OCR Text |
Show LIBERATED TOWNS IN GALA ATTIRE Old Men, Women and Children Chil-dren Celebrate Freedom From German Rule. GRAPHIC STORIES TOLD Reign of Terror Preceded Departure De-parture of Their Enemies Homes Destroyed. BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN FRANCE, March 25, via London, March 26. 7 a. m. (From staff correspondent corre-spondent of the Associated Press.) The shattered French towns evacuated by the German celebrated today their first Sunday of liberty in two and a half years. It was a brave showing I they made. Countless French flags 1 fluttered in the sunshine from both ; ruined and half ruined homes and the women, old men and children who had passed through such a long ordeal of captivity strolled through the uptorn streets dressed in the best clothes they 1 could muster. The unconquerable French genius for dress revealed itself even in such pathetic bits of finery ! as the women could find Natives' Graphic Stories. Here and there groups of the "Poi-lus" "Poi-lus" gathered to listen to the graphic stories of the natives concerning their experiences under German rule. The villagers dwelt particularly on the time of terror which immediately preceded the departure of their enmles. All ci-1 ci-1 ilians were horded in certain buildings from which they heard explosions and ' saw the fires which testified that their ' little homes were bein.c: destrood. The i towns where the' inhabitants of the re- I gion were destroyed. The towns where the inhabitants of the region were concentrated con-centrated by the Germans were only half razed- while the outlying village? i were completely burned down. In this I I way about half of a town was spared . I to about ten villages completely de-' de-' stroyed. French Peasants Return. M Despite the devastation and ruin, many French peasants returned today 1 to the sites of their former homes, - seeking temporary shelters and bring-' bring-' ing bits of furniture with which to be- ; gin life anew. They were not down-I down-I cast, but cheerful, and almost gay in j the enjoyment of their new liberty. M In Roye a triumphal arch was con- Btructed of evergreens and lavishly j decorated with trl-colored flags. In - the distance could be heard the rever 5 berating echoes of the big guns, but tj the ceaseless booming was ignored by the people in the liberated zone, who - seemed to think that the war must be I over. |