"C'EST LA GUERRE!"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 278, 13 August 1918, Page 6

"C'EST LA GUERRE!"

CHEERFUL FRENCH CIVILIANS IN THE HORRORS OF THE HUN ADVANCE Some idea of tho bravery and cheerfulness of the French in 'the face of German barbarity is to be gained from a lettjr received in Wellington recently from a yoilng French civilian by Sergeant A. E. Caddick, of the New Zealand Medical Corps. The writer, a lad of al>out 17 years of age, had, when Sergeant Caddick first met him in December, 1910, and January, 1917, but one ambition in life—to join the .French Army and light 'cc 3 sales Boches." With his chum, Sergeant O. Bramwell, Sergeant Caddick was billeted for about six weeks at tho lad's house, and he says it was impossible sufficiently to appreciate the warm-hearted reception which lie and Sergeant Bramwell received, and tho hos-' pitality lavished on them by the young fellow's relatives,- particularly by the lad and his aunt. "I can speak only in tho -highest terms of our reception everywhere," says Sergeant Caddick, "whether in the .Department of the Somme, in the Pas do Calais, or in the Nord. Three families stand out particularly for the warm welcome given to,us—one in shellriven Armentieres, a family which has had more than its share of suffering since August, 1911; .a second'in the little village of Allery, where we stayed for a week during our 'trek to the Somme; and the third in Estaires, the family of tho lad whose letter I quote below. '.Ihese aro not all; but they will suffice. Liko nearly all the people of Estaires, «ny friend and his people had to flee from their township during tho Hun advance early this year. The. translation of the latter,is practically literal; and I should like people especially to note that simple, yet. wonderful, phrase with wliich crucified France almost invariably meets her dreadful troubles—'C'est la guerre!' ("it is the war!"). Who, having known France in her days of travail, could help loving her and her wonderful people?" , The letter received by Sergeant Caddick Teads as follows *. —

"Rennes, June 16, 1918. "Your last letter was still addressed to Estaires, because at the time of writing yon did not know of the dirty trick the Boches played on us on April 18 last. Since that time very many things have happened, and in this letter I want to tell you a few of these event?. > • Estaires Bombarded. "Tho Germans, commenced to bombard our town on ilarch 18, 1918. The first ehells fell in the Rue du College, right by the casualty clearing station (No, 1 Australian C.C.S.). Eight two of whom were tiny little boys, were killed. My-young brother, who was in the college at the time, managed t<A escape. I found him four hours later wandering about in the fields, hatlcss, bootless, wc<rn out by the fatigue ho had endured, and much distressed in mind. C'est la, guerre! Following this we had eight' days' quiet—no shells, no bombs; but we lost nothing by waiting. Once again the Huns commenced their 'music.' The first shells fell in la Grande Rue (the main street in Estaires). Tlioy fell on the town major's office, killing 20 Tommies—but not the town major. Two Trench women were also killed. Then ojir part of the town caught it. Somo shells fall very close to, Madame F's house, and some on tho wharf (a small plank arrangement on the bank of tho Ly6). Eight Portuguese who were about to unload some coal, were all killed. Two shells fell on the estaminet, right opposite oiir house. Two days later -wo had 'la danse finale'—and then, tho exodus. "Towards . 4 o'clock one morning, the Huns began to drop shells indiscriminately and. unceasingly all over the town. Then we said to ourselves: 'It is impossible to remain here. It' is better to go away than to let ourselves be killed.' .By this time Madame Fs house, and those adjoining it, were completely demolished. The Town Hall was on fire, and the church was smashed to pieces; so that we had to walk over the ruins. Just as we left Estaires wo heard a terrific explosion. It was the English' blowing -up the bridge to check the advance of the enemy. We arrived at tho station of Strazeelo' at about 9 a.m. There we were to take train to tho coast. We were bombarded all along the road— at Nenf Benjuin and at Vieitx Berquin. In addition, the .German airmen flew very low over all the roads and machinegunned the streams of refugees. At tho ; Strazeele station we met many other civilians who had 1 also abandoned Estaires. A few had passed our house after we had left. They told me that my aunt's house, whero you were billeted, was burnt to the ground- My father's house across the la Gorgue Bridge was demolished, and our workshop was blown | to This was all we could learn o{ our quarter—nothing else, as by this time the Boches were in Merville and were approaching Strazeele itself. Tho Portuguese saved themselves like rabbits, more quickly than the civilians. Wo saved nothing, except two or three boxes of linen, which my aunt had sent to Fruges. As for myself, I managed to get away with my badges and my cameras. That was all I saved—not even a pair of breeches, not a 6hirt, not even a stocking—C'est la guerre! My aunt went to Fruges with my uncle, and afterwards to Ronen. But at Rouen the Gofehns dropped some bombs, two of which fell into tho yard of their house. Then they left Rouen for a small township on the Lower Seine. Let us hope that they will be safe there, and not have to become refugees again. I stayed for 15 days with my parents at Calais, and then wo were told to go to Rennes, where we are to-day. I am working again as I did at our own home, and so we are content even in our distress."