The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1914-12-04
WAR SIDELIGHTS
ARE INTERESTING
FRENCH PEOPLE NOW SHOW NO
OLD SPIRIT OF JOY, BUT HAVE
BECOME GRAVE
Touch of Comedy in Grim Reality
United Press London Correspondent
Gives His Observations
By p. M. SARLE

Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
LONDON, Nov. 17.-(By mail to New
York 1.-Two women of the peasant
class waited outside the Projects Of
flee in Paris The elder went in, re-
turning presently with a set look on
her worn face.
els it we'll with Jean?' asked the
younger woman eagerly.
Yes, it is WELL
"And with Henri and Paul?"
eyes, all is well with them. They
are all with God. l am glad to have
been their mother"
This is one of the memories brought
back by Mrs. Neave, wife of a British
army officer, who has just returned
from a journey through France. THE
French are changed nation she de-
clares. "They have become altogether
serious. No one smiles in France now
There are no jokes and no rejoicing
even over victory. Every third wom-
an is in black, and people stand about
the streets in groups listening while
madame tells how her husband was
killed.
"One touch of comedy which would
have made me rock with laughter at
ordinary times, Il encountered at
Lyons Some fifty German prisoners
had just arrived from the front, and
hands in their trousers pockets. l re-
marked on this to an Official and he
replied in a matter-of-fact way: "Oh,
yes. They tried to escape, so we took
away their suspenders. That is why
they have their hands in their pockets. =
"The prisoners we're in rags or in
old garments which the French seem
to have given them. | was astonished
that there was no demonstration. Two
small boys spat at them, but they were
told to stop.
"a troop, of soldiers were leaving
Lyons that day. Fine looking fellows
they were, all we'll over forty, but they
presented a curious appearance, for
each man had a large fiat cake of bread
strapped across his breast and bot
tie of water From Lyons to Paris is
one vast camp, and We travelled in zig
gag fashion, picking up soldiers here
and there.
AT one siding trainload of British
wounded arrived from scissors. 1t was
greetings with the French.
Good bye, men," said d Scott. Bon
replied a Frenchman. The
pointed to his wounded leg,
and said, Yes, souvenir de scissors. .
British recruits are now being given
the opportunity of learning French and
German before going to the front
Special classes have been organized
for the London Territorials at the
Duke of York's Schools and the Royal
Sanitary Institute. Out of $50 men
over 500 volunteers to take lessons
after their days drill. The young
Mems Christian association expects
soon to provide teachers in 300 camps
the United Kingdom.
Teachers are being supplied by the
Emergency Corps, and Of
icers' wives, schoolmasters, and uni
tersity lecturers are also giving their
lelp. :
An example of the patriotism and
,agerness ito be in it, of the high
officers of the army and navy for
whom no commands can be found is
,iven by the official announcement that
Admiral Sir Alfred Paget and Vice
ADMIRAL J. Startin have been placed
N the retired list at their own re-
Iuests, and simultaneously appointed
commander and lieut-commander re-
pectively, in the Royal Naval reserve.
/ week ago Admiral Paget was within
en- places of the top of the active list
i adm1rdlS, ana Oldrlll HdiHe CdHiS
ext after Admiral Sir John Jellicoe.
here were no commands open, how
yer. and rather than be left out in the
old they preferred to accept junior
ank in the R. N. R. Paget now ranks
fter 437 commanders, and Startin af-
er the commanders and 725 lieuten-
in point of seniority |
hey are thus qualified for the COM
1and of two of gunboats performing /
he unpleasant and dangerous duty of |
the North sea and British
casts.
"All italians regret that diplom-
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