruined!" The soldier cook apologized and asked where her treasure was hidden. "It Is up in between the. bricks of the chimney. It's a whole ham. And it Is a 'real treasure." So the soldier, not minding smoke, soot, and the heat, pulled the ham iron the chimney, finding it in good condition.