Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-07-12
OUR BOYS ABROAD
RAID CANDY SHOPS
But ''SammieS" Give Gold
In Exchange For Sweets.
A FOUNTAIN Pen ARMY"

Articles Carried In the Blouse Jack
cts of the Americans-Yankees Warm
Up to Canadians-NaSal Officers In
White Take Eye of Fair Parisiennes.
The demand for candy is strong in
France from the American troops, but
it has been met satisfactorily, al
though the boys judge the prices high
The beer they generally condemn, not
for its quality only. but for its warmth
Don't seem much Of a place." was
the comment, followed by the anxious
query, "Can we have better time In
PARISH"
Money changing involves mental
anxiety, but 5 francs are offered as the
equivalent of dollar by the shopkeep
ers and readily accepted. 1t surprised
the French to be told that these Amer.
leans still were paid In gold.
France began to recognize the value
of athletics a few years before the
war, which confirmed their Importance
1t is possible the new American allies
will provide France with long felt
want In pOpular1zlng baseball.
"A Fountain Pen Army"
at is fountain pen army" chaffed
a Frenchman as he noted the number
of those articles that the Americans
carried In their blouse pockets and
seemed to be part of their equipment.
Il am an Old man for the army
said corporal, answering a query or
what motive brought him to France
'but have come to help wipe kaisers
off the earth"
The American camp in France is
splendidly situated on high ground and
has been built within the month. II
is lighted by electricity and has fine
water supply. The Y. NJ. G. A., which
has installed tent at the landing
place, viii open large hut soon. The
camp has taken on an American at.
mosphere
1t failed in no respect to meet the
requirements Of the overfowing tide
Of newcomers. 1t supplies picture post
cards in large numbers and there is
an American bar" but American In
name only. Ice cream soda is sought
in vain.
An old looking French territorial who
Is on sentry duty along the docks, his
hair grayed By three long years OF
service, beamed on the Americans
doubtless thinking his days of labor
were now drawing to a close. The
women smile and feel their hearts
lighter as they watch this fine pledge
of the sister democracy's aid
In the arrival of the troops children
chased pennies that the American boys
threw among them from crowded decks
as the ships passed along the Quays
and rejoiced over every band as 1,
headed its regiment, for it is seldom
that bands are heard now in France.
Chum at Once With Allies.
The fraterniZation of the Americans
with the English, Canadians, Austral
ians and French is remarkable, and the
new arrivals are being received every
where with open arms and open hearts
Last month nearly all the British
troops not having near relatives in the
British isles have been coming to Paris
on leave, and so the newly landed
Americans find plenty of comrades able
to speak their common language.
The Yankees warmed up particularly
to the Canadians, among whom are
many Americans, but the greatest sur
prise came at the way the French Off
GERS and poilus fraternize with theil
new allies. The warmest feeling exists
between the French and British soldiers
and officers, of course, but when they
first met three years ago as allies they
were too busy fighting for their lives
to spend much time in friendly inter
course.
The Americans, however, are landing
just at the time when the allies have the
Germans ION the hip" and the French
are throwing off their clannishness tc
welcome the Yankee tars and marines
affectionately.
Another factor is that after. three
years contact with the British nearly
every French person knows few words
Of English-hello, cheero, good luck an6
similar eXpregs;ons-and they are using
them overtime on the Americans.
Paris Women Charmed.
The appearance of American naval
officers in white duck summer uniforms
in the smart Paris restaurants causes
gasps of astonished delight, especially
among the fair Parisiennes, who admire
the chic, cool appearance of the officers
Since the arrival of the Americans
the police have had to wink at the law
and restaurants, as it is impossible tC
prevent the sailors, marines and regu
lars from gathering in quartets and
teaching the Canadians and Australians
the newest ragtime airs direct from
America