A MILLION REFUGEES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3032, 20 March 1917, Page 6

A MILLION REFUGEES

HOW FRANCE CABES FOB THEiI.

Mr. Henry Wood, the correspondent of the United Press of America, says that France has solved the problem of looking after nearly 1,000,000 war' refugees in a remarkable mariner. The bulk of these homeless victims of the war come from the invaded and occupied districts,of France, but many of thorn are Belgians and Serbians. As far as possible the refugees have' be«n grouped , into little colonic or cities in. which they enjoy a sort of munici-pal-life of their own. France's army barracks- have been adapted to ; this end. Most of them are empty, as. the entire Frerien Army is at the front. In: the province of which Nancy is the capital there are-30,000 refugees, and each barracks represents a little city providing homes now for about 5000 war victims. The' , authorities guarded against. the separation •of families, and l even of neighbours and residents of tho same towns and villages. For instance, a. visitor will now , find all the residents of the same village grouped on the same floor, each family being allotted one or two rooms. Tho bulk ,of tho refugees are women and children, and schools have been established for tho latter. A epecial feature of these are the classes in manual training for boys over twelve. They are taught a practical trade, and the pupils are already making the chairs, tables, desks, and other articles of furniture with which to refurnish their homes and schools as soon as the armies of France have redeemed them from the enemy's occupation. There is a course in domestio economy for girls over 12, and the earnings from the sewing classes can be used to buyjittle personal luxuries and comforts. It is not obligatory for the adults,-but the children must take their meals in the municipal dining rooms, 'where the teachers, matrons, and others in charge can watch them, and restrain any little breaches of discipline or good breeding. A common social room serves for the aged grandmothers to work and talk together. They ore a bravo lot, nearly all with grandsons, if not also with sons, at the front. The organisation *ef each refugees' city includes vast municipal kitchens and hospitals and entertainment halls where moving pictures and so on are given several times in the week. .