The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-10-05
Tbeo. Ripping Informs Tri-
bune of Arrival in
France.
NO FOOD SHORTAGE,
BUT NO FOOD SURPLUS
Says American Transports Es-
capped Submarines-French
Welcome U. S. Soldiers.

rines by arriving before expected, AM
how Warmly the United States SCI
diers were and are still received il
France is told in letter written I,
The Tribune by Theodore Ripping,
son of Louis Ripping of the Cape. Tn'
young soldier joined the army as
volunteer together with several othe
Cape boys, and was a member of on
| of the first contingents of American
troops sent across the ocean.
In speaking of the gratitude extend
ed heartily to the United soldiers by
the French, young Ripping explain:
that the reception of the United States
forces in France is regarded as one
of the means by which the United
States can pay off a debt the country
is believed to owe France back from
the days Of the Revolutionary War.
No Indication of a food shortage is
found in France, says the young sol
der in his letter, but at the same
time no soldier has been forced to use
a stomach pump to remove any sur
plus food.
The sentiment of the French people
toward the American soldiers, he says,
is reflected in = letter which French
woman passed into the camp of -
American forces some time ago. "W".-
come to the American soldier. sand
the note, 1--WE pray for you TO have
much success, and a speedy vie;OE.."
The letter in full follows:
Somewhere in France, Sept. 6.
To The Tribune:
Dear Editor: You have probably
read in the newspapers of all the &c
counts telling how the American
forces beat the SUBS" and landed IN
France. You surely will not need a
lengthy letter to confirm the fact. If
the newspapers told it, you can he
sure that it vas all told. However, we
shall and VIII talk it over after me
smoke lifts. We are here now at any
rate. The French people are quietly,
patiently, and confidently waiting Tor
reimbursement of affairs. The Amer
leans are welcomed warmly and sin
cerely. l doubt if the French people
are seeing any severe privation. There
are no evidences. They are, of course,
learning personal efficiency in huge
doses. No corrective eating societies
in France. l was told that the mar
ket for stomach pumps is not brisk
at the present time. There seems to
be no question as to their getting food
at all times, and in sufficient quaint
ties, to exist. The supply is evidently
available at the present time. 1t is to
be hoped that Americans are respon-
sible for part of it.
There seems to be a debt incurred
back in Washington's time that hasn't
been paid; also it has accumulated
some interest. France has been a
madam takes the place of the bars
never pressed the loan; she is not
pressing it now, but she needs the
money Just the same. We ought TO
pay it to keep our credit good again
sometime. Also it is hard to pay blood
debt with money alone.
A letter was passed in by a French
lady several days ago. 1t is honey
English, but typical. 1t read, "Wel-
come to American soldiers, we pray
for you much success and a soon vic
tory. Our hearts and hands are yours.
A warm handshake we give you"
The French dwellings are very IN
teresting. There are three kinds Of
them: One built adjoining the side
walks. The interiors of these houses
can easily be observed from the street
for their Openings are quite low; an
other, the openings of which are built
higher from the walk and have iron
bars. Sometimes a huge, portly French
madam takes the plcae of the bars
and guards against sightseers while
she sights herself, which woman is of
course quite an effective barrier as
the iron bars. The third is entirely
out of sight and seeing. You might
guess that they were prisons because
of the huge rock walls which sur
hound them and these walls have a
sloping top which is covered with
broken glass. + The buildings inside of
these walls are considered first class.
These beautiful homes are surrounded
with the most attractive shrubs adapt
ed to the climate. -
We have some Canadian-Frenchmen
with US who are fairly good inter-
prefers They help US by few of the
rough places. prevent us having to eat