Close upon all this a terror and fear seemed to grip the people of Paris, and with it thousands left by auto, bicycle or foot, while at the same time thousands who had no conveyances filled the Railroad Stations attempting to leave southward or westward: of these only a few were able to leave Paris, and the remaining, after living in the railroad stations, sleeping on the floors and eating out of their lunch boxes for three, four and even six days, finally returned to their homes. Most of us who resided in Paris and had no conveyance used better judgement and contended that mo matter what transpires, we would be far better off in our homes and apartments. This was proved when weeks and months later those who were fortunate enough to return to Paris related such tragic, heart-breaking experiences, such as being bombed by those monsters along the road, their car and all their belongings taken away, and wherever they went they were intentionally misdirected by Fifth Columnists who were ever with them, stealing, robbing and murdering these helpless people.
Then there came about three days before the Germans entered Paris. Everything that could turn a wheel had left or was leaving the city, while at the same time we could hear the distant roaring of cannons which became more and more audible as the hours wore on. Notwithstanding that the enemy was approaching, courage, confidence, hope and prayers were whispered everywhere that a miracle would save Paris and eventually France from these German gangsters who now were invading France for the fifth time.
Although we knew of the great danger that was fast approaching, the Parisian population was completely calm, and when Paris was declared an “open city” and we realised the German mechanized forces were actually pouring into Paris, it was as if death had completely enveloped this glorious city. The real loyal Frenchmen were grief-stricken beyond words, crushed and humiliated, and did not leave their homes for many days, and worse than all else, they seemed to have lost their faith in God. All they could utter was “God has forsaken us, we have no God”. This too was the reaction the Nazis wanted. We who were close to the French people did all in our power to comfort them in their darkest hours its history has ever known.
I should like to pay the highest tribute at my command to the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts of France for their noble, heroic and courageous work, acts and deeds. I saw them perform day and night in Paris during the perilous days when Holland and Belgian refugees were pouring into the city, and later the French refugees, and again with the evacuation of Paris. It was these boys and girls who all but took charge of that colossal work; each one a complete unit unto himself, silently working – work which neither the police nor the Red Cross could handle. It was they who directed the refugees where to get medical aid, or if it was an emergency, it was they who gave them first aid; it was they who could help revive a poor old man or women who fainted by the wayside; it was they who procured for them drink and something to eat; it was they who ran from house to house begging on foot or bicycle, for shoes and clothing, old sheets and food, and it was they who, when thousands of people stormed the railway stations, helped in a dozen ways, such as warming food for infants and helping the tired mothers with their children and baggage, and it is to them that thousands own their lives today in France.
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