OCR Text |
Show REFUGEES IN AN AWR1PLIGHT Paris, Sept. l. ii 37, p m. Mrs. Herman H. Harjes, wife of the Paris banker, who with other American women has been deeply Interested In relief work, today visited the north railroad station and was shocked by the sights she saw among the Belgian Belgi-an refugees. "The station," said Mrs. Hnrje. "presented "pre-sented the aspect of a shambles It was the saddest sight I ever saw It Is impossible to believe the tortures and cruelties the poor unfortunates had undergone "I saw many boys win both their hands cut off so that it was impossible impossi-ble for them to carry a gun. Everywhere Every-where was filth and utter desolation The helpless little babies, lying on the cold, wet cement floor and cry ing for proper nourishment, was enough to bring hot tears to any mo ther's eyes "Mothers were vainly besieging tho authorities for milk or soup. A mother with twelve children said: 'What is to become of us? It seems Impossible to suffer more. I saw my husband bound to a lamp post. He-was He-was gagged and being tortured by bayonets When I tried to intercede in his behalf I was knocked sense less with a rifle. I never saw him again "The work which the Red Cross la doing is excellent, but unfortunately It has not sufficient members to cope with the situation. Also its equipment equip-ment is poor. I saw babies beln bathed in dishpans in cold water, no hot water being available Dr. Andre An-dre Collin, who Is In charge of the relief work, is almost worshiped by the people, owing to his untiring efforts ef-forts in their behalf. "I am told that the French authorities authori-ties are doing all that is possible to relieve the misery, but the funds at their command are insufficient I, with the help of a policeman, took as much coffee and bread and provisions as an automobile would hold into the station, and was greeted as a fairy godmother." 1 rvn |