The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1918-02-28
Soldiers AmericaniZe
French City

A Port in France, Jan. 3O.-(Cor-
respondence of the Associated Press)
AS far as it is possible to Ameri-
canize any French city, this base of
the American armies has undergone
the process since the first troops ar
rived last June. Collectively it talks
English quite fluently-much more so
than tie visitors speak French at any
ra and its shops have taken on an
American air.
} Likewise the months have uuieted
the exuberance that expressed itself
in Jammed and crowded streets and
cafes, noise and exhiliration at the
time Of the arrival Of the first Amer
lean troops. This in part can be laid
to the fact that about nine-tenths of
the city has been placed "out of
bounds For all not equipped with
special PASSES; so that the "dives"
and other undesirable establishments
that at one time threatened to spring
up have died of inanition.
Scarcely a store now but faunts
its wares with tags and comments in
English, and the storekeepers have
profited by the constant succession of
American customers to learn a fair
brand Of English. Nine out of ten
of them at least are able to conduct
sale in English, while not one of
ten Of the customers could get what
he wanted if he had to rely on French.
Some of the English of course is
ragged, and compendium of the
signs displayed in the main street
shops would furnish an excellent bac
for treatise on English as she is
written" There is, for example, the
"House Taking Charge of Parcels;
Everyone get a received" which lies
adjacent to the store featuring mod
ell warmly clad in what the proprietor
fondly believes is "Tanchs Coat"
Thurs a large notion and curio store.
situated on corner has painted both
facades to represent double Ameri-
can 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 Forget Her" Oc-
casionally the advertisements don't
say quite what was intended, even
though they tell the truth, as, for
instance, the sign over a store which
reads, 'Money Taken Here"
Such announcements as "American
Breakfasts, 7 to A. NJ, and "Ice
Cream" appeal.
The naval element is perhaps most
conspicuous by its absence. In June
and July the streets swarmed with
naval officers and sailors from the
battleships and cruisers that formed
part Of each convoy.
More and more the city has come
under the vise-like control of the
American authorities. No resident
even may send a telegram to any
pcint in France without submitting
it to n local censorship that has been
created at the suggestion of the
Americans. The censor is the local
police commissioner and he passes
on all French messages that are not
doubtful. Likewise his stamp is
obligatory for kilograms in English,
but he will not WELD the stamp until
the American authorities have passed
upon the matter.
No single individual leaves the city
by train without submitting to an
examination. Papers of Identification,
in many cases written official per-
mission to leave, are necessary. The
civilian falls inevitably into the hands
of the jealous French who are CO.
operating with the Americans, while
the nan in uniform, especially the
American khaki wearers, are hand
led by our military police.
Early last July the French, at the
suggestion of the Americans, laid
down exceptionally severe rules for
the cafes, limiting to the lowest con-
ceivahle point-for France-the
hours during which men in uniform
might be allowed in all public houses
Later in the summer the French
government issued rules governing
the sale Of spirituous liquors for all
France. The two combine by chance
in such a way that drinking for the
soldiers is virtually out Of the ques-
tion 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 com
prises all of the cafes.
The soldiers are on the whole in
tensely popular with the inhabitants.