GRIM CONDITIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 23, 7 November 1940, Page 5

GRIM CONDITIONS.

REFUGEES IN FRANCE.

PROSPECTS FOR THE WINTER.

LONDON,* November 5,

Grim light- is thrown on conditions in France by an article in the .Swedish newspaper “Dagens Nyheteiy”. which says the official French figure of refugees in unoccupied territory only includes those registered and supported by the Government.

There are also large numbers of refugees trying to support themselves and unregistered. They struggle against inhuman difficulties. The biggest refugee centre is Toulouse, where during recent months from 10,000,000 to 12,000,000 refugees have passed through. At present the population of Toulouse is still 900,000 instead of the pre-war figure of 250,000. Thus all indispensable goods such as food,\ medicine, clqthes, and bed sheets are terribly scarce. The harvest was bad and communications are very difficult. French, Swedish, and other relief committees try to find work for the refugees. Toulouse expects to have at least 70,000 refugees to support this winter, among them 10,000 women and children. Committees are organising entertainment, schools and education. All nationalities are represented among the refugees: French, German, Polish, Belgian, . Czech and Jewish. Half an hour’s travelling from Toulouse. the State has organised camp shelters for 500 jyomen, and a . number of others are expected shortly. In Lyons them are about 12,000 people who were evacuated or expelled from Alsace and -Lorraine.

A- difficult proble;n also . .is to find work, clothing, food and spiritual assistance for 22,000 Paris girls, . aged from 14 to 18, who are unable to support themselves.—British Official Wireless. '