A JOYOUS CHANCE FROM THE OLD DESOLATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10100, 14 October 1918, Page 5

A JOYOUS CHANCE FROM THE OLD DESOLATION

Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. Mr Philip Gibbs writes :—• • { The earlier reports of the damage caused by the explosion at OambraJ prove to be" exaggerated". The fresh damage is not extensive. The British.have now taken for 'the first time undestroyed villages, after,. gravelling a 40-mile belt in. which'hot a'sihgle'house remains intact. '".'. Beyond Villers-Outreaux we found clean country, ploughed fields, and smooth roads. ,—,,— --■~- •,---.■ The inhabitants still in ..the. shops and houses try to give utterance to their inexpressible gratitude for their deliverance. W» found 500 civiliaas in Sevigny, ithoughiall the males between 16 and 60 had been deported. They told how the Germans stole everything valuable from the farms and houses, even curtains and linen. They killed the fowls, or fined the owners if tho fowls had not produced enough eggs. The Germans requisitioned milk, butter, and vegetables, and even took lard and fats from the International Belief Committee's stores. .-■ ■-■•:, ,-.,■• The Germans ordered the inhabitants to flee at the British, approach, but the people took refuge in the cellars while the Germans looted the houses and smashed the furniture. A priest at Scvigny statos that he saw bombs affixed to the church on Tuesday, but he crept out at night .and.cut the wires, and the church waj„ salvedl "•"■"•'■'*' •••■■■■•;••/