New Britain herald., 1917-11-02
ad1WV1Al< NC"S BOYS IN FRANCE
 WANT GOOD SMOKES Local Men Cover There" Write to That Effect
 SHOULD HAVE THEM, roo

That Is the Opinion of Citizens, Many
 of Whom Have Suggested That Part
 of the Tobacco Fund Be Used to
 Provide cigarettes and Tobacco.
 Why not use part of the tobacco fund to buy smokes for Plainville boys who are in France? This is question which is being asked by res- 1dents of the town who, through let ters written by local young men who were first to step foot on the shores of sunny France. have become fully &C., quainted with the part that good American cigarettes and tobacco play Ill relieving the monotony of camp life and in bringing cheer to those Who will be the first to go lover the top."
 Letters written to mothers and friends by those who responded to the call to the colors and, consequently. were the first to be sent across, por- tray that tobacco-especially Ameri- can tobacco-is almost a necessity in the life of the average soldier. When not engaged in military tactics and during hours of rest, the boys write that they automatically seek the pleasure which a pipe or cigarette fur n1shes. Further, they state that American tobacco and cigarettes are scarce; in fact, they say that they are a luxury. Each letter tells of the poor quality of the French product which has to serve in place of the American weeds which the boys had become &C., customed to. The boys write that they would do almost anything for & can of good old American tobacco or a box of cigarettes made in the United States.
 At present there are almost as many enlisted men from Plainville in France as there are drafted men sta toned at the cantonment at Aver. There are fully twenty men who, at the time of enlistment or formerly, were residents of this town and are now somewhere in France" These men will be the first to, receive the intensive trainingNthat all men get prior. to being sent into active service. They will be the first to endure the hardships offered by life in tho trenches. They will be the first United States troops to go lover the top" for democracy. They will, be- yond a doubt, be the first Plainville boys to help in the battle against auto cracy. They, no doubt, will give a good account of. themselves.
 For these reasons, citizens state. every possible comfort should be pro- vided for them. They need good American tobacco as much as any thing at the present time. The gov ernment provides them with clothing and food commodities, but not tobac- co and cigarettes.
 At present Plainville has a tobacco fund. Through dances and various activities the Plainville Hose company succeeded in raising over $10O for the fund, of which Fire Chief. Norton IS the custodian. The fund was raised with the purpose of providing smokes for the drafted men only, as far as can be learned.
 Inasmuch as the drafted men are stationed at Aver, which is only a comparatively short distance from the town and can be reached in the course of a few hours, either by train or auto, and the men themselves are in easy access of their friends and rela- lives who wish to visit them, resi- dents of the town are of the opinion that something should be done for the boys who are now in far-away France.
 In letters home, the local boys state that they would also appreciate an American newspaper. The newspa- pers which are furnished to them Are