Newport daily independent., 1918-02-23

Press)-As far as it is possible to .Americanize any French city, this base of the American armies has un- dergone the process since the first troops arrived last June. Collectively it talks English quite fluently-much more so than the visitors speak French at any ratc-and it's shops have taken on an American air. Likewise the months have quieted the exurberance that expressed it. self in damned 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 ssdives" and others undesirable es- tablishments that at one time threat ened to spring up have died of mani ton.
 Scarcely store now but flaunts it's wares with tags and comments in English, and the store keepers 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 con- duct a 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 wiuld furnish an excellent basis for treatise on English as she is written" There is for example "House Taking Charge of Parcels; Everyone get received" which lies adjacent to the store featuring a model warmly clad in what the pro- prietor fondly believes is "Tranchs Coat" Thus large notion and cu- rio store, situated on corner, has painted both facades to represent a double American flag, with single center piece containing the stars over the door at the corner. The topmost stripe on both sides bears the inscrip- tion, Souvenirs, Don't Forget Her." Occasionally the advertisements do not say quite what was intended, ev- en 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 g a. m." and "lce Cream" appeal. 'fss sM Y
 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 telegram to any point in France without submitting 1t to a 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 ob- ligatory for telegrams in English, but he will not wield the stamp un- til the American authorities have passed upon the matter.
 1 No single individual leaves the city by train without submitting to an examination. Papers of identifi- cation, In 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 in uniform, especially lthe American khaki wearers, are handled by our military police.
 Early last July the French, at the suggestion of the Americans, laid
 down exceptionally severe rules fo1 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 spurious liquors for all
 of France. The two combine by
 chance in such a way that drinking
 for 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 ot ! borndcn ,,or+ion of the citv that com