Show I French Towns Celebrate I I j I First Sunday of Liberty By Associated Press BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN FRANCE March 25 Via London March The 21 The The shattered French I I towns evacuated by the Germans celebrated celebrated cel cel- their first Sunday of liberty In two and a half halt years It was a I brave showing they made Countless French flags fluttered in the sunshine sunshine sun sun- shine from both hoth ruined and half ruined hO and tho the women old men and children who had passed through such a long ordeal of oC captivity Captivity cap cap- strolled through the tho streets dressed in tho the best clothes they thoy could muster The unconquerable abl able French genius for dress revealed itself Itsel even in such pathetic bits of finery as the women could find Here Hare and there groups of the gathered to listen to Ufo the graphic stories of th the natives concerning concerning concerning con con- their experiences under German German German Ger Ger- man rule The Tho villagers magers dwelt particularly particularly par par- Y on the tho time timo o of terr terror r w which lIeh i I Immediately preceded tile the departure of their enemies All AU civilians were herded in iii certain buildings from which they heard explosions and sa saw the fires which testified that their little homes were being destroyed The towns where the inhabitants of or orthe the region were concentrated b by the Germans were only half razed while the outlying villages were completely complete complete- ly burned down In this way about half hal of of- ofa a town was spared to about ten villages completely destroyed Despite the devastation and ruin many French peasants returned today to I da day to the thc sites of their former homes seeking temporary shelters and bringIng bringing bringing bring bring- ing bits of furniture with which to begin life liCe anew They were not downcast but cheerful and almost gay In the tho enjoyment of their new lib lib lib- crt erty orty In Roe Roye a triumphal arch was lib lib-I I constructed of evergreens and la lavishly lavish lavish- vish- vish ly Decorated wi with h tricolors as a welcome welcome welcome wel wel- come cometo to the In the distance could be heard the reverberating echoes of or the big guns but the ceaseless booming was Ignored ignored ig Ig- Ig nored by the people In the liberated zone who seemed to think that the war must be over oer |