Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-09-04
FRENCH PEASANTS
 LACK WAR NEWS
People of France Know Less About War Than
 Citizens of U. $.

Paris, Sept 3.-During these eX- citing days, when the Germans are reported victorious along ,he north ern borders of France end the history of 1870 to greater or less extent is being re-enacted, the French peas- ants in the outlying departments are as ignorant of the situation, almost, as if they were in the heart of Africa. In the provinces there are no newspapers and no telegraphic com munication. The military is in SUI preme control. The peasants know nothing of the war, save for wild rumors that filter in from Paris, ana fregmentary information that comes i'll long delayed letters from the sold iers at the front. The interior or France, as far as news is concernr.-, has returned to the middle ages. The peasants are clamoring for authentic words of what is happening.
 So far the war officials have done nothlnS in answer to the rural pleas, save to discourage the pessimism of the alarmists who are spreading eX- aggerated reports of German suc- cesses in the north. The officials are all desirous that no attention shall be paid to the calamity howlers who are frightening people everywhere With their crazy stories of Germanys imminent entry into the capitol These alarmists have caused hundreds Of refugees to hurry into Paris from the north, and at tine same time have made many Parisians seek refuge elsewhere.
 No Papers Nor Wires.
 One rural vill" se in centra1 Franco IS typical of the situation everywhere Of the total population of 200, two- thirds were mobilzed and are now on the firing line. There are lpung- CTS Tn the sunny market place, but not the usual throng. There are now cnly the old men, old women and cripples. The young women and the boys are all in the fields, doing tho Harvest work that is usually done by the able-bodied men.
 The situation makes one realize. even more than in excited Paris, that ffance IS at war and her sons away al lhe front. Old danes knitting in the sun, ono-armed veterans of the war of 1S10-the village cracles- drop everything when a traveller comes through and crowd around him to learn the news.
 They have no newspapers, no tele- gram and no telephone. They are isolated. Even their letters, delay ed for many days, contain only few lines, that their writers were still alive when they were written. The men at the front know little more than those at home, save what hap pens in their immediate vicinity. The news that England is war shoulder With France against the Germans is not full certainty-only a hope-in the rural districts.
 The news given to Paris by the of flc1al bulletins is laconic enough but It does not get beyond Paris, save by word of mouth. All that the vii asers are apt ever to know of the history that is now in the making. will come when their sons come back alter the war, if any are left.
 Cash is Scarce.
 In one town it is reported that the hands of the village clock remain at the hour of five, though the works are still running and the chimes ring the correct hours. The mayor was authority for the story that the order to mobilize came at five o'clock and the patriotic old time piece refused 10 move its hands again until, a French victory should be reported.
 Everywhere one notices the extra nv.1t n IF
 the money stringency in the south was partly relieved by the action of Marseilles Chamber of Commerce. which issued S40o, eco in ten. twenty and fouty cent bills. Lyons is con templating similar issue. Some idea of how money IS being