WAIFS OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 283, 19 August 1918, Page 2

WAIFS OF WAR

(By lUllcman Patrick Macgill.) ' "We who have journeyed many thousands of ihilca across tho «ea to France, know that it is our duty not only to fight for the home and tho' little ones of tho generations to come, but also to see that the littlo tots of to-day, who havo been deprived of the loving comfort find euro of parents, are given a"etart in life. Some of us have children at home, others havo little brothers and sisters. We dceire in their names to contribute our mito towards making the life of 6ome littlo orphan at least a bit happier. While wo realiso that nothing we can do can compensate for the loss of parents, wo feel that in helping some boy or girl to tret a start in life we are but doing our duty. Please adopt for ns somo child that your committee thinks will not be chosen by anyone else. If possible pick us out a little girl, as all of us realiso that a girl has more to contend with in life than a W. and if the littlo lady has no name, pleaso cull her Miss Aero-Columba."

This is a letter recently received.by the "Stars and Stripes," from a 6quadron of tho American Air Service in Franco, tho men of which desire to adopt a French orphan,, and pay for ite keep and schooling for a year.

'!')•<! "k>tars and Stripes" is the official newspaper of tho American Expeditionary Force, and it is published in Paris. Shortly after it was founded it started a echemo for the adoption of war orpuans, by companies, groups, or detachments of tho A.E.E Tho children had either to be orphans, homokss waifs from tho invaded districts, or children of French soldiers 60 seriously crippled in war that they wore unable to work for their offspring. The adopting'unit could select a. child from any of these classes by contributing 500 francs for its support. Two hundred a n<l fifty francs had-to he paid upon adoption, and tho remainder within four months' time. All the money contnbutwl would go to tho child, and the expenses of administration woiuti bu by the American Eed Cross, which wbuld" also determine tho disposal of tho child, aim'see to its welfare and education. It would be sent to a pTactical agricultural or trade school, or supported in some French family. A photograph and history of each child would be eent to its' adopting unit, which would be advisod of tLo child's whereabouts and informed once a month of its progress. This proposal- of tim . "Stars and Stripes" is meeting with great success. The soldiors of America were quick to respond, and in two weeks' limo they Imu adopted as proteges 38 French children whoso fathers had been killed or permanently disabled in war.

From overy corner of France and from nearly every. organisation tame reassuring responses, applications for boys and girls, for a Pierre and a Eeno a Margerite,- and a Yyette from tots driven irom Homo by tho invasion of Iho Bocho. It is the desire of tho noble-hearted boys in khaki that the children be sent to school, and somo suggest that the ohildien be taken to the States when the war is at an end and given an American education.

All branches of the Service are contributing—infantrymen, aviators, machinegunners and artillerymen.- AH are willing to do fiieir share towards bettering tho lifo of the little ones who havo suffered by tho war. The plan has brought .a touching response from American sailors. Here is a letter received by the '•Stars and Stripes" a few days ago:— "We, members of a repair division on an American vessel, wisii to donato 500 lianc9 for the support of a French war orpmin. . . . Can you arrange eo that we can get a boy above five years of age and have him live either at — or — fio that wti can see him occasionally."

This homely appeal brings bacK memories of Kentiwky and The Luck of Hoaring Camp, but let us hope that the ending of this little romance of war will be far, far different from that of the story of Bret llarte. Tho scheme i.s becoming a great success, and the American soldiers are responding generously. Tho unit which lias niiopted two wail's holds its head very high, and hairdly deigns to look at tho unit which lias adopted only ono. But the detachment without an orphan or waif is nowhere. Jt is entirely out of accord with the principle for which it has come across u thousand miles of 6ea to fight —the preservation of the home.