The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-28
]. s. SOLDIERS
 AMERICANIzE
 FRENCH TOWNS Rather Than Learn French "Sammies" Teach Natives
 To Speak English NATIVE CHILDREN
 ADORE U. S. BOYS Show More Affection for Kidlets Than Do Their
 Own Parents

A Port in France, Feb. 28-fCor- 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 the visitors speak French at any rate-and it's shops have taken on an American air.
 Likewise the months have quilted the exuberance that expressed itself in damned and crowded streets and cafes, noise and exhi1iration at the time of the arrival of the first Ameri- can 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 hamilton.
 Scarcely store now but f1aunts it's 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 a compendium of the signs displayed in the main street shops would furnish an excellent basis for a treatise on English as she is written" There is for example the House Taking Charge of Par cells; Everyone get received" which lies adjacent to the store featuring a model warmly clad in what the pro- prietor fondly believes is a 'Tranchs Coat" Thus a large notion and curio store, situated on a corner has painted both facades to represent a 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 in- scription, "Souvenirs, Don't Forget Her." Occasionally the advertise ments don't say quite what was irl- tended, even though they tell the truth, as for instance the sign over store which reads, Money Taken Here"
 Such announcements as American breakfasts, 7 to g A. M." 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 | 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 point | in France without submitting it to a | local censorship that has been created at the suggestion of the Americans. The censor is the local police com missioner and he passes on all French messages that are not doubtful. Likewise his stamp is obligatory for l telegrams in English. but he will not wisBd the stamp until the American authorities have passed upon the 1 matter.
 l No single individual leaves the city by train without submitting to an ex- | animation. 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 man in uniform, especially the i American khaki wearers, are handled by our military police.
 1 Early last July the French, at the suggestion of the Americans, laid down exceptionally severe rules for the cafes, limiting to the lowest con- ceivable 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- ton at any hour-even for those Em- ited few who are able to obtain passes
 to come into the "out of bounds
 portion of the city that comprises al
 of the cafes.
 The soldiers are on the whole in
 tensely popular with the inhabitan nts
 They are, for one thing. extremely kind to the French children, whict
 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 tht youngsters.
 Then, too, a number of the militar!
 organizations have clubbed together
 and have given entertainments fol French charities which not only have
 cited a lot of money but which have
 been novel and interesting. Tht latest of these was a negro minstre
 show which brought in over $500 fo; the war widows of the port.