Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-04
u. s. BASE IN FRANCE
HAS AMERICAN TONE.
People Talk English Quite
FluentIy and Changed Aspect
in Shops Noted.
SOME ODD SIGNS ON VIEW j
ondencc q, tl,e As-o~iated pr-r>.

Cor-rSI,ondencc of tlse As~r~iated Pr-s&-
a PORT IN FRANCE, January 81
As far as 1t is possible To Aulericantze
any French city. this base OF the Amer
lean armies has undergone the PROCESS
since the first troops arrived lasst June.
Collectively it tabs English quite flu-
entiy-much more SO than the visitors
speak French. at any r2te-aDd It's
shops have taken on an American air.
Likewise the months have quiefed
the cxubera nee that expressed ifsssif IN
jammed and crowded streets and cafes.
noise and exhilaration At the time OF
the arrival Of the first American
troops. This in part can be laid 70 the
| fact that about nine-tenths OF the city
has been placed "out OF bounds'' for all
not equipped with special passes; 50
that the dives and other undesirable
establishments that at one time threat
ened 20 spring up have died OF inani-
ton.
Scarcely a store now but naunts It's
wares with tags and comments in En-
glish, and the storekeepers have prof
tied by the constant succession OF
American customers TO learn fair
brand of English. Ninc out OF ten of
them at least are able to conduct a sale
in English. while not one OF ten OF the
customers could get what he wanted II
he had to rely on French.
Some of the English Ragged"
Some Of the English. of course. is
ragged, and a compendium of the signs
displayed in the main street shops
would furnish an excellent basis for
a re- ira III ha 10
ten. There is. for example. the House
/ Taking Charge OF Parcels; Every One
Get a Received" which lies adjacent
TO the store featuring model warmly
cad IN what the proprietor fondly be-
ileveS is a "Tranchs Coat" Thus a
large notion and curio store. situated
on corner. has painted both facades
TO represent double American flag.
with a single center piece containing
the stars over the door at the corner.
The topmost stripe on both sides bears
the inscription. Souvenirs. Don't For
get Her" Occasionally the advertise
nents don't say quite what was in
tended, even though they tell the
truth, as, for instance, the sign over a
store which reads, Money Taken
Such announcements as American
Breakfasts. to = am" and Ice
Cream" appeal.
The naval element is perhaps most
conspicuous by it's absence. In June
and July the streets swarmed with
naval officers and sailors from the bat
tleships and cruisers that formed part
OF each convoy.
Under American Control.
More and more the city has come
American authorities. No resident even
may send a telegram to any point in
france without submitting il to local
censorship that has been created at the
IN A
No single individual leaves the city
by train without submitting to an ex-
animation. Papers of Identification. in
many cases written official permission
10 leave, are necessary. The civilian
falls inevitably into the hands of the
jealous French who are cooperating
with the Americans. while the man in
Uniform, especially the American Khaki
police.
Early last July the French. at the
suggestion of the Americans, laid down
exceptionally severe rules for the
cafes. limiting to the lowest conceiv-
able pointer E-rance-the hours dur
ing which men in Uniform might be
allowed in all public houses.
Sale of Liquors Regulated.
Later in the summer the French gov
eminent issued rules governing the
sale of spirituous liquors for ali
France. The two combine by cnance
/ in such way that drinking Ior the
soldiers is virtually out of the question
at any hour-even for those limited
few who are able TO obtain passes to
come into the out OF bounds" portion
Of the city that comprises all OF the
cafes
The soldiers are on the whole intense
~ popular with the inha bitauts They
are, for one thing, extremely kind to
the French children. which strikes a
responsive chord in the breasts of the
mothers, particularly since it is not a
French male custom to fondle and
make much of the youngsters.
Then. too. a number of the military
organizations have dubbed together
and have given entertainments for
French charities which not only have
Melted a lot of money. but which have
been novel and interesting. The latest
or these was a negro minstrel show
which brought in over $500 for the war
widows of the port