Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-03

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Some see no reason Why they SHOULD
take other peoples blame. The Matin
man found enc like this at Tours, apd
che tat was in the IRE again.
II It were only automobilesl' said
this other American colonel, 'but We
have masses Of provisions. clothing,
shoes, ETC., in the most Of our camps,
and we can sell nothing-because the
French government opposes, yet will not
buy for its own account"
The Frenchman, demanded details.
TOO numerous to mention" replied
the other. He. produced filing cover.
The mere list runs 500 pages, with
twenty articles per page" So the re-
Porter wrote: millions of pairs Of bro
gans. wooden socks. rubber boots, uni.
forms. underwear. flannel shirts, water.
proof slickers!"
millions of pairs Of brogans, I heard
him say IT." raved the Paris reporter In
his column" and when asked him how
many millions, two, three millionss the
colonel replied: "Oh, much more!" And
these American brogans, solid and well
made, cost. some IS. some SIS, at which
price the Americans are willing to cede
them. And tobacco! A prodigious
quantity! 1t would come to less than 81
per pound to the French government:
and the cigarettes would not be dear. !
either. Can they refuse to make this
purchase. when nowhere in our French
tobacco bureau can the least pack be
FOUND? The state would find its profit.
naturally. But" concluded the Matin
man bitterly. ut is only the food sup
plies-sugar. condensed milk, etc.-that
have been accepted without difficulty by
the Frey,ch government. s.ass
Put back the premises! What q
mass of rubbish! IL we leave IL
they'll claim damages. Burn those
infected mattresses. There's no time
to -sterilize those bales of rag clip
pings which the patient salvage serv.
Ice has consistently prepared for
weekly sales to shoddy manufac-
turers What can we do with these
broken-down sewing machine tables?
Sling them on the funeral pyre Of 4
buddies' pants and underwear and
shoes dead to the world. The SAL
wage might have done something with
the germ junk. but the salvage-the
beautiful and touching A. E. F. SAL
wage Is shutting up shop
It's not the moment for any Amerf.
can camp to make a bonfire. The
Tours public is on watch. All kinds
of poor folks know of neighbors who
have picked UP fascinating rubbish.
All are wild for acquisition-any-
thing. Give 1t to me-do not burn 1t.
Joe. they're crazy" says the cer-
poral. "Shoo them back and shut
that gate" y
The papers get it beautified. by
telegraph
us 1t possible?' exclaims the Matin.
Many letters from citizens affirm z
that at the American salvage camp.
of st. Pierre -des> Corps, they are
burning mattresses, bed covers, en-
tire bales of socks, shirts, brogans,
sewing machines. chairs, benches, ta-
bles! Good sense fails to credit such
organized vandalism! One might deem
1T the work Of. sun heat in the dog
days. but, alas! 1t is only too true Z
the bonflres, destructive, useless. il .
the work Of human beings" 3
And the opposition paper. back. 4
handing the French government puts
all the blame on the reglement. for-
bidding to be given away articles
subject to customs duties and which
may not, therefore, be sold. The last
picture shows humble workers Of
Tours (whose premises, in fact. are
packed with our junk) mourning over
the destruction of precious articles
they craved.
II proof were needed. why now. !.
here, in good ample time, 1t is an
nounced quite TRANQUILITY that the
American telegraph telephone net !.
work is splendid acquisition. (The
dealings were in q large spirit. l
hear that the commission can write
of most Of it's cost.) OF those in
terminabie stocks the French gov
eminent has made admirable bar
gains. (Once studied with system.
the final cleanup is rapid. How
much. this?' Here's the itemized {,
cost list" Shall we say such and
such sum-" mo, perhaps such and
SUCH" why. certainly.)
And, firally Gin ample time before