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Show whyWilians wereremoved German Officer i Explains Situation Sit-uation in Lille District and Reckless Destruction by British. Berlin, Aug. 18. By wireless to Sayvllle. A German officer who un- S rf 7,e,ntly, was an aId de camP in tho Lille district of northern France, has glvon the Overseas News Agency service an account of hlB experiences during the "removal of the civilian population from Lille," as it has been alluded to by the press in hostile countries. "The main reason for sending a part of the civilian population from Lille," the officer is quoted by the nows agency as saying, "was that the town was being furiously shelled by the British who do not show the regard for French cities that the French artillerymen do, their reckless destruction of French houses and monuments mon-uments being resented by the French civilians in Lille. Distribution of Food. In addition to this there has been much difficulty In the distribution of food in the congested districts of the city. Therefore, civilian from the densely populated workingmen's quarters quar-ters were sent away. By no means all civilians were sent; only those from the" quarters mentioned. "These civilians 'were not forced to leave, but were notified by proclamations proclama-tions of free labor awaiting thorn. The proclamations stated the wages that would be paid and gave assurance that food would be provided. Members of families were In no cases separated. separ-ated. "The journeying civilians were fed by a Spanish-American committee and eventually by the military authorities. They found lodgings prepared for them upon their arrival. They are doing a great work together with French farmers and German soldiers. Nobody has complained regarding the work or of insufficient food, but on all sides it is agreed that the open air life has had the best of effect upon the factory hands coming from tho crowded city" nn |