The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1918-03-03
THIS FRENCH TOWN
Is AMERIVANIzED
ENGLISH Is SPOKEN ON ALL
SIDES GENERALLY.

ABORT IN FRANCE, Jan. 30.-(Cor
respondence of The Associated Press
As far as it is possible to American
ize any French city, this base of the
American armies has undergone pro-
cess since the first troops arrived last
June. Collectively it talks English
quite fiuently-much more so than the
visitors speak French at any rate
and its shops have taken on an Amer
lean aiA
Likewise the months have quieted
the exuberance that expressed itself in
iammed and crowded streets and cafes
noise and exhiliration at the time of
the arrival of the first American 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 es-
adjustments that at one time threaten
ed to spring up have died of inonition.
Scarcely store now but fiaunts its
wares with tags and comments in Eng
fish, and the store keepers have pro-
fitted by the constant succession of
American customers to learn fair
brand of English. Nine out of ten
of them at least are able to conduct
sale in English. while no 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 streets shops
would furnish an excellent basis for
for a treatise on English as she IS
written" There is for example the
House Taking Charge of Parcels;
Everyone get received which lies
adjacent to the store featlk'ing a mod
81 warmly clad in what the proprietor
fondly believes is q "Tranchs Coat p
Thus a large notion and curio store
situated on corner, has painted both
facades to represent a double Ameri-
can flag, with single center piece
containing the stars over the door al
the corner The topmost stripe on
both sides bears the inscription
Souvenirs, Don't Forget Her" Occa
5ionally the advertisements don't say
qite what was intended, even though
they tell the truth, as for insance the
sign over store which reads Money
Taken Here"
Such announcements as American
breakfasts, to 8 a. M" and "Ic'
Cream" appeal.
The naval element is perhaps mos
conspicuous by its absence. In June
and July the streets swarmed will
naval officers and sailors from the bat
tleships and cruisers that formed par
Of each convoy.
More and more the city has come un
der the vise.like control of the Ameri
can authorities. No resident ever
may send a telegram to any point II
France without submitting it to l0ca
censorship that has been created a
the suggestion of the Americans. The
censor is the local police commission
er and he passes on all French mes
sages that are not doubtful. Likewise
his stamp is obligatory for kilograms
in English, but he will not WELD thu
stamp until the American authorize;
have passed upon the matter.
No single individual leaves the cit!
~ traip without submitting to an eX
animation. Papers of identification il
many cases written official permission
to leave, are necessary. The civilian
falls inevitably into the hands of the
jealous French who are cooperating
with the Americans, while the man il
uniform, especially the American kha
XII wearers, are handled by our militar!
police.
Early last July. the French, at tn,
suggestion of the Americans, laid dowl
exceptionally severe rules for the cafe
limiting to the lowest conceivable
point--for France-the hours which
men in uniform might be allowed il
4 all public houses.
Later in the summer the French go
ernment issued rules governing tn
sale of spurious liquors for all France
The two combine by chance in such
way that drinking for the soldiers i
virtually out of the question at an.
hour-even for those limited few VIII
are able to obtain passes to come int
the "out of bounds" portion of the cit
that comprises all of the cafes
The soldiers are on the whole il
tensely popular with the inhabitants